Saying Yes...

Mondays around here are pretty busy. However, since Christmas break ended and school started back up, our Mondays seem to be busier than ever! I don't know if it is just the nature of things starting back up or what but goodness! It's been a lot.

Here is how yesterday morning went:
5:30 wake up and have my quiet time
6:15 get ready
6:45 unload dishwasher, start laundry, wake the boys

Then all of the busy, crazy chaos of getting them ready and Hudson off on the bus. As his bus leaves, our speech pathologist is arriving for speech therapy with Gabe. Gabe wraps up speech at 8:40 and I get the boys loaded in the van to take Beau to preschool.

Run back home, switch laundry, pick up from the morning, take Gabe to a well-child check and leave with enough time (barely) to spare to get to preschool pick up on time.

We had to swing by the post office before going home and then I knew it would be a quick rush of lunch and clean up because I had a meeting with our EI case worker about Gabe transferring to the school district for speech.

When days are like this, I like order. I like to keep as much in my control as possible because, well...there isn't a lot of room for error. I don't want to be that person constantly running behind. I want my kids to understand the preciousness of other people's time and respect that. I like to cross as much as I can off my to do list in a day because the list is always getting more items added to it.

So as we pulled into the garage from our post office errand and were unloading and Beau was telling me about his day, my mind was a bit focused on what was coming up next. The boys were unbuckling their carseats and Beau asked, "Mom, how 'bout we play outside while you make lunch? How 'bout that?"

It wasn't super warm and it was a tad windy. But the sun was shining. I weighed my options and realized, saying no really wasn't going to make that much of a difference. So what if the boys were eating when I had a meeting with our EI worker? So what? My hectic day shouldn't always dictate my response to their requests.

As the boys ran around back to play for a bit before lunch (which they finished before my meeting and actually got to go back outside to play during my meeting), I realized I need to be more intentional about saying yes. So often I say no to things that really don't matter. But the yes, they do.

The boys were so excited and happy to be out. They played well and so needed that sunshine and fresh air. After nap and snack when Hudson got home, we went out again to play. It was amazing in all the busyness of the day how that one answer affected not only the boys, but my attitude.

This year I am going to work on saying yes more than no. Working to pause and soak up the little moments of the day with my boys and husband instead of rushing to cross just one more thing off my list of to dos.

Life Lately

Around here, it has been a heck of a week. No easing us back into the school and work routine.  Andrew has spent the last three evenings away working late which has made some long(er) days for this mama!

Honestly, when Andrew really dove into his job at this time last year, he traveled WAY more and it was WAY harder because everyone was a year younger.  Trying to really focus  more on the joy in each stage of life (you can read more about some of my goals here), I decided to actively try to thank God throughout out the day.

"Thank you God that Gabe can get a snack out of the snack drawer while I cook dinner so he doesn't just stand at my feet and whine..."

"Thank you God that two are out of diapers and can wipe their own sweet cheeks.."

"Thank you God for these little hands to help me put this laundry into the dryer..."

"Thank you God for friends that live close by to play with (to ensure really good naps at nap time today)..."

I know some of those are silly but keeping a thankful heart really helped me with perspective.  Motherhood is hard. And days without my partner are long but I am so thankful for the responsibility of this task and a Heavenly Father who is always with me to help me through.

I've been making weekly lists lately. Each day I delegate a few tasks to get done. It has helped me be really productive not only in the housework, but in my business, while also making sure I get to spend time with the boys. I used to have things pile up and then spend a whole couple of days trying to get everything done and that wasn't good for anybody. This system is working out nicely!

Gabe got a haircut this week. I just can't bring myself to take him to get his haircut yet. He seems to little for the chair.  And it seriously doesn't take but 10 minutes so way not save myself the hassle.  Isn't he darling??

The boys have also been OBSESSED with games since getting some new ones for Christmas.  I am thrilled we have graduated from Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders (the games that never end, amen?!!?). Headbandz, Guess Who, Pie Face, Minion Memory- all some of our favorites.  It is really fun to watch Hudson and Beau get so animated as we play. And to see their little minds search for the right word, question, or guess.

I'm not sure how much longer we can bathe all three together because, well space and age, but I sure do love their conversations as they get clean and ready for bed each night.

I am halfway through week 3 of my new workout program, Hammer and Chisel, and am loving it!!! It has hands down my new favorite program (and I have done a lot of different at home workouts). Even more than that, I am seeing some awesome results. I am down 7 pounds and several inches in just 2.5 weeks. And my current accountability group are all seeing results too! It is so exciting to be a part of helping other women find inner strength and a path to better health!

That's about it around here! Today was FINALLY a warm day; temperatures in the 50s. The boys and I got some outdoor playtime in after lunch. Two on one soccer, scooter riding, and swinging!

