Week Thirteen: Spring Break!

Spring break was so great. I finally overcame the mom guilt and was able to take advantage of the daycare I was already paying for. Monday I sent O to daycare all day while I caught up on work. Tuesday and Wednesday we went on morning adventures and then I sent him to daycare for the afternoon both days, and Friday I kept him all day. It was kind of perfect!
Thursday I sent him for the whole day and did basically NOTHING. All day. 

It. Was. Amazing.

However, since ya'll probably wouldn't keep reading a blog about me watching Netflix all day, I'll focus on the fun we had!

First up was the Preschool Playdate at the Science Museum of Minnesota on Tuesday morning. On Tuesday mornings they have activities geared toward the preschool set and as an added bonus they have free admission with our Children's Museum membership for the Preschool Playdates as well!

So many fun things to explore at the Science Museum!

Next up was a super fun play date at the new indoor play space in Stillwater. It is an extension of Gammy and Gumpy's toy store and is called Kids Oasis. It was a super cool space with lots of imaginative play toys and spaces, a sandbox, a climbing area, a space for little babies, train tables, and some party rooms. O had an absolute blast and we will definitely go back there!

Firefighters, grocery stores, magnet toys, tea parties, and so much more!

 

Finally, we have been dealing with a lot of BIG emotions lately. It seems as though O is really struggling with how to handle his frustration. We decided to make a calm down bottle to see if giving him something to focus on would help. It seems to be working, at least a little bit, and it was a blast to make! We used about 3/4 HOT water and 1/4 glitter glue. We whisked them together and then added fine glitter. Poured it all into a rinsed out water bottle with smooth sides and super glued the cap on. The result is pretty mesmerizing. O asked that we make more, and I want to make a tiny one using a travel size shampoo bottle that would be easy to toss in my purse when we go out and about. 

Whisking is so fun! 

The moral of the story, is that it is good to be kind to yourself and give yourself 'me time' whenever you can. Because I had 'me time' over spring break I was a better and more engaged mom that was excited to do so much fun stuff. It is so hard to not let the mom guilt take over, but when you can find it in you to tell the mom guilt to go to hell, it is pretty freaking fantastic.

Week Ten: I like to move it, move it!

I have jumped on the fitbit train! I realize I'm super late to the party, but {let's be real} when am I not fashionably late?

I've finally decided that I need to get myself in shape {hello, 30 pound toddler making me winded after 2 steps} and this little thing has been such a motivator! Being able to compete with Mike and my friends has been a game changer.

After much thought and internal debate, I decided on the Charge HR.

Things I love: The heart rate monitor, the display screen, and the way the app works to monitor my calories in and out via food log and activity tracking.

Things I don't love: It is definitely more bulky than other fitbits and some of my long sleeve shirts don't fit over it super well. I also don't love that there aren't many customization options like the Flex or Alta.

All in all though, it's love. So much so that Mike copied me a week or so later!

As silly as we may look trying to get our steps in each day, I *love* the impact it is have on O. He has started telling us "I want to exercise, mom and dad!" followed by running laps around the house. ♡

Week Eight: Mommy/Owen Day

Balancing work, family, marriage, and self is kind of impossible. It just is. This week I hit two birds with one stone when I took O on a "Mommy/Owen Day" and gave Mike a night off.

It was a pretty great but totally unpredictable evening with my little buddy. My plan was to take him to MOA for some rides, some dinner, and then some shopping before heading home.

Here is what transpired instead:

Arrive at mall.
Score VIP parking spot like a boss.
Argue with toddler about bringing in the carrier. {I was pro-carrier. He was not.}
Walk in {sans-carrier...grumble} carrying toddler because he "needed some snuggles but just in your arms, not in the carrier."
Arrive at the mall with plans to head straight to dinner, only to notice an elaborate Chinese New Year celebration set up in the rotunda.
Become mesmerized by the Kung Fu, dragons, and drums.
Watch for a long time, THEN go grab some Noodles.
Try to convince O that we should go on some rides.
Get distracted by the arcade, the doll stoe, the peeps store, and basically everything else that could possibly distract a 2 year old. While carrying him. Because no carrier.
Ride 2 rides.
Go home.

I'm not even sure why I still have this compulsive need to plan. Even if the plan is to wing it, I need to plan! Yet my plans always go something like those listed above. Someday I might learn. ;)

At least we bought the year long pass to rides, so we didn't waste money on a one day pass or anything!

In case you were curious, Mike and O went on a grocery store adventure and baked Irish soda bread on my night off. So yummy!

Week Six: Sunshine State

Vacations can be so stressful. The pressure to do everything and have ALL THE FUN can be so paralyzing.

This vacation was not like that, my friends. Not at all!

We had a few things we wanted to do, but plenty of time for relaxing and winging it. And wing it we did.

Hang out time with cousins, both adult and toddler sized. Lowry Park Zoo. Hang out time with aunties and uncles. Brunches. Coffee dates. Ice cream. Beaches and boardwalks. Favorite restaurants and grouper galore. Basically everything we hoped this vacation would bring!

I've been posting pictures throughout our trip, but here are some of my favorites. I truly hope everyone has a chance to take a vacation as chill as this one has been at some point in their lives. I recommend not while you have a toddler. ;) But even with O toddlerin' like crazy some days, it was still pretty amazing. 

