Motherhood

When I thought about becoming a mom, I thought about all those tiny fingers and toes. Those baby coos. That sweet baby smell after a bath. You know, all of the adorable things that come with babies. But I didn't really think much further than that. I didn't think about the learning to crawl, walk, talk, potty train, etc. I only thought about having a baby. Having a baby was the easy part.

McKinley is now seven. Seven years have gone by since he was a baby and boy are things different. Motherhood is different. Motherhood is hard! No one understands that until they are mothers. Before motherhood, I remember listening to other mothers talk about having a baby, raising a baby, a child, and god forbid, a teenager. I would internally roll my eyes, think "It can't be that hard", and walk away saying how different things would be when I became a mother. Shame on me! Since becoming a mom, I want to hug every single mother! I want to tell them I understand. That I get it! And that I need a hug too. 

Everyone talks about the terrible twos. That the independence has started to set in and life with a two year is old is the worst. Guess what, two was fine. Two was great. It was three that had me crazed. Then there was four. Then five. Then six. Six was hard. With six came true independence. A little bit of snark. Influence from other kids that was being tested at home. A test that he often failed. With six came more discipline. More arguments. More frustration at being a bad mother. Well, we are one week into being seven and I've never witnessed anything like this. Tears on the daily, from him not me. Anger like I've never seen over having to do homework or not being able to play 24/7. And a mom who is completely doubting her mothering skills. Have I hovered too much? Have I been too hard on him? Should I have let him figure out the math problems alone instead of intervening? Where in motherhood had I gone wrong?

Yesterday was rough. And the evening that followed even more so. He told me that I was getting in the way. Ruining everything because he needed to work on activities for school instead of spending time playing with Dada. That all he wanted to do was get the work done so he could play. But the thing is, he wasn't getting the work done correctly. And when I asked him to spend more time on the work to correct it, all hell broke lose. Those ugly words vomited out of his mouth, leaving me numb and with eyes full of tears. I'm not sure if he meant them or not, and he probably did, and I am now drowning in them. Maybe I am ruining everything. Maybe I am getting in the way. Maybe I am doing it all wrong. I did ask him later that evening what he meant and he said it was his way of telling me he didn't want to be around me right then. My response, maybe you should say just that instead.....

Motherhood. Motherhood is glorious when it's going really well. Motherhood is draining when you are up all night with sick child and all they want is for you to lay with them. Motherhood is tricky when you're sliding on that slippery slope of stepping in and helping or sitting back and letting them fail. Motherhood is ugly when you're crying those tears of sadness after your child has said things to you that you know you will never forget. Motherhood is a badge that every mother should wear with pride because the shit we put up with on a minute, hourly, daily basis is worse than any of those bad jobs we work(ed)! Motherhood is a sorority of women all over the world that are truly just trying to keep their heads above water, get more than five hours of sleep a night, and getting tipsy on wine when they finally get a night free to hang out with other moms. Motherhood is not for the faint of heart.

Over the past year, I've called my mom more to apologize for anything I might have done during my childhood. There will never be enough apologies. I've also called my mom to vent, cry, and vent some more. I've gone to her house and had champagne in the middle of the day because I deserve it. I've often wondered how many tears she actually shed during her time raising me. Tears of pride. Tears of shame. Tears of unhappiness. I've never actually asked. So again mom, I apologize. And if you're reading this, maybe you should pick up the phone and call your mom to apologize. Or invite her over coffee. Or invite yourself over for champagne. Because now she's no longer just your mom. She's a member of that Motherhood sorority. A sister for life. A friend for life. Your mom for life. And if your mom is no longer with you, well then, call that sweet sorority sister of yours because she's going to be there for you too!

Will McKinley and I be friends at the end of all of this? I sure hope so. What I do know, is that he'll hate me. Call me names behind my back. But, he'll also love me when he wants to. Need me when things get tough. And be my friend when it's time. Because if motherhood is done correctly, I'm definitely going to be his least favorite person for a long time. And maybe that time is now.

