Spring Gifting

Is it just me or are there seemingly so many gifts to buy this time of year? With baby showers, birthdays, mother and father's day and graduations just around the corner, I have been spending a lot of time on Etsy looking for the perfect presents for my loved ones. I feel like I have come across some good stuff and thought I would share.

For the mom-to-be or new baby: 

This amazing Burp Cloth for any sports fan. I used Jessica (this seller) to customize mine for a friend who is an a fan of another team and she said she can make one for anybody. I love it. 

For Mom: 

Monogrammed note cards . I don't think anyone can have enough stationary. I just recently ran out of my monogrammed set because I used it for everything: quick notes to friend, birthday cards, thank you notes. A monogrammed set is always classic and classy.

For Dad: 

Tervis Tumblers. Fact: These are the greatest cups ever. And men can be hard to buy for.  Keeps your drink hot or cold and supports Dad's favorite team (or organization, or color, the options are endless)

For the Grad: 

Collegiate Print. As our college seniors move into their first adult place, I think a print like this is a great memento to hang in a bathroom or kitchen to remember their time in college. 

For the Kids:

  Good Night Our World Books. We love this series of books. My mom has been collecting them for the boys from all the special places we have lived or visited. Good Night California is one of our favorite gifts to give since it represents our family right now.

For the Newlyweds: 

Frame their invitation. My brother and sister in law gave this to us on our wedding day and six years later it still hangs proudly in our living room. I love the daily reminder of our union and plus, my mom  we put a lot of time, money and effort into those invites, it would be a shame to have it tucked away in a box somewhere.

What are some of your favorite gifts to give? I love new, unique ideas!

Weekend-ing: San Fran, Sun and Sunday

Want to meet my new favorite picture of Bennett? 

Oh, here you go.

On Friday afternoon, we packed the boys for a quick trip to San Francisco for a mini East Coast reunion. Our friends Benji and Kris were in town from Florida, visiting our San Fran friends Erin, Nick and Kelly. We all grew up in the same neighborhood back in VA and have enjoyed several visits between SF and Monterey over the last two years. We will definitely miss our friends from 'home' and were so grateful to get to spend another afternoon with them.

We met Nick, Benji and Kris at Fort Point, an old fort right under the Golden Gate Bridge.

It was a bit windy, but the boys loved climbing up and around the whole installation.

After a quick snack in the car, we drove up to Erin and Nick's apartment to relax for a bit.

Then down to Off the Grid for dinner. All the food trucks were convened in one parking lot, so we had quite the options for eating. The boys managed to find the world's biggest corn dogs (I had tacos and Kev at Vietnamese food).

We hung out for a few hours catching up and reminiscing and snapped one group pic before we had to take off back home.

It was a really quick afternoon, but we are so glad we got to experience this special city again and spend time with our friends. We will miss you Erin, Nick and Kelly, and it was great to see you Benji and Kris!

 On Saturday, we spent the morning organizing for the movers (less than 3 weeks til they come, ah!) and I was having some serious sciatic nerve pain (any tips for making this go away?) so after a few hours of hard work, I was out of commission on an ice pack, limping like an old lady. 

We had planned a beach bbq for that afternoon, but it was cloud and cloudy, so luckily, our group of flexible, tailgating friends all decided a trip to Carmel Valley was a great back up plan.

 It was a gorgeous, sunny afternoon, spent playing at the park and soaking up some sun.

Our friends Andrea, Brad and soon-to-be big sister Livi announced that there is a little brother on the way!

There must be something in the water because Cassie and I are both having boys too.

By the time we got home Saturday night, it was bath and bed for the boys and back to the ice pack for me (then I feel asleep on the couch at 9:30...rockstar).

Sunday morning we made it down to Mass and heard a wonderful homily about being called to Love, no matter what. Then went to Pacific Grove for lunch at Compagno's (where the owner's name is also Bennett Paul, so we get free cake). 

Naps were up next and the big news around here is that B is now sleeping and napping in his big boy bed. Aside from 2 or 3 nights where he came out of his room a few times at first, it has been a pretty surprisingly seamless transition.

(Second child problems: that is clearly C's old bed, we are getting bunk beds for them at our next house and I promise I will make it special for B!)

And then a little afternoon playtime and a trip to the pool. I read that swimming could help with my back and round ligament pain, so I swam (I'll use that term loosely) while Kev and the boys played in the kiddie pool. I will admit that moving my muscles, but feeling weightless was a nice break for my tired, preggo joints. I think I am going to try and do that a few times a week.

This is a good example of real life in my house, just in case you were wondering.

