Lollipops and Lovin' Life

So we seem to be getting into our groove here with the school year...Seamus is doing great, looks forward to going to school in the morning and can't wait to tell me all about it when he gets home. He loves singing 'Today is Monday" and "God Bless America," and likes to give me the rundown of who cried that morning at drop-off time. I'm so relieved that he is adjusting so well! I have to give credit to my amazing husband, who does the entire morning routine - breakfast, brushing teeth, getting dressed, socks & shoes, brushing hair, lunchbags and backpacks, dropping off Grace, taking Seamus to school - all by himself! He even manages to get a bow in Grace's hair. I leave for work when everyone is still asleep, so he's in charge of getting everyone out the door and where they need to be - and then he picks them both up in the afternoon. I feel like such a Slacker Mommy! I am so lucky to be married to such an awesome guy.

After some careful consideration, I just have to say a word about lollipops. Does anyone else feel that lollipops are God's gift to a parent of toddlers??? I never realized the magical power held within the core of a Dum-Dum. We could be anywhere, and the kids could be having a meltdown of the highest degree, and all I have to say is, "Oh, it's too bad you aren't behaving nicely, because Mommy has some pops..." And then a complete 360! We used lollipops like they were government bribes in order to get through restaurant meals while on vacation. The really funny thing is, my kids don't even like ice cream or chocolate (whose children are they?!) but something about that sweet little ball of yumminess on a stick just sends them into a tailspin of delight. We went to a pool party this past weekend, and the hostess had bowls of Tootsie pops. The kids were being excellent, so we decided to reward them each with a pop...and they didn't move from their chairs for an hour!

Life is good!

I'm so excited that the fall weather is finally arrived, and can't wait to get out and do some apple-picking and visit the pumpkin patch. The kids have been super close lately, maybe because they don't spend all day with each other anymore? Not sure what it is, but there is nothing that makes me happier than seeing my two babies playing together and loving on each other.

Here they are doing their "super silly face."

Riding the horsey - I love his face, I'm sure he's thinking, "Enjoy it while it lasts, sweetheart!"

Hope everyone is having a great week! Anyone have some exciting plans for fall?