Life with Dylan

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  • The Ultimate LEGO Experience

    Today was the first day of the 3-day Grand Opening Celebration of the new LEGO Store in South Coast Plaza. What better reason is there to take Dylan out of school early than to give him the ultimate LEGO experience? I took the day off work today to relax and free myself from stress, so why not let loose and have some fun! Oh my, I think I was almost as excited as Dylan was. The new LEGO Store is located on the lower level in Carousel Court on the Rainforest Cafe wing.

    Before you go into the LEGO Store, be sure to stop by the Master Builder area located right next to the carousel and help build an 8 foot tall Yoda from LEGO’s. There is a Yoda already built that stands about 2 feet tall so the kids can see what the finished product will look like. Stations are set up with friendly LEGO employees to help.

    Each brick you build is 4 x 4 and is equal to one normal size LEGO. You can choose from tan, brown, or green bricks … or make one of each like Dylan did!

    Once you have built your bricks, you give them to the LEGO Master Builder and he places them where they need to go.

    Dylan getting a high-5 as he hands his bricks to the LEGO Master Builder

    Now, off to the LEGO Store so we can get Dylan’s certificate. Yes, you get an official Master Builder Certificate of Achievement for helping out. (While supplies last)

    What a great way to get people into the store right? We spent almost an hour in the store looking at all the displays and deciding what LEGO’s to purchase! Using our VIP card, we were able to earn double points and get a FREE LEGO Universe online game. Dylan was overcome with excitement. Just look at all those LEGO’s!

    Also, the first 300 people to visit the store on Saturday, March 12th can receive these Limited Edition Collectible Mini Figures with any $35 purchase.

    In the words of Dylan, today was the “Ultimate LEGO Experience” and a day with my son I will always remember.

    What is your favorite LEGO memory?

  • The Blue and Gold That Was!

    Since I posted about the Blue and Gold that wasn’t, I thought it only appropriate to post about the Blue and Gold that was. Last night we attended our first official pack meeting with Dylan’s new Cub Scout Pack 744 and it was amazing! Such a difference from the old pack. Words cannot begin to describe the level of organization, loving families without the gossip, everyone helping and supporting each other, and the simple task of following the Cub Scout guidelines. Dylan was not only asked to stand up as he was welcomed into the new Pack, but his name was printed in the program, and the Den Leader presented him with all of his achievements he earned in the old pack.

    Receiving his achievements

    His bag full of belt loops, pins, and patches!

    Also, there was a leader leaving and all the boys gave her a rose. On the ribbon of the rose was something nice she had done for the boys and each boy read it as he handed her the rose. Dylan’s rose read, “Although I didn’t get the chance to learn from you I am happy to meet you and wish you luck” … now that was cool! They took the time to make Dylan feel like part of the Den from the get go.

    Dylan’s new Cub Scout friends

    The Pack even decorated a chalkboard so that Dylan would have a place to display his posters he made.

    Guess he couldn’t stop eating the cake long enough for a picture

    This poster had to explain the food chain of an endangered animal.

    The 6 elements of the Leave No Trace Pledge

    We LOVE our new Cub Scout Pack 744

  • Wordless Wednesday – Happy Boy!

  • The simple things …

    Today was Dylan’s day and somehow it turned out to be one of the best days I have had in a long time. Nothing really planned out, just a few errands to run and then play at the park. Our day started at GameStop because Dylan saw a commercial on television that said you could bring in your DS and Pokemon Platinum game and get a free mystery Pokemon downloaded to your game. This made him happy. Then off to the Scouting store to buy a bigger shirt and some patches we needed. Nothing too exciting. Next it was off to the park to play a little football. Yes, I said football. Believe it or not, I have a pretty good arm and even surprised my Dad that I knew how to hold a football properly.

    Practicing his form
    Seconds before he threw the ball down … Touchdown!

    Listening to Dylan give play by plays and instructing me what to do was hilarious. I told him he should try playing football and he said no because they get tackled. So I suggested he try Quarterback since they don’t get tackled as much. He still said no. He just wants to play for fun. Fine with me because I don’t want to watch my baby being tackled. As we got in the car to leave he said, “Mom, that was awesome!” Totally made my day. Today was such a beautiful day too … perfect for tossing the ball around.

    Next it was off to Downtown Disney for a visit to the LEGO Store. Dylan realized he needed a few things to complete what he has been working on. Good thing Grandma and Grandpa were with us because his eyes were bigger than his wallet.

    The infamous Death Star, a mere $399

    No, Dylan did not get the Death Star! Although, he has been asking for this for two years now with the same enthusiasm … if he keeps it up, Santa just might bring it to him one year. What made this trip to the LEGO Store so special is Dylan had his new wallet and was ready to spend his coveted $12. Today we also joined the LEGO VIP Club and now earn points toward every purchase made in the store or online.

    Creating with his new Legos

    While Dylan was searching the store for his purchases I was mentioning to my Mom that I couldn’t believe they had not opened a Lego store at South Coast Plaza. Ironically, when we got home and I was online registering our new VIP card I did a search for store locations … and guess what? Next week (March 11-13) is the Grand Opening of the LEGO Store at South Coast Plaza! Some really cool events will be going on during the Grand Opening, including an opportunity for kids to help a Lego Master Builder build an 8 foot tall Yoda out of LEGO’s that will be displayed in the store. This is definitely going on our calender!

    Take the time to enjoy the simple things in life. 

    When was the last time you enjoyed the simple things with your child?

