These I think you could do without painting. Add curtains, pillows, and move your pictures from next to the window to behind the couch. And then add some more frames and family pictures. Pops of blue in vases on your built-ins. And then when Spring finally arrives...fresh, gorgeous, spring flowers in those amazing vases.

This one is curtain, and grey pillows, adding some type of red art and black lamps.

Feeling Thankful

My favorite part of any given day is nap time. I usually take that time to recharge my batteries, throw a load of laundry in, or jump into the shower. Today was unusually different. I relished in the quiet of their sleeping bodies. I watched their upward chests rise and fall with each breath. I reflected on a time when they were babies and the sleep time came more often. I remembered the the simplicity of the eat, sleep, change diapers routine.

Now I find myself in endless minefields of complexity. The constant fighting over toys. The crying at the end of a school day because so and so didn't want to play with her today. The independence of one child and the dependence of another.

But Today, I will cherish. Today I will be Thankful! Today I will pause.

 

Last Week

I was expecting last week to be horrific. With the husband away for 5 days, I braced myself for constant fighting and boring afternoons. Well I was WRONG! I had the best week of my life. We took each day as it came, I even left the house a few times with laundry to do and dishes in the sink (something I have a ridiculously hard time doing). It felt remarkable. There was still the usual meltdowns and fits, but something just jived.

 

The very special part of the whole week was Brooklyn meeting what I'm sure will be her husband one day! :) It started off as a normal Friday morning with a trip to the park. As soon as we arrive at the park, Brooklyn did her usual...run up to any random kid and say 'hey, you wanna be my friend." Most kids don't quite know how to react to her forwardness, but this very special boy, said yeah, and off they went. Fortunately, I was having such a great week which allowed me the extra patience I needed when they wanted to venture to all 3 different areas of the park. So Grant and I followed along while they spoke their own language and raced each other with beaming smiles. Me carrying Brooklyn's bike and Grant just happy to be outside.

Two hours later and multiple conversations with his grandparents, the children were married off! With hopes of seeing each other next week they parted ways which entailed Edward(thats what I'm calling him) walking my girl all the way to her door. As he ran back to his grandparents, they both turn around and start running back to each other for one last hug. It was the best! Here's to hoping for another amazing week.

 

 

OH and the BEST part, its Fall here. By far the top season for me and my kiddos. Our local newspaper did an article on Apple Orchards in the surrounding counties. You best believe I'll be checking each and every one off this year!