on a field trip...

I was so glad to find out that Sebastian's field trip was planned for a Monday, my day off of school! We had so much fun at the Kitsap Fair Ground for a farm day. Sebastian was able to  have as many horse rides as his little heart wanted, we rode around on a hayride, went around meeting all sorts of farm animals and just enjoyed the hot summer sun! These are the days that I live for lately.

on a little soccer player...

I grew up with knowing soccer. When you have a European dad who played hardcore soccer in the Army when he was a young fella it's hard not to know soccer. I grew up learning about all there is really to know about it and although I never played on an actually team, mainly because school sports teams weren't very enticing to me, there was no doubt that I could have been pretty good at it. It's one of those things that I think it just in your blood.
I got excited when my in laws decided to gift Sebastian with a season of soccer for this birthday this past July and yesterday was his first day starting on the field.

Before the actual soccer game they practiced running with the ball and kicking goals. There were some pretty great moments and some I even captured on camera...

YES! This is how my kid reacted when he made a goal. He is awesome! This photo is getting blown up, framed and put on a very important wall!
And then there were moments like this...

It's going to take some practice and some explaining that it's okay when the other team takes the ball from you. And that there is no need to get upset, you just have to go get the ball back (gently). He will get the hang of it and since it was the first day of it all I think he did a swell job. I'm a very proud momma over here and excited for the next Saturday to come especially since Daddy will be there!

xoxo.

on a 4th birthday...

My little boy turned FOUR today! Yes, it happened. Ahhh! Today was a success and I am so glad to have made this day a special one for a boy who totally deserves it. 
We had a low key family party with the place decorated in some Legos and some Batman. Hey, it was whatever the little guy wanted. His day, his say :) Here are some photos of all the fun we had...

 Sebastian was a very lucky boy with all the gifts he received from his beloved family. His Aunts and Uncles even surprised him with a brand new shiny Spiderman bike!
Happy day for us and I am one proud parent :D

on a few good things...

It's been a little since I've been around. Lots going on around here. Projects galore and really just life happening fast. Can you believe it's February? I can't! Soon I'll be married for one year and have a four year old. Gahhh! I want to scream. That is seriously crazy to think about at this moment. A. Four. Year. Old. Alas I feel like things are starting to shift back to a normal, whatever that means. Here's a little catch-up on a few good things...

Last weekend we took the train downtown to see the annual Car Show. This photo was the only one that we took and really was the only good thing that came out of that day. I know, I totally sound like a negative Nancy but seriously the day was a complete bust. Sebastian started out the day being a irritable and cranky and Bobby and I thought the train ride and car show would bring him out of his funk. Boy, were we wrong! All in all, we were at the car show for only an hour, saw a few cars and our took our very tired butts back home on the train. Sometimes things just aren't meant to be. And that day the car show was not written in the universe for us to see & enjoy. It's life and you learn. Hence this extremely too close photo that Bobby snapped of me and Sebastian (well mostly me) on the train. Not bad aye? It's the small things you have to appreciate! 

Here's some few of my favorite eats lately. Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips. No dip needed for these bad boys. Super yummy as snack. Milka Alpine Milk Chocolate. Found this gem at Wegmans, where we do our weekly food shopping. Wegmans has some fun isles of international goodies and I found this in the European section. Milka is a brand of chocolate that is commonly seen all over Hungary & most European countries and whenever I would visit, these chocolates were consumed at an incredible rate by me. This chocolate bar is the best. Quakers Oatmeal Squares have become my every morning cereal. This stuff is good. I like them because they don't get all soggy when they sit for a little while. Since I'm at work and more times than not I find myself busy with consumers in the morning I don't worry that my cereal is going to get all mushy in my soy milk. That is pure joy right there!

Remember when I made that amazing Spectacular Pumpkin Pie and for the crust I had to use Anna's Ginger Thins? Well, I found these melt in your mouth chocolate mint thins by Anna's and they are a favorite in our house. I like to enjoy them with a nice hot cup of peppermint tea. Bliss. 

