Snowy Weekend

We woke up to snow on Saturday morning.

I suppose if its going to be cold, I'd like it to be accompanied by snow.

We all bundled up and went out to play for a bit then Emerson and I headed in to fix a warm breakfast.

Keeping my loves fed makes my heart happy.

Especially when it involves warm cinnamon rolls.

After breakfast, Easton & I headed out to play while daddy & Emerson stayed inside.

We make a good team.

Saturday afternoon was a day devoted to mom.  I lucked out.

After our snow play, Lance said we were going to eat Mexican, then going to some antique stores, then going to find me some clothes.

Chips & Salsa, old rusted junk- that's my love language.

And we did just that.

Naps were skipped.  Babies fed in the back seat of the truck. Snacks from the gas station.  Together.

Sunday was a home day.

Breakfast of french toast for me, eggs in a basket for daddy & toaster strudels for Easton.

I made a batch of Zucchini Muffins, this time adding in an apple in place of carrots.

I substituted with whole wheat flour and coconut oil this time.

Are y'all aware of the benefits of coconut oil?

It is loaded with health benefits!

The most important for me, being medium chain fats- the fats that Emerson CAN process.

So I use coconut oil in everything now.

Even if you apply it on your skin, it soaks in to your blood stream.

It's good stuff.

But make sure you get the fresh pressed virgin.

I did a little meal planning with what we had on hand for suppers this week and made my grocery list.

The girls headed to the grocery, while the boys headed out to the lake to clean up the duck blind.

Easton loves to be included with the big boys.  If they suggested picking up trash, he'd be all in.

He worked so hard with daddy & Uncle Matt, he fell asleep on the boat on the way back to the ramp.

Sunday was capped off with taco's for dinner (mexican again!!) and a few episodes of LOST on Netflix.

Another wonderful weekend with my little family.

Did you have a good weekend?

Have anything fun planned this week?

It's Valentine's, followed by Lance's birthday so I'm sure I'll be making some sweet treats.

Happy Monday!

Stovetop Potpourri

Ok! So this is SO SIMPLE, yet smells so DELISH!

My friend Bridget posted my recipe on her blog and I was reminded I'd never posted it here.

I posted this pic on IG last week.

I'm sure you've seen in on Pinterest in some form or fashion, but this is my favorite combo!

 

In a small pot on your stove, add the above ingredients in about half a pot of water and bring to a boil.

You can either turn it down and let simmer or you can turn it off till it cools.

It will keep smelling as long as it's warm.

We have a gas range so I turn mine off and on, but you could keep it on low if your heart desires.
I kept it on low at our old house.

This last me 2-3 days at least, depending on how much I heat it.

 

But, YUMMY!  It smells up the kitchen and living room!

 

I added a dash of vanilla last night but I couldn't really smell it. 

I'd say vanilla beans would yield more smell.

I've also added apple and lemon.

Both are yummy!

 

What are your favorite scents to burn in the Fall? 

Emerson's Nursery: Peach & Gold

When we found out we were having a girl, I immediately started thinking about nursery.

I didn't want too much pink.

I wanted soft and sweet.

I pinned a lot of stuff here.

I think we accomplished just that.

 

Take a look and see what you think!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources for décor:

Mirror: purchased gold from Southern Honey, painted Minnie Pearl.

Buffet used for dresser: Cuz's Antiques in Lebanon, since closed down.

Lamp: Target

Booties: Calikatrina

Vase & Sticks: from my house/yard, spray painted gold

Tie on Vase: Came with the curtains

Mobile: Handmade by me.  Super easy!

Grey blanket: TJ Maxx

Changing Table Baskets: Three French Hens

Curtains: Urban Outfitters

Gold Deer Head: Z Gallerie

Book Shelves: Made by Hubby, repainted white.

Doll Bed: Handmade by my grandfather, linens by my great-grandmother

Painted in Southern Honey Paint, color Minnie Pearl

Pennant Banner: Etsy store, AFeteBeckons

Dress Form: Birthday gift from my Mother In Law

Gold E: Joann craft store, cardboard & spray painted

Afghan & Hat: Handmade by me.

