Back to School Traditions

I hope you all had a great long holiday weekend! We enjoyed our extra day off although my hubs went to work anyways! We had a great low-key weekend! We spent most of the time just hanging out at home. Sunday night we went to some friends for a cookout. The weather was really nice and somewhat fall like..It really has me ready to ditch these 90 degree days for oh say 60 degree days!

With Labor Day behind us it now means that Jack starts school...finally!! I am ready to get back into a routine, although he spent a few days a week at a camp this summer there is something about school school starting that makes things better. Jack (and I) thrive on a routine. He has the best teacher this year. He spent this summer at her house doing Summer Time Fun. She is the most organized person I've ever met. If the school year is anything like this summer {and I know it will be} he will have the absolute best year. And to top it off I know he will learn a ton!

First day of school last year...can't believe how little he was! 

Jack went to Mothers Morning Out last year and loved it. But for some reason I really feel like school is just starting for him. MMO was great but it was just play time. They did the cutest crafts but there was not much learning going on. Because 7 one year olds would be hard to do anything with in my book. Praise to those awesome MMO teachers! In the two year old class they will still play and have fun but I know they will also work on letters and numbers and lots of other fun things! I can't wait for the art projects to start rolling in!

With the start of school I wanted to start new traditions. I love a tradition {ask anyone in my family}. There is something so fun about doing it year after year and looking back on it years later. Of course like with every other mom who has a child going to school I've got a sign for him to hold. Ive got a cute first day of school outfit ready. And I am going to do a fun breakfast for him. I also saw a friend post some cute back to school books that she was going to read to her littles the night before school. So of course I Amazon Primed those suckers and they arrived just in time for us to read some new books before bed.

Sign came from Hobby Lobby. I used a chalk paint pen to write on it

 Shirts are from @thevelvetbuttercup (find her on Insta or Etsy)

The cutest little book bag is ready to go! 

I would love to know if you have any fun traditions for back to school? Do you do a special breakfast? Maybe have their favorite snack waiting after school? I know that we are just in preschool and all of this is clearly more for me than for him but I am so excited! I know that we will look back at pictures in years to come and he will one day appreciate it. {wishful thinking?}

Have a great Tuesday, and for all you mamas that have kids going back to school whether you are leaping for joy as you drop them off or holding back tears I know each of your kiddos have an awesome first day and many more to come!

*linking up with Our Pretty Little Girls

What's Up Wednesday {8.31}

I am excited to do this link up today! I haven't done it in a few months and it's always one of my favorites! 

1. What we're eating this week....

Naan pizzas are so easy and versatile. We made them Sunday night and everyone got to put their own toppings on their own naan bread. I made oven baked tacos Monday night. Thanks to Sarah posting this yummy recipe I was reminded how much I love making these and had totally forgotten. I took her recipe and added black beans. Be sure to drain the rotel fully because mine had too much liquid and the bottom of the taco shells were soggy. They were still delish! 

2. What I'm reminiscing about....

I had Graham's composite pictures made on Sunday and it got me looking back at when I had Jacks done. He was so little and such a nugget, I miss those cheeks! 

3. What I'm loving...

I am loving the few mornings we have had that have been somewhat cool. The humidity has been down and I don't automatically break into a sweat upon walking outside. Of course by 10:00 the temps and humidity are high but for that split second I am reminded of what fall will be like!

 4. What we've been up to...

We haven't been up to a lot. Gearing up for school to start and finishing out the summer! I have been trying to organize and clean out room by room.

5. What I'm dreading...

Potty training... Does anyone ever not dread this? I tried "{for a hot minute} to train Jack and at the first accident I threw the towel in. I'm just not cut out for this. I'm praying he just wakes up one day and decides he is over diapers! Wishful thinking I'm sure!

6. What I'm working on....

Getting organized! I have started writing in my planner again and hoping that it helps to keep me organized and stay organized.

