M.I.A.

If you don't hear from me for awhile it's because I'm going to be finishing up this,

and then doing a lot of this,
I'm excited. I feel like I'm turning over a new leaf in a sense. I've been in a funk lately, the tired, back-pain, feeling sick, letting my house get out of control, eating junk, funk. I'm sure it had tons to do with the fact that my quiet times were getting few and far between, and I wasn't exercising. It's amazing what the word of God, and a little exercise, and shoot, what a little paint can do to lift the spirits and make you feel alive. So yes, I'm excited to paint and to clean my house down to every little nook and cranny. I won't stop until it's done. Until then... :)

Say Goodbye To The Beard

That's right folks, this is a momentous night and you're seeing it here first. After Sean found out this evening that he won't be qualified for the contest he said "see ya, bye" to the beard. He's going to be gone on the day of judging due to work, and he was thinking/hoping they would accept a picture...no such luck. So after dinner he said, "get the camera, I'm shaving this thing off." Music to my ears. I hollered up to the kids, "yo, Stella and Jonah, you want to watch dad shave his beard off??!!" I've never seen them move so fast. It was party time in the bathroom. Stella and Jonah giggling, Stella covering her eyes and saying "you look so weird," Jonah saying a million times "wow dad, you're looking like a new dad!" Ava opening drawers and playing with things she shouldn't with an occasional glance up at the strange man with her dads voice...good times. I'll admit, I'm giggling a little bit and covering my eyes too. It's good to have my husband back.

Welcome back honey, welcome back.

Girls Night Out...plus Drake

Last Friday I got to meet up with some of my most favorite people again. I can't begin to express how happy it makes me that we live "close" enough to visit one another, and how great it is that Erin has a sister that lives in this state so she can visit often too! We planned the get together in honor of Erin and her 30th birthday. We went to Bj's for dinner and then headed down to Jorden's. I was so excited to finally get to see Jorden's house, and I'll just say it was beautiful and completely reminded me of Jorden. Nate and Jorden's baby girl Brooklyn joined in the festivities along with Erin's baby boy Drake. They are both so sweet and cute, and it was fun being able to kiss on them and watch them play. I have to add that Brooklyn is the most hilarious eater I think I have ever seen. She was so funny! She likes her cereal.

Yummy dinner
Beautiful home
Staying up until 1:30am talking
Prank callling
Adorable birthday brunch complete with:
beautiful table settings
homemade birthday hats - by Jorden
yummy quiche, waffles, and fruit

It's so fun being with these girls. I always come away so encouraged and so thankful that each of them are such an important part of my life. I praise the Lord for good friends.

I told him to just stay 3 forever...

...but he said, "I can't mom. I have to get bigger because I have to get faster." So, I guess I'll let him be 4. But I'll tell you what, I'm going to miss 3 something awful. Jonah's birthday was this past Saturday. We celebrated at Grandma and Grandpa's house after church on Sunday. This morning at breakfast he asked me, "mom, am I still 4?" Yep Jonah, and you're still cute too!

Here's a little stroll down memory lane...

2 weeks

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

4 Years Old!

Projects, projects & more projects...

Thanks to my cousin-in-law Kristy, who gave me the wonderful insight on the how to for this project, I was able to bust these little silhouettes out in no time! Granted, mine aren't as great as the ones in the magazine, but I'm happy with them. I hope to make them every year and get a collection going to see how the kids grow and change. In addition to this, I also got wooden letters of their first initial for their name to put next to their picture. I haven't decided what color to paint them yet, so for now it's just the silhouettes.


The bath picture project is finished and ready to be hung. I was so thankful to walk in to Michaels on Saturday and learn that their frames were 50% off!


And on to the next project... This is a big one. It's finally happening. Thanks to a fellow blogger, I found the paint I've been wanting for my kitchen and I'm thinking I'm going to carry it on in to the living room too (because I like it a lot). I'm very excited and can't wait to really get started. Hopefully I'll post pictures of the finished product sooner rather than later.

Last weekend...

...Sean was away at class.

...Buzz Lightyear showed up for breakfast.

...the sun was shining so we played outside.

...Stella, Jonah and Ava all took baths.

1, 2, 3...

Clean.

*side note - the 3 bath pictures are photoshopped for a purpose. My new project is to get some white frames with white matting and put those three pictures in them. Then hang them in the kids bathroom. I wanted to bring out the blue color which is one of the accents in that bathroom. I'll keep you posted on the final product :).

Ava's got skills

Ava's a walker, err... I mean a knee walker.
Check it out...

Here's a picture of her calloused knees to prove it.

That's my Ava!

Learning new things...

As much as I don't want my children to grow up, I'll admit that it is a joy to watch them learn and figure things out. Stella is becoming quite the reader. I love sitting down with her and having her read to me. It's probably one of the cutest things listening to her sound out the words and then say them again as if to say - "ah ha, I get it." The very first day of school, Stella's teacher came up to her and Stella says to her "I don't know how to read" and her teacher says in response "well I have so much to teach you then." It was so cute. It's amazing, that in just 80 plus days of school, she's reading.

we had a little photo shoot...as you can tell, she enjoyed it :)

Ava's learning things too! She's learning to feed herself. Little miss independent enjoys this very much. I think a little bit of the food actually makes it in the mouth....we're working on it.

Good Kitty Kitty

Tiger, he's a good cat.
He's becoming a fat cat.
Thatta boy Tiger, keep up the good work.

Sleepy face

One of my most favorite things is when the kids wake up and have those cute sleepy faces. Whether it is when they wake up in the morning or when they wake up from their naps. It always amazes me how I can be at my wits end when I put them down for bed, but when they wake up I'm always so excited to see them and their bed head, cute, warm, rosy cheeked face. I practically kiss those hot cheeks right off ! I personally think it's a blessing from the Lord. He knows that us moms need that extra measure of grace during the day.

So, speaking of cute sleep faces, I was able to catch Ava's when she just woke up from her nap. It's probably the only time she sits still long enough to get a good picture.

Yep, she's pretty yummy!

Since we're on the subject of Ava, I might as well give the low-down of what she's been doing...

Almost walking, takes about 5 stiff-legged steps
Loves snacks, and baby food
Not a big fan of table food
Signs all-done, please and thank you
Tries to say mama...but sounds like dada
Has a lovey named Doggie
Takes only one nap during the day
Her plugged tear duct seems to have gotten better on it's own -PTL!
Blows kisses
Likes her milk warmed up in a bottle ;)

Love her.