Friday, June 07, 2013

H54F

Happy Friday! Oh my word....this week has been kind of just blah for me. The kids and I have been fighting colds which means we have pretty much been quarantined in our house all week. Shawn's been busy working on getting our attic ready for insulation so we haven't seen much of him and I guess I'm just ready for a change. But, regardless...it's Friday! And even though it's been kind of ehhh for me this week, there are still some highlights!

1. I'm loving the James study from Beth Moore. And the weather...it's still cool enough to sit comfortably in our screened in porch!


2. I got to spend the whole day Monday with my dear friend, Tammy. We worked on getting her room organized and ready for August. She just moved buildings and her room is adorable and amazing! I won't lie...it totally made me miss teaching. I love, love, loved that job.


3. Ugh - potty training. Let's just say my son is in diapers today. What in the world?!?! I've cleaned up more messes this week and it's just frustrating! We are taking a little re-group break. 


But he sure does look cute in his little undies!


4. PROJECT LIFE ORGANIZATION!!!!! Thanks to Leslie, I have the perfect way to organize all my PL goodies! These are closet organizers from Target but they fit the PL cards perfectly!


And even better, they fit perfectly in the bottom two drawers of my dining room dresser!!!! Yes, I have a lot of PL kits now....darn that Hobby Lobby! Just kidding, HL - I love you and you know it.


5. It's Friday. Finally. My house is a wreck and needs some deep cleaning and we have lots more to do on the attic before we are ready for the insulation to be blown in. But it IS Friday and I'm just gonna take it. Sometimes that's all we got!

Friday, May 31, 2013

I HEART Project Life

You guys - Project Life is the bomb. Thank you a zillion times Miss Leslie for sharing this gem with me. I AM OBSESSED! Like crazy mad. Ah!

I haven't shared my latest weeks with y'all in a long time so I thought I would do that today. The whole process is super easy and so. much. fun. I can't even explain how much I love it. I think it's one of the reasons this little blog has gotten so little attention lately. I just love having our daily memories right there in picture form.

Wanna know what else I love about it? Sometimes I get behind (ahem okay this is usually the case) and so every few weeks I think to myself, Jen - you should work on PL. I usually get all stressed because I just can't think of anything super fun or exciting that we did. But as I start looking through my photos on my phone and Shawn's I see all this LIFE that we've been living and it just makes me so stinking happy! I absolutely love documenting our normal days because in 5, 10, 20 years from now those are the things I am going to miss and want to remember! Project Life is the perfect way for me to do that!!!

Wanna know what else I'm crazy about? Hobby Lobby has started carrying a few of the core kits and accessories. Which means, 40% off baby!!!!! This is the most affordable and exciting way to scrapbook ever. EVER.

Here is an awesome snapshot of my stellar PL set up. That's my dining room table. See it under there? :)


I instagrammed this pic one day as I was working on PL. This was before it got crazy, mad, out of control. :) If I could have one mommy wish (hint, hint Shawn) it would be to have a whole uninterrupted morning to just knock out some major documenting life. Oh and a Cinnamon DolcĂ© latte from the Starbucks wouldn't hurt the scenario at all. 


So, here are the weeks I have done....(please don't notice that I am SUPER way far behind...I'm hoping to get caught up as soon as my 101 free Shutterfly prints show up at my front door!!!!)

Week 5: (and looks like I still have some journaling to do!)



Week 6:



Week 7:


Week 8:



Week 9:



Week 10:




Week 11:



Week 12: (possibly one of my favorite week cards to date)



Week 13:



Easter Spread





Easton's 2nd Bday Spread:



(I printed out the blog post letter I wrote him for his bday)



Week 14:



Week 15:





And I'm super far behind but SO pumped to get all caught up! Especially since I just got the Honey and Midnight core kits and the Holiday mini kit from Hobby Lobby!!!!!!!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

This is happening...

I might be crazy, but I am a huge proponent of reading your child's signs for readiness and Easton just seems so ready. Both Shawn and I are in agreement and so I decided to start this today:


We had a great morning. As soon as he woke up we put the undies on and started our day. He's been so curious about the potty and we've even let him use it several times (not consistently) with great success!

He went pee on his "beebee potty" first thing this morning and about ever thirty minutes or so I would take him in and he would pee a little bit more. He did great all morning, even when we were outside.


Around 11:15 I was talking to him in the kitchen and he got this weird look on his face and said, "poo poo!" so I thought here we go....I ran him to the bathroom and got him seated and realized he had peed in his underwear. Although this was an "accident" I still counted it as a success because he noticed right away and told me! He even finished peeing in the little potty. I got him cleaned up and changed and was feeling pretty good about the whole thing.

Then we ate lunch.

And some of you moms of boys know what comes after lunch for your little men. Yep - the dreaded poopy. I watched him like a hawk. Even taking him to sit on the potty about ten minutes after eating, only to have him pee a little and let out a big toot. ;)

Then I let my guard down a bit. Surely he won't poop in his pants, I thought. Surely.

He ran to the playroom (BAD SIGN mama....how did you not see that coming?!?!) to get his tractor. He brought it to me to fix. Well that wasn't all he brought me. He also came bearing the tell-tale scent of a kid who'd done his business.

What? Seriously, dude, you were gone for 4. 5 seconds. Remember, you are supposed to TELL mommy! Remember?!?!

So, we had a poopy accident. And I gagged because cleaning poop out of a pair of undies is not for the faint of heart. But, I put another pair of undies on the kid because we're playing for keeps y'all.


I don't know how long this whole potty training experience will last us, but we are committed and the kid is smart so surely we will all make it out alive, right?


RIGHT?

Neighborhood Walk/Bike Ride

I love our neighborhood. When we were looking for a new home almost two years ago I fell in love with the spaced out homes, quiet roads, and beautiful scenery. I love that we love our neighbors and that the kids and I can go for a leisurely walk/bike ride and feel completely safe. I'm so thankful for this place we call home. 

When I suggested a walk yesterday morning the kids were so excited! We love going on walks, but I honestly just don't make as much time for it as I should. With the weather so gorgeous right now I know I need to get them out there more...it's a goal of mine! Anyway, Lauren decided she wanted to ride her bike. I said that would be fine but that she'd have to push it up the hills without complaining. She agreed and we were off. 

As a side note, she might be getting a tad bit big for her first bike...but she loves it and knows how to ride it well so...it'll do for now. :)




Easton wanted to ride his bike (tricycle) but I knew that would never work so I talked him into our wagon. He pulled it most of the way!!!


And he held my hand....which pretty much melted this mama's heart right there on the pavement.


Lauren did a great job staying on the side of the road and watching/listening for cars. I was one proud mama.


Okay, so the circle we walk is almost exactly one mile. There is a huge hill about halfway through it and I thought Lauren would want to get off and push her bike. Boy was I wrong! She rode all down the hill!!!! I was an absolute nervous wreck but she knew how to stop and slow herself and she had a blast! She asked for more hills when we finished this one! (She did have to get off at the bottom and push it back up the hill)


And then this little dude needed to take a break for a bit. :)


Y'all, Lauren rode or pushed her bike the ENTIRE time without complaining or whining one time! I couldn't believe it. She is growing up on me.

While we walked we talked about all the fun things we want to do together this summer. Swimming at the pool, going to the Lake, hitting up the Zoo, Library Story Time, and water balloon fights made our list along with several others. I can't wait to spend my days with these two crazy kids. Boy I love them.