Hello, Monday

the best shot from our annual Father's Day photo shoot.

Hello, birthday week: Cue the madness! The joint birthday party for the boys is Saturday, which means my to do lists have their own to do lists, and I'm looking at the pinboard I started months ago with a general feeling of "Seriously?!?! You really thought you could do ALL of this?" Will the weather hold out? Will the long list of AJ's classmates who have not RSVPed show? Who knows! What I do know is by this time next week, the party will be over. I will be Seussed out. And I'll probably be thinking about a theme for next year. Because I'm nuts like that.

Hello, family: Nana Joan arrives Thursday. Uncle Steve arrives Friday morning, bringing with him (soon to be Aunt) Amanda. The Homburg Grandparents roll into town Friday evening. My boys will be wrapped up in lots and lots of love this weekend. Not having local family is pretty much the only thing I don't like about where we live. (Well, except maybe for snow in April and May, because that's just wrong!) I'm so very much looking forward to having everyone here this weekend. It will certainly add to the crazy, but that's when the best memories are made.

Hello, hoarders: I feel like I need Neecy Nash. How the heck is it possible that in the two months since my mama's last visit we've managed to fill the guest room with crap again? I swear every time she comes I vow that I will not let the guest room get cluttered again, but it quickly becomes the home for all things that don't otherwise have a home. That's what happens when you have a room you don't use every day and said room has a door you can close. If you need me during naps this week, I'll be downstairs clearing a path to the guest bed.

Ventage Tuesday (on Wednesday): A Very Pinteresting Summer

Last month I created a new Pinterest board entitled "Camp Homburg." I know summer simply isn't long enough for me to do all of the things I've been pinning to this board, but I like having a place full of kid friendly recipes, crafts, and learning activities to draw from this summer. If the last week is any indication, AJ is going to need to be kept busy and challenged or we are going to hear a LOT of "I'm bored!" and "What we going to do now, Mama?"

So here are five things from my Camp Homburg board that I am looking forward to trying with the dudes in the coming weeks:

1. Tin Foil River: I love this idea from Camo and Bows and I think the boys are both at good ages for this. Our back yard has a pretty decent slope, and lord knows we have our fair share of rubber duckies! Maybe we'll even experiment with making our own little boats to float down the river.

2.  Painting with Marshmallows: I really hope this summer is the year AJ learns to love crafts. He seems to enjoy them at school but never really is too keen on doing them at home. Last year we tried painting with ice cubes on an exceptionally hot day and he wasn't a fan. Maybe he'll enjoy painting with marshmallows this summer? Fun a Day used campfire colors as part of the marshmallow roasting/painting theme. Maybe we can tie this in to a campfire night.

3. Popsicles: I am totally stoked about this list from Buzzfeed. It has both grown up popsicle and ones that I can make to be AJ and Sammy friendly. I was very jealous of Em's new popsicle every week tradition last summer and I'm hoping we can start something similar (but slightly less ambitious) here.

4. Squirt Bottle Art: The blog post from My Little Princess World shows this craft using water guns, but I think we will give it a try with spray bottles we have around the house.

5. Fun with Books: I've got library story time on our weekly agenda this summer, so I was excited to find this list of activities to go along with popular kids books. Even if we don't make it to many story times (Let's be honest, the little dude isn't the best at sitting quietly and listening), I'm still hoping to use this list to inspire some fun hands on stuff.

So there you have it. Here's hoping some of these pins end up being among our favorite summer memories. For more pinspiration, check out what Angie, Barb, Em, and Katrina have planned for this summer.

Four

When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
Well, there's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

Well, I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up

I'm fairly certain Jason Mraz didn't intend for this song to be about parenting, but from the first time I heard it I couldn't help but think about my love for A.J. He is the one who challenges me to the point of insanity, who makes me laugh harder than I ever thought possible, and teaches me something every day. Nothing is ever easy with him. Every day is an adventure and I am just along for the ride. Maybe that's why I can't help but tear up when I hear:

And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

How lucky am I to be trusted with this blessing? 4 years ago today he did more than make me a mama. He changed who I am and who I will be for the rest of my life. Being his mother has taught me so much about myself, about my capacity to love, and how much I am willing to fight for what is right for our family. 

