SUMMA SUMMA SUMMA-TIME!

Ahhhh. Well, I haven't written anything in over a month. That's alright. We've been really enjoying life over here. So much is going on & now that Dusty is off for the Summer we are filling our days & playing hard! This seems like it's going to be a catch-up post just so I can record some things that I don't want to forget. I probably should write a separate post for each of these things, but I'm just going to dump it all out now! 

1. For a while James was calling Gatorade "Kevin." We couldn't figure why, no matter how many questions we asked or how many times we asked him to explain. We assumed that something would come up in a show he watched or something like that that would explain why. But, oh man, is it cuter/funnier that we thought. I'll explain. (Preface: Dusty thinks it's funny to take big gulps of drinks & say "ahh, tastes like heaven." Can you kind of see where this is going?) We were having some conversations about Heaven with James the other day. During these conversations we realized that James was saying 'Kevin' instead of 'Heaven.' So there it is. While calling Gatorade "Kevin" he was literally saying "Tastes like Heaven." What a funny kid. 

2. James is starting preschool in the fall. We decided that it would be really great for him & for us, so we made an appointment last week to check it all out. It seems like a really great fit & he seems really excited. I wanna cry. I can't believe he's old enough for preschool.

3. We have 2 dear friends living with us right now. I've never really lived with girls, so having 2 girls in my basement for a month is so awesome. I'm slightly more sleep deprived than usual because I just wanna hangout & talk all night. 

4. We traveled to a Young Life camp in Michigan for leader weekend over memorial day. It was the 1st time we've traveled with both kids (aside from when they were infants). It was an incredible weekend & while super exhausting I was so glad we took the kids. We heard & were reminded of great truth & were very encouraged in both our personal walks with Jesus & our ministry. It was great to spend a weekend with good friends in a secluded place that is beyond gorgeous. 

4. James is getting his tonsils out really soon. It breaks my heart to have to put him through surgery, but I know it is needed & will in the end be a great benefit. I know that it is "minor" surgery, but with your baby it all seems major. 

5. Dusty & I celebrated 7 years of marriage this week. I cried as a looked through our wedding album. We were just little babies starting our lives together. I'm so thankful for him & the Lord for perfectly bringing us together.

6. Evie is growing so super fast. It's crazy how fast they go from baby to a real walking, talking, thinking, crazy little person. She is super opinionated & very independent. She has to do everything herself & insists on doing everything everyone else does. She has no fear & I'm pretty sure that will get her into some trouble soon. 

7. We leave for summer camp in less than a month! Eeeep! I'm so excited for this trip! We're taking over 100 students to Rockbridge in Virginia & I can't wait to see how the Lord works & get to spend a week with some really great girls!

Hopefully I will start writing more often. Having an iPhone & iPad has really killed blogging for me. I can take great pics with my phone & record so many sweet moments on Instagram. But, I would like to spend more time keeping up with what it really going on. Someone remind me every now & then, okay?

HOW ABOUT A SALE?!

This springy weather is making my heart jump & I'm feelin' pretty generous (especially to share some warmth to those not in a springy place right now)! Use code SPRINGTREAT for 25% off your entire purchase in the shop! Perfect timing to pick up something pretty for your mama just in time for Mother's Day! 

Go >> Head to the shop!

SB2K13

This past week has been AWESOME! I remember looking forward to Spring Break as a student, but I honestly don't think that anticipation can even remotely compare to what I feel now as a stay at home mom & wife to a teacher. Staying home with kiddos (while being the best job ever) can be incredibly difficult. I really needed some help & some time with the hubs. While we weren't able to get away, we vowed not to waste this time. I don't know if we could have packed anymore into this week. 

We were up early every morning & out the door:

yard sales

flea market

lunched (everywhere possible in NKy)

visited every park (multiple times) 

spent time at multiple libraries

rode bikes

blew about a million bubbles

dinner out (every single night) 

lived my dream while Dusty had dad-day with the kids

super full day date

visited with friends

I'm sure this week is going to be extra difficult, but I do feel refreshed to push on. 