Friday Favorites

Weeks are just flying by and trying to fit it all in is beyond crazy! This week was packed with fun and as I wrote out or September calendar, it seems like all our weeks are going to have the common theme of being packed!!!

This week I am just sharing some of my favorite moments from this past week!

{O N E}
Both our big boys are playing soccer this fall. Hudson moved up from Little Kritters to the U6 level. He has 45 minute practices once a week and a game every Saturday. He is the youngest on his team but plays with two of his best buds and the coach is one of our great friends.  It is so exciting to see them try hard and gain skills.

Beau is starting with Little Kritters. We do soccer through MidState (a popular program in our area that focuses on skill). The coaches are absolutely amazing. It is a half hour, once a week, and they learn how to control the ball, work on balance. I look forward to it every week!

Beau was a little leery so wanted me close by but he did awesome!

{T W O}
This summer I stepped WAY out of my comfort zone and became a certified instructor for Cize Live. Cize is a brand new program from Beachbody. Cize Live takes the concept from the Cize at home program and puts into a live group fitness class format.  I was actually part of the first group of instructors to be certified and got to do my training with the creator of the program, Shaun T. and his crew.

I'm in the gray Nike tank! So much fun!

This week, a local gym scheduled me to teach class twice a week and an occasional Friday evening class! I am beyond excited! I LOVE this program and saw great results when I did it last month! I can't wait to share it with others even more!

If you are interested in the at home program, customized meal plans or an accountability group to help you get healthy, let me know! :)

{T H R E E}
Some of our closest friends found out this summer they were expecting their first baby! They had been trying for some time and so it was such wonderful news when they told us!! This week they found out the gender of the baby so another friend and I threw together a "Sweets and the Sex" gender reveal party. {I say threw together because I got a call late Monday morning that we were doing a gender reveal in just a few days! HA!!)

We served a variety of sweets and since mama and daddy to be were a dancer and football player in their earlier years, we decorated with a Tutu's or Touchdown theme.

I added letters for the Touchdown or Tutus theme.

Excuse the terrible flash. Guests voted what they thought the baby's gender was.

Dipped everything was my contribution! 

{F O U R}
I have naturally darker hair. It isn't a beautiful hue and so have colored my hair since college. I have gone light and dark but always love being dark. This summer I went lots lighter (my husband loves blondes! ;) ) and today I am going back to the dark side!

Is there anything more glorious than hair appointment day??? Here are some of the ideas I am throwing around.

My hair is no where near this long but I like the color.

Love this whole thing. I really like dark.

My hair is pretty close to this length. I love the layers. And her eyebrows. are they not on point??

Why must it take so long for hair to grow? I am dying for my hair to get longer but it isn't happening as quickly as I'd like.

That's all I have today! I hope you all enjoy your l-o-n-g weekend! We have a whole lot of nothing going on. Date night tomorrow, cookout Sunday. Sounds pretty perfect to me!

Andrea and the crew

Amy and Karli

Big Boy Room Redo

Last week, I gave a little teaser about re-doing our big boys room. Today, I want to share that room, and our DIY headboard's with you.

Before the redo, Beau and Hudson shared a room with Hudson in his full size bed and Beau in his crib.  When we  moved them in together, Hudson's room had a sport's theme and Beau's bedding was simple so we just meshed those two together knowing we would make some adjustments when Beau got out of his crib.

These pictures our from our old house when we first moved their things in together.

In November, we moved back to our home town and into a home that is a three bedroom with a fourth bedroom option in the basement.  Since our boys are so little, the basement bedroom is not something we are using as a bedroom right now, thus, Hudson and Beau are sharing.  

Around the beginning of March, Beau started climbing out of his crib.  We knew that the crib days were over.  Andrew and I went back and forth about what to do.  We weren't sure if we wanted to do bunk beds or two twins.  I don't really love bunk beds and the ones I did like were ridiculously expensive.  I decided on doing two twin beds.  Once we moved those in, I probably had Andrew re-arrange the room at least 10 times.  I just was having trouble finding a configuration I liked that left room for the boys to play in their room if they wanted.  

I scoured Pinterest looking for arrangements.  We were not going to really change their room's theme.  We had decor that we liked.  We did need new bedding.  And I did want to add a few more personal touches.  And of course, headboards.  But like the bunk bed search, I couldn't find a headboard I loved that wasn't expensive.  

Pinterest to the rescue again! I found a couple of options for DIY headboards.  I looked at the tutorials, showed them to Andrew and we came up with a plan to make our boys. 

We decided that we wanted an inch added to either side of the bed so that when the bed was made the headboard would extend to the edge of the comforter on either side.  We also measured from the floor up and decided on a height.  I had the bed made and knew I wanted quite a high headboard so that it was visible above the bed when made with pillows. 

