Another batch of random photos to share with you. This time it ranges from playdates to plants. I know... it's random, but stick with me.

First, I thought I'd share a fun idea for all my "Mario" fans out there. My son is obsessed with the video game "Mario Cart" on the Wii. He pretends to be Mario, draws Mario, studies his Mario trading cards... you get the picture. I searched online for Mario-related crafts, but found very little that was appropriate for his age. So, we decided (along with Payton's friend, Will) to make our own craft using trusty 'ol toilet paper rolls! Check out how cute they turned out:


The second group of photos is a mixture of a few things... most of which require some explanation.
This is a new box fort that we have in the house. It's provided hours of fun transforming from a playhouse, to a battle fort, to a Mario cart, to a secret hideout. Here, Payton is playing in it with his little buddy, Carter.

And then these next few photos are just to show how the crazy humidity in Florida is actually good for something - growing plants. My porch - which is screened in - acts like a greenhouse in the summer because of the humidity. I have not done a single thing with these plants except for replant them in bigger pots. I don't water them, I don't fertilize them and yet year after year they keep coming back bigger and more beautiful. I guess God is trying to show me the beauty that humidity can provide... because it certainly isn't in my hairdo!

That's it for now. Hope you enjoyed my randomness today!

Mother's Day

I have to say, my husband may not be the best at keeping the house clean, or cooking, or remembering that we have a dish washer, but when it comes to Mother's Day, he really knows how to do it up right! We spent the whole weekend doing things I wanted to do. And even though he had to be constantly reminded, Payton was strongly encouraged to ask Daddy for anything he needed all weekend (it didn't work that well, but it was the thought that counted).
We started Saturday morning by going to my favorite greasy spoon restaurant in South Tampa called "Daily Eats." Then we hit Hyde Park (check out the photo of the amazing house with the flowering tree in front) where they were having a sidewalk chalk art festival. Payton had so much fun looking at the chalk drawings, making paper airplanes, and playing at the park. We even made our own chalk drawing in honor of our new Mr. Two Bits shirt business (check out the photos).
After that, I went for a pedicure and when I got home I had flowers and a gift waiting for me that Payton picked out all on his own. He was SO proud to give me the flowers and watch me open my gift - it was precious! He came up with the idea to get me pink slippers - how cute is that?? After that, we hung out at the community pool for the remainder of the afternoon. It was perfect! That evening, Brian and I had a nice dinner out while Payton got to stay home with his favorite babysitter, Miss Laura. On Sunday, I got to relax and read the paper (thanks Camryn for my Godmother present - I love my new coffee mug!) and then after church we chilled out at the house and then hit the pool again. This time, I sat and read a magazine while Brian did all the pool entertaining with Payton (score one for me!). Then Brian BBQ-ed dinner and put Payton to bed so once again, I could relax. What a wonderful weekend. Can't we have Mother's Day every couple of months?????????? Here are some fun pictures...

Miscellaneous Fun

I have some miscellaneous photos to post that don't really fit under any other category than "fun." We've recently gone bowling, made homemade donuts, and Payton has developed a new fascination with giving people wedgies (or grundies as my husband calls them). Hope they make you smile or inspire you to try something new...the donuts I mean, not the wedgies...

We took Payton bowling for the first time as a family (we've only been there for birthday parties in the past). It was a lot of fun, although he got very frustrated that he couldn't bowl a strike every time like he can on Wii sports. Go figure! After bowling, we played a mean round of air hockey in the arcade. I felt like I was back in Middle School. It was so much fun!

Another fun experiment we tried last week was making homemade donuts. They're SO easy and SO delicious I may never go back to Dunkin Donuts again! I'll post the recipe below for anyone interested in a quick, really fun recipe you can make with your kids. As you can see, Payton enjoyed the "eating part" of this recipe the most!

So this last picture is Payton posing for Brian with a huge wedgie. He thinks it's the most hysterical thing in the whole world to give Brian a wedgie, but laughs just as hard when Brian does it back to him. Boys... I don't know if I'll ever understand them. :)












* TO MAKE THE DONUTS: Simply purchase a roll of Pillsbury biscuits (I used the flaky kind). Use a small circle cutter (I used the measuring cup from a children's Tylenol bottle) to cut out the centers of the biscuits. Heat enough canola or vegetable oil over medium heat in a pan to cover 1/2 the biscuit while cooking. Once oil is hot, place 4-5 biscuit pieces in the oil for 3-4 minutes. WATCH them, as you don't want them to burn. Turn them over once they are golden brown and cook other side. Remove once both sides are cooked and let cool on paper towels. After they have cooled for a few minutes (but while still a little warm) douse them with a cinnamon/sugar mixture until covered. Serve warm. YUM!!!!!

You too can make this wreath!

I recently saw a wreath on a blog that I follow that looked somewhat similar to this one. I thought it was so beautiful, but didn't know how I could copy it.
Little did I know, that all it would take was one trip to Michael's Crafts, $12 and one unexpected trip to Lowes (thanks Brian!) and in 1 hour, my wreath was created!
It's super easy and so much less expensive than pre-made wreaths. If you want directions, just shoot me an email.
Happy crafting!

Spring Break 2010

While it wasn't exactly like the Spring Breaks I've experienced in the past 15 years or so, I must say, Spring Break 2010 was one of my all-time favorites. We decided to have a "stay-cation" and do something fun around Tampa each day. We went to Busch Gardens, our community pool, a baseball game, the beach, Chuck E. Cheese, the park, and played lots at home too. It was a fun and relaxing week for all of us. And we even had a special visit from Nana! Here are a few photos from our fun week:

Payton's 1st Gator Game

Okay, so it wasn't a regular season game, but he did get to go to the annual "Orange & Blue" gator game in The Swamp. Brian and Payton had an absolute ball hanging out in Gainesville, going to the game, seeing Brian's old fraternity house, and apparently hanging out with some pretty girls along University Avenue (now I see what happens when Mama is not around).

Check out these cute photos from their exciting day:

And then there were tears...

Why did this box of trains bring me to sobbing tears today? Well, it all started last week when Payton announced, "I'm just not really into Thomas the Train anymore."
What??? All that money we've spent on those trains! All that time searching for the ONE train that you didn't have and HAD to have for your birthday. All the energy and commitment put into the miles and miles of track that we've built throughout the years. But alas... he's "just not that into them" anymore.
I decided to make one last ditch effort to see if he truly was over them. So, Wednesday while he was at school I made a very elaborate train track in his playroom and lined up all 20+ trains in front of it. When he came home he ran into his playroom and said, "Oh my goodness! I LOVE IT! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" A huge smile spread across my face... until I realized he was holding his new Mario Cart lunchbox that I had set out on his craft table. He didn't even notice the train track!
So this morning, I got out a box and put all of his trains away. As I packed up each one, I could just picture his chubby little 2-year old fingers wrapped around his Thomas not wanting to go anywhere without it... he even slept with his favorites for a while. I could remember where each and every one was purchased (or when it was given as a gift). Before I knew it, I was a sobbing, crying mess. My little boy is growing up right before my eyes. He doesn't need me to build tracks for him anymore. He doesn't need me to help him go potty. He doesn't need me... oh wait... he's calling me from the other room as I type this because he can't get the windows to stay on his Lincoln Log house and he NEEDS ME to come help him. (Wish you could see the smile on my face now.)