Front row seats

I think looking back on this summer, aside from our big trip to Disney and our trip Up North for the fourth of July, my favorite thing was watching my boys really bond.  Bond to the point that they hug each other and say they missed each other if they've been apart longer than a few hours.  I certainly can't predict the future to see whether they'll stay close as they grow up, but watching them this summer has truly fulfilled my wish when we knew we were having two boys close in age.

They love to hide from "mommy and daddy monster" together.  I hear them playing together in one of their rooms and as I climb the steps or hit the squeaky spot in the hallway, suddenly their whispering "hide" while trying to hide their giggles.  It's too cute.

My big bug, Sean, is usually the mastermind behind all of their "operations".  He can be bossy with Evan at times, but man, does he have quite the imagination.  Their latest and greatest is pretending to be doctor and patient.  They'll ride around the basement on the PlasmaCar, fall off, and say they broke their leg or arm.  Of course, I get stuck being the nurse that has to carry the patient to the bed and do the wrapping of the broken limb with a towel.  But, it's fun watching them come up with different imaginative scenes.

Sean has really stepped into the big brother role too this summer.  From helping Evan with his shoes to going downstairs to get something that Evan needs at bedtime, he loves getting to be the "hero".  And he does it well.

He has gotten over a lot of his aggression issues we used to worry ourselves with.  I can relax when we're at the park and around other kids.  Now, I just watch his temper with Evan.  To some degree, that has to be normal to fight with a sibling and be physical.  Our biggest challenge now is controlling his emotions.  He's a sensitive little guy!  Scott loves to tease Sean just to get a reaction out of him and see his face change from one emotion to the next.  Like pretending to feed him to T-rex!  Sean handled that like a champion, but lost it when we left the gift shop as he realized he wasn't getting anything.

My little Evie, on the other hand, is a ball of energy!  I can't get him to sit still long enough to even take a picture.  He's busy, he's curious, and he's expressive as all get out!  I love watching his facial expressions and hearing him exclaim things like, "That's wonderful!"  or "No way!  Get out of here!"

The beginning of the summer he was gobbling up Sean's words and mimicking everything Sean was saying or doing and now, I can see him fighting to be an individual.  There's times he'll ignore Sean's pleas and requests to do something!  He'll be off in his own world, doing what he wants to do.  I try to sit back and watch how they'll work through that.

He has the most dramatic pout face I've ever seen!  And I was actually lucky enough to catch it on camera.  He tends to throw himself on the ground and sulk, hoping that he'll get his way.  It was funny watching him get out of the pool we were at, walk all the way around the pool to where I was standing, holding a friend's 6 month old baby, and sulk.  He didn't say a word.  Didn't cry, didn't ask me who the baby was.  He just stood there and gave me the look.  The look that said, "I'm your baby."

And yes, he is my baby.  My baby who will be turning 3 in a few days.  Sometimes that seems impossible that he's 3 already.  Other times, it feels like he's been 3 for a while with the attitude and reputation that comes with being 3.

I asked Scott earlier today what will happen when Evan stops being so snuggly.  Sean doesn't have much time in his day for snuggles.  I will be devastated when Evan gets to that point.  So, tonight, I made sure to get in all the snuggles he was willing to dish out.  Time is going by too fast.  My babies are growing up so fast!

Just last night we had a meet and greet with Sean's soccer team this fall.  He'll be on his first team with "real" games.  He has open house next week at his elementary school.  Evan will be moving up to the preschool classroom.  It's a lot for this mama to handle at once.

Yeah, it's scary alright.

So, as our summer comes to an end this upcoming week and my boys experience all the new things that come with being almost 3 and 5, I will look back on this summer feeling blessed that I had front row seats to watching two brothers become best friends.  I know they'll have a hard time being apart this school year, but it will make for some enjoyable evenings when they're together again, plotting all their schemes, playing all their games, and off in their imaginative lands.  Ahhhh to be the mother of two boys.  It's an amazing blessing!

"August Nesting"

Kelle Hampton said it best in one of her recent blogs titled, "The Art of August Nesting".   August Nesting is the back to school and work version of nesting in your final trimester while pregnant.  It's the realization that we are about to, once again, drastically change our routine.  We need to prepare, shop, clean, organize, and research!  It's real.  And it's happening in our house right now.

First things first, in a few short weeks, Sean will be attending an elementary school.  I'm officially freaking out over this.  Supply lists, labeled supplies, before care days picked, school day schedule, and waiting for the teacher's name that we'll get in the mail shortly has me on edge.  How will make his first morning special?  How will he react to being in a new school with a new teacher and new classmates?  What if he hates it and we now have 5 full days of school that he'll be attending each week?

In the meantime, he's picked a Lego backpack (shocking), a dinosaur lunch box, and Jurassic World folders.  In his mind, we're set to go.