After we got the measurements, Andrew went to get the lumber. It was about $100 for the lumber, nails, screws and stain that we would use for both beds.  Once we put the boys to bed, we set out to work. 

I would say that Andrew followed this plan the closest.  We did make a few changes.

**We used only 1x6 boards.

**We used a spacer between the 1x6 to give it a different look. 

**We made a frame before laying the 1x6s.

     Basically we laid the 1x6x50's out to the width we wanted and attached a board near the base to          hold the 1x6x50s in place. 

**On the frame, we laid the 1x6s and used an air nailer to drive the nail through the front of the board     into the frame.  

**Once built, we detached the stabilizing board at the bottom.

**I filled the nail holes with wood filler, let it dry, then sanded and wiped down before staining.

The entire project for TWO headboards took about three hours {that includes cutting, assembling and staining}. 

The next day we attached the headboards to the boys' beds.  We added some new decor, hung their curtains {FINALLY!} and called it a day! We LOVE how their room turned out.

I am thrilled to have their room complete.  I still would like to add something either over their headboards or over the dresser.  There is a lot of dead space there.  I've thought of adding a photo of each of the boys above their beds in black and white.  Across from their beds they have a collage of wooden sports signs {below} so I feel like it needs to have a more personal element. 

What would you do?

Sources

Dresser: given to us, painted and updated knobs

Boys' bedding: Bed, Bath and Beyond

Lamp: Pottery Barn Kids 

Shade: Pottery Barn Kids

Metal Initial Letters: Hobby Lobby

Basket with baseballs: Hobby Lobby

Curtains: Target

Peace out, diapers!

As much as I wish I was saying good-bye to ALL diapers, that is not my reality.  But two in diapers? That nonsense had to stop.

Hudson potty trained right after his second birthday.  He had all kinds of signs that he was ready plus he was waking up in the morning with a dry diaper.  DRY, people!!! Within just a week he was fully trained and we were back to just one in diapers.

When Beau turned two, there was no way I was about to tackle potty training him. Gabe was just a couple of months old, we had just moved and there weren't any real concrete signs that he was ready.  I knew that pushing him to do something when he wasn't ready would only make it a nightmare for me and a very not fun environment for everyone else.

I wasn't really sure when we would start potty training Beau but he started to show some signs and I thought, "now or never".

The Tuesday after Easter is when I decided to begin.  Why Tuesday and not Monday? I don't really know. But, Tuesday is a preschool day which means our mornings are hectic and Andrew left that morning to go out of town.  So my timing could not have been worse better! Ha!

I know there are a lot of theories and ways to potty train.  For me, once we decide to ditch the diapers, they are gone.  It is right into underwear full time.  No pull-ups, diapers, nothing! 

The first day (or two depending on how it goes) I set up camp on our hardwood with the little potty. I have all kinds of activities to keep Beau occupied in there and he is in his underwear. (Hudson we trained pantless the first day and that worked like a charm!) I gave Beau tons of liquids to make sure there were ample opportunities to use the potty.  I set the timer and every 15 minutes we took a break to try to potty.  

The kid did great! The first two days there were only two accidents--both when I went to feed Gabe and put him down.  

He only woke up wet once that first week and has only had one nighttime accident since. (I attribute that to us eating dinner much later and him have fluids much closer to bedtime). 

We have had an accident or two in the weeks since our training week but I feel like Beau is officially trained! It feels great to have only one in diapers.  

When did you potty train your kiddos? What methods worked for you? 

Hitting the pause button

Thankfully the weather seems to have finally gotten the memo that spring is approaching.  I don't know about you, but months and months of cold with lack of sun exposure and being cooped up indoors doesn't really sit well in my soul.  I enjoy the snow and days in my pjs with the boys.  But I can only take so many.  Then I just long for walks, days at the park, swimming pools, grilling season, and nights around the fire pit.

Today was rainy.  I had errands to run after taking Hudson to preschool.  And errands with two littles in the rain {one still in an infant carrier} just doesn't scream fun.  It doesn't put me in the best mood.  Beau and Gabe were great and Gabe actually fell asleep by the time we got home.  I had made a list of things to do earlier this morning and I had thought of about 10 more things to add to that list while out.

Do you ever have the feeling of being so overwhelmed by what you have to do that you don't know where to start? That was how I felt today.  I went about making some calls, scheduling appointments, trying to cross things off the list.  I folded laundry {does it ever end} and went to put it away when I saw Beau in his room, curled up in a chair.

I set my laundry basket down and said, "Hey, Beau Bear. What are you doing?"

To which he replied, "My don't know.  I tired."

"Want mama to hold you?"

And my sweet, two and a half year old, more boy than baby these days guy crawled onto my lap and into my arms and just rested.  Total peace.  Deep breaths.  Complete stillness.

And I rested.  I paused on the day and soaked in the moment.  Grateful that my sweet bear still wants to be held by his mommy.  Thankful that, even though the days are crazy and oh-so-long during the winter months, I get to be the arms that hold him.