This week will be filled with:

filling our almost empty refrigerator & pantry

healthier eating

regular bible studies & YL activities

mass laundry & house cleaning

dealing with some stinky, super hard parenting stuff (more on this later)

enjoying time at home with the littles

RLF: DREAM COME TRUE

My besties & I have had a dream for over 10 years...we have always dreamed of opening up a shop together. In high school this dream was ridiculous. We imagined a crazy (slightly trashy) shop filled with crap that we hung out at all day. Welp, as we got older we just laughed & reminisced about our shop dream. 

But, then something happened. About a year & a half ago we started talking. Maybe this dream wasn't so crazy & in some way it could actually happen. Maybe we could throw together our resources, plans, creativity, time & love of vintage & create something wonderful. We had some planning sessions & started collecting.

A bit into our planning & collecting Jen Jen got preggo. So we took a little break to regroup & figure out if this dream could work with all our kiddos & our crazy-as-they-already-are lives. 

Then, something different than originally planned came about. We found the perfect little place to sell our treasures. We were put on a wait list & finally this week we were granted a space of our own. Just a sweet little bookcase for now, but the perfect beginning to our dream. 

So, there we are...sweaty & exhausted & living our dream.

If you find yourself in Lexington, Ky visit RLF (that's what we call ourselves) at Feather Your Nest & hunt for some treasures.

RANDOM

So many thoughts & ramblings are rushing around my head & I really like lists, so here goes:

1. I'm reading Cold Tangerines. It's incredible. I want to celebrate life. Every moment, everyday, I want to see God in each second. I want to travel & laugh & cry & eat food that is real & delicious.

2. I'm forcing myself to love cooking. I've never liked it. I'm surrounded by women that are wonderful cooks, so I've never really wanted/needed to cook since they're so great. But, since we don't really eat out for financial & crazy children reasons, I figured it was time. I've tried a few new recipes that have turned out really well & excited me a bit. I made this. Not healthy, but pretty much the best meal I've ever made.

3. I'm attempting to redesign my blog some ON MY OWN. (Well...kind of on my own...I had to ask for help with some things.) It will be simple. You will probably laugh & say, "really? That's what she was doing? I could do that in minutes." I just love my little blog space & I know a new design will excite me & make me want to record our lives more.

4. Today, James chucked Evie's cup across the living room. The lid, of course, popped off & juice exploded everywhere. I was cleaning it up while explaining to James that it was wrong & he was going to be punished. He shrugged his shoulders & TOLD ME TO "CHILLAX." I think something in my brain might have burst. Parenting is hard. Hardest thing I've ever done.

5. Dusty's grandma passed away early yesterday morning. I'm still in a weird processing/numb mode. I keep trying to put thoughts in order, but my mind is a jumbled mess of sweet memories of her, sadness, heaviness, hurt, thankfulness & rejoicing that she is with Jesus.

LONG WINTER

I know I always have a hard time during the winter. Days that seem to go on forever. Just waiting for the freshness of Spring. But, since having kids these winters seem even longer. Days stuck inside with little ones that are dying to be in the fresh air, running, exploring. It's tough. 

I was thankful for a heavy snow a couple weeks ago. It's so much brighter than the dark & wet Kentucky winter days. It also brought a snow day for Dusty, which is always a treat. A sweet break in the middle of the week. Cold cheeks, hot chocolate & soup. It was great.

We have had a couple little precious peeks of spring. Just warm enough for bike rides, a picnic at the park & bubbles on the deck. Sweet glimpses of things to come. 

THREE

Happy 3rd Birthday to our sweet James Wesley!

We chose to keep planning to a minimum & let him decide how to spend the weekend. 

(At first he told me he wanted to eat mexican food, go to the bookstore to read books & play with the train table & then go to Target...he is definitely MY son.)

We ate all his favorite things, visited with lots of family & played hard. 

We have had the most wonderful weekend celebrating our little man as he turned three.