XO,

Andrea

Party Planning - McKinley's Turning Seven

I am at it again! Party planning. I'm telling ya, it's one of my favorite things on earth. That, and updating my house! I've been on a roll in the kitchen, with just a few more things to do, and then I will share the update with the world! Or, with the few of you who read this blog. But as I wait for those final touches, I am planning McKinley's seventh birthday party. I can't believe he will be seven it two weeks. 

It's getting harder and harder to come with up a birthday party theme. When he was little, it was all about Sesame Street or his favorite Disney show/character. Last year it was a bowling party and we thought about a skating one this year, but decided to keep it at home. But then what do you do to entertain a mix of seven year old boys and girls for a couple of hours? As I was poking around Pinterest, looking for boy birthday party ideas, it hit me. A painting party! McKinley is so into art right now. He loves to draw, color, paint, and craft, so a painting party seemed to be the best option. And, I think it will be so much fun watching the kids create their own individual masterpiece. So what do you do at a painting party and how do you prep for one? Well let me tell you!

We have purchased blank white canvases. You can't create a masterpiece if you don't have a canvas. I headed to Michael's and got a 10 pack of canvases for little of nothing. They are 8X10 which I think is a perfect size. Each child will have their own space at the kitchen table to create. We thought about having a little easel per kid, but decided they can just paint with it laying down flat. I think it will crowd the table otherwise. We have aprons for each child and I will write their names on each one and have them at their work space. From Amazon, we ordered paint palettes and I will add paint to each slot. I'm going with primary colors only. No need to get crazy. And I got a huge pack of paint brushes for them to share. I will also have cups of water for rinsing and towels to clean their brushes. It's going to be so much fun!

Because it's in the middle of the afternoon, I plan to serve colorful snacks. Fruit in rainbow colors, colorful Goldfish, and possibly veggies or cheese. And maybe a fun punch! However, I don't really want red stains all over the carpet.... We'll have cake for sure, and if I can get my act together, sugar cookies in the shape of paint palettes as a take home gift. And because it's a theme not used very often, I'm getting creative with my decor and accents. For instance, we like to have candles on his cake that go with the theme of the party. Well, have you been able to find paint brush candles? Yeah, we haven't either. So, I'm going to take a tip from Maria Provenzano and make my own birthday candles! Check out the how-to video here. I just love the idea of making my own candles that go with the theme of the party. Especially with how cute the cake is going to be. I can't wait to get started!

Oh, and there will be a photo wall! I can't quite figure out how I want it to look, or how I'm going to make it work, but I have the cutest props for the kids to use when taking pics. I'm thinking as they come in, or after they've painted and we're transitioning from art to cake, but honestly it all depends on how the day is going! It's hard to plan something like this. Here are some of the ideas I've found. I'm also thinking of taking a plain white cloth, splattering it with paint, and then hanging it over a wall. We could make a large picture frame that the kids could stand behind, but it could be just as cute with the splatter paint background. We shall see.

I think I'm more excited about the party ideas than McKinley. If he had his choice, we would be hanging out at the local trampoline place in town. However, the more I talk up the fun things I've planned, he's getting a little more excited. He's just happy to be having his friends over and talking all about the fun things they're going to play after the party is over. For that, I've got some ideas of my own. If it's a nice afternoon, early April can be dicey, I'm thinking the driveway will make the perfect palette for some sidewalk chalk fun. A little hopscotch, Monster Jam obstacle courses, and any other idea they can think of that allows them to use their imagination. I love watching little minds at work!

So, what do you think of the idea of painting party? A crafting party would be super fun too. So many ways to get your child creating. Those little minds can dream up wonders, no?

Happy Monday!

XO,

Andrea

All photos courtesy of Pinterest.

