Schoooooooooool's Out For Summer...

(C'mon, tell me you didn't sing the title.....)

School ended Friday, June 3rd. Summer is here, and it is HOT. I am regularly stewing and brewing about what to do with Noah this summer. Him nor I want to sit inside playing with the same old boring toys for the next two months! So, we are laying out the agenda and filling it up!

Here is what we have coming up in the next two months:

• Training this week...Noah is sick. SO, he is getting quality Dad time!
  
• Amarillo to see my favorite North Texas!
  
• Dinners with great friends.
  
• Play dates with Noah's BFF! ;)
  
• Go to Austin and play
• Go to Runaway Bay to see our favorite Aubrey (oh, and her parents!)
  
• Cousin's weddings

Along with everything we know we are going to do, there is the list of things I WANT to do:

• Finish my pantry project.
  
• Start and finish reorganizing the office closet.
• Figure out what I am going to do with my classroom this summer.....and do it!
  

Busy summer here!! But, that is how we like it. Two months off of school means we have 2 months to grow and play and soak up Mommy/Noah time.


This summer is going to be worlds different that last summer. Remember how little he was?? I am so excited to make memories this summer with Noah. It is one of the many perks to my job....built in Mommy time.

Lemons...

It really is the small things in life that make the big differences. When God gives you lemons, make lemonade. Isn't that how the saying goes?

I recently decided I want a fruit tree. My dear friend, Jenny, has a key lime tree and a couple lemon trees. I envy her fruit trees. I watch her little limes pop up and wish I could go home and check on my key limes. I can't. I don't have a fruit tree.

WELL, guess what?? Cullen gave into my annoying pangs of jealousy. He bought me a lemon tree...er, a lemon bush - not quite a tree, yet. THEN, I learned it often takes a season before we will really get any lemons on a tree. {Did you hear my heart sink??} Me? The one who does not believe in differed gratification? (Thanks, Mom). I have to wait till this time next year before I have a genuine lemon??

...Nope! Not me! Guess who's lemon tree has baby lemon's sprouting??? MINE! That is who's. I am such a proud fruit tree mom!


See, it really is the small things in life that make me smile.

It Has Been A While.. Which Means - LOTS of Pictures.

You know, it has been far too long for a blog post. There is so much to blog about, that I get overwhelmed... and well, quit. I post a picture and move on....

WELL, my friends, this blog will have writing, AND pictures.

Since I last blogged, my little infant turned into a toddler.
He turned ONE. It is so hard to believe he used to be so little! We took Noah to a Ranger's game for his birthday. SO much fun! While I did have a few minor meltdowns the actual day of his birthday, {thanks, Jenny for dealing with me} I have been pleasantly surprised at how easy {and fun} having a one year old really is! In the last few days, literally, two or three days, he has gone from walking a few steps to walking almost full time. He has gone from making mindless noise to mimic-ing Cullen and I. He sticks his tongue out ALL of the time. He can give kisses, make kissing noise and blow kisses. He attacks you with hugs and kisses. He giggles. He belly laughs. Nothing is better than a baby belly laugh. He LOVES to be outside... ...especially when there is something to do with Dad, like mow the yard, water the plants or rake. Afterall, he things his Daddy hung the moon.
And, much like is Papa, he loves being naked. NOTHING makes him more angry than to put on clothes. It causes me to break out in a sweat fighting him to put clothes on sometimes. He loves being with people, especially his BFF, Kylie.
He is eating real food all the time. He is drinking milk, not formula.
Since I last blogged my little infant turned into a toddler.

In the land of Cullen and Erin, not a whole lot is new or exciting.
Cullen is busy making the outside of our house beautiful. He plants trees, plots where the next something is going to go in our yard. I love him for that... as I walk outside, and have zero vision.

I am busy making the inside of our house functional. I am currently in the middle of a pantry overhaul. Boring, yet, so exciting! I try to throw in decor every now and then....but really, I just make sure the house is functional. This summer, Noah and I are going to spend our days really making our house a home {it's been almost a year since we moved in.... it is about time we really start unpacking those last boxes!!}

School is done in 7.5 days. I know that I shouldn't be excited about that. I am going to miss my students terribly, but I sure am excited to know what this summer has in store for Noah and I. Aahhh.....the memories that will ensue.

