Bread with the Brisels

  I've shared before that I am an early bird, but I definitely feel like a much happier early bird in the summer months. I love when I can take my time in the morning and get a few things done to feel productive ahead of the day starting. Today I thought I'd share a few rituals that I do every morning that make my day start oh so happy.  1. Earlier alarms.  During the summer months, I've been getting up at around 5:20AM. The rest of my house starts stirring around 6:30 (on days that Dustin works) and around 7:30 (on days Dustin is off). This gives me at least an hour to have to myself and that time has become sacred.  2. Ice roller and iced coffee.  Every morning I love to use an ice roller on my face when I first wake up. Mine is nothing fancy - I got it on  Amazon  but it feels so heavenly on your face in the morning. I also love iced coffee during the summer months. A glass of coffee + a little s'mores Chobani creamer makes me happy in the morning....

  It's July! Why did May seem to last seventeen years, but June flew by so quickly? I'd like this summer to slow down a bit.  I told my cousin yesterday that I successfully hibernated for about the first three weeks of summer break (was absolutely necessary after this school year, haha), and now I've reached the "organize, purge, deep clean" phase of summer break. In the last week we've done lots of house projects that have been half finished for awhile. It feels so good to get things done!  Looking ahead to this new month, I'm excited for a couple of things.  1. More pool time. We haven't been to the pool a ton because June really wasn't that warm. Jack has been excited to go too, so it's been fun to take him. Looking forward to more of that this month!  2. More house projects. We crossed the really big things off in June, but I have a few more things I'd like to get done this month before we head back to school in August.  3. More slow mo...

  Jackson Nicholas is officially a THREE year old!  I'm not sure how that is even possible, because it really seems like yesterday he was this sweet and squishy baby.  Jackson is determined, inquisitive and silly. He loves his big brother (bubba) SO MUCH and idolizes pretty much everything he does. Jack sits through sporting events (most of the time) with a smile on his face and can't wait to tell Sammy "good job!" after his game.  He loves Jessie from Toy Story, & watching most Disney shows. Jack loves to be outside playing bubbles or "water play," and he LOVES a puzzle. He loves to sing and he can knows every word to "Opalite" by Taylor Swift, which is a proud mom moment. 😉 Jack is my late sleeper, and it is not uncommon for him to sleep until 8 on the weekends. He loves going to Amber's house and playing with his friends there.  In typical toddler fashion, he loves a chicken nugget. His favorite fruits are watermelon, grapes, and strawb...

  Somehow, two weeks have passed and we're back to school and reality today.  I kind of would have liked to hibernate for a bit longer. 😉 I'd love to get a little more active again in blog world. I blogged consistently 2023-2024, but then  I just kind of stopped. I LOVE being able to look back and read about how life was with newborn baby Jack, and Sammy when he was only four and five, so here's my attempt to pick things back up again with a little recap of some 2025 highlights of the holiday season.  The amount of cookies that Jack ate this holiday season was impressive. When I look back, I can practically hear him saying "more cookies please!" He was VERY into gingerbread men this year and loved the light display at Maytag Park.  Sammy was SO into Christmas this year. If there was a Christmas craft, he wanted to do it. Something festive? Count him in. He LOVED it all!  This Christmas break was very restful and very much needed. We had plenty of slow morn...

  Sammy is SEVEN! Seven years ago we were at the hospital, excited and nervous to meet our Samuel John.  Sammy was always a happy baby and toddler, and that's continued into childhood. He is so affable, friendly, and confident! He loves his family, he loves to play and he loves to be active. Games are his favorite, and he loves to "snuggle."  Since returning back to school, he's developed a huge love of reading! As a first grade teacher this WARMS my heart. He loves most books, but right now he favors graphic novels. He is the best big brother. Without us asking, he is so willing to help his brother. Just yesterday, Jack sneezed and Sammy ran to get him a wipe and then proceeded to wipe Jack's nose for him. If someone gets hurt he often hurries to see what's wrong and if he can help. He's a lot like Dustin in that he loves to have fun and be social. He's a lot like me in that he loves to make lists and know the when/how things are happening. He loves a...

  I can't believe that we're already halfway through July! This summer has absolutely been flying. School supplies are out in stores and I received my Pottery Barn Kids "back-to-school" catalog: all signs that summer will come to a close soon.  I wanted to share just a little life lately about our summer so far.  It seemed like the start of the summer was filled with appointments, starting projects, and preparations for our trip to Disney World. The end of the school year left us feeling ready for a break. We soaked up all the slow mornings and we got caught up on sleep.  Our trip to Florida was so great! We soaked up all the family time together. Sammy's favorite part of our trip was getting his yeti stuffed animal from Animal Kingdom, and Jack loved eating all the yummy food and riding Small World.  It felt so great to go on vacation knowing we didn't have to immediately return to school and work when we got back from our trip. It made things more relaxing!...