7. What I'm excited about...

The start of football!! We go to the opening NC State game Thursday night and I can't wait! I plan to fully enjoy the weekend of games.

This was Jack two years ago on the opening day for NC State. It just popped up in my time hop and I wanted to cry. How was he that little just 2 years ago, It seems like yesterday but also so long ago. 

8. What I'm watching...

Bachelor in Paradise...Yall, this show is a Train. Wreck. but I love it! The drama is hilarious and the way they edit makes me laugh every show. Also..what was Carly wearing in Monday nights rose ceremony? I really have no words!

All the Real Housewives (OC, NYC, NJ)

I also can't forget my daily obsession....thank you Lifetime for helping me be so unproductive during nap time.

9. What I'm listening to...

Welcome to My House has been on repeat in my car lately. I some how just discovered this song and I love it. I'm also still loving Tyler Farr's Better in Boots!

10. What I'm wearing...

If you follow me on Insta (@threeboysandagirlblog) you saw that I posted this dress that I wore to GNO on Friday! It's so comfy and can be dressed up or down. I'm also wearing a similar style that is a swing dress. If you don't find me in one of these you can find me in my standard workout gear. You can also check out what I will be wearing this fall in my recent post. 

11.What I'm doing this weekend...
Watching football and cooking out with friends! We were going to go to the beach for Labor Day weekend but decided that we would rather just stay home. I also plan to pull out ALL my fall decs and get my house in the spirit! There is something about a decorate house that makes everything seem cozier. I plan to do a full post on all my decor soon! 

12. What I'm looking forward to next month...

I'm looking forward to cooler temps and all the things fall. The county fair comes at the end of the month and I'm excited to take the boys. Jack will have so much fun this year. Also..football! I can't wait for Saturdays spent tailgating and watching games.

and that's what's up with me! I would love to hear what you've been up to. Have a great day, Happy hump day friends!

* Linking up with Shay, Shaeffer, and Mel 

A Day in the Life

Happy Wednesday! My boys are headed on a fun get away with their grandparents today. I am already thinking about how much I'm going to miss them, but I know they will have so much fun and I'm excited to have some much needed time with Patrick!

I always love reading these day in the life posts from other bloggers. It's fun to get a glimpse into the day to day life of others. I have been planning to do one of these for awhile and can't seem to get my act together to take pictures throughout the day. So I'm going to do it sans them.

6am// Patricks alarm goes off. I lay there and snooze for about 10-15 minutes {sometimes 20} I throw on some clothes, usually workout gear and head downstairs.  I have been trying really hard to get up early before the kids wake up so that I can come downstairs and have a cup of coffee, catch up on my blog/read my daily reads and have some quiet time. Lately this hasn't been happening as one or both of my boys has been getting up by 6:30.

6:30am// One or both of my boys are up. Jack usually will chill on the sofa watching his iPad while eating a waffle or some mini pancakes...which is usually followed up with "block cheese" {don't ask...he loves block cheese} If Graham is awake I try to keep him content {read: not screaming} until closer to 7 for his morning bottle.

7am// If Graham is not awake I will go up and get him up and feed him his morning bottle.

7:15am// Patrick is out the door headed to work. Usually Graham is fed and somewhat content playing on the floor or in his bouncy seat. Jack is hanging out playing or watching a show. I try to grab a quick breakfast which usually consists of a waffle, pb, and banana.

8:30am// Jack goes to preschool Monday, Tuesday, Thursday so on these days I'm frantically getting both kids dressed and out the door by 8:40 to head to school. Usually about this time Jack decides to make a run for it out the back door into the backyard and I'm trying to wrangle him all while keeping Graham from falling asleep.

9am// Drop Jack at school and book it home in hopes that Graham hasn't totally fallen asleep in the car and ruined his nap time. Once we get home and I get him settled for nap I will try and get a quick workout in and throw some laundry in, pick up, do the dishes. Anything I can accomplish while he naps. Sometimes I'm only given 30 minutes before he's awake and screaming but lately its more like an hour- hour and half.

