Memorial Day Weekend & Kangas Family Reunion

Our quartet headed to Long Island this past Memorial Day weekend. We had not visited since last August so it was great to be home (yes, I still call it home).

Saturday we had our 2nd Annual Kangas Family Reunion. My cousin Ron and his wife Melissa were a huge help in planning the event and scoped out a great location at South Haven Park on Long Island. Also, major shout out to my cousin Amber and her husband John who traveled from Florida, and Jason and his wife Miri who made the trip up from Tennessee. I know it's not easy so I truly appreciate the effort you made in coming. Even the NY family, thank you for taking the time to come. It really means a lot to me that we can all be together. It was a much smaller gathering this year than last, so I'm thinking we'll change it up next year and hopefully get a big family group to come:)

Here are some pictures of the day- it was truly perfect weather and I think everyone had a great time. I know we did.

The cousins in order from oldest to youngest:
My brother Erik, my brother Dylan (oldy moldies), Destiny, Dylan, Jason, Ron, Me, Amber, and Tom. The super sweet kiddos are Zoe (my cousin Dylan's daughter), Katie and Eli (my cousin Amber's kiddos).

Normally we head back to Massachusetts very early on Sunday morning but we spent the extra day and headed to Fire Island with Erik and Joe on Sunday instead. We had the pleasure of seeing Erik and Joe's long time friend Tom who we had not seen in ages- he's the coolest guy and it was THE BEST getting to see him and just relax and take in the beautiful weather. Major thank you to my Mom for watching Nicholas so we could have a grown up day out. :)

My Dad and Dexter on Memorial Day- giving him some comfort on a tough day for Veteran's.

The drive home...

One of the many things I love about my dog...he always looks like he just farted and is super embarrassed about it (and it's usually true).

xoxo

Mother's Day

Hey folks.

So. Being a Mom. It's pretty good. I mean. It's real good. It's real awesome.

But. Sometimes- you go to a fancy pants brunch- and well- it doesn't quite work out. I mean- you get good pictures:

But, as you're witness to this- it's taken in the parking lot before we've eaten anything.

I don't have pictures of us eating, because I was trying to enjoy it, and it didn't work out. Not to say I didn't have a good time, it was just a lil rough around the edges. Nicholas was good- but he was 3 year old good. Lots of yelling fun things like " I WANT CHICKEN TENDERS" - when he has an option of 50 things to eat, and chicken tenders aren't one of them.

I wouldn't trade it for anything. Nicholas was difficult. Well, you know what? He's effin 3. He's entitled to be difficult. He knows he's being a jerk, but he doesn't quite get that yet. And as much as it makes me crazy, I get that. I really really do. I'm sure I was the same way at 3. And i'm ok with that. I know how fortunate I am to have a happy, handsome, insane, opinionated little dude.

Later that day, we went to a brunch with Nick's family. We haven't hung out with them in awhile, and Nick's Auntie Karen hosted the MOST WONDERFUL Mother's Day Brunch. It was really really great to be with family and we had the most wonderful time. Here are some pics from the day:

XOXO

Big Boy Bed!

Lately it just seems to be one milestone after another- time is flying by and I'm trying so hard not to miss a moment.

We are so lucky that Nicholas is a pretty easy going kid. He has always loved his crib (I put him in there when he was just a few weeks old). He's actually never even tried to climb out of it. But the bigger he got, I realized it was time for a big boy bed.

We went to Bob's Furniture and Nicholas loved the huge koi pond they have there. He made a few new friends and brought me over to meet them, saying "this is my mama" (melted).

Afterward we went out to dinner to celebrate. The bed came in a few days later and he LOVES it! Our friends were kind enough to lend us a bed rail so we didn't even have to buy one.

Our little boy is getting so big! <3

1st Dentist Appointment!

For Nicholas, not for me or Nick. ;)

Nicholas had his first dentist appointment today and it went better than I could have hoped for.

He's a pretty easy kid. Don't get me wrong, he has his insane fits for no reason and is a whackadoo at times, but 98% of the time he's pretty freakin cool.

I've found that preparing him for what's to come as opposed to "springing" it on him has always worked best. If he needs shots, blood taken, or if we have to do something he's not going to like, I tell him a bit in advance so he is prepared. On Monday I started talking about the dentist and what they were going to do, to say "ah" or stick out his tongue (which he loved) if they asked him to.

I'm glad he had a good first experience because I want to make sure he takes care of his teeth the way my Mom made sure we took care of ours :)

Nicholas is 3 years old

Our super cool little dude turned 3 on March 12th. Two days before his birthday, he was refusing a nap (the usual now, I think they're going away forever), and when I went to get him out of his crib he looks at me and says:

Mama, you are my best friend. Then: Mama, I'm so happy when I see you.

ALL THE TEARS GUYS. ALL THE TEARS.

We are pretty lucky. Nicholas is outgoing, smiley, has tons of energy, and likes to have a good time. When we get to someone's house, he's not shy, he instantly runs to the toys/his friends/whomever, and just throws himself into whatever is going on. He's got a bouncy, happy personality and he is constantly smiling and laughing.

He's definitely still a Mama's boy but things are getting better with Nick, he takes him out more and I'm hoping to start some kind of sport with him this summer and then I think their relationship will become even stronger.

Nicholas loves dinosaurs big time- that's been holding strong ever since we went to Edaville last August. His talking gets better every day, and some of the things he says crack me up so bad (I didn't fart, I dropped a cupcake!) or make me cry (see above). He loves puddle stomping, shopping with Mom, terrorizing Dexter, hugs and cuddles (when he initiates, of course, haha), being out of the house, taking walks, coloring, painting, and stickers.

His doctor's visit was uneventful, he is growing at a great pace and is right where he should be.

I am grateful for this wonderful life we have and count my blessings every single day.

xoxo

Dinosaur Party!

Hello yes, I am a big slacker. Life has been wonderful, crazy, fun filled, and one event after another.

Nicholas turned 3 on March 12th and we celebrated with a dinosaur crazy birthday party.

One thing I knew I would be good at when I became a mother was planning. I've been planning parties with friends since I was around 10 years old, and it's just my jam. I love doing it, it makes me happy, it makes me feel useful, and I love sharing my home with the wonderful people we are fortunate enough to know.

Here are some pictures from the dinosaur crazy day. Everyone had a great time, and I'm happy to say I wasn't even exhausted when the event was over. It was a perfect day.

Thanks for the free dinosaur foot printables, Pinterest!

I'm not very crafty, but these turned out pretty cute!

This was my favorite! I bought party hats at the dollar store and cut off the top of them, and then took a little glue with the elastic and attached it to the hat and to their heads, then I glued a little pom pom on top. Once I started, I couldn't stop. So fun!

Thanks again for this great idea, Pinterest. These came out better than I could have hoped for!