What's In My Bag

I decided to join the link up for "What's In My Bag" this week.  I will be honest in that I feel like my purse actually had pretty normal items in it!  I've been known to keep an extra pair of socks, dental floss, and some other interesting items with me.  But, I have learned to tone it down a bit, storing only the essentials.  First off, I didn't take a photo of my handbag.  It's a black leather bag by Kate Spade and is similar to this one.  Here's what's inside it:

I always keep these sunglasses with me, but often find myself wearing the $10 ones I keep in my car.  They just fit me better and I could care less if they get scratched or broken by one of the kids.

Grape Ice Cubes are my favorite gum hands down.  I always keep those, another fun flavor, and good old original Trident with me.

You can never have enough lipsticks and gloss.

Have I mentioned I'm a candy junkie?  You never know when you'll need a little sugar boost.  And, it's my secret ammunition in desperate times with the kids.  You mommas know what I mean.

I need to wear my reading glasses more than I do, but at least I always have them with me!

My favorite wallet.  I've had it for years and it still looks brand new.

Yep, that's a rock.  Brady painted this rock at daycare.  When he gave it to me he was so proud of his masterpiece.  I was beaming that the paint was on a rock and not my walls and doors for a change.  I've kept it with me since then and after today it has found it's way from my purse to my office desk.

Fun notepads for Tess always come in handy.

I always have extra hair ties and lip chap.  Even though I start most morning with my hair done, it's' typically on top of my head by 4pm.  And yes...I've always called it lip chap. ;)

5 on Friday: June 3, 2016

I know I'm lagging behind in my posts so today will be a little game of catch-up on life lately!

 

1. National Donut Day

First things, first....Happy National Donut Day!  I love, love, love this morning so very much.  I am a donut girl to the core; always have been, probably always will be.  I can leave the cake, cupcakes, and most cookies alone but gosh there's something about a morning donut that just makes ya happy!  We started our morning extra early to stop by our favorite local bakery for some yummy goodness before work/school.  I think they went over well for bubby. ;)

2. End of an Era

It's happening whether I want to accept it or not so I'm doing my best to embrace yet another milestone for my first born. A couple weeks ago we attended Tessa's preschool graduation! It was the best night of celebrating her years at the most wonderful daycare/school that I could have asked for. Tessa has learned so much educationally as well as emotionally. I have no doubts that she is ready to take on the world as she starts Kindergarten this Fall. Here are some highlights from her special night!

She Does Not Like Attention On Her, So She Played Bashful Most Of The Evening

Her Amazing Teachers This Year

Picking Up Her Diploma & Shirt

Decorating Her Graduation Cookie - This Was Such A Fun Idea & Those Sugar Cookies Were The Best I've Ever Eaten (I Still Need To Figure Out Where They Came From)

3. Picasso Strong

I know I've written about this before. Little man is a stinker when it comes to drawing on walls and furniture. I'm really starting to think he must have a special hiding spot for crayons or I'm really an awful parent at not finding them in his possession....maybe both? Anyway, the number of doors with "special drawings" is increasing and I'm pretty sure the man at the paint store should give me an automatic discount and a cocktail on each visit. ;)

Not Such An Innocent Face

4. Summer Beings

Even though summer isn't officially here based on the calendar, I always regard Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial start to summer.  It's the first weekend that my whole family gathers at the lake, the first boat ride on the water, the first trip to the amusement park, the first cocktail at the Barefoot bar, the first jump in the lake for the crazy few, etc.  

He Caught Six Fish In A Row That Morning

This Girl Loves To Bake

Someone's First Trip On The Kiddie-Coaster

The Conductor

The Tipsy House Never Disappoints

Bubby's First Ice Cream!!!  It Had To Be My Favorite Dessert Too!

Although the weather wasn't gorgeous each day, we had plenty of wonderful moments to start some summer memories.  My home has my heart and it just doesn't disappoint! 
 

5. Bling

Since last Fall Tess has been asking me to take her to get her ears pierced.  I really wanted her to wait until she was six or seven in the hopes that she would better remember the moment.  I still remember my dad taking me to get my ears pierced at our small town jewelry store.  I remember picking out my earrings, how happy I was when I was done, and how excited I was to go home and show my mom and siblings.  I even remember the pajamas I wore that night! 

Anyway, I held Tess off for a while with some stick on earrings.  She loved matching the fun colors and designs to her outfits each morning.  Soon that excitement wore off and she started asking me again.  This time I took her to the mall and let her watch another little girl get her ears pierced.  That little girl didn't take the experience too well and that was all Tess needed to see for her to wait another few months...eek!  So there we were in April and the demands began again.  It's all she said she wanted for her fifth birthday.  I was debating between going to the mall (I have hesitancy with that) or a tattoo parlor (I know they'll be sanitary and professional, but that's intimidating).  Finally I thought back to my experience and decided a jewelry store would be the best option for us.  I told Tess that we could go and talk to the jeweler (a family friend) and let her pick out some earrings she may want.  However, we weren't planning on doing her actual piercing until her birthday.  Well, when I saw how excited Tess was I couldn't help but let her do it right then and there!  She had to do one ear at a time but she didn't care.  She didn't flinch or cry at all; even though I may have shed a tear. 

She's Ready!

Lining Them Up Just Right

So Happy She's Done

I can't believe how brave she was.  She loves them so much and is awesome about cleaning them each day.  She even reminds me...whoops!

 

There you have it!  Life has been wonderful but busy as usual.  For a change of pace, we've made an agreement that although we will have a lot of fun this summer, these next couple of months are going to drastically slow down.  We need to embrace these days and not feel like we're chasing a schedule of activities.  After all, this is our last summer as  family before one of us starts school.  Here's to backyard BBQs, playing in the yard, trips for ice cream, and lazy lake days.  Welcome June!