Anniversay Pics

Acacia Chance took our anniversary photos for us, and I am in love! 

She also took my maternity pictures that are some of my all time favorite pictures ever! 

I love her! 

 Check out her blog!

Insta Friday

Hello Friday!
  So excited to get this summer started!

 

Last Friday night, we went to the Circus.

And if you know me, you know I love a Circus!

AJ rode an elephant.

Abby climbed a big inflatable slide, freaked out at the top, and didn't go down until I climbed the big inflatable slide and went down with her.

They rode a small train that was seriously going like 100 mph around those rickety curves.

We had funnel cake, cotton candy, coke, and the saltiest popcorn ever.

AJ was so filled with excitement that he did a spectacular dance jig thing everywhere we walked.

Abby didn't just watch the show, she lived the show imitating all the performers movements.

She also spilled ice and popcorn on the people in front of us...twice as she lived the show.

We got home at 10pm.

Abby said it was awesome and asked to go back the next day.

We had our first harvest of the summer.

We got out the new pool.

Two of the rose bushes I got for Mother's Day bloomed.

I got boots!

I am so in love with them.

I want to wear them everyday.

They look fabulous with everything.

Andy and I had our pictures taken in the country.

I wore my boots.

It was so romantic and kinda haut.

And I got a lovely sinus infection.

Not haut or romantic.

I also logged 8 miles walking this week.
I only walked two days.
Not much, I know.
But it's a start, and I think the hardest part is starting.

Free Summer Reading Game Printables

 

Click HERE for these awesome free printables to make reading a fun game this summer! 

Earn Free Books This Summer

There are some cool free activities and opportunities to earn free books this summer! 

Pottery Barn Kids offers a summer reading challenge where kids can earn a free book by reading books on their recommended list of award-winning children's books.   They even have a list of books for younger kids that are not reading yet, but can earn a book by recording when adults read the books to them!  So cool!  I love that they included younger kids in their reading challenge! 

Barnes and Noble also offers an opportunity to earn a free book by reading and recording 8 books in their reading journal you can download.

American Girl offers in-store reading events also, but they are for girls 8 years old and older.

Fun Little Etsy Shop

I'm so excited to share a fabulous etsy shop with you!

Stop by Donda Lee's for all kinds of fun treats!

She is fun, easy to work with, ships fast, pays great attention to detail, and

her packages are like a little party to open up! 

I want to buy something everyday!

Insta Friday

Hello Friday!!!! 

I love you Friday. 

You are my best friend Friday.

I need you Friday.

I think being stay-at-home is one of the most challenging jobs out there.

A year ago I would have been singing a different tune.

I know now how truly challenging it is.

 

I was a full time working mom with multiple kids last May.

I felt like I couldn't be a good mom, a good wife, and a good teacher all at the same time.

I am still exhausted.  The laundry is still not caught up. 
It is still challenging to be good at everything.
But the job of being a stay-at-home mom couldn't be anymore rewarding.

I get both sides.

Balance is hard.

No matter what job you have.

And Friday is always fabulous.  

No matter what different titles you hold.

 
Last week I read a blog post about being a hands free mom.
About putting the iphone away so as not to be distracted when with your kids.

I put my iphone away.  I didn't bring it inside when I picked up Abby from preschool.
And I didn't get a picture or video of her singing the ABC's
or counting to 10

or presenting me with her end of year book.

And I was sad I didn't get those pictures or video.

So I got my iphone back out again.

 Everything in moderation.

The kiddos were grounded from screens for 5 days last week.

no TV, no ipad, no computer, no iphones

I know.  They are 3 and 5.

But they are old enough to understand consequences.

Not having screens made them think about making better choices next time.

A lot.

It also made them think about how to entertain themselves.

It was a good 5 days.

We did a lot more together as a family.

We were more creative in our activities.

We visited more, listened to each other more.

It felt good.  It felt authentic. 

Again I found myself facing the internal debate...

technology...helping or hurting?

We played board games this week.

AJ graduated preschool.

We had crab legs and a giant chocolate chip cookie to celebrate Mother's Day for dinner.

Andy and AJ went fishing.

Abby and I painted our nails together.

We went to Jamba Juice.

We nurtured our seedlings.

AJ took this picture of Andy and me.

We drank grape soda on the patio.

It's always fun trying to get a picture of homegirl smiling.

We had dinner at Five Guys one night.

Brody is as cute as ever and starting to work on his army crawl.

We did a science experiment.

We built another small garden box.

I was spoiled with Mother's Day gifts.

It was a good week, and I'm glad I captured it.

 

End Of The Year Teacher Gift

Inspired by Under The Table And Dreaming 

I made Lemon hand scrub for the kiddos' teachers 

as end of the year gifts to go with a bottle of nail polish and a gift card.

It took only a few ingredients and was easy to make.

It so smells yummy.

And is so bright and fun in mason jars!

Such a fun treat to kick off summer.

 

What fun ideas are you doing as end of the year thank yous?!

Watermelon

In the shop now ready to ship!

 Size 6 Twirl Skirt 

Size 4T pillowcase dress

 Size 12 months shirt and bloomers 

Perfect for summer pictures, parties, picnics, and BBQ's!