Watching him be a big brother is amazing. We worried so much about how he would transition, if he would feel jealous, if he would regress or act out. I wish I could have that time back, when I was so worried. He was made to be a big brother. He is an amazing teacher. He shares almost everything from his toys to his room to his mama's lap. He somehow knows when Sammy is really testing my patience and knows just when to pull out the "I love loo mama" that seems to make it so much better. 

I have no idea what this next year will hold for us, where we will go, what we will do. But I do know I'll be back here next year, writing about how lucky I feel to have this boy in my life and how I can't believe how much he's growing and changing. 

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up 

Happy 4th Birthday, Anderson James Homburg. You are loved more than you could ever know. 

Friday Five

1. About AJ: Man this kid is funny. He is becoming such a smooth talker. "Doesn't that sound like a good plan, Mama?" and "I did a good thing! So we should do something fun!" My favorite from last weekend: "I do a good job, Mama. I only drive loo a little crazy." Reminders that he is always listening, always watching, always thinking. (And a little worry on my part that I probably don't set a very good example sometimes for things like patience.) He's also increasingly interested in the schedule. "What's next, mama? What we do after breakfast?" I better get a head start on those "Camp Homburg" plans or I have a feeling we'll have one very bored little boy on our hands this summer. Kind of blows my mind that he's old enough to really express boredom. A year ago he was just really starting to talk in 2-3 word sentences. I swore when he was a late talker that I would *never* ask him to be quiet. Sunday, after an especially trying morning of trying to get everyone dressed and ready for church, we were in the car and he was doing his "Mama? Mama? Mama?" and I responded with "Can you please stop talking for just a minute???" The words were out of my mouth before I even thought about it. And then I spent the rest of the morning beating myself up about it.

2. About Sammy: He had his 1 year check up this week. Graduated to the 10th percentile for weight and 12th for height (he was in the 3rd and 10th at his last appointment). For a boy who doesn't yet walk, he was certainly trying to escape my lap for the bulk of our time waiting in the exam room. He received his chicken pox vaccine. For those keeping track, that's the one that landed us in the hospital for an IVIG infusion with AJ. (They are not the same kid. They are not the same kid. They are not the same kid!) He is so very close to walking, but only does anything about it when we make him. He's an expert climber, though. I went to the bathroom the other day and came back out to find him on top of the toy box. IN HIS SLEEP SACK. Upper body strength anyone? A few times this week he's slept through until 4am. Except then he's decided 4am is time to start his day. So what's worse: interrupted sleep or a day that begins an hour before sunrise?

3. About Karl: He was just named lead engineer in the contract that's being signed for the Canada job he's been working on for the past year. It's kind of a big deal. The kind that means great things for his career and maybe crazy things for our family. I'm really proud of him. And trying not to worry too much about things that are out of my control. I'm also super stoked that having my mom in town for six weeks this summer means we'll actually get to spend some alone time together without going into debt to a babysitter. There's even talk of a double date or two with my favorite Green Bay Ventage girl and her hubby.

4. About Me: I'm up to my eyeballs in lists for the upcoming joint birthday party and baptism weekend. So many pins, so little time. Oh, and now we're adding an engagement session to the agenda because my brother and his new fiancee will be in town. So yay for that. But boo for the insane amount of prep work I need to get done in the next couple of weeks. Like sending out the invites that I've had printed for weeks. GAH! I'm struggling to get back on the Weight Watchers wagon after a couple of weeks that were heavy on the birthday celebrating. I'm definitely eating better than I was but I'm consuming more than my fair share of coffee. Back away from the Starbucks drive thru, Homburg. Oh, and I'm way more giddy than I have any right to be about the fact that Project Life is now available at Archivers. You know, the place where I work. The place where I get a discount. (I don't need more stuff. I don't need more stuff. I don't need more stuff.)

5. About my 35 before 35 list: I've made the bed 7 out of the last 14 mornings (Progress!) I tried a new recipe this week (Pasta with Roasted Broccoli totally amazing!) I'm potentially going to a hotel to sleep this weekend. And I dropped off the first batch (245 family slides!) to be scanned yesterday. Hooray!

Ventage Tuesday: We've got your back

Today is a big day for one of our own. Not the kind of big day we dream about or look forward to, but a new beginning nonetheless. And while we can't all be there to share a group hug and and round of Ventage girl approved adult beverages, we're all together in spirit. My friend, we've all been angry on your behalf. We've been sad with you. Today, we remind you that you've got this. And you've got us. And we love you.