St.Patty's Day Recap

I always have the best intentions with every holiday.

I pin a boat load of crafts to do, books to read,

and general merriment to partake in.

However, with the parade already under our

belt - I didn't feel the need or have the energy

to go over the top with this holiday.

(Daylight Savings is kicking my butt).

 The biggest thing I did was purchase this mini size

Lucky Charms cereal. I thought I had successfully

snuck it in the cart last Saturday (because Max was

with me). However, the minute he saw

it on the counter, he said "we got that at the grocery".

So much for the leprechauns I guess.

I had also put his special St.Patrick's day mail next

to his cereal and he enjoyed opening that up

almost immediately.  

 I was pretty proud of myself for getting him into

the St.Patrick's day shirt with very little drama.

And of course, he is sporting his new hair cut!

(Sidenote: Papa Rob took him to get his haircut

without me....and while it's a little shorter than

what I was expecting...it's still pretty cute and will

be nice for summer!)

He was all smiles in the morning! 

The St.Patrick's fun continued at work.

We had a potluck because I LOVE potlucks.

There was corn beef, potatoes, broccoli cheese casserole,

Rueben dip with rye bread, a rainbow colored fruit salad,

and shamrock cookies. It's always a joke with everyone

at work that I basically set the menu for each potluck.

But, really I just offer "suggestions" on what to bring.

I mean, how else am I supposed to ensure that I get

to eat what I like :) 

And you know, I had to make some photo props!

And I made the people (and animals) in our

classroom get in on the fun.  

No chinchilla was safe from my antics!

I mean come on, a chinchilla in a paper

bow tie! There is nothing cuter!

 

At home, our only real plan for food

was to have this fruit rainbow.

I cut up all the fruit (under Max's watchful

eye) and I had a bunch of extra that wouldn't

fit on the plate. So, I put it in a bowl for Max

and he proceeded to eat all of it (even the

blueberries) - so by the time dinner rolled around...

he was less interested in the beautiful

Pinterest worthy rainbow I had created.

We went outside after dinner to burn off

some energy....and play with all the toys in the garage.

The below picture is the only one I managed

to get of the three of us (because Max was having

none of it). But, as cheesy as it sounds, I like

having a day to remind me just how lucky

we are have to be raising this sweet, funny boy.  

Hope your day was wonderful and you

managed to avoid any leprechaun shenanigans! :)

xoxo

Easy like Sunday morning...

These are just some photos of us, in our home. 

We're not really doing anything special really...

but I guess these are the moments I want to 

remember the most. A Sunday morning...

no place to be.  A daddy still snoozing upstairs. 

A mommy who had to reheat her coffee three

times and still didn't finish it. 

A boy who was happy to still be wearing his

pajamas. And have a new Easter train. 

He eventually decided the train needed

some tracks. And arranged all of

the characters in the train cars. 

And drove it around and around. 

And around some more. 

Then he climbed into my lap and asked

for some Paw Patrol. Well sure I said :)

We also read some stories. 

Including this Jake and the Neverland Pirate

book with sound effects. He counted all the 

gold coins and was mildly annoyed we were

missing one. 

His hand on my leg. 

He asked to set up the beach volleyball court

(which is essentially just this green blanket)...

along with some of his favorite Daniel Tiger

characters. Did I mention that we also had a 

picnic on that blanket?

Then we began our volleyball game....

basically I toss the ball at him and he 

hits it back to me. 

Basically, just your average Sunday morning 

over here. But, kind of the best. 

xoxo

Growing up

(recent pic from Daniel Tiger Live!)

This morning, something monumental happened. 

I have been showering at night for almost three

years because it's just easier.  It just makes our mornings
so much easier. I can be with Max

and get him breakfast, dressed, and out the door

with relative ease. It has led to some questionable

hair (though, my co-workers never mentioned it)...

but no more my friends! 

This morning I realized I could let Max 

watch his I-pad and eat breakfast

while I hopped in the shower. 