Next up?  Our sudden need to cross off everything on our summer bucket list that we've yet to do.  Toledo Zoo visit?  Check.

An incredible zoo and one that we'll definitely visit again!  Not to mention it seems we're always trying out a new zoo each summer (Lincoln Park Zoo, Toronto Zoo, Oregon Zoo, Animal Kingdom at Disney, and now this one)!

Meet Baymax from Big Hero 6?  Check!

We're so lucky that our Leo's Coney Island offers these great character meet and greets every Wednesday evening!  The boys love getting the flyers and circling which ones they want to go to.  And hey, I don't have to cook that evening!  Bonus.

Feed the ducks at Newburgh Lake off Hines Drive?  Check!  The kids loved this!  Considering they have a really nice play structure right next to a dock and areas to have picnics, this was a great way to spend a beautiful morning.

Juanes concert at Freedom Hill with a good friend from my study abroad trip to Spain 10...yes...10 years ago?  Check!

Of course some of these "to-do's" are not as enjoyable as the ones mentioned above, but it feels good to get them done.  Like Scott deciding to re-patch and re-seal our driveway this year instead of shelling out $5,000 to have it professionally done.  I had no faith in him or this project.  I will fully admit that.  And it seems that I'm eating my words because it looks fabulous!  And if it only lasts a year before cracking or falling apart, then we put off spending that money for one more year.  You know?

Other projects on our radar over the next few months include getting a shower glass door for our shower, repainting our master bathroom since the paint is peeling in our shower, and building/expanding our closet in the master bedroom.  And Scott is completely content doing these projects himself.  So, we'll see how they go!  I guess I should be glad that I have a handy-man on our hands.  Now that extra cash we're saving can go towards a future Disney trip.

Speaking of extra cash, I decided to become a consultant with Rodan + Fields last month.  After watching two friends from high school be very successful with the company over the last year, I knew it was my time.  I love everything about this company.  The products.  Their motto.  The idea that you can make your own hours, you are your own boss, and all of the work is done through social media (which we all know I'm no stranger to).  I'm getting paid to reconnect with old friends and family members while helping them get the best skin of their life!  I'm getting paid to be on Facebook!  And it's not taking any time away from my boys.

As we wind down this summer, it already feels like our Disney trip was a lifetime ago.  We've had an amazing summer with so many memories left in it's place!  This year is going to be so exciting for us with Sean off to school, Evan in preschool, my new business venture, and getting a pay raise at work for the first time in five years!  I'm going in this school year with a completely renewed outlook and the mentality that this will be my year.  This will be our year.

So, I will continue to nest and prepare for this much anticipated year.  Back to school sales at Target, setting up my classroom, planning with my department, networking for Rodan + Fields, all while trying to soak up every last minute with my boys and Scott.

WDW Day 8: Leaving Old Key West

I get why people refer to Disney's Magical Express as the Tragic Express.  It's all "Magical" when you're on your way to Disney, but man oh man, leaving?  That is tragic.

We luckily had an afternoon flight, so we didn't have to get up at the butt crack of dawn.  We checked out, had our last Quick Service breakfast at Good's to Go (a pretty darn tasty breakfast!), and waited for the Tragic Express...I mean Magical Express to take us to the airport.  Everyone was exhausted, but we could have easily stayed another week if we had the option.  

I cannot say enough positive things about our stay at Old Key West!  It was perfect!  I love that it gave off that "Florida" feel while still being at Disney.  It was never loud, over crowded, or too far from the parks.  Our room was right by one of the pools, a short ten minute walk to the Hospitality House (reception, restaurants, main pool, etc.), and it was right around the corner from a bus stop.  We had a great view from our balcony and the size of our room was exactly what we needed for 6 people!  I would definitely stay at Old Key West on our next trip!

And just like that, months of planning everything down to a science came to an end.  We were left with a nice tan, hundreds of great pictures, tons of souvenirs, and the promise that we'll be back!  And sooner than we thought.  I guess that's Disney for you.  Leaves you anxious to plan the next trip back.

 A smooth flight home (well...for some of us) and we were back in Michigan.  See you again, Disney!!

Speaking of our next trip, the plan for now is to go back in June of 2017.  We're seriously contemplating driving for a few reasons:

1.  I have severe anxiety while flying.

2.  Flying is expensive!

3.  My parents will be retired and we'll be off work for the summer so we have the time.

4.  We can stop on our way there and on our way home at different stops to see other places.

5.  It will give us a vehicle since we plan on going for two weeks to Disney, Legoland, and a beach like Clearwater.

That's the plan for now!  It's giving me something to look forward to since the depression kicked in when we got back.  

Here's a few other pictures that my parents took from our trip...