Weekend Recap: News

Happy Monday, friends! This weekend has been a busy one.

Friday was a super busy day.  Andrew went into work a bit earlier than normal since he was taking most of the day off.  I had my six week post partum appointment and since my doctor is an hour away and Gabe hates his car seat (at least that is what we think based on our trips with him thus far) Andrew was going to keep all three boys at home.  So. Much. Simpler.

When I got home, Andrew tagged me in and he was off to the deer stand.  Bow season has officially begun and he was eager to get out there.  None of the boys seemed to want a nap that afternoon but Hudson and Beau played together really well (for like the first time that week!) while I felt like I was having a nursing marathon.

After dinner and baths (I'll spare you the details because it got a little hairy there) my mom showed up.  She came into town to help us with our weekend project.

Which leads me to our weekend project.  But first...

As I was catching up on blog reading, I read a lot of posts regarding why bloggers had started their blogs.  I recall why I started this blog.  I even re-read my first post.  We were moving.  Not across the world but two hours away and at the time that seemed like an enormous move for our little family of four.  It incorporated HUGE changes for both Andrew and I as he took a new job and my career path changed drastically.  And for our boys, who had always had a working mom, now had a working from home mom. With all this change I wanted a way to stay connected.  I wanted a way to document this time in our family's life.  I wanted to share what we had going on.  I wanted to look back 10, 20 years from then and be able to read about our life, for our kids to have a common place with memories and photos.

Now, a little more than a year since we moved away, we are moving home.  Our big project this weekend was packing.  We packed up a majority of our house.  I still can't believe that we will be back home in just a month. And I can't wait to share the story of how all of this happened with you all because it is truly is something God orchestrated.

I am sure someone, somewhere is reading this thinking, "You were only there a year.  You moved for his job.  So why the heck are you moving home? Couldn't you have saved yourself a lot of hassle if you just would stay or not have moved at all?"

What I know is this.  When I read that first post, I still know with 100% certainty that God opened the door for Andrew to take this job.  I know that we were supposed to move here.  I know this because in the last year, we have changed.  Andrew and I have changed in ways that would not have happened if we wouldn't have moved.  We have grown up.  We have learned to lean on each other as husband and wife first.  We learned to talk through issues, big and small.  We learned the preciousness of our little family; just the four (now five) of us and how to do life together.  We grew in our faith.  We learned how to trust God with situations that normally would have caused a lot of worry.  And God showed us what it was like to be blessed because of our belief in His faithfulness.  Andrew became a better husband and father.  I became a better wife and mother. I'm not saying any of this to pat us on the back.  It is simply me saying that God brought us here to teach us, grow us, stretch us.

So why move back? There are things we miss.  Things we want for our kids.  Things we want for ourselves. Things that just aren't as readily available in such a small town.  So we prayed about it.  We prayed about the timing and if we were supposed to move back.  And God answered.

I can't wait to share with you all how He answered.

Oh Hey Friday Favorites!

Happy Friday! Around here this weekend is going to be super busy! Today is my 6 week post-partum check up.  It is also the first weekend of deer season (which my Mister is PUMPED about! Any other ladies relate??) And there is another activity that will be keeping me busy all weekend (all month really).  I can't wait to share with you what that is next week!

Anyway- on to today's post.  I am linking up with some fantastic ladies.

{O N E}
This week we sat down to let the boys watch a show before bed.  To say that Andrew and I are a little over some of their go-to choices is an understatement. I was flipping through the channels and happened to see Full House starting.  Oh my goodness, Hudson and Beau loved it! They cracked up! I loved sharing this piece of my childhood with them and also having something wholesome to watch besides Mickey! ;)

{T W O}
Is anyone else just ecstatic that it is October??? I love this month.  It marks the start of fall in my mind! I love watching the leaves change, the crops come out.  I love to begin my Christmas shopping and decorating my home.  I love changing my candles, soaps and scents to all things pumpkin.  Bath and Body's Pumpkin Cupcake is burning now! Divine!

{T H R E E}
TGIT (Thank Goodness It's Thursday)  Back in the day it was TGIF but times are a-changing.  I am loving that fall television is back! I just love shows starting back up and this fall How to Get Away with Murder caught my eye! I tuned in last week to the premiere and oh my goodness- I LOVE IT! I love Viola Davis! I love the idea of the show.  I am excited to watch it unfold this season.

