Phone Free Friday

We had a great Friday night. There aren't any pictures in this post because we decided to declare it "Phone Free Friday" and after last night it is safe to say that it is a new tradition in our family.  We wanted to take the boys to do something fun because we have a busy weekend coming up so we decided to go to dinner and Chuck E. Cheese.  We put our phones in the floor board and left them in the car when we went in to the restaurant.  Instead of playing on our phones our boys colored.  Instead of checking the time we took our time.  We just enjoyed each other and were able to see other families who were tuned out and constantly checking their Facebook and kids busy candy crushing it up.  It really reinforced that "Phone Free Friday" was a great idea!

After dinner we went to Chuck E. Cheese and let the boys run wild.  They were so excited that they just run around hunting for the perfect games to play.  They were more excited about putting the coins in the machines than the actual rides and games. They enjoyed the rides for a few seconds and then they were on to the next one.  Instead of seeing my boys through my iPhone camera I was able to see them through my own eyes and no picture can compete with that.  I was able to talk to other mothers that I normally would not and enjoy their children as they rode around the carousel with my own. 

Pictures are a fantastic way to preserve memories and I think I take so many because I want to remember every second of this life with my boys.  I do not ever want to forget a minute we spend together but I realized that sometimes when I am looking through the lens, I am missing the moment.  I am trying so hard to get the perfect shot for scrapbooks that, in that minute of taking pictures, I have missed the experience.  I pray that I will do a better job of being there in the moment with my children and not so worried about the perfect shot. 

First Day of School Parent Gift

Our first week of preschool is officially in the books! I knew I wanted to take a photo of each child on the first day of school.  I used some really cute (and cheap!) green striped wrapping paper that I got at TJ Maxx to make a simple backdrop.  I took a photo of each little one holding a "First Day" chalkboard (also from TJ Maxx).  I made silly faces and I was able to crack most of them and get a smile or laugh.  The pictures turned out A-DOR-ABLE! I had originally planned to use the pictures at the end of the year and give them to the parents along with a picture of the students on the Last Day of Preschool but my husband kindly burst my bubble when he mentioned that I wouldn't be able to take their picture on the last day and get it all put together by the time they go home.  After all, we only have these little ones for four hours.  So I was on to plan B. I stared searching Pinterest and Google for cute first day crafts I could do using their pictures and my search did not yield a lot of results.  I did not find a lot of cute and useful ideas so I tweaked one and made it my own and I wanted to share what I did just in case someone else is searching for something similar.  This was my inspiration. 

 

I got their pictures printed and glued them onto some cute chevron and polka dot scrapbook paper I had on hand.  I laminated them and then glued a clothespin to the bottom and attached a magnet to the back of the clothespin.  I clipped on a note that says:

 

I made this special magnet

on the very first day

so that my preschool work

will always be on display!

 

Now that I look at them without their cute little faces visible I am convinced that it is their faces that made this idea so cute!  They are precious I tell you.  This was a fun and easy gift to give the parents the first week and hopefully it will encourage them to hang up their children's artwork and put it on display.  

The Wills Boys: Teacher Gifts

I absolutely love giving gifts.  When my boys started preschool I was super excited to be able to give two teacher gifts.  I knew I wanted to do something creative, inexpensive, and fun.  I found this on pinterest and it was my inspiration.  I do have a craft business so I already had some mason jar tumblers on hand.  I created a fun chalkboard vinyl decal, included a piece of chalk, and a gift certificate to a local coffee shop in our town. This was an easy and adorable gift.  I love how they turned out and I hope their teachers loved them too!

 

 

 

The Wills boys (and their mom) go to school.

