From summer bedding and lemonade stands to marbled bread, toddler quotes, and one very nervous mom watching me drive on fumes, here are eleven things that have been making up our days lately!
1. Summer Bedding.
I swapped our warm bed blanket for our light, summery blanket! We went from a thick, white, faux fur blanket to a gauzy, bright yellow one and our room feels totally different.
2. Our Dishwasher is on the Fritz (again).
When our dishwasher broke on Jimmy’s birthday, he was able to fix it within a day but had a feeling it would break again. It did. This dish soap has been my constant companion as I anxiously await the new dishwasher part to arrive in the mail!
3. “It do have a hitch.”
I took Dakota on a stroller walk while Mordecai rode his bike next to us. We came upon a parked truck with a trailer attached to it. He stopped and said “Let me check out this twuck,” and as he rode up to look at the spot where the truck was attached to the trailer, he said “Yup, it do have a hitch.” Why are toddlers the cutest. 😂
4. Lemonade Love.
Is it a childhood rite of passage to have a lemonade stand in the summertime? It has to be, right?! The kids worked so hard at their little stand… but I also caught them sleeping on the job. 😉
5. More Marbled Bread.
Can’t stop won’t stop with the marbled breads! This flavor was strawberry blueberry. Dakota was a big fan of licking the spoon. 😋
6. Making My Mom Nervous.
My mom was hanging out with us and almost had a heart attack when she saw that I was driving around with 1 mile until our gas tank was empty. What can I say, I like to live on the edge. 😉
7. Sadie Selfie.
How cute is this selfie of Sadie? She is just the sweetest. I can’t believe she’s going to be eight years old in September. While it’s bittersweet to see her grow and change, I absolutely love the girl she’s becoming!
8. Shedding Season.
One of these years I will save Niva’s fur from each brushing session when she blows her coat and I will be able to stuff a pillow. Just kidding, that’s weird. But I’d totally have enough fur to do it…
9. Changing by the Day.
In typical Dakota fashion, she just *decided* one day that she was ready to start eating at the table sans booster seat. She figured out how to climb our kitchen chairs, plopped her bottom down onto one, and looked at us like, Where’s my food? Our baby isn’t so much of a baby anymore!
10. Soaking Up the Sun.
Pittsburgh’s weather has been *chef’s kiss* good lately. Abundant sunshine (rare!!!), no rain (even more rare), and warm days. We’ve been getting outside as much as we can. We had a great time visiting a creek and trying to catch minnows and crawfish.
11. Having a Son.
It’s such a blessing to experience raising girls and a boy. Having a son is different than having daughters. I can’t quite put my finger on it, except to say that Mordecai is uncomplicated. He’s very easily pleased and content to just sit and play. He’s a deep thinker and a calming presence. I love our Decky boy. 🤎
Other Notes and Thoughts 📝
- Scripture I’m loving: Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 🙏🏻
- I think our kids are truly best friends. It’s the sweetest thing to see. Family life is such a blessing. 💛
- I feel like Dakota is so ready for a baby balance bike. 🚲
- Mordecai was starting to slip a little with his potty training so we started a sticker chart with him (for using the potty and doing chores!) and it really resonated with him! He earned enough stickers on his chart to buy the Hot Wheels loop track he’s always asking for. 🏎️
- Sadie is working on her sticker chart, too, and is hoping to buy a survival kit. She loves reading all about building shelters and trying to “survive” in our backyard. 🧭
- I asked the kids if I should start a sticker chart for myself and Sadie said “You could earn baking supplies!” but I was thinking more along the lines of earning time alone or fancy peanut butters. 😜
- I found a nostalgic snack all three of our kids love. It’s a miracle when they all actually like the same thing! ⭐️
Living My Full Life 
I love when you do these posts!
I did survive the 1 mile till empty ride, but I do admit I was quite nervous 😬
SO MANY moments from my week made me smile ~ I’m so very blessed to be able to spend time with each of my grandchildren every week, and the moments and memories with them are my favorite that I will cherish forever.
For the record, I feel as if Koko could prob rock a balance bike – she has no fear whatsoever.
love you,
Madre