Thankful Thursday

So some of my mommy friends/blogging buddies have started to list things that they are thankful for on a specific day. I have a little thankful box that I do my best to jot down things as they come our way but I thought this might help me remember the little things not just the big things.

So here it is...the first of many i hope.

Thankful Thursday (in no particular order)
---
1. innocent toddlers
2. car dvd players - makes life just a little less chaotic sometimes
3. grandparents
4. Sage's joyful smile and chatter
5. my hubby's way of reasoning
6. how my children play together
7. my sewing machine
8. pinterest
9. naked babies
10. giggling
11. the progress on our new house
12. old and new friends
13. the bond of Christ (breaks all barriers)
14. fountain soda - trying to give it up but it seems impossible in the summer
15. a great workout
16. the library - what a great invention
17. how much my children are a reflection of me (good and bad)
18. date nights
19. old junk
20. indoor plumbing & air conditioning- thoughts as we picked out fixtures and its over 100 degrees today

I will do my best to keep this list going. Hoping for at least twenty each week.

"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, Rejoice " 

Philipians 4:4

Question: Anyone have a solution to hair like this?

Each morning - Ells looks like this...anyone have a solution to this. I'm thinking I might need to sew her a satin pillowcase.

Pool Pass...Here we come!

Now there are some major advantages to living in a small town. And one of them is being able to go just about anywhere in less than 5 minutes. You know like the grocery store, dollar general, church, the park, etc. And now with a pool pass in tow we head for the pool.

We went there three times last week. One afternoon just Shaddy and Ells I tested it out. Then one night we went with Aunt Em, Uncle Rossy and Blakers and then the next night we went with Uncle Lance and Aunt Nicole plus Mara and Micah. Even Sager got to go that time.

Winterset's pool or aquatic center (these days) is pretty new and its way way better than the old pool. Our kiddos are really starting to enjoy it. Of course, its much much better with Dad there.

There are a couple of small slides for the kiddos like these and a couple bigger slides for the big kids - you know like the mamas and daddys. Em and I liked the green slide and Ross and D liked the blue slide.

Regardless we will be there often this summer.

he slept a portion of the time

Finally some pics

Finally I am uploading some new pics of the house. Framing will be done this week. Then goes the roof. If only I could express my excitement! These might be a bit boring to anyone else but this is the best way to track the progress.

From the west side - looking at the master bed/bath and the boys' room

The front - garage, entry, and Ells bedroom

Of course, we are staying busy. Got to go to the pool a couple of times last week. We are really enjoying the pool pass. Plus enjoying the olympic trials. Hard to believe that last time we watched the summer olympics, Shaddy was just a wee one. Crazy how quickly 4 years can go. Getting prepped for his big party. He is pretty pumped about it. Ells has been dubbed "rattletrap" by my dad and she thinks it is a great name. Of course, it is fitting. Sage has been rolling over even more - finding him on his belly in the mornings is a little bit crazy. He has always been super strong and he has already found himself hanging out in the bumbo and the exersaucer. He loves both!

House Update

We went to the house last night. I forgot my camera but D took some pics on his phone just don't have it to upload anything.

Progress update - they have all the walls on the main floor done. Whooo! Of course, being the cheesers that we are - the kids and I pretended to have someone ring the door bell, hide in the closets, do a load of laundry.

Secretly, I would just love it if no one ever built across the road because right now it looks like we live out in the country as you can only see the woods from our front door. Probably not the case but I will savor it initially I'm sure.

Pretty pumped about the ceiling height. It feels so airy. It is getting me excited that is for sure. Like any girl I can't seem to fall asleep without dreaming about decorating each room. I might have to realize that it will be a work in progress before I love it. I mean I don't have the energy or the time to decorate it all the weekend we move in.

Just a quick pic today of the my boys. Oh how I love them!

Take Our Picture

Lately, whenever these two are sitting together they tell me to the get the camera. What?? I know I go running because to get these two sitting beside one another and smiling for a photographer is near impossible.

Heres a few from are most recent photo shoots...

and another time they summoned me...

World's Best Papa

So I personally think this guy deserves the award for the one of the best Papa's around...

I mean who really wants to spend their lunch hour like this...

I could list and list things that make this Papa the best. But most of all he loves my little ones more than anything in the world and treats them like rock stars. They have been pampered and loved since day one. He babysits, watches Tangled, plays Candyland, spends hours throwing them onto the bed, plays hid the object, rocks, changes diapers, feeds, plays, teaches them new things, invents new games, etc. 

He is hands down the best. And I couldn't be prouder to call him my Dad. Happy Father's Day Dad. Thank you for always being there for me. I am so blessed!  But, especially for being the greatest Papa I know. I love to watch you with my kids and I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate you! I love you Dad! 

Father's Day Shirts

So we decided to make something a little personal and special for Dad this Father's day. A personalized shirt from the kiddos.

Of course, we cut out some vinyl stencils (with the silhouette) and then the kids did most of the work. A little help from mom but only because I wanted them to look good enough to wear around.

We did make Papa one too and we are still putting the finishing touches on Papa Greg's (don't tell).

So here's the tutorial if you can really say that...

Step 1:Cut words using vinyl - could use freezer paper but i love that it sticks especially since my helpers are little.


Step 2: Remove the letters, leaving the negative space

Step 3: Use transfer tape - its sticky stuff to apply the vinyl to the shirt. Love it. Works like a dream.

