A Date with Kate

After we had Claire, several of our friends (who had older kids) told us about the importance of making sure you do 1 on 1 time with each of your kids & have intentional time so that they have a special day just focused on them.
Well, Claire is almost 2 and we have yet to do this with either girl (parenting fail)
(Now, we do have occasional 1 on 1 time with each of them, we just haven't done a special "date" day.)
On Monday, I dropped Claire off at my mom's so Kate and I could have our date.
(this was yet another item on the summer list)
I told Kate that it was just her & I for some special time and she got to tell me what she wanted to do!
But, first I had to go to the post office to mail a package.
It turned out to be Kate's lucky day at the post office, because the lady behind the counter gave Kate a Post Office coloring book! Kate was thrilled, she LOVES to color!
After the post office, Kate was in charge of our next destination.
What did she pick?

She wanted to go get a pink bagel (and chocolate milk, of course!)
She specifically wanted to sit in the booth and wanted me to sit next to her, not across from her :)

After our pink bagels, Kate wanted to go to Target to pick out a backpack for preschool
(she starts in 3 weeks. Tears!)
I am not even sure she needs a backpack for preschool, but Kate INSISTED that she get a backpack. Not just any backpack....Kate wanted a princess backpack.

If you know me, I am not a big fan of characters on things (like clothing, bedding, shoes, etc)

But, Kate really, really, really wanted a Princess backpack that was purple.

And, what do you know...Target had one. Lucky for Kate.

Granted, the backpack is WAY too big & I don't even think she needs one for school, but you know what? It made Kate SO happy. She was smiling ear to ear. It was a great way to spend $10 (even though I cringed silently to myself when she picked it out)
I wanted to get her THIS ONE from Pottery Barn Kids. Oh well.

*sidenote: Kate realized after we got home that her backpack didn't have Cinderella on it (which is her favorite princess). She was bummed for a few minutes but then informed me that it was okay & that she would get a Cinderella lunchbox to go inside her backpack.) The best part about this that my mom already got her a Cinderella lunchbox a few weeks ago & was planning on giving it to Kate as a Back to School present! phew.

After Target, Kate told me she wanted to go to the library.
The first thing she wanted to do at the library was play on the kid computer & make a picture (they have a Paint program, it was pretty fun)

That lasted less than 5 minutes & then we went to go read some books.

Kate is very serious about her books.

I let her choose 3 books to check out (because she is 3)

But, then she asked if we could check out another one for Claire (because she is 1)

So sweet of her to think of her sister!

After the library, it was time to go get Claire.
Kate and I had a great date.
I asked Kate what her favorite thing of the entire day was and she told me it was the library.
So glad she is a book lover like her mommy!
It was so fun for me to just focus on her & have cute conversations with her.
I wish we had done something like this before!
I am going to do this regularly with each of them. And, so is Kevin.
Claire's turn is next!
And, one of the biggest benefits of our date is that for the rest of the afternoon after we got home, she was in such a good mood, extra helpful with Claire and was so eager to share her toys with Claire.
Was this a coincidence? I think not.
Kids just need some 1 on 1 time every now & then.
It is good for the kids (and the parents!)

My Kind of S'mores

Normally, I am not a big fan of s'mores
(I know, I know)
I think it is because I don't like plain Hershey bars.
So, I switch it up when I make s'mores.....
Goodbye Hershey Bar, Hello Reece's Peanut Butter Cups!

This is fun & simple twist on S'mores!
I don't know about you, but Reeces Peanut Butter Cups are my favorite chocolate candy. Yum.

The girls were so excited to make s'mores this summer.
We made them in May, but Kate has been asking to make them again
(and, this was on our summer list)

(Disclaimer: no one was harmed while Claire ran around the house with a bent wire hanger)

We don't have a fire pit, so we roast our marshmallows on our gas BBQ. That's how we roll.

The perfect s'mores marshmallow is lightly toasted all around...not burnt.
Please note Exhibit A:
This is NOT how you roast a marshmallow...Having it catch on fire is a big no-no.

(Kevin is a fan of this method....Kate and I? Not so much)

While my marshmallows are roasting, I put a graham cracker & a peanut butter cup on some foil on the grill to get my chocolate slightly warm.

Kate is mesmorized by this whole process...she wanted her dessert!

Almost ready....just needs a top cracker!

Yum. Yum. Yum.

What's not to love?
Graham Crackers? Good.
Marshmallows? Good.
Reeces Peanut Butter Cups? Really Good!

I think it is safe to say that both girls loved them!

I give these S'mores 2 thumbs up.
If you like Reeces Peanut Butter Cups and you like S'mores, give these a try!

Dear Target,

Just when I don't think I can love you more than I already do, you TOTALLY out do yourself.

I don't think you understand how happy I was when I saw this on the front entrance of my local Target:
Now I can get clothes, shoes, tolietries, cleaning supplies, grocercies, meat & produce all in one place?
Yes.
Yes, please.

(Don't even get me started on the dollar section....LOVE!)

Only 27 more days until this is a reality. Can't wait for September 12th.
I think it is time for me to buy stock in Target, because the amount of money that I spend there is going to increase (sorry, Kevin)

And, if getting a full grocery section wasn't good enough, this week our Target replaced ALL of the shopping carts, with awesome new plastic shopping carts.
They are the smoothest, lightest, easiest things to maneuver.

I love you, Target.

Your BFF,
Mel