2 Amazing Machines

I hope you are finding yourself having a restful and relaxing weekend!  It's been pretty rainy here so we haven't been able to do a whole lot.  We did go to Soccer Tots and to the library, though.  He is currently sleeping because of all of those events, so while that's happening I am watching some great movies and telling you about a book series you should read with your child!

Preston is obsessed with any kind of transportation machinery.  Planes, trains, automobiles, diggers, helicopters, boats, ships, pirate ships, etc.  He loves them and loves books about them.  We actually first found this book series at the library and we all fell in love with them!

*All pictures were downloaded from the Macmillan Publishers website.

All of the books describe different types of machinery and you truly learn something from them!  The rhyming is wonderful and even the parents might learn a thing or two about some of these machines and what they do.

All of the illustrations are great and the characters stay the same throughout each book.

"These picture books are perfect for any preschooler who loves machines. From airplanes to rockets to tractors, these critically acclaimed picture books are full of fun rhyming text, bright artwork, and wacky animal characters that will engage and delight young children as they learn about machines. Each book includes a helpful illustrated glossary of technical words to help build vocabulary."- Macmillan Publishers

About the Author

Tony Mitton

Tony Mitton is a widely anthologized children's poet, as well as a teacher and performing poet.  His Royal Raps won the 1997 Nottinghamshire Libraries/Dillons Children's Book Award.  His recent collection of poetry, Plum, won the Publishers Weekly 2003 Cuffies Award for Best Book of Poetry.  Tony teamed with illustrator Ant Parker on several books, including Dazzling Diggers, Roaring rockets, and Terrific Trains.- Macmillan Publishers

These books come highly recommended from our little family, especially from Preston.  I think all children, boys or girls, will love this series and enjoy pointing out objects and learning new words.

Preston takes the things he learns from these books and points them out whenever we see them while running errands or are just out and about.

Reading is so important in our household and these books give us all something to look forward to when we head to the Library :)

What book series' do you and your children love?

3 Mother's Day 2013

It was such a lovely day and I am so happy to share some great photos.  Let me start out by saying that the weather was AMAZING.  The day from start to finish was fabulous, lazy, fun, and special.  I felt very loved and enjoyed spending time with my family and my Mom!

When I first came downstairs this was my giant card :)

On top of my card I also had a beautiful vase filled with an "add ice" orchid.  Ever since I saw Patrick's parents have one of these I've always wanted one.  I hadn't gotten one yet because they are fairly pricey. The color is gorgeous and all I have to do is put three ice cubes in the vase once a week and they are good to go.

I don't think I screw this plant up.  We shall see ;)

My mom always picks great cards like this one!  For Mother's Day, my Mom got a special gift from us as well.  It's funny, because when I buy a present for someone, I am NO good at waiting to give it to them on a special day.  I want to give it to them right then and there.  So...we did - we gave my Mom her gift on Saturday :)

Preston picked out a giant balloon for her and we also gave her the Grandmother figurine from Willow Tree.  She is an amazing Mom to my brother and I - and an even more amazing Grandmother to Preston.  We are all so lucky!

Patrick cooked a huge breakfast for us that included french toast, grits, bacon, and cheesy scrambled eggs.  We all enjoyed a hardy, southern breakfast!

Because the weather was so nice - it was off to the playground!  There is an awesome playground at a local park in Downtown Fredericksburg that is perfect for a toddler and is also in the shade.  It was either go shopping downtown or let Preston run off some steam and take some awesome pictures.

I chose the latter :)  I love taking photos and trying to be artistic - so this was just another chance for me to document some wonderful memories.

That smile!

Forget the baby swing, Preston only wanted to be in the big boy swing.  I made sure Daddy was planted right behind him for safety.

But just look at how much fun he had!

Seriously!?  One of my favorites from the day!

Can we say "frame this!"?  Preston just wanted to run for a lot of the time we were outside.  He was so carefree and having a blast.  He loved running back and forth in between Grammy and I.  

There is nothing as sweet and precious as this relationship!

Next, Preston picked me a few buttercup flowers :)

It's the little things that makes a Mom of an almost two year old feel amazing.