  • Fill In The Blank Friday

    Another reason to LOVE Fridays …
    Join The Fun Here
    1. The phrase or punctuation I overuse most is … Seriously? No, I am not questioning the “fill-in”, I just like to say Seriously? when people tell me things that I just can’t believe or that shock me. I also tend to overuse the infamous exclamation point!!!
    2. Today I am thankful for … today. No longer worrying about anything beyond today. I am thankful for my job and my talents as a makeup artist that allow me to do what I love. I am thankful for my son!
    3. My best friend is … Laura. We have been through thick and thin together for the past 20 years and I don’t know what I would do without her. We finish each other sentences and can talk in a code that only we understand. Our famous last words … “to the grave” … secrets kept forever.  
    4. A quirky thing about me is … that although I am quite anal retentive with labels, bins, and organization, my home still seems to be in some sort of organized chaos all the time!
    5. This weekend I … will relax and spend time with Dylan, enjoy lunch with my great friend Roxanne, and cook up something new from my collection of Food Network recipes.
    6. Something that worries me is … I can’t answer this one because I promised my aunt that I would stop worrying so much!
    7. On my night stand you would find … my cell phone charger, clock radio/alarm, a hair band, a candle, a bottle of water, and a picture of Dylan.
    Share your random thoughts in the comments below or over at

  • God and Me

    “A Scout is Reverent.” All Scouts show this by being faithful in their duty to God. Some go further and give special service. This can qualify them for a religious emblem. Such an emblem is not a Scouting award. It is conferred on a Scout by his religious leader. Each faith has its own requirements for earning its emblem. (taken from usscouts.org)

    Universal Religious Emblem Square Knot



    Over the past two months, Dylan has been taking classes at our church, St. Andrews Presbyterian, with his Grandpa. During this time, Dylan has learned how to pray, what God does for him, and how he can live a life alongside of God. He even memorized the Lord’s Prayer. Each week Dylan had homework to do for the class and projects to work on to fulfill the requirements to earn his God and Me Religious Emblem. Last week Dylan and Grandpa completed the course and tonight was the official ceremony, complete with pizza and cake.




    After answering a few questions about what he had learned, Dylan along with the other scouts who completed the program were presented with their religious emblems.



    When asked why he took these classes, Dylan responded, “So I could learn more about God.” My heart just about melted. Then Brienna (the woman who taught the class) said that she was told Dylan had learned the Lord’s Prayer and asked if he could say it. At first he was shy and said no, but then he stood front and center on the stage and said the entire prayer with such confidence in front of about 30 people. I have never been so proud of my son. Not a dry eye from our family. 

    Religious Emblem earned in 2nd year of Scouting

    Pardon the glare … 

    Dylan and Grandpa



    Thank you Grandpa, for taking the time to teach and lead Dylan how to follow the right path.  

  • Our Newest Neighbors

    Today started off just like any other day. Running late, rushing out the door, grab the backpack, purse, keys, coffee … Go, Go, Go … we are late. We make it into the car at 7:20am, only 5 minutes behind schedule, not too bad. As we are driving out of the complex Dylan says, “Mom, is that a Bobcat?” I’m thinking what did he just say? So I stop the car and look out the window. Sure enough, two little Bobcats are sitting on top of the wall that divides the complex from the fields leading out to the Back Bay. I said, “Um, yes they are” and I put the car in reverse so Dylan could get a really good look at them. He said, “Mom, aren’t we going to be late?” … “Yes, we are Dylan, but this is worth it.” Knowing how much my son loves animals I could not pass this up.

    Of course this is the one day I don’t have my camera with me! The Bobcats were just sitting there on the wall watching us. The quiet and peaceful atmosphere with morning mist filling the air made this a very cool experience for both of us. As I am reaching in my purse to get my phone out, thinking I can take a picture with my phone, about 10 crows fly out of tree making all kinds of noise and the Bobcats jump off the wall, back into the fields.
    Bummer, no picture.

    We live right next to a trail that I often run on and Dylan and I have walked on many times. We see this sign everyday as we leave the complex, but never really think anything about it. We think differently now and are happy to have such cute new neighbors living just over the barrier wall. Seeing animals in the zoo is nothing compared to experiencing wild animals in their natural habitat.

  • Wordless Wednesday – Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

    “You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.” – Dr. Seuss

  • My Inspiration

    As much as I love my life with Dylan, there are those days when I feel like the world is crumbling around me. I am not perfect. I can offer advice and help others, but I cannot always take the advice or help from those who want to help me. Last night I went to a meeting with a group of women, my friends, the members of Divine Perceptions. Aside from helping each other with our businesses, we help each other grow into better, stronger women.

    So just when my world was crumbling around me and I felt I could not catch me breath, these women reminded me of how strong I am. We are all human and we all get down sometimes. However, we all have something or someone who inspires us to keep going.

    Because this meeting went well past Dylan’s bedtime, he spent the night with Grandma and Grandpa. The house was so quiet this morning. While we should not live our lives for someone else, but rather live our lives for ourselves, the quiet of the house when I woke up reminded me of what my inspiration is to keep moving forward. I realized that it does not matter how much money I make, how successful my business is, or how many friends I have. What matters is how I live my life and that I live my life with positive thoughts and actions.

    To do this, I look to my inspiration …

  • A Day Without Video Games


    After much complaining that there was nothing to do if he could not play video games, Dylan immersed himself in Lego’s for over 2 hours! Creativity, imagination, and oh, if you could have only heard the detailed story that went along with these pictures. I love it when Dylan plays with something other than video games. However, he realized that he only has one blue base and now we need to go buy another one to make the Battle scene complete. I sense a trip to the Lego store coming soon.

    The Battle of Good …

    versus Evil on land …

    and of course the Battle from the Sea.
    The Star Wars Battle