{F O U R}

Next month is our sweet Beau bear's birthday and I have already got my wheels turning.  Last year the weather on his party day was beautiful.  I am hoping that it will be that way this year because I am planning an outdoor party.  He is going to be two and has lots of older buddies (perks of having a big brother) so I am planning an outdoor party, harvest themed! I can't wait to really get busy!

{F I V E}

Now that fall is officially here, it is time to retire my summer brights and embrace my deeper, more muted tones.  I'm talking nail polish.  A few weeks ago I had a fantastic deep cappuccino color on my fingers (shellac) and I got OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark on my toes.  This shade is fabulous.  I am going to try out OPI's Got the Blues for Red. I'll let you know what I think.  Any fall favorites you have??

Happy weekend all!!   

Our family of {FIVE}

Trying to play catch up.  My sweet, talented friend who took my maternity photos also took our first family of five photos just a week after Gabe was born.  I love, love, love them.  Just so  many sweet moments captured.  I look at these now and can't believe how much Gabe has grown and changed.  They don't stay little long. 

So blessed to be these boys mommy.  So thankful that God entrusted them to my care.  May I always parent in wisdom and grace and with His guidance. 

A little photo dump. 

October Goals

I just love turning that page in my calendar to the next month.  Especially when that month is a lovely month in my favorite season. 

I love fall.  I feel like I await it's arrival all year.  It has all the best parts of the year in my opinion.  I love it all.

There is so much I need to catch you up on but first I wanted to write down a few goals.  This month is going to BUSY, even more so than usual so I want to make sure I have a few things I can check off my list..just to help me keep the sanity. 

{ONE}

I started this short, sweet, quick workout program on Monday and I love it so much.  I have done it before so I know it will help me get back into working out and will be something I can squeeze in each day.  

{TWO}

I love blogging so much.  Writing my own but reading so many as well! It has been something that has fallen by the wayside since Gabe's birth and even though I try to read as much as I can it is hard and I miss my "blog friends" (although I feel I know you more than you me! Ha!) I also started this blog to document our life and I am doing a poor job of that..I mean Gabe is almost six weeks! Shame, shame, shame!

{THREE}

Before Gabe was born, I wrote down some specific activities I wanted to do with the boys each month.  Fun things that correspond to the months activities and season.  I want to make time for them.  To see them, listen to them, and just be with them.  They have been so great about playing with each other and being my helpers as we adjust to mom vs. three at home and all that entails.  But I never want them to feel left out, slighted.  I want them to always feel my love for them. Even in simple things. 

{FOUR}

I am a planner and typically start to buy Christmas in October. I'd like to do more before then but I just haven't become that organized yet.  My goal is always to be done a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving so I can have it all wrapped that first week of December.  I love to see the gifts under the tree and just spend that precious month soaking up time with our family--not stressing over shopping! 

{FIVE} 

I love to read and typically read daily but when my Kindle went kaput at the end of July, and then Gabe's birth in August, my reading became hit or miss.  I am a calmer, happier, more well-rounded person when I get some reading in.  So I am making it a point to do this daily!

I'll be checking back in with you at the end of the month to let you know how I did! What are your goals for October?

I'm still alive

Hello blog world!

First--hats off to you mamas (especially those who have just had babies) who blog regularly and are witty and just seem to have it all together! I keep wanting to sit down and blog about our life but oh my goodness life is H-E-C-T-I-C! I seriously get interrupted from said blogging about a billion times.  Which I hate because {one} the reason behind this blog is to document our lives and I want to remember all this time because I am sure I won't with as little sleep as I have been going off of!

So here is me committing to {trying} getting my act together and blogging more! I try to keep up on all the blogs I love to read but even that is falling to the wayside! {WAHHH!!!}

So let's just keep it short and sweet today.  Here are some pics that I have neglected to post the past few weeks.

Just adoring their brother

Recovering together..that is what motherhood looks like. 

Exhausted :)

So sweet! 

Gas smiles I'm sure

Cheese!

Hudson's First Day

I am not sure how we even got here.  I seriously feel like I was just bringing this little man home from the hospital in frigid temperatures after a crazy blizzard. I don't think Andrew has ever driven that careful before.

But Tuesday morning came and even though it had been marked on our calendar for months, I still wasn't really ready in my heart.

