Things I'm Loving

I wanted to share a few things that I'm loving lately:

1.  I'm so glad that I found Bloglovin'.  My google reader was bogged down because apparently at some point I was GFC happy and followed like a million blogs.  With Bloglovin' you can follow any blog you want.  You just have to type in the name/blog address and click follow.  The blog doesn't have to be signed up for bloglovin' for you to follow it.  It just makes it easy to organize the blogs you want to read.  I especially love that there is an app, so I can have my blog reading list available and ready anywhere.  It also marks posts as read for you so you know when you are caught up with your friends.  This has really helped to simplify and organize my blogging time.

2.  I am totally addicted to this:

It is a sick addiction.  I cannot stop eating it even when I am full.  Thank goodness this is limited edition.  My waistline couldn't take it if I had access all year round.

3.  For my birthday I got something I had wanted for almost a year but had hesitated to purchase because of the price.  With a few gift cards, I decided I had to get it.

It is the Clarisonic Mia.  Last winter my face became very dry.  I could moisturize as much as I wanted, but it felt like all it was doing was moisturizing layers of dead skin on my face.  My skin was starting to feel dry again, so I couldn't wait to try this out.  After just one use of the Clarisonic Mia I was completely sold.  My skin was so soft and clean.  I felt like the dead skin had finally been brushed off.  My moisturizer finally was sinking in.  I could not be more happy with this product.  I tend to use it every other day, but it has made such a difference.
And if you don't believe me, you'd just have to ask my husband.  One morning I was telling him about how much I liked the Clarisonic and told him to feel my face.  He was actually shocked at how soft and smooth my face was.

What are you loving lately?

Ryan's 5th Birthday Party

The weekend after Thanksgiving we hosted Ryan's birthday party to celebrate with our families.  This was momentous for us because since getting married we haven't really been able to host any type of family function since we lived so far away.  I had always wanted to be able to have parties with my family especially once we had children, and now that wish is finally a reality.

I was a bit nervous on how everything would turn out.  I realized that entertaining is no easy task, but we all had a great time.  The party was a huge success, and I felt so proud for hosting our first event.

Unfortunately because entertaining is such hard work, I didn't get pictures of a lot of the things I wanted to show you, but I'll show you what I can.

Ryan decided on a Super Hero party because we had items from the Avengers, Transformers, and Spiderman.  It was everything he loves, and he was so excited about every part.

Transformers Birthday Sign.

Avengers cookies: Spiderman, Hulk, Ironman, and Captain America.  The boys helped me cut them and decorate with sprinkles.  

Opening presents.

I wish we had taken a picture of the cupcakes I made.  I was pretty proud of them.  We gave them blue frosting and had Spiderman toppers on toothpicks.  We also didn't get a picture of the two lasagnas that I made.  I'll just brag a bit to say everyone seemed to enjoy them.  We also had a Chocolate Fondue dessert table, but again no photo.  

Not the best family photo, but these days just getting a photo of the five of us is a success in itself.  Getting everyone to look at the camera just seems impossible, and little Leah was asleep anyway in this photo.  

Even though it is a lot of work, I cannot wait until the next party.  

Letting Them Grow

One thing I've been struggling with lately is how fast the kids are growing up.

Leah is almost 6 months old...half a freaking year!  How on earth did that time pass so fast.  Sean is becoming such a big boy.  He's potty trained, so loving, and becoming such a helper.  Ryan is 5 years old.  He's learning so much everyday.  I just found out that when he goes to kindergarten next year it is full day.  I am so bummed out about that, but I know it will be good for him academically.  I cannot express how proud I am of him.

I don't know if my sadness is emphasized because I know that Leah is the last baby I will have, but I find myself holding on to these kids so tightly and willing time to slow down.  One result of this unwillingness to let go has been my complete acceptance and actually enjoyment of co-sleeping.  Sure, everyone has an opinion on it, and to be honest, I don't care what anyone has to say about it.  It started out during the moving process as a way to survive, but it ends up being what works for us.  I will transition Leah to crib sometime, but not yet.  I relish our quiet snuggles.

As my mother always told me, the hardest part of being a parent is letting go.  I know that watching my children grow will be the most rewarding experience I could ever hope for, but boy it is a bittersweet journey.  I just have to keep reminding myself one blessing I've found about letting children grow is that each phase is as good or even better than the one before it.  So while I hate to let them grow, I do know that I am enjoying every minute of it.