Brunch with cousins. <3

Gymnastics!

Lorikeets 

Making birdie friends.

Total beach bum.

On our date!

John's Pass. 

Singing his heart out on the golf course. 

An evening stroll on the golf course. 

Uncle Bobby and Uncle Jerry visited!

Valentine's Day treats. 

I can't even with the cute in this photo. 

Almost every morning was lazy and delightful. 

On the way home we saw a shadow of our plane in a circular rainbow. What?!

My little buddy and I at John's Pass. 

Someone took a snooze at the zoo! Thanks, standard size Kinderpack, for fitting my almost 3 year old. 

Zoo selfie!

Owies are made better by bandaids and snuggles. 

Ready to catch Daddy on the slide.

Sand covered kid. 

Week Five: Operation Toddler on a Plane

I am almost embarrassed to admit how much of my time this week was devoted to mentally planning our flight to Florida. Not the trip itself; we will wing it when we get there. But the actual flights down there are what I've been devoting much too much brain space to.

But guess what? Worth it!! As I sit here with a happy toddler and a margarita, I can 100% confirm it was worth it.

Here is what we packed in the carry on:

*Applesauce pouches
*Bunny Grahams
*Raisins
*Alphabet carrot and zucchini cookies
*Fruit snacks
*Granola bars

*Change of clothes and 2 pair of undies for O
*Kleenex
*Hand and face wipes
*A couple zip lock bags just in case
*Extra contacts+solution+glasses

* A sheet of puffy stickers
*Character band-aids  {princess and minion by request}
*Two rolls of colorful masking tape
*Felt pizza {from last year's busy bag exchange}
*Velcro color matching with paint samples {from last year's busy bag exchange}
*Foam tangrams
*Color changing silly putty
*Mini slinky
*Airport sticker book
*Sticker alphabet book
*Kindle
*Headphones

We are already getting ready to land and we have gone through each entertainment opportunity, but O is happy, mama is happy, & daddy is happy. :)

Busy Bag activities from last year's busy bag swap were a hit!

Color changing silly putty. Highly recommend.

Masking tape is a hit at home and it was a big hit on the plane, too!

Mini slinky from the dollar section at Target was great.

A stacking crayon and foam tangrams from the dollar spot were both just OK.

Stickers and snacks and our BFF the Kindle. 

Week Fifty-One: Christmas All Week Long

Oh, hi Christmas. You kind of snuck up on me!

This week we tested out a very travel heavy attempt to spend Christmas with both families.

Can I get a big, fat, OOFDA?!

It was pretty glorious to have Mike and I both on vacation at the same time, even if all our time was spent on the go.

Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree

Here's what our crazy week looked like:

Monday: Finish packing, load the car, get on the road to Duluth by nap time. Arrive in Duluth and hang out at Grandma's house.

Tuesday: Happy birthday to Mike! Out to lunch, Lake Superior exploration, and ice cream while O was with my Grandma. Get home, bundled up, and out the door to go see Bentleyville.  Experience Bentleyville and then head out to dinner with my mom, Jason, and Sydney.

Wednesday: Visit and gift exchange with my dad and grandma at dad's house. Visit and gift exchange with my mom and Jason at mom's house. Back to my grandma's house for dinner and the big Christmas Eve celebration. Pack up and get on the road for home before 9pm.

Thursday: Wake up in our own bed! Christmas morning gifts and more packing. On the road to Mankato by nap time. Christmas meal and gift exchange with Mike's family.

Friday: Sweet jeebus how is it already Friday?! More family time and some shopping.

Saturday: Lunch with Mike's bffs from childhood followed by our own happy hour at home while O napped. Then games with the bffs, takeout for dinner with Mike's parents, and a movie.

Sunday: Pack up and head home.

Ok. I am exhausted all over again just writing that out. If you are actually still reading, you get 5 points. Ha.

As a reward, here are a bunch of pictures of all the festivities!

Sledding with Auntie Sydney.

Riding the snow caterpillar 

Silly kid at Grandma Lynnette and Grandpa Jason's house. 

Checking out the trampoline. 

Drum set!

Present opening at Grandpa Pat and Leanne's house. 

Family photo with Santa at Grandma Sandy and Papa's house. 

Papa showing off his drawing skills after Sydney's paper plate on your head drawing contest. 

Grandma won first place!

Comparing art work. :)

Owen and Addie playing phones. 

Controlling the train with Papa. 

Looking for Okee Dokee Brothers on Grandma Lynnette's phone. 

Playing with the twins and their new trucks. 

Excited to dig into his stocking!

Pizza making Christmas morning with mama. 

Reading the book Santa brought him. 

O got to help daddy with a big boy Lego set. 

Trying out his elephant whistle. 

Billy wanted to help. 

O has definitely gotten over his fear of Billy. 

Playing with the hand crafted fishing game from Grandma Carol and Grandpa Mike.

Choo choo!

Playing with Grandma Carol. 

Flying planes with Grandpa Mike.

Playground with Grandma Carol, Auntie Cathy, "Boocock" the dog, and mama and daddy. :)

These are just some of the photos I had on our nice camera. I have so many more on my phone, Mike's phone, and still some that I didn't grab from the nice camera. I'm hopeful that they'll make it into a Facebook photo album sooner or later, because there are some cute ones! :)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!