Just a fun picture.

After our playground adventure we headed home for Preston's nap, watched a movie, and this Mommy got some down time.

I am so lucky to be able to call myself a Mom.  But it's even more amazing that I am a Mom to an incredible son. 

Thank you so much to my family for making me feel special all the time - not just on Mother's Day!

2 A Poem for Preston

One of Preston's favorite things to watch is HBO's Classical Baby.  The music, the slow animation, the animals, the poetry.  He loves every bit of it.

At the end of the poetry show it has two bunnies (a mother and her baby) talking about how much the Mom loves her child.  It's my favorite poem.  And it's my poem for Preston:



How do I Love Thee (Sonnet 43)
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.  I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,                                                                      I shall but love thee better after death.

I love you so much, Preston!

4 A Mommy Time-Out

Being a Mom has left me yearning for a "Mommy Time-Out".  A time that is simply for me.  I live with three boys, people; my husband, my son, and my dog.  I work with my husband, so we see each other almost all. the. time.  While the pros of this working situation far outweigh the cons, it still causes the "I need a break from you" syndrome.

I love my family, don't get me wrong.  But I just need a time-out sometimes that allows me to just focus on me and not others, bills, the house, work, chores, hanging out with friends, etc.  I needed to wind down.

I got that this week.  I made that time for myself.  A list of the things I did on my "mommy time-out":

*I watched Good Morning America.
*I watched Kathie Lee and Hoda get drunk in Charleston, SC.
*I took a long shower...I sang...I shaved my legs...and I didn't have to hurry.  Amazing.
*I cooked my lunch with no interruptions
*I enjoyed the beautiful weather on my deck for a little while.
*I blogged!
*I did a little more work on making my cork wreath
*I also sat down and watched an entire movie by myself.  The Lucky One.  Zac Efron.  'Nuff said.

and...

*I went to the dentist.

Ok, so that part sucked.  But I had time to myself - I didn't have to answer to anyone and I got a little bit of my sanity back.  A little more perspective.

When was the last time you enjoyed a "Mommy Time-Out"?

1 The Snugg: iPad 2 Car Mount Holder Review

I had never heard of The Snugg product before they contacted me for a review.  But as I looked them up and got more information, I was impressed with their accessories and cases that they provide for phones and any type of iPad.

They asked what product I would like to review and since I am a Mom and my son is rapidly growing and watching a little more tv these days, the Car Headrest Mount Holder for an iPad 2 seemed like the perfect product for us to try!

Summer is coming up and we plan on taking at least two vacations that take us out of town with a fairly long drive.  All those mom's out there know that on long drives with a toddler...25-30 minutes of a calming video can't hurt!  So we were excited to try this product out - and so was Preston :)

Now, I have to be honest - the current product that they are selling (pictured above for $25.99) is not what I received.  Mine actually has a bar going across the top of the iPad and hooks at the base to hold the iPad upright.

After we tried it out it was actually rather tough to get it to fit around our headrest.  I don't know if we have extra large headrests in our Honda CRV or the strap was just not long enough, but it was a stretch to get it to really hold.  We also weren't a huge fan of the giant bar going across the top of the iPad - it does take away from the picture.  But if you are watching a movie that is widescreen, you won't miss any of the story.

The hooks at the base - please make sure you have a safety plastic covering over your iPad screen - because the hooks could ruin the screen if you don't!  They are rather tight.

So overall - the product that we received does the job - but not all aspects of the product have our high recommendation.  But again the product that they are currently selling (pictured above) looks like a much better set up!

For $25.99, you can save your vacation travel sanity :)  Check out Preston - I think he enjoyed it!  Classical Baby is what he was watching :)

Like I said previously - there are many more products that The Snugg company makes and sells.  With this digital age of smart phones and iPads - these are the accessories you need!  Check them out!

Any iPad4 Coloured Case

Nexus Cases

Galaxy Cases

iPhone 5 Ultra Thin Cases

The new live wire charger (for a limited time only)

This is a sturdy product that does it's job.  We will surely be using it on those long vacation drives!

Any one else have a Snugg product?