Cullen and I have the annual Elliott {Mills'} family reunion next weekend. I am so excited. Often, it is how I measure how long Cullen and I have been together. Gosh, it is so hard to believe, but this will be my 7th family reunion to go to. We started dating in 2003 - and I skipped out on the first one; we had only been dating for a few months at that point. Along with attending this year, I helped Cullen's mom and aunt plan it - no pressure for it to be great. It is in Austin this year. Given that I am from Austin, and haven't ever done the toursity side of life, it is going to be so fun to experience Austin like an out-of-towner.

I have a terribly long to-do list for the summer. I am so excited to post it, and continue to mark things off!

Noah is asleep, so, I need to get my beauty rest also. Until next time, stay beautiful.

Happy FIRST Birthday Baby Boy!

I have so many words for today. I have started to write a letter to Noah so many times. I just can't. I can say 100 different ways how much I love this child, how different my life is because of him. BUT, I can not write it down eloquently enough. Words are so permanent. I will write him a letter and stash it away before today is over...

Happiest Birthday, little man! I love you so very much. Your daddy and I are more proud of you with every passing day.

For Mother's Day, I was spoiled....spoiled rotten. Cullen blessed me with sleeping in, and I had the luxury of doing whatever I wanted. Do you want to know what I CHOSE to do?? Spend the whole day with my beautiful son and perfect husband. My first Mother's Day was a day that will be hard to beat...

We played in the sprinkler today!





Noah's birthday is this week. I cannot believe he is turning ONE. ONE. I cannot believe I have been his mommy for one year. I cannot believe he has been in our life for one year already. There are days that I cannot remember what life was like without him; there are other days that I feel like we JUST left the hospital. Where does the time go?? I love you little Noah. Thank you for being Mommy's PERFECT little bug!

Being Partial...

I know I am quite partial to my little stinker.... BUT, I am {simply put} wildly in love.

The Kid's Got Rhythm

What can I say? He is his mother's child. Music comes on, and his body just moves on it's own. Sometiems it makes sense. Sometimes it is literally just bobbing along...

Please enjoy the following:

My Little Spring Baby

Today, my little stinker turns 11 months old. That means we are on the one-month countdown until his BIRTHDAY! Some days, I am just fine with this.... others, I am a basket case. Poor Cullen. Today is a good day. I am so excited to have a one-year-old son. Look at the pictures below....I mean, how can you not be okay with him getting older, when he is this FULL of personality!??!?




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Warning: Do NOT Try These At Home.

I am a firm believer that if I make my bed, I will lie it.

I promised crock-pot meals this week, remember?? Well, night one, we had ham casserole (in the freezer from a couple weeks ago) because we didn't prep crock-pot meal #1. Tuesday morning we prepped for chicken and dumplings. GUESS WHAT? They were TERRIBLE. In fact, so terrible, I wouldn't have (and didn't) feed them to my dogs!! We grabbed Chinese food. (What else are you to do when you have prepared for meals that take 8 hours to cook???) Tonight, we prepped and had BBQ Chicken crock-pot. Cullen claims he liked it. I am not sure if that is him being kind or if he has bad taste buds. Also an utter fail. So, tomorrow is Thursday. I guess here is to trying AGAIN to get it right.

So, what is the message? Don't try the crock-pot meals I posted, unless you are starving, haven't eating in weeks and are willing to sacrifice sustenance to taste. :)

Lenting - This week's menu.

SO, this week, we are doing nothing but crock-pot meals. YUMM. A few are experimental, and could go either way.....but, Here is to trying new things.

Monday: Fiesta Chicken
Tuesday: Chicken and Dumplings
Wednesday: Beef and Broccoli Soup
Thursday: Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Friday: Dinner in Austin for my nephew's birthday!!!!!!!
Saturday: In Fredericksburg, for my cousin's co-ed wedding shower!

There are a few meals on the back burner just in case I cannot find the time to prep the crock-pot meals a night early. SO, there WILL BE NO EATING OUT THIS WEEK.

Yes, you read that right; we ate out. We caved. We are suckers.