Bed & Changing Table: Easton's- repainted in Southern Honey Paint, color Stella

Everything gold was spray-painted Krylon Metallic Gold

Bedding not yet in.  White Dust Ruffle & Fitted Sheets from Target

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Whispering Peach

 

 

Simple & Sweet.

Peach & Gold.

My new favorite colors!

 

So, what do you think??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bittersweet- new chapter

Well.  We've made the move.  We no longer live in the home we've lived in for 8 years.

This weekend we moved into our 'new apartment' as we've been calling it to Easton.  Original I know.  Try not to copy.  New home just didn't seem fitting, since it would be temporary.  So apartment it is. 

It was so bittersweet to leave the place we've called home for so long.  Friday night was a late night packing up the last of our things and fixing some last minute plumbing items from the inspection list.  Saturday morning we had some great friends and family help us load up the truck.

It all went a litle too fast.  I'm thankful that they had it loaded up so fast, but then again, I kinda wanted to soak in my little house one last day. 

Before I knew it I was standing in the middle of my empty living room.  I stood there looking with tears in my eyes.  The hardwood we laid board by board.  The light fixtures we hung when we re-did our kitchen.  The cabinets we worked so hard on when Easton was a new baby.  The tile floor that was laid one late Friday night.  So much work was put into this house. 

 It's hard for me not to mourn the moving on from this house.  It holds so many wonderful memories.  Our first home.  There will never be a place sweeter than that little house.

Yesterday we went back to the house to get the last few things.  I cleaned from top to bottom, Lance mowed the yard and Kirby got some last sunshine on the deck and by the back door.  It's officially ready for it's new owner.  I hope she'll love it as much as we did (do). 

It's odd how you put comfort into a 'place'. Growing up we lived in 3 houses. The first one I don't remember, but the last 2 I remember very well. Each have different memories for me. I remember making the move from my childhood home to my high school home. The feeling of homesick was so overwhelming. Yes, I had my stuff, my new room, my mom and dad, but it wasn't home.

It became home.  Eventually.  But it did take time. 

That's the same feeling I have today.  I know home is where my boys are, and little Kirby, and our stuff, but at the same time, this apartment just doesn't feel like home.  I feel a bit homesick today for my little house.

This too shall pass, but for now, I miss it. 

Fingers crossed for the final inspection this afternoon!  Closing either tomorrow or Thursday, then it's really not ours. 

<

10-5-1 and a little 'deep thinking'

May 3rd we put our house on the market.

We had 5 showings in 10 days.

On the 10th day we had a contract on our house.

Ten days. Five showings. One contract.

It's bittersweet. This was our first home. Yes, we lived in California for 10 months and in an apartment for a year, but this was our first real home. We put in blood, sweat and tears into this house. Literally. Blood. Sweat. Tears.

There have been so many wonderful memories at this little house. I've loved making it ours. I can't imagine it not being 'home' anymore, but I know we'll make the next house a home just as much as we have this one.

We're moving to an apartment for the time being. Our house has not been started yet. The land has been bought and the plans picked out, but nothing started. As of now, I'd get lost in the jungle of the brush that has grown up on our once mowed lot.

But, soon enough, the brush will be cleared, the foundation will be laid and a house will be built.

I'm feeling a little metaphorical today. So, lets lay it out.

How many times do we let the weeds and brush grow up in our own lives? We don't tend to the things at hand and then all of a sudden, they are out of control; seeming to choke us out of the beauty that lay beneath.

How often do we picture that nicely manicured lawn in our heads of the way it 'used to look' but at second glance, there's all kinds of mess growing up around?

What about your life? My life? How often do we think everything is rocking along just fine, going through the motions, but then just like that, things change. Brush grows up.

What is your mess, your brush? Is it anger? Is it bitterness? Is it jealousy? Is it resentment? Is it fear? Is it addiction?

Mess looks different in each life. My mess may look completely different from yours, but truth be told, it's there.

We each have our own brush that needs clearing, but how do you clear it out?