Today was our first day at preschool - yes, our.  I am lucky enough to get to go to school with my boys and drop them off in their classrooms and then go on to my own classroom full of fun two year olds.  Today was my first day as a teacher, it was Walker's first day at his new school, and it was Wyatt's first day to go to school ever.  It was a special day for all of us! I have been really blessed by this opportunity to work at my children's preschool.  I have been a stay at home mom since I found out I was pregnant with Walker in 2009.  I worked for a couple of months this Summer when we were living down south out of pure necessity.  It made me realize that I did want to work but I was not ready to be away from my boys full time.  I am not ready to give up lazy days and memories that we get to make by being together everyday.  This opportunity was just perfect for me because I get the best of both worlds.  Their school is only three days per week so I still get days full of Nerf gun wars, super hero capes, and play-doh spaghetti.  It's great for them too because they get some time away from me, and also each other, to be around other kids their same age.  Although I want them to be best friends forever, I think it is important for each of them to make friends their own age and develop age appropriate social skills. 

I am having a sudden burst of mommy guilt as I realize that I did not take one picture of my boys with the ever popular chalkboard that states the obvious "First Day of School".  Let's be honest here,  It's not like I didn't have one.  Oh, I had one.  I just totally forgot.  Mommy guilt is the worst, isn't it?!

Enjoy the chalkboard free pictures anyway.  :)  I told you guys, it is super hard to get good pictures of these two guys.  The top one is the best one I could get and even though the scrunched up nose makes an appearance, I think these guys are two handsome dudes. 

 

 

I got these pouty faces from Wyatt when I asked him if he was ready to go to school.  Despite his sad face, I am pretty sure he had a blast and I even got to sneak a peek of him outside blowing bubbles with his class.  Don't let that pouty face fool ya, he was totally popping bubbles on a bench next to a pretty little lady ;) 

 

Shirts by yours truly.

RTR, ya'll!

I loved seeing all the cute pictures posted on Facebook on Saturday to celebrate game day.  My sweet husband let me sleep in that morning and then we spent the day watching football in our pajamas.  I posted on Facebook that I felt like a slacker mom because although my children did have super cute outfits to wear, we did not get out of our pajamas.  We watched football, cooked, and ate way too much food.  We yelled "Roll Tide" and "Touchdown" and laughed as our sons did the same.

One of our favorite photographers White Cotton Photography had football mini sessions last weekend.  This was our second time to do them and it has become one of our favorite traditions that really kicks off Fall and football season for our family.  My sister in law made the boys their super cute chevron shorts and I made their shirts.  I really like the boys to coordinate but not to match exactly and I love the way these outfits turned out. 

If you look closely you can see a pack of Welch's fruit snacks in Wyatt's hands.  We are not yet beyond bribing him to sit still with his brother.  We take what we can get at this point when it comes to pictures.  I am hoping next year will be much better and we will get a smile! Here's a throwback from last year's football mini session:

 

Adios, Summer!

This may be the first time in a really long time that I am looking forward to the end of Summer.  My family went through a lot this Summer and I am so looking forward to seeing the leaves change.  This year it will symbolize a fresh start for us and not to mention Fall is my favorite season! Here are a couple of pictures from one of my favorite days this Summer. 

 

 

 

 

Walker is going through a "scrunch the nose and smile" phase (see above pic) and in an effort to get him to smile without scrunching my husband told him to show us the smile he gives Ashley Claire who was one of his little girlfriends in his class last year.  He immediately posed this way, hands on his hips, and it instantly became one of our favorite pictures of him EVER.  :) 

 

Sunday Social - Summer 2013

I had so much fun last week that I am linking up with Ashley again this week!

By the way, I feel like I am doing a lot of link ups lately but I am really enjoying them because I am finding so many awesome blogs to add to my reading list!

1. What was your favorite trip/vacation/activity this summer? My favorite activity this summer was coming HOME.  We had a fun summer in South Alabama but there is truly no place like home.


2. What was your favorite outfit look/clothing item of the summer? While we were in South Alabama, I got a waitressing job and our uniform was khaki shorts and a t-shirt (Comfort Colors).  I wouldn't necessarily say that this was my favorite outfit but it's pretty much all I wore this Summer. 


3. What is one thing you wish you'd gotten to do this summer? I wish I would have gotten to spend 4th of July with my boys watching fireworks.  I can't believe I had to miss it and it will not happen again, God willing.


4. What was your favorite song of the summer? Blurred Lines


5. What was your favorite movie/tv show of the summer? Big Brother, it's my favorite Summer show.  I love it!