On Monday night, we picked out Hudson's first day outfit.  We checked {and re-checked} his backpack to make sure he had all this paperwork, supplies and things ready.  I put together his teacher's back to school gift and wrote out his little first day sign.

That morning Andrew stayed home from work to take Hudson to school with me.  We got our boys ready for the day.  Hudson was excited but nervous.  He was a little ball of energy but not in his normal way.  He had talked about school all summer but I think he was a bit hesitant of actually leaving us for the morning.

Andrew and I kept talking with him about what he would do and learn; all of his friends who were at their own preschools.

I don't think these next stages are ever going to get easier.  I don't think the firsts will be easier with Beau or Gabe just because I've "done them already" with Hudson.  I don't think seeing them get big and need me less will ever be something I enjoy.  But I do know God created each of my boys for great things.

Hudson- I pray that you do well this year.  Not just academically, although I hope you learn lots! But I pray you DO well.  I pray you are the hands and feet of Jesus to your classmates.  I pray that you are kind and gentle and a friend to everyone.  I pray that you are respectful.  I pray that you are eager to learn and to help others.  I pray that you find joy in learning.  I pray that you are safe each time I release you into the care of your teacher.  I pray that God puts a passion in your heart for learning, one that will carry you to new heights each year.  I pray that you use your talents and abilities for Jesus.  I pray that your teachers and your dad and I seek out what those are and encourage them.  I pray that as you grow and learn, your faith will grow too! I am so thankful that you are in an environment where you will learn about Jesus and his love for you! 

Go and do great things, sweet boy! God has so much planned for you! I can't wait to see what is in store!!

Weekend Recap: Labor Day

Man it is hard to find time to blog while juggling our new addition and settling into life! I feel a bit disconnected from reading my favorites but such is life! We will find our rhythm and routine again! (Right???)

All last week Andrew took off work to be home with us and it was amazing.  If we could ever find a way for us to both work from home I would do it! I (and the boys) adored having him with us! We knew we wanted to spend the weekend soaking up his last few days off.

On Saturday, we woke up and got everything ready for a quick trip back to Decatur.  My uber-talented friend was squeezing us in for a newborn/family session. I can not even tell you how excited I am to get these photos back.  I had her do some shots of just Gabe of course but I really wanted to capture our family in this new stage.  So she shot some of just the brothers, the boys with Andrew, the boys with me, and some family too! Don't worry, I will post those up as soon as we get them! :)

After pictures we stopped at one of our favorite spots back home to grab some lunch.  My mom met us because she was coming to stay this week with us.  Since I had a section I am technically not allowed to pick up anything heavier than Gabe or drive for two weeks.  I am not so good about that but having an extra set of hands while I try to figure out how to wrangle three kids, three and under is BEYOND helpful! I am so grateful to have her here with is!

By the time we got home on Saturday everyone was pretty tired.  We ate dinner, got baths and watched a bit of Pocahontas. {I taped it for the boys weeks ago and they love the music} Needless to say we all slept hard.  Well, in between feedings.  Which {sidenote} currently, are about every 2-3 hours.  Could be better, could be worse.  But Gabe is such an easy baby.  He goes right back to sleep after his feeding.

On Sunday I woke up to the scent of blueberry muffins and the sounds of my big boys giggling at the kitchen table.  Gammy had them up and ready for the day! It was so sweet! Sunday was hot and muggy but the boys wanted to be outside.  I sat with Gabe in the shade and it wasn't bad at all.  Andrew set up the boys mini pool and put their slide with it.  They had so much fun sliding into the water, playing with water guns and dumping buckets on each other!

After a busy day outside, that evening we took it easy.  We rented The Lego Movie and made a big pile of blankets and pillows on the floor.  We also made brownie sundaes, something that I don't think we've ever made together but they sure were good! Hudson was very into the movie.  Beau, not so much. Gabe pretty much slept through it! ;)

On Monday, we planned to keep the day low-key.  The past week had been extremely busy with multiple trips to Springfield, then a trip to Decatur and a new baby...we just knew we needed to get back on a schedule at our house.  We spent the day watching movies, playing inside, and getting Hudson's things ready for his big first day of preschool on Tuesday.

I hated to see last week end, having everyone at home.  But I am looking ahead to fall and it's glory! I can not wait for all the fun my favorite season brings!