A Letter to my Brookie

My sweet Brooke Lynn,

    I cannot believe you're going to school.  I think you've been talking about this day since you learned what school was.  You're still quite upset that the school bus will not pick you up tomorrow, but you're happy to ride with Daddy on his way to work.

   I think a little part of me will be gone when you go off; I told you I will miss you, but I saw you were starting to doubt that school would be fun if mommy was sad, so I told you I'd only miss you a little bit.  I'm sorry that I lied, because mommy will actually miss you a lot. A LOT.  More than I probably even know yet; I know it's only 2 days a week, 2 hours each day, but when you've been with mommy since January 11, 2013, I almost can't envision you not being with me 24/7.

   You're such a good big sister to brudder; I hope you always have a close bond with him.  You are really trying to teach him things, watch over him and always getting him to play with you.  I'm most excited for you to be able to make new friends your age and to play with them as much as you possibly can.

   The day your father and I found out you were a girl, I sobbed the whole way home.  Daddy thought it was because I was afraid he'd be upset you were a girl and not a boy, but that's not the case.  I knew Daddy would love you no matter what sex you were.  I knew I'd married a good man and that he'd be a better father than anyone in the entire world.  I cried that day because being a girl is tough.  I don't know what it is like to be a boy, but I do know that being a girl means that you must be stronger, smarter, kinder, and better each and every day.  Even when it feels like the world is against you, you must wake up and show up in this big, big world. Being a girl means you'll feel more than you want to, some days, and that is okay.  But you need to learn to let things roll off your back and not stress you out.

Do not carry the weight of the world on your beautiful little shoulders.

Stay light and love unconditionally. 

Do not grow up too fast and try to be an adult.  

Stay young and silly.

Do not make other people's problems your problems.

Stay quiet and find your inner peace.

Do not be scared.

Walk straight ahead and face your fears head on.

You will never be too old and it will never be too late.

Do it now.  Whatever is in your pretty little heart follow it and make it happen.

Dream big.

Keep flying.

Never settle.

Be you, Brooke Lynn.  

Be the very best you, because there is no one else in this entire world for you to be.

I love you, baby love.

You are my sunshine.

Have a beautiful first, of many firsts, day of school.

Love,

Mommy

20 Year Reunion

Joe's 20th year reunion was in July.  I am still behind on blogging, so here goes!

Yes, we pretty much had plans and parties all July long --we loved it!

I tried on a few outfits and decided on a black romper with my newer chunky heels from Target.  We were meeting friends for dinner and then going to a brewery which was being opened for my husband's HS alumni.

We left the kiddos with a sitter and cruised on out of here.

Our favorite restaurant, The Revelry.  I went with some rosé.  Love their faces.

The brewery was nice and Joe had a ball talking to everyone; we were out a little late and I was kind of tired the next morning.  I had plenty of cuddles with this one!

I had a sitter come early so I could sneak out and get a mani/pedi.

We got ready and headed out for the actual reunion as soon as Joe got home.

My simple and elegant arm party.

I loved these shoes---Target, again!

As for the dress?  We purchased this pretty piece back in 2011 on Rodeo Drive.  I LOVE the Guess by Marciano store and I fell right in love with this dress.  Truth? This is the first time I've worn it.  I haven't actually felt confident or fit into it as I did that weekend.  I'm not going to lie, it felt really awesome to be almost 35 and fitting into a dress I bought before I was 30.

The venue was a gorgeous mansion downtown.  It's the Women's Century club and we loved the staircase.  My favorite part of the night was when Joe's English teacher (who helped mold who he is today) got to talking with us.  It was really incredible to hear Joe tell her how much he looked up to her and how she changed him.  She told him, "You always had a spark," and he said, "but you were the one who lit it."

My husband maybe would've been voted least successful in HS.  He didn't have a ton of direction or really care too much about school.  Well, I'd say he's pretty darn successful now and I'm fairly certain there were a few shocked faces when he arrived.

I'm so proud of him; I know he hates the spotlight and attention, but man he really is amazing.

In 20 years he's traveled the country selling perfume and cologne out of the trunk of his car; he's lived in major cities like Boston and Dallas.   He lived in a tiny studio apartment in the ghetto that was completely robbed.  He and his girlfriend had no money, food or any clothes.  He's also lived in a millionaire's guest house and has seen the work ethic and drive it takes to reach the top. He's started over more than once.  At 21 he almost died of Crohn's complications, weighing in at about 120 pounds.  He moved back here to Rochester to open up a branch of the perfume business.  He flipped his first house at 23 and made $12,000.  He started selling cars, and years later he is now a finance manager.  He also started up our rental business, Fave Properties, and we have a total of 4 houses (full of tenants) and we are hoping to close on the 5th one any time now.  Today, if you read my blog, he's been an incredible husband for 6 years and the best daddy our curly topped kids could have.  He works a lot; but he is a driven man.  Something that is ingrained in him from his Grandpa Frank.  I knew who I was marrying and as much as I'd love to sit around and be lazy with him, there's too much of this world we haven't seen yet and so I respect the hustle.

He has one degree; his HS Diploma.  I may have my Master's but it's Joe he continues to teach me so much more than I could learn in a paid classroom.

It makes me really think, in 20 more years where will we be?

Joe's good friend Mike.

Typical. I had so much fun being an outsider; seeing everyone catching up and meeting again was really a lot of fun. I met some really nice people and we had a great night.  I will say the garbage plates served for dinner weren't the best (I mean, really...mac salad and hot sauce while wearing a nice dress? I was paranoid to spill haha!)

The next day he invited some of his good friends over for a little bbq.  Bubs helped me get ready.