Is it forgiveness? Is it admitting when you've wronged someone? Is it confronting when you've been wronged? Is it asking for help? Is it writing a letter you don't send? 

Whatever it is, I'd imagine it all comes down to Grace. Grace was at one point received. So grace must be given.

Clear the brush. Make a good, flat, clear spot for that foundation.

Sometimes though, when you lay a foundation, you've got to dig deeper than you think. More work than you planned. It's hard work, but the foundation is the most important thing.  It's worth it to put in the hard work on the front end to get it just right.   

Because, there's a house waiting to be built there. And good things are imminent.

Can I get a week of Sundays?

Yesterday was one of those days I'd just like to freeze and enjoy forever.  We all slept in, not having to get up and rush for church.  Don't get me wrong.  I love our church and am so thankful for it, but there's something about a slow morning day that is so refreshing. 

We had cinnamon toast and blueberries on the deck.  A picnic.  My boy loves a picnic. 

We played with the water table (thanks Uncle Matt & Lauren!!!), filled and dumped out bowls of water, gave out kisses, smiles all day long. 

I'll take days like this any time they're handing them out. 

After lunch it was way past time for a nap.  

The new trend at our house is nap on a pallet in the floor.  He won't nap in his bed and he loves to nap with one of us, but a pallet is doing the trick for now.  He thinks he's big.  He is big.  He's nearly the length of the quilt that I lay down for him. 

The boys napped and momma sat on the deck for close to 3 glorious hours reading The Hunger Games.  I finished Book 1. 

I was getting dinner ready and the boys were on the front porch waiting on the rain.  I passed by and saw this.   

It's moments like these I have to stop and pinch myself. These two are my heart. I love them so much. I love catching moments like this when they don't even know I'm looking.

I see many more talks like this.  I can see the concentration in L, as his brow is raised.  He's really listening to his son.  And I see the amusement in E as he looks up to his daddy, telling him one heck of a story, I'd imagine. 

I don't know what they were talking aout, and it's really not too importatant.  What is important is the relationship that these two have and will continue to have as the years go on.

As Lance said yesterday 'can you believe that he's ours forever?' 

A blessing indeed.  A true gift. 

Celebrating The Boy

We've been celebrating The Boy since Friday.  He had his little party at school.  To see his little face when they sang him Happy Birthday was absolutely priceless.  He wanted so bad to smile, but just couldn't get past the bashfull at the moment. 

Saturday, the fun continued.

We had lunch, went to the Batting Cages, looked at a whole lot of John Deere Tractors and had a wonderful Saturday nap. 

This picture has become MY FAVORITE picture of my boys.

I see many more trips to the batting cages in our future.

This gives me a big ole lump in my throat.

We ended our Saturday by celebrating Uncle T's Birthday. 

I did a lot of the party prep on Saturday night.  Dipping pretzels, making smores on a stick, making roll up sandwiches, decorating his door with balloons, hanging bunting, writing my 2 year letter to him, etc. etc.

I think I finally made it to bed about midnight.

But.  It was worth it.

Sunday we took The Boy for donuts for his Big Day! 

I really can't believe he's 2.

I feel like just yesterday, we were heading in to the hospital to meet him for the first time.

We had no idea just how special he'd become to us. 

We had no idea what we were doing, but somehow we figured it out.

Together.  We figured it out.

He has taught us so many things and I'd like to think we've taught him a few as well.

This Boy made me a momma.

I will NEVER be the same. 

Never.  Ever.

A zillion things needed to be done, but one certain little boy chose his momma for nap time. 

Sunday afternoon was filled with party and food prep!

The party was a huge hit!

Everything was just as I pictured it in my head!

You really can do a lot on a budget!

{top left pic- that's my hat from when I rode horses- and a trophy that was in my hat box.  I see similarities.  I don't care what you say.}

I took off work today, and boy am I glad I did.

We had the best day together.

No rushing, no fussing, just playing and being together!

We ran errands, met Daddy for lunch, went to the park, met E's former lunch lady from school, fell asleep in the car but moved perfectly to the couch, played outside, went on a bike ride, had leftovers from Birthday on the deck for supper and finished the night off with SideWalkChalk. 