McKinley's Holiday Cookie Decorating Party

Sunday was probably one of the best days ever! McKinley hosted his very first holiday party for five of his friend and it consisted of holiday cookie decorating. I asked McKinley weeks ago what type of cookies he wanted to decorate and he immediately answered with gingerbread houses. As most of you know, if you read the previous posts, I wasn't going to make gingerbread houses or buy them. I ended up using the super helpful instructions found on Pinterest for building houses out of graham crackers. 

My mom and I had purchased all the necessary items a couple of weeks ago and got to work on Friday of last week. It took us a couple of hours, and a bottle of champagne later, to complete the project and they were so cute! We used sugar cones for the trees and I ended up going back over them with green icing late Saturday night. It was totally worth the extra effort too. They were darling! But back to the graham crackers. My mom was responsible for cutting out the houses and I made up a batch of royal icing and worked to glue all of the houses together. Awesome team work!

Saturday I spent most of the morning setting up the table. I purchased a throw away table cloth at the Dollar Tree so that I just had to scoop everything up at the end of the day and pitch it! Best $1 spent! With only six kids decorating, the table spacing was so easy. Three on each side with all of the candy between them. 

The candy toppings were a huge mix of things. Starlight mints in red and green, mini M&Ms in the same colors, sugared drops, and mini Starburst dots. The kids also used the chocolate chips and mini marshmallows from the hot cocoa bar. 

For the final set up, once the trees were all green, I added a cute pair of moose antlers to every kids station. I mean, who doesn't need antlers while decorating cookies!

And then it was time for the kids to arrive! Here's how it played out. 

  

I'm honestly not sure who had more fun! I know the kids did, but I did too. It was so much fun watching them create their own houses and then decorate gingerbread men. And I loved that moms stayed to help the kids as we rang in the holidays together. It was just a wonderful afternoon. 

If you have the time, and energy, this is definitely a party to add to your holiday list for next year. I promise, you won't care how much time it took to prep. Every minute is totally worth it.

XO,

Andrea

McKinley's Holiday Cookie Party

This year I've decided not to host an adult holiday party. Instead, I asked McKinley if he would like to host his own kid friendly party and he immediately said yes. I thought it would be super cute for him to host a holiday cookie decorating party for nine of his friends, ten total with him. I asked him which type of cookies he would like the group to decorate and he insisted on Gingerbread Houses. How could I say no! Gingerbread Houses it is! 

As you know, I love to send out personalized invites for parties, but for this one, I took the Evite route. I found the most darling invite with Gingerbread men dancing in a line. I realize it wasn't a house theme invite, but if you could see these Gingerbread men high kicking like the Rockette's, you would go to for it as well. And besides, the Gingerbread House was something about raising the roof and that didn't seem terribly appropriate. Dancing men it was! 

I've spent time on Pinterest, like I do when it comes to finding inspiration for my parties, and I've found tons of useful information. For instance, I'm making the houses out of graham crackers! Genius, right? I wasn't really going to bake my own gingerbread and then try to cut out house pieces. Nor was I going to invest in a ton of those pre-made houses. This graham cracker time saver, and cost savings, is a savior! However, I will be making my own icing. It's super easy too. It's confectioner sugar, cream of tartar, egg whites, and water. You need it to be a little thick so it acts like glue. I plan to make these on Friday so they have time to dry and harden. Oh, and how adorable is this idea for a tree in the yard. Take a sugar cone and turn it upside down on the board. Darling! (I found the idea from That Mommy Blog.)

I've already purchased all the goodies for the houses. We got round peppermints in red and green, spiced gumball candies, mini candy canes, mini chewy Starbursts, and so much more. Each child will get their own bag of frosting to apply the candies and to create snow on the houses. And, I'm thinking of added coconut for each child to create 3-D snow! I found the cutest idea to place all the candies in a six cup muffin tin and place them down the table. This allows each kid access to candies within their reach. Also, I'm going to take large rectangle cake boards and cut them down to individual boards for each house. That way they have a creating surface and a way to transport them home. 