We did grilled sirloin burgers with all the fixins.  (including grilled bacon!)

In typical fashion, it got a little crazy and I couldn't take a ton of photos, but they were so good and everyone had a ball.

Joe even brought me some flowers home.

So if you're invited to your 20 year reunion, I say go! It definitely made me rethink maybe I'll go to mine! I still have a few years left...but it may be kind of cool to see people in real life and not just FB highlight reels.

Toddler "School"

I believe it is the nesting instinct kicking in, but I know that soon enough we are going to have cold weather and be stuck inside more often than not!  I have been keeping my eyes peeled for inexpensive ways to keep my busy body toddler entertained.  I know it won't work for all kids, and I admit, sometimes I do these activities and she has such a short attention span, I wonder if it's making a difference?  But it helps me feel better about the times when the TV is on, and my attention is not on her.

***These activities are used under my supervision only.  Small parts and a 1.5 year old, some things still go into the mouth, or she's just really messy with…so I am with her 100% hands on during this time.***

Target Dollar: 

I just went there last week and they have TONS of goodies for "back to school" and I feel like they're catering towards homeschoolers or at least us parents who like to do a little extra 'learning' at home.

Some supplies:

-counting shapes/colors
-stamps
-Hello Kitty play pack--these are so handy to bring out and about--restaurants etc.

I love these JUMBO ziploc bags that she hasn't quite figured out how to open!  I also keep them in a 3 tier plastic drawer organizer; the top drawer she can get into her crayons (which are broken) and coloring books (ripped) whenever she wants.  I keep the 'special ones' on the bottom, and if she does bring the ziploc bag to me, I know she wants to do them!



-magnetic numbers (perfect for the fridge or cookie sheets)



$1 Store
-special Minnie crayons to be used only with momma (so she doesn't break them on purpose)
-crayon holder

-Learning books--I am well aware she is far too young to "get" any of these concepts.  Honestly, why they work for me, is I don't always know what to say to her while we do these activities.  So we go through and trace, color, and I just read about what the pages say.  She listens, and that has to count for something.

Her faves include: Mickey, Sesame Street and anything with stickers--that crayola book had some!

Sometimes I spend her naps reading up on what else to do--this book is FULL of quick and simple ideas to work on sensory, gross and fine motor skills, as well as creativity. I am already bookmarking and writing down a lot of ideas!  I was excited to see I had done a few already!

Saturday {8.16.14}

We busted out the stamps--she was fascinated!

I also let her "paint" for the first time.

I just put a little bit of water in a bowl and gave her paint brushes.

She seemed to just like to play in the water, silly girl.

So even though I feel like I have no clue what I am doing and we have our rough patches, I do try to think of some creative and learning ways to spend parts of our day.  When all else fails, give her my jewels and clothes and she plays dress up.

I think she may be ready for some real live finger painting and maybe even some shaving cream fun?  I gotta get my supplies built up before snow flies and I'm waddling like a big old pregnant woman.  

I saw this "Frozen Erupting Snow" and may want to give it a whirl. Frozen Snow

Anything else I can try?

Sensory Bin

It's quite obvious how quickly our little ones start learning and growing.  I have really stepped back and taken a look at my priorities and decided to really focus on little Miss Brooke some more.  Sure she's my main reason for getting up each day, but I started to put more effort into how we are spending our time and what to do together.  In other words, I'll be really honest….I found myself using the TV more than I ever would have imagined.  My husband and I barely watch TV, but somehow the darn thing crept right in and I am happy to report, we've put an end to it!

It was SO easy; turn on Micky Mouse Club or Sesame Street and there she stood/sat glued her eyes on TV.   I could get so much done without having to worry what she was up to...But the icing on the cake was when Daddy came home one day, she didn't even acknowledge it; she looked over and then looked back at the TV.

We were both in shock.

Usually she screams Dada and there are hugs and kisses and laughs.

Notta.

Now, don't get me wrong; I see NOTHING wrong with the occasional show or down time.  But I experienced first hand how quickly that could become a habit.  I no longer put on a show while I make breakfast; she heads to her toys and plays at the fridge with letter magnets.  She doesn't miss the TV at all.   I've focused my energy on figuring out what we could do together; enter in sensory bins.

I've been wanting to make them for awhile, but didn't know what to put in one.  Yes I was a teacher, but I taught middle and high school!  So it's taken some time to look into what wee ones need to learn, and of course asking my sweet friend Alison, and Brooke and I played in this [small] bin the other morning.

I want to start doing themes, but I just opened my cupboards and started here.  I did have to say "NO" when she tried to eat the spiral pasta; a few tears were shed but she got over it and really seemed to love playing with the different textures.

***I would NEVER leave her unattended with the bin and I keep it up high.  I know that she still explores with her mouth (or tries to) so I am very aware of that.  I want to get a larger bin to have more room to put stuff inside as well.

Ideally we would have gone outside but it rained and so we made use of the kitchen floor.  Holly and Sadie were of course right there to pick up any missed crumbs of rice.

I'm still working my way through these two reads and they've been quite helpful as well.  I just can't get over how fast kids grow and no matter how much you try to prepare, you always feel a little behind.  Or at least I do.

I'm thinking of doing a Gardening theme for May.  I will use organic soil only and I have a feeling she will LOVE it. 

What learning activities do you do with your toddler?  Share them please!

Some great sensory bin sites:

http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/2010/11/your-sensory-tub-questions-answered.html

http://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/my-top-10-sensory-bin-items/

http://mysmallpotatoes.com/2012/11/13/30-sensory-bin-activities-for-kids-a-small-potatoes-sensory-

round-up/