This has to be one of my favorite days in a long time.   

Happy Birthday Easton! 

You make my heart happy! 

Come back tomorrow for all the Food and Decor Birthday Details!

When life gives you lemons...

Yesterday was absolutely wonderful! 

It was spring time at its finest.

After our wonderful morning, a good day at work & school, the afternoon was just icing on the cake.

The Boy worked out in the yard with The Husband while I worked on things inside.

The front and back doors were both open letting in the most wonderful breeze.

Conversations going on between my boys outside also brought a smile to my face.   

Battle wound- Sidewalk won PLUS dirt from working in the yard

As I thought about dinner, I decided burgers on the grill would top off our night.

The grill lit up without problem. 

I let it get good and hot, or so I thought, and went out to put the burgers on.

And, as you might suspect. 

Nothing.  Nada.  No flame.  Little heat.  Out of gas.

Crap.  Fantastic. 

Now, this would normally send me into a frenzy but last night, that didn't happen.

I decided to just do them in the skillet.

SO.  Take that. 

Ain't gonna rain on my parade.

The Husband made the suggestion to have a picnic on the deck.

You would have thought The Boy got a pony.

He was thrilled to get in his chair and have supper outside!

However, just as we got situated, you know, after grabbing The Boy a spoon...because he CLEARLY needed one with a burger and sweet potato fries, grabbing some napkins, getting my own plate, same dance, different night; the clouds piled in.

It turned cold in about 15 seconds. 

FanFreakinTastic! 

But, we chose to continue our picnic.

Jackets for all while we ate!

 Sometimes life throws you curve balls.

Sometimes things don't always go as planned.

Sometimes you have bad days.

And sometimes you have good days.

It's your choice what you make of what you've been given. 

Choose Joy! 

Hunkered down

I've never really minded storms.  As a child I remember being 'scared' of storms but looking back I think that was because I could get my mom to sleep with me.  

Storms never really bothered me.  I like a good rain.  I like a good thunderstorm.  Makes for a cozy afternoon.

But Friday's storms might have just changed my thinking.

We closed work early on Friday for these storms.  Lance's work closed early.  They don't close early.  

This was set to be a whopper of a storm.

And indeed, it didn't disappoint.

After an afternoon of sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures, getting off work early, picking up Easton right after nap, laughing off the weathermen because it was so perfect outside, we got that storm.

I have never in my life heard anything like this.  It sounded like it was raining marbles for about 5 minutes.  I'm pretty sure it felt like an hour or more, but it couldn't have been more than 5 minutes.  It was the longest 5 minutes I've experienced in a while.

Easton and I hunkered down in the bathroom and tried to take our mind off of the deafening noise going on overhead.  He sensed my fear as he was starting to get worked up too.  I brought the iPad in and tried to entertain him with that, but truth be told, we were both a little distracted.

I kept running out trying to see what was going on but it would just get more loud.  I feared the worst.  

After it finally died down and we were able to survey outside, I was simply in awe of what our yard looked like.  It looked more like a snow storm than the rain/wind/tornado storm they had predicted.  Our yard was covered in marble size hail.  Covered.  In some spots it was up to 2 inches. It was simply like nothing I've ever seen before.  

We did have about 10 shingles come off of our new roof, but they've already been fixed, thanks to Lance and Uncle Matt.  Other than that, we were all safe and sound.  Thank the Lord.    

We really fared well compared to some.  The storm headed east where there were reports of baseball sized hail.  

I'm pretty sure that the next time the meteorologists get antsy, I will too!

Saturday Morning

We've got lots of little things to do today, but right now, we can't seem to get out of our jamma's.

And we're having a little mid morning snack. Blueberry muffins and yogurt.  

The Boy likes butter on his muffins.  "More butta" as he says.  

Hope you have a fantastic Saturday!

Camping...inside

As if we didn't have enough going on in our living room...

Daddy decide to set up the big tent.

Easton thought it was fantastic!

Lance thinks outside the box.

He doesn't see mess. 

He doesn't see clean-up.

He see's fun.

I'm determined to learn how to do that.