The other week when we hit up Ikea I picked up this little guy. He is a milk frother! Super simple yet so amazing. On the weekends I'm at home and have to use my Keurig for my coffee means. Not to knock on my Keurig but dude, it's not the same as getting my coffee at work. It's just not. So this guy helps me trick my mind into believing my boring 'ol cup of coffee is better than it really is. Win. Win. Right?! 


Last but not least it's my lovely mother in law's 50th birthday today. Hope she doesn't kick me in the shin for saying so :D She's wonderful and she'll be in paradise next week so that's what she gets from me. Telling everyone on the world wide web that she is one smokin' hot 50 year old! Amen to that sista. 

♥A.

on our favorite books...

We have a pretty decent assortment of children books. The past couple weeks even more have entered our home since a couple weeks ago work acquired a used books store (my coffee shop is in a mall so by that I meant the mall acquired a used book store). Sebastian loves to read! I always find him on the floor with tons of his books scattered around him with his head in a book, pretend reading. It's fun being a parent because you get to incorporate books that you grew up with into their lives and have fun reading them books that as a child you loved. Things like that warm my heart, knowing that Sebastian likes things that I liked as a kid :) 

1\\ Mercer Mayer's Little Critter books were one of my faves when I was a kid. Cute, funny and yet always has a lesson for Sebastian to learn. 


2\\ The Berenstain Bears by Stan and Jen Berenstain are another favorite of mine. Just another great book full of wisdom and humor that help children and parents conquer their firsts! The two that Sebastian and I have been reading currently are "Too much TV" and "And too much Junk Food". Fits the current stage we're at. 


3\\ Eric Carle books are beautiful. Colorful in pictures and in words. By far the most beloved around here is "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See?". Classics none the less and such a great way to get kids to interact. Sebastian loves singing the Brown Bear song with me and we get to see different animals and make animal sounds. At times it can get a little loud in here!


4\\ Laura Numeroff books are new to me and we only have a few of them so far but their ones that I find Sebastian pulling out and wanting me to read often. "If You Take A Mouse To School" and "If You Give A Pig A Party". I don't know about you but I always wondered what if you take a mouse to school? 


5\\ No doubt Dr. Seuss books are on our list. Every single one of them are childhood must haves. Green Eggs and Ham, naturally is our number one.


6\\ Look and Find books are brilliant. Something that Sebastian has yet to become bored with. These books are his go-to in times when we're lounging around. There are so many to choose from, so far we have Toy Story, Elmo's Potty and Spider-Man. Sort of like a I Spy book for toddlers. Each page has a scene and then a box on the side of things that they have to find. Makes them think and it's always fun having to find Buzz Lightyear hiding behind a spaceship!


That's our favorite books. Always adding on and always reading. Other than the ones that I've shared, my most cherished childhood book is No Milk, No Moon!  Have you heard of it? What are your favorite childhood books?

♥A.

on meatless monday & school...

Today's meatless Monday brought to you by...just kidding. So, I was in the mood for some grilled cheese today. I guess that qualifies as meatless! I seriously have never whipped up a grilled cheese as fast as I can now with my panini press. Best grilled cheese ever. All toasted & cheese evenly melted, yumm!

Why do I have ranch in my photo? Because I dip my grilled cheese into ranch! Why, what's wrong with that?!! I love crusty bread as much as the next person but I'm a sucker for whole wheat oat nut bread as well. Ooey gooey cheesy goodness. 

This little boy, in his skivvies, is starting his first day of his speech school tomorrow. He will be going Tuesday & Thursday for a few hours from now on. I'm nervous (for no particular reason). I know he will do great because he has come so far in this last year and I'm so excited to see him go even further in the next! I mean, look at that devilish grin :) It's destined for greatness! Plus in a couple of weeks he will be riding a bus to this school. Welp! Hold me. 

♥A.

on a mother's wall of art...

One of the joys of being a mother is all the art work I get :) Sebastian is quite the artist. 

I have an assortment of Woody's in all sorts of colors :) Sebastian brings home lots of fun arts and crafts from school that I get to keep. I love searching his cubby at school to find all the treasures. Oh, let's not forget the lovely art on my white walls. I have a special box I keep every single piece of paper or craft forever. I love the thought of showing him when he gets older or his future kids, my grandkids eeepp! It's crazy to think about :) 

♥A.