If time permits, I want to make gingerbread cookies for them to eat either while their decorating or after. I'll have Christmas music playing and I hope to have time for them to watch a classic Christmas movie. Possibly Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman. And you're going to need something to sip on and I plan to have a hot cocoa bar. I've been inspired by my research on Pinterest to recreate one of these three stand versions. Are they not the sweetest things you've ever seen? My mom found these Santa and Mrs. Clause mugs at Pottery Barn and they are perfection! (I have an antique version I've collected but would never dare use.) I found my three tiered stand at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. And, I can take it apart and lay it flat when not in use. Love the space saver version!!

This is the Pottery Barn version. So sweet!

How cute are these mugs? See the foursome above. It doesn't include the Reindeer or the Snowman.

One last thing. I've asked all the parents to stay so we can all toast in some holiday cheer. I'm thinking of serving a mulled wine, but I did just see a peppermint vodka hot chocolate that just might make the cut! Nothing like a little warm drink to help keep us in the holiday spirit.

I'm pretty sure I'm more excited than McKinley for this party. And I hope the kids coming are as well. I think it's just as important for them to have a special event to attend during the holidays as it is for adults. Now, I may find time to throw something together last minute for friends. But if I don't, this will last me all season long!

XO,

Andrea

Famous

What does it mean to be famous? Are the Kardashian's famous for being famous? Maybe. What about Bethany Mota the makeup guru and YouTube sensation? She was famous enough to get a spot on Dancing with the Stars! Where does fame come from? How does one get there? And what do you say when your six year old asks you if he's famous? You tell him, not yet, but you will be.

But aren't we all famous in our own right? Take my dad for instance. He's famous for his amazing sayings. Everyone is quoting them! Okay, not everyone, but everyone in our immediate circle quotes him from time to time. His most famous quote is "They call it work, 'cause f*ck was taken." Genius, right? And then there's "Champagne is perfume going in and sh*t coming out." You're quoting them right now, am I wrong?

My mom is famous for simply being her. Her applesauce cakes have put her on the map, literally. She only makes them at Christmas, as gifts for friends and family, and mails them all over the country. They look forward to it every year. She is famous in our house for getting the impossible stains out of any article of clothing. And, her southern cooking is out of this world. You definitely want to be in her circle.

My husband is famous for his quick wit. He kills us on a daily basis with puns, one liners, and jokes that he constantly pulls out of his arsenal. And his most famous with McKinley for his ability to create voices, and mimic others, when playing. Gotta love a man with such talents.

As for me, I'm not certain I'm famous for much. I am famous in this house for having the ability to fall asleep before my head hits the pillow, a talent Joel wishes he possessed. I can cook up the best summer tan, something that some close friends envy. And according to McKinley, I make the best cookies ever! Now that's something to be famous for, right?

But in all seriousness, what does it mean to be famous? And, does anyone really sign up for fame? McKinley has mentioned several times over the past couple of weeks that he wants to be famous. And, that he's already famous at school for his trains. And where would he even come up with wanting to be famous? It's not something we talk about around here. I've always thought I wanted to be famous, but now that I'm older, my desire for fame has changed. And not in the way one would expect. I would love to be famous but only for the following reasons:

1) I want to be famous enough so I can be a contestant on Dancing with the Stars! The more I watch the show, the more I want to be a part of it. I love to dance and the ballroom appeals to me. A friend and I took ballroom dancing several years ago and I had a blast. It was amazing to learn something new and put my old training to the test. Being a past ballerina, I have years of ballet technique under my belt, but that style of dance is so different than ballroom. It was wonderful to experience something like that!

2) I want to be famous enough to have a cameo appearance on Hallmark Channel's Home and Family! I want to have a segment along side all of my favorites and put my own spin on things. I would love to have a styling segment with Lawrence! I think we could be the next styling duo! I would love to craft with Ken and Paige and learn from the best. And then there's Orly. I'm not cool enough to be next to her, have you seen her personal style, but I would love to DIY some super cute fashion pieces with her. It would be a dream! 