10:30am// Graham is up and I'll give him his bottle. Once he's fed we usually try to head out to run errands. Grocery store, Target, any stops that we have to make before getting Jack.

12pm// Scoop up Jack from school and head home for lunch. Its usually about this time that Graham conveniently starts to fall asleep...again I try my best to keep him awake. Jack also falls asleep almost every day, but this doesn't affect his nap thank goodness! Once we are home I throw some lunch together for Jack, try to figure out something for me to eat, and keep Graham content. Patrick usually comes home for lunch which is super helpful.

1pm// Both boys are down for nap. I'd love to say that I use this time to run around and pick up and get things done but typically by this point I'm ready for a break. I usually will sit on the sofa and catch up on a show or two that I've DVR'd. Lately I'm obsessed with watching Greys Anatomy reruns on Lifetime.

3-4pm// Both boys are up and I've fed Graham a bottle and given Jack a snack. We typically head outside at this point. We will play in the backyard or I'll throw them in the stroller and go for a walk. I've found thats the best thing to do because it keeps them contained and Graham will snooze and Jack loves looking around. Patrick usually gets home about this time too.

5pm// Come inside and figure out what I need to do to get dinner going. Feed Jack and generally try to keep from going insane since this is usually the Witching Hour for Graham.

6:30pm// Head up to bathe Graham. Jack usually comes with and they will bathe together.

6:45pm// Give Graham his nighttime bottle and put him to bed

7pm// If Patrick and I haven't eaten yet we will eat dinner now. If we have I will usually sit and snuggle with Jack while he watches one Mickey episode and winds down for the night.

7:30ish// One of us takes Jack up and reads books and puts him to bed

8pm// Patrick and I will typically catch up on a show together and just veg on the sofa. Most of the time I will fall asleep at some point.

9:30-10pm// Head up to get read for bed

10pm// Lights are out and if it's not my night to get up with Graham and feed him I'm blissfully asleep all night. If it is my night, I'm counting down the hours until I have to get up to feed!

So there you have it..a typical day for us. Nothing special but nonetheless tends to be chaotic and crazy. Wednesdays are great because Jack is home so we can spend a lazy morning doing nothing or we will have a play date with friends.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for my Thursday Confessions!

Friday Favorites

 




Happy Friday friends! This has been an unusually busy week for me.

One// I have been munching on these bars that Karli posted about all week long. They are so yummy and offer a sweet treat yet stays pretty clean ingredient wise!

Two// This little nugget turned 6 months old yesterday. I am really working with him on trying to sit up but so far he's only mastering the tripod stance..which is better than what he was doing which was basically a forward fold! 

Three// Now that the weather is warm its too hot to wear my standard leggings every day. I recently got this dress and its the perfect weight for warm days! Also..lets note that my hair is actually dow and styled...thanks to an all important hair appointment I had yesterday morning! {note..I am no photographer...I really need to work on my photo taking skills and find a floor length mirror not in my kids room!}

Four// Our sweet sweet lab Roscoe has not been doing well. His back leg keeps giving out and he's really gone down hill the past several days. He has been Patricks baby for almost 14 years and from the start I've known that he comes before me! He's been getting some extra snuggles and attention lately. 

Five// I saw this earlier this week and it totally cracked me up! If only my rolls were that cute! Does anyone else feel this way or is it just me? 

Six// Speaking of my winter body, I have been trying to get to a barre class a few days a week and oh man I am so sore! The class is awesome and she makes us work areas that I didn't even know existed. Right now my sides hurt to do anything and my thighs are on fire. I'm headed back to class in the morning! 

That's all I've got for this week. We've got a low key weekend planned. Having some friends over for dinner tonight and hopefully taking Jack to Touch-a-Truck Saturday morning! You can follow me on instagram (@emilynbeaman) to see what we are up to! Have a great weekend, see you back here Monday for my weekend wrap-up!

* Linking up with Erika, Karli, and Liz