And finally, we ended the day with a first viewing of Finding Nemo (C was terrified, B thought it was hilarious).

We have a big week ahead with my brother and his girlfriend getting here on Wednesday!

How was your weekend?

****

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Happy Friday

Here are a few pictures to send you into the weekend with a smile.

Official Mom Things

Is it weird that sometimes I don't feel like a real grown up? 

 I manage a household and take care of Tweedle Do and Tweedle Do while growing Tweedle Three. I've been married for six years, I have real furniture and a car full of stale cheerios and Thomas the Trains. Clearly, adulthood has hit me full force. But there are still some days where I really don't believe that I 29 and an almost mother of 3. 

But then, there are other days, when I know I have hit Official Mom status.

I was in charge of snacks for Cullen's first t-ball game.

Wait, back that up.
Cullen, my very own child, is old enough to have a first t-ball game. 

And I was in charge of the snacks. So I sliced up oranges and brought juice boxes. 

Official Mom Things.

Bennett sometimes only has two moods: hyper or tantruming. I called my mom to complain, because that it what you do in there situations and the conversation went like this:

Me: It is exhausting! Why can't we just sit and color? And on top of it I feel fat and gross and I didn't get any sleep last night, so literally everything they've done today has been annoying.

Mom: Now do you understand why I was cranky sometimes during your childhood?

This particular meltdown was over putting on pants. 

Apparently, when I was 5 and just assumed my mom wasn't in a good mood, it was really because she was pregnant, and tired, and I spent the night in her bed kicking her in the face and then the entire day being annoying with my brother. It all makes sense now. 

Official Mom Things.

There is nothing more I crave right now than a really cold (large) glass of white wine.

Official Mom things.

I wore the same leggings and sweater two days in a row because no one saw me the previous day.

Official Mom things.

B has totally transitioned into a big boy bed.

Official Mom things 

B, not so subtly announcing that he is ready for bed

Cullen asked me "why those things up by the neck are getting so big?" And I had to fumble for answer (to make milk for our baby when he comes... Cullen: O, so they are like magic?...uhhh )

Official Mom things.

I know the theme song to Mighty Machines and sang it to Jenn via blog comment the other day.

Official Mom(blog/boy) Things.

I don't know what's going on in the news, but I can tell you the plot of Curious George's Swing Into Spring special.

Official Mom Things

Playgroup (official mom thing) watching the special at Jenny's (more pics HERE)

But even on the days where I want to hit my head against a wall, or find it hard to believe that I am going to be in charge of 3 little people soon, I am so happy where I am and wouldn't trade it for the world. It is a blessed status to have.
Official Mom Things.

***

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Some of the Best People You'll Ever Know

Fact: We know a lot of good people. 

We have been so blessed in all of our moves to be surrounded by supportive, fun and lifelong friends, but when it comes to 'wow this might be the perfect family in the world' the Metzlers are pretty close to the top of the list. 

I might have told this story before, but Martha and I met on drizzly April night volunteering with our Junior League in Winston-Salem, NC. She was trying on donated sparkly jackets with shoulder pads and I was wearing Kev's old West Point sweatshirt. We stood out to each other for very different reasons, but it was more or less friend-love at first sight. Her husband Sam was in law school and then was joining the Army, and my husband was the only man in his late 20s in all of Winston in the Army. Then it turned out we only lived 6 houses away from each other. And were both part time teachers. And we got in trouble the second night of our friendship for drinking wine at the checkout counter of the Rummage Sale we were working at. 

Friends like that don't just come along too often.

Fast forward a few years and we've both been out on the West Coast, growing our families full of boys (we are both due in August with boys), and yet unable to hang out in the past two years. So you can imagine our excitement when Martha, Sam and Bud booked their tickets for one Cali weekend before we leave.

 It was one of those super easy weekends. The kids got along great, we talked about everything from parenting, to marriages, long term goals and short term goals of a full night's sleep.

We spent 99% of the time outdoors since apparently the sun hadn't shone in Washington in a few months.

The men played golf and we took the kids to the aquarium.

We're pretty sure the phrase "Hey Bud, watch this!" will eventually get us into trouble.

 We went out to dinner and down to the beach

 Took some more pictures of these future best of friends.

 And then drove down the coast, one of the things I am going to miss most about this place.

 And then had to complete a trip that was all together too short.

 Before Martha even boarded her plane home I had posted the above picture on her wall and begged them to come back and then be my neighbors forever. 

They are just some of the best people I know. 

So grateful for you and your family, Martha. You are amazing!

PS- You can follow along with Martha's adventures at A Softer Side of Strong