3) My wants and needs of fame are simple and easy. I want to have enough money for my family to live comfortably. To have the ability to buy a new home that's a tad larger so we all have our own space, but to still be small enough that we are close in proximity. Does that even make sense? Oh, and I would love to have a two car garage so that we both can take advantage of covered parking! Wait! I also want a closet all my own. And a crafting room. Okay, and to possibly have a second home, a small condo, on the beach somewhere. Vacations would be so much easier!

Now, what do I do to obtain this kind of fame? And when I say fame, I mean, how to check off all of these items on my list! Do I become the next YouTube sensation, or do I leave that for McKinley who is well on his way with all the videos he's making on my phone? Do I become the next blogging sensation? If so, I really need to amp up my readers! Do I become famous for being famous? I guess the options are endless!

And as for you, my sweet baby boy, let's find something for you to be famous for, even if it's just right here in your very own home. However, shoot for the moon and stars! I'm right here with you and will support you along the way. Let's just find something you can do that allows you to grow your talents for good and so you can be a well rounded kid. Which are anyway, so see, you are famous!

XO,

Andrea

For Baby

I am truly at a loss for words after the tragic events that took place in Las Vegas this weekend. Everything always seems so insignificant. Today, as I dropped McKinley off at school, I found myself lingering a little longer. I wasn't ready to walk out of the school. I know I will be back there in a couple of hours, it's my volunteer day in his classroom, but in the meantime I've been teary.

I seem to lean on music when my spirits need to be lifted. But today, I turned to my beloved trio Peter, Paul, and Mary. As we arrived at school, he was telling me about something that took place in music class last week, and his little narrative had me smiling and chuckling. And as we made our way into school, with his little hand in mine, I was reminded of this song. Sweet baby boy, I hope you always know how much I love you.

For Baby

I'll walk in the rain by your side,

I'll cling to the warmth of your tiny hand.

I'll do anything to help you understand,

I'll love you more than anybody can.

And the wind will whisper your name to me,

Little birds will sing along in time,

The leaves will bow down when you walk by,

And morning bells will chime.

I'll be there when you're feeling down,

To kiss away the tears if you cry.

I'll share with you all the happiness I've found,

A reflection of the love in your eyes.

And I'll sing you the songs of the rainbow,

Whisper all the joy that is mine.

The leaves will bow down when you walk by,

And morning bells will chime.

I'll walk in the rain by your side,

I'll cling to the warmth of your tiny hand.

I'll do anything to help you understand,

I'll love you more than anybody can.

The leaves will bow down when you walk by,

And morning bells will chime.

XO,

Andrea

At Six Years Old

Has anyone experienced a six year old recently? If you haven't, I'm hear to talk about it. We are currently dealing with age six and its the hardest age to date! It's seriously no joke. I want to start off with the positives. He is hilarious! The things he says keeps us in stitches, when we aren't crying from frustration. Listening to him try and tell Knock Knock jokes is painful at times, but when he does get a good one, they're pretty funny. His latest, "Interrupting Car", is a good one! His so sweet. He still snuggles and hugs and kisses us goodbye and goodnight. When I hear is sweet little voice on the phone, it melts my heart. And his two missing front teeth smile is the cutest thing I've seen in ages. He truly is my heart.

And then he flips to the dark side. He should go as either Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or Darth Vadar for Halloween. The mood swings are ridiculous! He can wake up crabby, and then by time I drop him off at school, he seems fine. Case in point. He woke up today, a rough one after bad dreams disturbed his sleep, and spent a groggy morning on the couch waiting on his breakfast. I allow him time to play in the mornings, while eating his breakfast, to help ease him into the school day. His biggest complaint these days is that he doesn't get enough time to play, so I'm flexible. And negotiable. As long as he eats, he can play. No harm, no foul. Today, he just wanted to sit on the couch and watch Little Einsteins. Again, no problem. He eats breakfast, gets a little classical music education, and all is right in the world. 