Step 4: Apply vinyl stencil to shirt

Step 5: Let the kiddos paint the stencil - with some guidance (sorry no good pics of the kids doing this)

Step 6: Let dry if you want - I'm never quite that patient so remove and then let dry at least 4 hours or whatever the fabric paint says.


Final product - at least d's since he is proudly wearing his this evening.

The kids sure enjoyed doing it and it will be fun to look back at in a few years i'm sure. Enjoy father's day. We are celebrating by letting D watch the US Open all day today and tomorrow (yea) among other things!

The frame is going up

So I have yet to see it but the framing has begun. D swings by on his way home from work so I've seen pics. I'll do my best to upload a few soon. We are pretty set on cabinets...thank goodness. It is way more stressful than I ever thought. Drawers, pullouts, soft close, butt doors, what? Things I haven't ever noticed will make a big difference and if I ever come to your house I probably will from now on. Totally fun stuff but let's just say lack of sleep, vbs every morning this week and 3 small kiddos are doing a number on this fried momma. Thankfully my very patient husband talks me through every thing and doesn't mind when I totally renig on an idea I was so gun hoe for 10 minutes earlier. But yea for framing! Super super excited!


Here are some pics from the last few days..
monday ... just around the outside
tuesday

wednesday...the floor

thursday...floor done and sides going up

A chat with Sage

Just a few favorites!

My three precious gifts from God. Wow! I'm one lucky girl! Thank you Lord!

The Beach - RedRock Style

Question: How do you go to the beach in 90+ weather and keep two babies shaded and cool?

 Exactly.

Frama couldn't stop laughing about it! The kids enjoyed throwing rocks for the little time we were there really. Lets just say we flopped on the pick for the beach. A dead fish, lots of dead worms, and the smell was enough for me to dip my toes and call it a day. Plus a 30 minute wait at McDonalds to have the kiddos eat possibly 1 chicken nugget a piece makes for a fun afternoon! Am I right?  Well at least we got to see Aunt Kelsey, hang out with Shaye, gobble up some yummy cherry donuts, and score a couple steals from a garage sale.

Bucket List

So I don't know about you but we have some pretty lofty dreams for this summer. You know - a bucket list sort of thing. Since our kiddos are so little long vacations seem well impossible although we may tag along on a business trip to Detroit if we can talk T (D's business partner) into letting their family tag along as well. Our kiddos are all about the same age which means they are all bestest friends however, 6 kiddos in a hotel for a week could be interesting. So we will see. 

Nonetheless, Shadd and I made a list of some things that we absolutely must do this summer. Some of them are kinda cheesy but others are well a must for every summer. Does your family make a list like this?  A few we are gonna tackle are glow in the dark bowling, camping (maybe just in the backyard hence the nursing baby), swimming, drive-in-movie, adventureland, boating, nature walks, etc. The list has at least 50 things on it. Some small and some big. 

We checked one off last night...Catch Fireflies. 

Now, how do I do this??

Where are all the fireflies?

With the book

Shadd read a book a few nights ago all about fireflies. He's kinda my fact lover.  As soon as he and papa caught 2 last night, he kept telling Papa that we needed to put the jar in hot and cold water to watch the light brighten and fade. Of course, my dad hadn't read the book so he was confused. Shadd got the book and explained that when you put fireflies into a jar of cold water their light fades but in the warm water their lights get brighter. It was a little hard to tell since we only had two. Plus you kinda have to stay up late to catch those fireflies. 

He and Sis both had a blast though. In fact, we still have the jar of bugs in the living room. I don't think Shaddy wants to let them go. Maybe tonite. 

We also did a fire and smore roast - another one checked off the list! 

Potty training update...

So I am just about fed up with cleaning up pee from around my parents. I mean we have tried to stay outside as much as possible but with a 2 month old it is nearly impossible. Way too hot even though it really isn't too hot. You know.

drinking juice - her favorite! 

After only one success in 3 days and a lot of time spent on the potty chair - we went back to pull ups with potty breaks every 30 minutes or so throughout the day - at least when I remember to set the timer. She's getting close but Ells still hasn't made the connection that you need to sit on the potty before it starts to come out. No. Usually she just screams bloody murder "i pee or poopy (even when its just pee)" and runs toward me. Which would be an American's Funniest Video winner for sure. I'll do my best to describe it. Just imagine someone screaming as they run through a puddle on a slippery floor. Very comical to a onlooker I'm sure but to me - A Mess!

In due time I think she'll get it - at least my mom continues to remind me that. However, after mopping pretty much the whole house the past few days, I went to plastic undies this morning. That's a joke. I mean really - didn't hold in the potty and what it did was sure messy when you pull them down. Duh!

Even got to watch Tangled on the potty - dad's tactic to get catch her. She had an accident the moment he blinked he said. Gotta watch her like a hawk. 

So we will get it I'm sure. At least I pray we do for Ells sake and my sanity.

Side note...don't leave an underwearless girl and little boy outside for too long. I thought they were awfully quiet only to peek out the sliders to see two naked butts parading around on the trampoline. Of course, I told them that they could go to jail for indecent exposure and Shadd is now really scared of the police. Terrible I know, but what parent doesn't through out those kinda threats once in awhile.

The setup...

Sporting the undies - even outside

Thank goodness - not much action in the alley