I was probably only in there for seven minutes

and I kept the door open in case he needed me - 

but I DID IT. 

(Loves swinging these days....)

This got me thinking about how much other

big stuff he's doing....so I present to you this

list of ten things that prove he's growing up. 

(an adventure to the moon with Mims and Grandpa!)

1.)  He can open his own applesauce lids 

(but sometimes asks you to "put your hand over his" which 

means he still needs a little bit of help)

2.)  He SHOWERS (I mean, he still needs our help 

and I would never trust him in there alone....but you get the idea).

3.) Along with showering, he has his own loofah 

that he demands upon entering the shower 

and understands what to do with.

4.) He understand that money has some value 

and hoards it in his piggy bank. The other day he had pants 

pockets that were literally jangling all around with coins.

5.) He can drive a cart (pretty well, I might add) at 

Trader Joes. He only ran into the 

back of my heels once....so I consider that pretty great.

6.)  He works so hard at dressing himself. 

He comes out most of the time with his underwear 

first, and asks, " is this right?". The shirts are 

still a struggle - and buttons usually end in straight up tears.

7.) When sitting in his car seat, he can buckle 

both the top and bottom clips in the five point harness. 

This revelation sort of blew my mind...

because if he can buckle it, then maybe 

he can unbuckle it? Yikes!

8.)  He can make a smoothie - again we still 

supervise - but he knows to add the liquids (milk and OJ), 

then fruit, and then exactly which button to push.

9.)  He can turn the TV on and off.

10.)  He can open the front door and then 

the screen door...again, not sure how to feel about this. 

Actually I do - it makes me crazy.

xoxo

Dublin Irish Parade

I think we all know that I love parades.

(If not, see my 4th of July post - here ).

There is just something about the sense of community,

pride, and just easy fun that comes with a parade.

The Dublin Irish Parade is no exception.

Sadly, I had to work this year.

But, my parents, Papa Rob, and Max

were still able to go....and I got to live

through their super fun pictures!



Thankfully, there were able get find parking

really easy...and this left them with time to fill.

They wandered up to the local bank - and they were

doing face painting.  So, naturally, Max came away with

the shamrock. I can't even handle that smile above.

I received the next few pictures and silently freaked out

about the amount of sugar entering his little body. But,

who can pass on the Leprechaun Potion?  Not the Hauck's.

Green cotton candy?  Well, of course.

They met a few more characters along the way to finding

the perfect parade spot...

I mean clearly, there were going to be adult leprechauns.

Weird, Max didn't want to be in the picture with the leprechaun? Not.

If he didn't like Santa, I knew the leprechaun didn't have a chance.

Now, Big Earl (the Bernese Mountain Dog) - he's pretty adorable!

They found the perfect spot - on a cement planter...and the

parade began! Fire trucks, free candy, and bubbles...

pretty much a toddler's dream come true.

Bring on all the green things!

And the Irish Wolf Hounds!! 

My most favorite :)

The Leprechaun Potion went down pretty easy.... 

 

 According to my parents and Papa Rob,

Max was very well behaved and did a great job

watching and sticking out his hand for candy.

Seriously, he has a like a ten pound

bag of candy (mostly Tootsie Pops and

Dum Dum Suckers)...you think there is

any chance he will forget about that?

#probablynot

All in all I'm glad they were able to

go and the weather cooperated this year!

It was such a beautiful day...and I was

actually able to meet them for lunch

and hear all about the adventure.

Our tiny leprechaun finally

passed out (just when I had given

up all hope for a nap) and we did a

successful car transfer #allthepraisehands

I will definitely make sure not to

schedule a program next year....because

this is one parade I hate to miss! :)

xoxo

Spring, is that you?

A soft rain has been falling as I type this.

We've had our windows open most evenings

this week. And the temperature reached 70 degrees.

I just bought like $20 worth of lettuce seeds

because #HauckFamilyFarm.