As we headed to school this morning, I broached the topic of writing a book together. I provided the subject matter, one he's passionate about, talked up the fact that he could write the story (me being his co-writer when the words got too hard to spell), and then he could also illustrate it. It would be a project for the two of us, and once it was complete, he could share it with Mrs. Warren, he current first grade teacher. He asked if we could make two copies and I said of course. He seemed excited. Or as excited as a six year old can be. Then I realized I missed our turn. I've been playing with new routes to school to allow for a more mainstreamed drop off and pick up situation, and when I announced it, he began to cry. He demanded that I turn around because he wanted to go the new way and was so distraught that I didn't. It's unnerving and I honestly don't know how to handle it.

The topic of school is another thing! He hates school and reminds us of that everyday. As I mentioned above, he complains all the time that there's no play time anymore. All they do is spend time learning. Recess, lunch, PE, and music seem to be the only things he looks forward to, and PE and music are only available every other day! I feel sorry for art and library. Hell, I feel sorry for me! I know that he's going through a lot of changes physically and emotionally. He's growing, he's adjusting to new routines and concepts, he's becoming aware of the fact that he can make his own decisions from time to time, and lashes out when our suggestions don't jive with his. He's argumentative, dramatic, emotional, and very stubborn. And based on this information I discovered today from Center for Parenting Education, he's apparently a very normal six year old.

At six years old for parents, it sucks! I want to cry more than I laugh. And sometimes I simply laugh through the tears. I constantly feel like I'm failing as a mother. I want to hug and kiss him death and then I want to send him to his room and not have him within my sight. I want to motivate him to want to learn, but then we sit down to work on after school activities, and I think "does he really need to learn how to read?" I'm trying to create a home of warmth, love, joy, and positivity, but some days I feel like my house is a haven of doom and gloom as my son walks around and growls like a bear or hisses like a cat when I ask him to do the simplest of tasks. "Please put your shoes where you found them." Growl. "Let's sit down and read this book together." Hiss. "Would you like to have a snack?" "Finnnnnnnnne, but I wasn't really expecting one." You can see where I find joy at being home. And that I just want to seek refuge in a vat of chocolate or in a glass of champagne after he's gone to bed. It's taking its toll and my heart is heavy.

If you read through the traits of a typical six year old, you will see that at 6 1/2 there are some changes to look forward to. Some of them being more warm and loving, more appreciative, loves mama again. That's a big one right now. Not loving his mama and it's breaking me. He appears to hate me. He told Joel just about a week ago that their outing together just got more fun because Mama wasn't going. Well, they ended up not going anywhere that day and several things were taken away for the weekend, simply based on his attitude. Did I tell you that six years old sucks? 

How many of you mama's out there are dealing with this? Have dealt with it in the past? What are you doing to get through it? On that Saturday where he said he would have more fun without me, I made sure to not be available that day. Whether I was inside the house or out. I spent most of the day alone and I took the time get my nails done. I never do that, but I felt like I needed a little Mama time, and a little pampering, and it was the best 20 minutes I have had in a while. When things get bad, I leave the room and gather my composer. I try not to fly off the handle, which still happens, but I try to breathe through it all and not let him get to me. And let me tell you, it's so much easier said than done! And I constantly have to remind myself that I can't possibly be alone. Please remind me that I'm not alone!

XO,
Andrea

A Reading Nook

I have made no bones about the fact that reading has been a real struggle in this house. And I am beside myself with worry, frustration, and impatience. All things that are not conducive to creating a peaceful environment for learning. But all of that changed last week when I decided to take matters into my own hands and create a peaceful space for McKinley.

I browsed Pinterest one afternoon for inspirational reading nook photos and found tons! If you have a lot of time, and money, and space on your hands, you can create some magnificent spots for your children. But as luck would have it, I had a limited budget and space to work with, but in the end I think it turned out just right.

