Tuesday, July 9, 2013

And So It Finally Begins!

Last summer we got the mother of all hail storms.
It destroyed our garden, our roof and the exterior paint on the house and fence.
Houses all around us got new roofs and were being re-painted every day.
But I couldn't decide on colors!
It's not like a room you can just re-paint if you don't like how it turns out.
And we have red brick which seriously limits color choices.
Stupid brick.
I was a frazzled mess over it...
Obsessively driving around and taking pictures of strangers' houses.
Then I decided blue house, white trim.
But by the time I finally made up my mind...it started snowing,
thus delaying the entire process till this spring.
So spring comes around, and I see a blue house with white trim, and it just didn't seem like our house.
So the whole house/roof color selection process started over.
I was sick with indecision, paralyzed by fear of making a bad choice.
It's a HOUSE!
People don't drive by and see the dirty dishes in my sink everyday, but they see the outside of the house!
It seems like a big decision to me.
And let me tell ya peeps have made some interesting paint decisions since the hail storm.
The ranch is not perfectly color coordinated anymore.
People have taken some serious liberties with the term "earth tones".
I didn't want to be the "Oh, what happened there?" house...
The land mark house people referred to when giving directions to their house...you know, "We are two doors down from the bright whatever color house".
Yeah I didn't want to be THAT house.
Then one day my friend called and said, "I saw a house with red brick and the colors are just stunning."
I drove by it right then.
And just like that, I knew our colors.
She was right. They were stunning.
And everything in the universe was right again.

They start the roof tomorrow and the painting in a week or so.

There's no turning back now.

I hope we like it.

Monday, July 8, 2013

A Day In The Life

Get ready for the day.

Start laundry.

Make breakfast.
Unload and load the dishwasher.
Water the gardens and flowers.
Switch laundry.
Change multiple diapers.
Referee multiple fights.
Play a catapult game with the kids.
Pick up toys.
Make lunch.

Get Brody down for nap.

Switch laundry.

Check Instagram.

Get inspired.

Make scrappy garland for AJ's party.

Pick up toys.

Switch laundry.

Get Brody up.

Change diaper.

Make snack.

Referee fight over snack.

Push kids on swings.

Figure out dinner.

Eat dinner.

Go for family walk.

Bedtime routine.

Make weekly menu and grocery list.

Watch Six Feet Under.

Switch laundry.

And there you have it.

Changing the world

one load of laundry at a time.

 

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Sunday

A day of church,

Starbucks,

Watering,
Haircuts,
And going to the movies!
 

Saturday, July 6, 2013

I Love Authentic People

I love people that include everyone. I think feeling left out is one of the most heart breaking feelings in the world. This one really hurts me to the core. Whether it's in a family, a neighborhood, a group of friends, a team of co-workers, a group of parents...

I love people that have a strong understanding of the why behind their values...can back up their actions and voice with strong foundation for their beliefs, not just a loud opinion.

I love people that go out of their way to help others. Even if their plate is already full.

I love people that aren't afraid to let others know their flaws. Perfect people are not real, and it has to be exhausting to put up such a front.

I love people that tackle life with a confident attitude and roll with the punches. Or seek their support network when they can't...because everyone has down times. That's real. That's authentic. And that's ok.

I love people that put themselves out there without fear of judgement.

I love people that wave every time they drive by.

I love people that take the time to respond (to a text, an email, an RSVP).

I love people that are not homebodies. Sometimes I think what's wrong with this world is that we got away from the "It takes a village" philosophy. Peeps that prioritize their own little family all the time isolate themselves.

I love people that go the extra mile. When they make a commitment. When they see someone in need. When they don't think they have in them to give anymore. They rise to the occasion.

I love people that are real. People that leave the house without perfect hair or make-up or clothes. Or aren't always perfectly coordinated in everything they do. Don't get me wrong...I love a good theme. But no one is on top of it all the time.

I love people that never see themselves as better than others. Because once you put yourself up on that pedestal, you go down multiple leagues in my book.

I love people that live out what they take in at church/bible study etc. Seriously, nothing annoys me more than to see someone at bible study that snubs their nose at me later. Not cool on so many levels. Being a Christian is not playing a part-time role.

I love people that include your family as their own. Even if it's just eating chicken nuggets for dinner or PB&J'S for lunch. Just chillin'. Not a fancy premeditated themed event.

I love people that that don't over do extracurricular activities. Everyone needs some down time. Why do we frazzle ourselves and our kids by over-doing it?

I love people that are down to earth enough to say an occasional curse word.

I love real people.

Don't get me started on the posers.

 

Friday, July 5, 2013

Insta-Friday

Hello Friday after the 4th of July.

I'm sleepy.

Really.sleepy.

But it was worth it.

We started with a lot of chill in the back yard time this week.

Playing kings and queens.

We had crepes.

I pretty much think about them all the time.

Mr. Independent helped himself to some cereal.

Twice.

Don't ever eat cereal at my house.

It has probably been cleaned off the floor.

Ab wore rain boots to church.
Whatever.

We had Krispy Kreme after church.

Because it's easy and delicious.

 

We tried a super yummy summer drink from Pinterest.

We got hail one afternoon.

I took a beating trying to cover my gardens and roses.

We lost one watermelon plant.

Stupid hail.

We pulled out our red, white, and blue.

We rocked it in the bike parade.

It was Brody's first year out of the wagon.

We watched the parade.

And hosted a block party.

We played with sparklers.

And survived night terrors from over tired children.

And now I have big plans to totally ignore the real world and submerge myself into a new book from a friend.

Love finding a new series.

God bless America.

 

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Flags Are Waving

Sparks are flying!
And we are celebrating.
 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Summer