Also, I have bathing suits and the perfect

pair of summer shorts on my mind.

It must be spring, right?

With the weather being absolutely perfect,

everyone in our neighborhood was out and smiling.

And waving. Plastic cars, scooters, and tricycles

scattered all over the side walk.

We ventured down the street

to chat with neighbors we hadn't seen

since October!

 

We drug out the tractor/wagon.

Next, the golf clubs.

Then, the cozy coupe.

 

 

We ended on our beloved sidewalk chalk.

This time we drew spring things!

I drew this bunny and then Max

asked for a very specific rainbow - with

the cloud only on one side.

Oh, and spiderman.

No big deal.

Then, I decided it would be fun to

"decorate" eggs on the side walk.

Max drew one stripe through all of them

and declared them finished.

 You couldn't wipe the smile of my face

or Max's while we played around after work.

We're hoping this weather is here to stay!

xoxo

p.s. check video below for Max rolling

along in the Cozy Coupe :)

Max, Mama, and Papa - February 2016

Another month has come and gone.

I love this little project of mine and I never

want it to feel stressful.  So, I usually run around

the house gathering up these items and take

all the pictures in a matter of about twenty minutes.

February was a doozey of a month....we finally

got some snow, celebrated mama's birthday,

powered through a terrible cold for Max and daddy,

and finally decided to order some parenting books.

As Max gets closer to three, he's certainly

exerting is desire to be in charge and showing

those dreaded "three-nager" signs...and thus -

we need some sort of plan.

 

Here is what Mama, Max (33 months), and Papa were into during February  2016.

(From left to right - Papa, Max, and Mama)

 

CARRYING:// his man purse, a box of tissues everywhere, and my work bag

*Rob carries this trendy man bag to work every morning

and I swear it weighs like twenty pounds

*Because he's been fighting a runny nose/cold - Max has been

obsessed with tissues

*Papa Rob got me this bag for Christmas and it's

just perfect for carrying all my crap to work.

DRINKING:// vitamin water, cough syrup, and sparkling water

*How did I not know about sparkling water?? It's

so delicious!

EATING:// baby carrots, applesauce by the containerful, and edamame

*Each week we by each of these three things

at the grocery store. Rob takes the carrots religiously

in his lunch, Max would have applesauce at

every meal if we let him, and those edamame

are such a great snack!

 





LOVING:// our new kitchen cabinet handles, Paw Patrol, and my new map

*Papa Rob randomly installed these new cabinet handles

on all of our kitchen cabinets

*Paw Patrol all the time over here

*Auntie Stacy got me this really adorable map

for my birthday and when Max took our calendar for his

room, I had the perfect spot to hang it in the kitchen.

READING:// the Dragon Reborn, Spot the Dot, and How Toddlers Thrive

*Sometimes I question Rob's book choice, but then

I'm usually like, well, he's reading...and that's better than

a lot of other crap he could be doing. And what a good

example for Max!

*Max's book choice was less of a read aloud

this month and more of a seek and find on each page.

*I told you about the parenting books...this is just

one of them...

WATCHING:// Detroit Muscle, Lego City, Fuller House

*Car shows always for Papa Rob

*There is literally no dialogue in Lego City

and I think it's really dumb, but Max likes it

*I could not resist Fuller House - and while

it was terribly cheesy - I still liked it.

WEARING:// bombas socks, "comfy pants", and rolled cuff jeans

*We had been searching high and low for the perfect

athletic socks for Rob...and these are it!!

*Max chooses to wear "comfy pants"

over all others these days.  And, I don't mind

because he can put them on himself

*Rolled jeans go great with booties

WRITING:// cards for all the February holidays, his name, and letters to my pen pals

*Rob's valentine's day and birthday card

cards were perfect for me this year.

*Max is getting good at writing his name!

*I love to send snail mail to my friends!

 

What will March bring?!?

xoxo