McKinley's room always seems to be a work in progress. Remember when I was trying to decide where to create a good work space for him? Did I go with the tradition kitchen table or go for a space that was just for him? Well, I turned a small corner in his room into that work space and guess what? He uses the kitchen table for all activities for school. And that table in his room became the catch-all for literally everything! Just like it did in the basement. So I cleaned off the table, carried it back downstairs (where I'm sure it will catch all the toys), and began my work in his room once again.

He hasn't used his changing table in quiet sometime. Or at least for its true intentions. I made it a mini library awhile back and it worked out really well. We read books to him every night and all of his favorites, and then some, were always on hand. And aside from the library shelving, we also have his underwear, socks, and pajamas in the drawers and storage baskets. We still use the table for several purposes. However, it's a huge piece of furniture and takes up a lot of room. My mom had the brilliant idea of putting the table inside the closet. Brilliant I tell you. Until I had to clean out the closet. 

You see, I have a lot of clothes and I utilize two closets in our house. However, because I'm not really working outside the home these days, I don't really need the corporate America wardrobe that is housed inside both. So, I did a major purge. Some things were donated while others were stored in a flat wardrobe box and it's currently stored under one of our beds. I still have several things that need to be stored elsewhere and I may bribe my mom to let me use one of her closets.....again! Oh, and I had to clear out all the shoes that were in that closet as well. And clear out I did. I donated a huge box of shoes and I'm prepared to sell the others. I still have more shoes than I actually need, but what woman doesn't. But I did it! And the transformation is perfect! (And yes, there is still a small portion of my stuff in his closet. I truly can't purge it all....)

From there, it was time to create the peaceful reading nook. I knew I wanted to use the corner of his room for a portion of the space, but I wasn't really sure how to execute it. I thought a bean bag would be super cool based on the photo above. But did you know that right under my nose was McKinley's Pottery Barn Kids chair? This poor chair has been moved around and around our house, but I think it finally has a good home. I found a build it yourself bookcase at Target and it will work for now. I would like to find something a little bigger and one that runs horizontally versus vertically. I would like it to house his art supplies in addition to all of his books he will eventually be reading. For now, the books are arranged according to paperback versus hardback. All Little Golden Books are on the same shelf. His larger books are on the bottom. And all the paperbacks are on top. He's got his art caddy, Jingle Pup who is super integral when reading Jingle Pup, and his albums and record player for when a little light music is needed. Isn't it sweet?

The top of the bookcase needed a little something so I went scouring around the house. I found his seashell collection and sand from the Outer Banks. I added his favorite antique car which was my dad's when he was little. We have our marbles for the marble reading jar. And what six year old doesn't need a Lava Lamp? That was mine and it was time to pass it down. All things have meaning which makes the space complete!

When I first showed McKinley his new space after school last week, he immediately asked if he could have his afternoon snack there. Of course! And he asked if he could have a basket of books next to the chair so he could lean over and grab one. Absolutely! I wanted him to know that this was all for him. He used the extra floor space this weekend to color and I loved seeing that. And, he did read there last night, with a little coaxing by me, and then he "read" a Richard Scarry book called Cars and Trucks and Things that Go. At least he used it!

We need a little artwork on the large open wall space and I think I'll fill it with his school artwork as it comes home. What a perfect way to showcase those pieces that aren't on display in my office. I'm hoping this space becomes one of a haven of opportunity for him. The opportunity to become a successful reader. A space for listening to soothing music to help fuel the soul. And a place that's all his own to feed his body, mind, and spirit. 

XO,

Andrea

Back To School: First Grade

Today is the first day of school and I can't believe my baby boy is off to First Grade. And as a result, I found myself in tears the other night. Everyone had gone to bed and I was alone watching TV. I'm not even sure what I might have been watching so I don't think it triggered the emotion. I simply started to cry. I've loved having him as my constant companion this summer and I'm going to miss him terribly!