In that moment, God reminded me that taking a moment to pause is OK.  He reminded me that I can always rest in His arms.  That, I too, can experience peace and calm in His presence.  I just have to be still long enough.

Beau Turns Two!

After moving and my trip to Dallas, I returned with lots of painting to do, a mid-week birthday and a weekend party! Just thinking about November makes me tired!

My original plan was to have Beau's party outdoors during the late afternoon/evening time.  I was going to have chili and a weenie roast, s'mores; just good food for a fire pit kind of night but for a birthday.  I was going to have a bounce house for simple entertainment.  It was going to be fabulous.

Then Andrew kept talking about how early it get's dark and do we really want lots of littles jumping in a bounce house in the dark. And do we want a bunch of littles around fire.  Touche, dear husband.  So I moved the party to mid-afternoon and decided on snack food. (Thankfully this was before I had sent out the invites).

The next game changer was the bounce house rental.  They said they wouldn't rent the bounce house for an outdoor space that late in the year--too cold.  I couldn't wrap my mind around that because Beau's party date last year was beautiful. Sunny, warm. But, you'll have that. So I planned for some games.

Are you still with me? Afternoon party, outside, pumpkin/fall themed games.  Totally fine. Not panicking about just moving because the party was going to be outside.

Until it wasn't.  Because the week of Beau's party fall abruptly left and winter decided to check in.  It was COLD. I'm talking see your breath- is it going to snow- put on your long underwear- C-O-L-D!!

And that is how I had a party inside my half painted house just two weeks after moving in!

In all seriousness though, the party was great! Beau loved all the games. Our friends and family were there and just the fact that after the party we didn't  have to drive two  hours to get home was a blessing.

All the food was in our kitchen. I kept it super simple since the party was at 2 and it wasn't a meal time. I had flavored popcorn from our local popcorn shop, made a fall trail mix, and had pumpkin dip with apples and vanilla wafers.

The past few years I have made the boys' cakes.  This year I delegated that task out and am so glad I did!! Lady Pine Cupcakes did them and they were amazing! She had so many flavors but I kept with our fall theme and we had pumpkin pie, caramel apple and s'more.  They were all soooo good! {Yes- I had tastes of each! Don't judge!}

We did pumpkin bowling..don't worry..Andrew cut off the stem before we started. And how cute are those burlap covers?!

The birthday boy setting up his "pins"

 Hudson trying it out

We also did a "pumpkin toss" 

I wrapped toilet paper rolls in orange fabric and tied them with twine.  

{Please excuse the fact that our paint hadn't been trimmed out.  My type A personality was seriously tested} 

We did a balloon race.  The balloons were orange--get it--like a pumpkin! ;)

All this fun was absolutely exhausting!

Happy birthday again to our blonde, blue-eyed boy! Xoxo

Happy Birthday sweet boy

I sit here, dragging out writing this post.  I don't want to.  How can another year have passed so quickly? I blink and you seem to change.  When I think of you, sweet Beau, my heart swells with joy.  What a personality you have! What a love of life you exude! I am so blessed to be your mama!

You are hilarious.  You wake up with a smile on your face...well, at least most days.  You are not always a  morning person {a trait you get from your father}.  But you come around quickly, especially after a good breakfast.  You LOVE breakfast.

You have a wonderful personality, Beau. You are so expressive.  The faces you make crack us all up.  And you know it.  You love to entertain and make people laugh.  You are tender-hearted too.  Things tug on your heart easily.  Whatever it is you are feeling, we always know.

You love to play.  Anything and everything.  Sports especially.  Daddy has loved teaching you how to bat off the tee and how to play catch.  You love to "dribble" and shoot hoops.  Games too- you adore playing games.  Hi-ho Cherrio, Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land.  My favorite part of playing games with you is how encouraging you are.  You clap for your brother or tell mommy good job! I love that you are kind! 

You became a big brother this year.  We weren't expecting it that quickly but God blessed us again.  You are my snuggler; a mama's boy to the core.  But you love your little brother so much.  You are gentle and so sweet with him.  It seems like you got so big so fast after Gabe was born.  But I think it is because you are fearless.  Always ready to take on an adventure. You never think about being scared; you are so brave.  

You have learned so much, Beau! This past year has been amazing.  I love to hear your precious voice, know using sentences and describing what you want with such expression.  You love projects and trying to do new things. 

We love you so much.  We want everything in the world for you.  I just know that if you continue to love and embrace life the way you do, you are going to be so great.  I pray that you follow God's plan for you life.  Whatever that may be.  You captivate people, Beau Maxwell, so I can only imagine the ways God could use you.  You light up my life in ways I am so thankful for.

Happy 2nd birthday, sweet boy! 

Xoxo