Our Week in Pictures

 

Tile flooring started going down

 

Homemade {Whipped} Laundry Soap

Recently I have had friends and family members ask me for the recipe for the laundry soap I use. There are tons of recipes posted online so I never thought to share mine in this format, however maybe I should feel obligated after scaring people off from the idea with the story of my first attempt.

I thought I would share the recipe I use but also tell you why I love it so.
(The recipe can be found here and I only make a small modifications.)

Bulbs!

As if the interior renovations weren't enough work, we decided to tackle a couple projects needing done in the yard.

As soon as we received the results from the home inspection we knew that we would be removing the many, many landscape timbers that framed e-v-e-r-y side of our house. It wasn't until we were plagued by ants that we realized it would be a priority. We spent too much money on this house to feed it to the bugs.

Before we could go to work on those pesky timbers I had to remove the bulbs from in front of some of them. If we didn't they would be buried under all the dirt being held back by the wall and probably never seen again.

I must say, it was a little more of a chore than I anticipated. Who knew that many bulbs could be buried under there?! I can't wait to get all these little bulbs into the ground for easy care around the fence line and some pretty blooms in the spring next year!

 

In addition to the bulbs we found an obscene amount of worms to toss in the compost bin. Marinn and Amelia helped in the worm hunt.

 

 

We also found this little guy who ended up being terrorized by our girls and the neighbors girls before Andy released him.

 

 

And now the real work begins.

Our Week in Pictures

Because sometimes you're too busy having fun to write about it all!

Saints and Sailors

I'm not a hot-head.

I don't feel the need to yell and scream and throw things when I'm upset.

Neither does my husband - football games excluded.

I think we have done a spectacular job keeping our cool during this renovation process, even when things aren't working as planned, tools go missing, fingers smashed, etc. After all, little eyes and ears are constantly around, soaking in all we do and say.

And then it happened.

The girls visited their grandparents twice in as many weeks. Each time when we have gone to pick them up we were greeted by a story in which our sweet, lovely three year old announced that someone or thing, "pissed her out."

I must admit, I found it hard not to laugh at the miswording. but this little face saying those things??

For days now when I look at her I hear Chris Carrabba singing the soundtrack to our day.

Oh, Amelia....

you smile like a saint, but you curse like a sailor... 

Good Distractions

So much has happened since I last posted that I can't wait to share. It has been such an adventure moving into and renovating our first home!

We FINALLY got internet (and cable, but that's a rant for another day) and the first thing my sister sad to me was, "what's your first post going to be about?"
 

I love that she reads, and I think genuinely likes reading my blog, and she's fully aware that we have completed many projects I could share but the reality is I've been too distracted to post.
 

Distracted by endless projects needing finished, distracted by the hole in my bedroom floor that small children would love to throw everything they own down, distracted by keeping up on the day-to-day through this process, by infinite blog posts I'm catching up on, by beautiful projects others are creating, but mostly...distracted by life.
 

Distracted by these two sweet little faces, who seem to particularly love their mama as of late.

Light Plate Memories

As our move date gets closer and our house grows emptier I'm starting to feel a little sad to leave this place that has been our home for the past few years. We are ecstatic to move on to our dream of owning our own home and having property, but there are so many memories we have made here that I want to hold on to.

As a way of holding on to those memories and leaving a little history with the house, I decided to write a few of these memories on the back of the light switch covers. Who knows if anyone will come across these memories or feel the importance of them that I do, but perhaps they will. Perhaps they too will make memories in this home worth sharing.


In the entry:

This is the place where we became a family:
April 2009-July 2013

In the living room:

This is the place our children took their first steps,

 many Christmas presents were opened, and where

 we enjoyed the company of our friends and family.

In the kitchen:

This is the place we unpacked our wedding gifts,
enjoyed many meals together,
and celebrated many birthdays.

In the laundry room:

This is the place where our children had their play house,

 many books were read, pretend meals were made

 on tiny stoves, and many of their memories will be.

The bathroom:

This is the place many boo-boos were kissed
and bubble-covered babies splashed in the tub.

 The children's room:

This is the place where babies were rocked

 to sleep to the tune 'You Are My Sunshine,'

 tiny dreams were dreamed,

 and many castles were built.

Master bedroom:

This is the place where I spent much time
during the early days of my pregnancies,
where little ones found refuge after bad dreams,
and where many pillow fights occurred.




Disclaimer: My husband had no part in this. He would feel it was defacing property and over sharing :) Good thing he doesn't read my blog!