I've had those Mama moments.... Yes, I have found myself tensing up when I heard "Mama" for the thousandth time in a day. Sure we had our arguments. Of course there were times where I wished for peace and quiet as he made a train whistle as loud as he could or ran through the whole squealing at the top of his lungs. It grated on my nerves each and every time, and now my house is going to be so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I've really tried to remember that this week as all of these same scenarios played out and I found myself reacting each time. Taking a deep breath, I would mutter under it, "This is the last week before school. You are going to miss all of this come Friday morning." It truly is the best test of patience!

We were back to our "normal" routine this morning. Up and dressed for breakfast. Me scouring around getting all the morning details finalized while he ate. Taking that first day of school picture and begging him to look at my and smile, and then our drive to school. But I thought I would be more emotional than I was. I felt so excited for him. And he seemed excited himself. He found his cubby, hung up his backpack, double checked where his lunchbox was for his morning snack, and then found his place at his work table. It was old hat for him and I loved it. He was worried about not knowing his table mates, but I assured him that they would be well acquainted before school was over today. He seemed at ease.

My husband took the day off to take him to school and be there to pick him up as well. And as we drove home, after spending some time with fellow parents at the back to school coffee, we talked about our own nerves. But their our nerves, not his. We worry that he will like school. Be eager to learn. Make new friends. And deep down, we know that the answer is yes to all of these. Look at that face! Is that a face that says I don't like school? No! He screams excitement. He is eager to learn. That's evident in the questions he asks all day long. He is the sweetest kids with the kindest heart, so making friends won't be an issue. McKinley is going to rock First Grade!

I can't wait to see what this year brings for all of us! "School days, school days, dear old golden rule days" is the truth! We can all learn from this experience of school. It was about time I learned 'rithmetic!

Happy First Day of School!

XO,

Andrea

My Little Artist

There was a time in McKinley's life where I couldn't get him to pick up a coloring book and crayon. Working on at home art projects was a chore, except for the occasional finger painting. I hated it because I loved to color when I was little, still do, and I chalked it up to maybe boys just don't like to color like girls. All that changed in Kindergarten.

His first art project came home and it was a Flying Carpet. Large strips of colored paper to represent fabric, scribbles to represent the details in the tapestry, and green fringe along the edge completed this darling piece. And like any proud mother, when Artsonia sent the email with all the different products you could purchase with this art project printed on it, you can bet that I took the bait. And so did my mom. Mouse pads, travel mugs, coffee mugs, and quilt squares were purchased with proceeds going back to the school. We were over joyed!

There were pumpkins for fall, hearts for Valentines Day, and a few things in between. But everything seemed to change when Artsonia sent an email with his cardinal project. I seriously teared up at this sweet piece. It honestly touched my heart and that's when I knew I had a little artist. He had taken such great care with this project, explaining to me how he executed certain techniques under the watchful eye of Mrs. Feathers, his art teacher. I knew in an instant I would frame that piece and start a wall of art work that was all McKinley. But then the piece never came home and a lump formed in my throat. It had been lost in the school move over winter break and I would never see it in person, I thought. Until the schools Open House in the spring! She had chosen his cardinal to be hung among his peers. I couldn't believe it. This child that wouldn't color was now showing art work at school! And, his Rainbow Fish was there too. Two art projects in one year. My heart swelled! 

The wall of art was a slow process, but it's finally done! My mom and I had some custom framing created, they deserved the extra attention, and I was able to hang them yesterday. I love how my little office is coming together. It's such a personal space that represents all the facets of my life. Fashion, passion, my sweet son, and a little fun splashed in. I love stepping into the space. It may be attached to a part of the family's hanging center, but it's still my little world. Take a look!

I adore it, but I'm not sure how 1st grade is going to fit on the wall! We will just make it work, right Tim Gunn? I can't wait to see what he creates next year!

XO,

Andrea