Everyone is on the mend here, and I’m so glad that Hottie went to the doctor and got some antibiotics for me in addition to his.  I needed them.  I can’t believe I felt so awful for 3 weeks.  Ridiculous.

A lot happened this week, and a lot stayed the same.  Just how I like it!  Here are my favorite parts of the week!

Favorite Parenting Moment of the Week:

This will be repetitive because the photo is now my header image, but there’s a story behind it.  We have had even more gorgeous weather here (70’s) which means “park weather.”  I took the boys to their favorite park (“the blue park”) because they requested it the other day.  They played together so well and there’s a little creek in some woods right next to the park where they like to go for little hikes together.  I always like to take photos of them back there because it’s quite beautiful.  A lot of the times, Bryson is on the brink of hurting himself as I’m snapping photos.  This moment was one of them!

I was hollering at Bryson to be careful as he got closer and closer to the drop off and Matthew was right there to watch over him.  He literally grabbed his arm and pulled him back.  Good boy!  I love watching them take care of one another!

Here are a couple of other photos from the park that I liked!

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Favorite Outfit of the Week:

I ordered this shirt from Modcloth the other day because every person who blogs wearing their stuff looks super cute!  The shirt did not disappoint!  I paired it with my BR skinnies (the ones I don’t like) and my Ugg boots and was out the door today.  I even wore some gold toned jewelry to go with the buttons on the sleeves.  I’m getting better at this every day.  HA HA!

Favorite Family Time of the Week:

We had a ROUGH Saturday last weekend.  The boys were a wreck, Hottie and I were at the ends of our ropes, and DST was coming up that night.  The boys were so naughty that we thought of not taking them to the annual Halloween event at the local farm here (Living History Farms – a true gem in the Midwest and something we’re so lucky to have!).  I, however, said that we couldn’t take that away because it would be like taking Santa away from them as punishment – the Farm is an annual Halloween tradition.  So we went.

As we were riding the horse-drawn wagon in the darkness, Hottie turned to me and whispered, “I’m really glad we came tonight.”  Me too, Hottie, me too!

(Terrible picture… thanks to our super reflective costumes this year!)

Favorite Purchase of the Week:

Tickets for a NYE bash.  But it’s not just any bash, it’s the grand opening of my cousin’s new jazz club downtown which is the most anticipated opening of the year here in our city.  She and her husband are the guardians for our kids, and one of the reasons they are is because they are so good at following their dreams.  They make shit happen – and they are making something very exciting happen here in DSM!  I am so excited to be a part of it!  The party has a roaring 20’s theme so I already ordered my dress (Modcloth) and am working on hair and shoes.  My best friend is coming with us and she ordered her dress too.  We’re so excited!

If you’re curious, check out their site!  Noce!

Favorite Project of the Week:

So, I’m Matthew’s home room parent this year again, but with another mom who is a friend of mine.  We both have been “talked to” about making the holiday party craft projects too difficult for the kids (whatever!).  We nailed it for Halloween and as I was planning my kids’ advent activities for this year (making a new Christmas decoration every day until Christmas), I thought that one of those activities could be great for the kids’ holiday party.  I tried it out, and with some simple preparation before the party, we can TOTALLY do this!

Favorite Preschool Art Project:

This kids’ open house at school was on Monday and as we were walking through Bryson’s room, I kept my eye out for his art projects.  I saw a wall of pumpkins and wondered which was his.  Working left to right, I wasn’t seeing his… and then I did.  Our son’s pumpkin was the only one that wasn’t the traditional pumpkin with two eyes, a nose, and a mouth.  Ours had multiple eyes, no nose, and very little paint.  This kid obliterates boundaries, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Favorite Realization of the Week:

Sometimes, the big kid still needs a nap!

Favorite Moments with Matthew This Week:

Matthew wrapped up a present for his imaginary friend, Zappy Zopo, because today is her birthday. She picked it up off the porch 🙂

Like father, like son!

Matthew brought this to me… I had no idea he could write his entire name. I cried.

Favorite Text Message This Week:

From my friend, Denise, who is also our family photographer.  She took our family photos two weeks ago and she sent me a sneak peek.  I’ll post the real photos once she’s done with them… she has lots of work to do getting Matthew in the photos looking at the camera.  She’s good at Pho.tosh.op!

(She sent photos of her computer screen – hence the stripes.  I wasn’t wearing funky tights!)

Author: Courtney

Hi, there, I’m Courtney. I never planned to stay home with my kids, but I got sucked into motherhood when my first baby came into our lives after years of infertility and multiple rounds of IVF. His brother followed closely behind, something we didn’t plan on after having such a rough road with achieving parenthood the first time around. My boys are IVF cycle twins, conceived on the same day but born two years and one day apart (they were both transferred on the same day in October, but with two years between them). My boys are the best of friends and my husband is a terrific husband, father, and most importantly… friend. He fully supported my desire to stay home (“I just wanted it to be your idea and not mine, I totally want you to stay home and raise our kids!”) and encourages me in everything I do. I am a lover of projects, spreadsheets, fitness, healthy cooking and eating, crafts, selling my stuff on FB (HA!), and the outdoors. If I’m active, I’m pretty darn happy!