Our Week in Pictures

Another busy week here prepping for carpet installation, Halloween, and a birthday party!

We used temporary tattoos to decorate pumpkins

Fall Traditions: Pumpkin Patch

Starting shortly after my nephew was born our family started gathering together for a trip to the pumpkin patch. It was a good excuse for the whole family to get together and really, who doesn't like a pumpkin patch?

We make the long drive every year so we can visit the same pumpkin patch (even though no one lives close anymore) because it's our tradition. Plus who can turn down a hayride/petting zoo/train ride/ show combo? Add in a country store carrying delicious Amish made goods and a turkey leg and you've got the whole package.

I have even become less afraid of Tony the lama as the years have gone by. (My sister probably wouldn't say the same, she got spit on. Those scars will last.)

What started as a few of us has grown into 15. I love looking back at this time each year and watching our family grow.

"Try it" They Said. "You'll Like it" They Said

In the midst of all the home improvement projects we were told by multiple people, "You should get some caulk, you will like it."

So we bought some...and I can't quit caulking. Can't. Quit.

All the little gaps between the door frames and the doors: caulked.

Space between the tile and the door: caulked.

Gaps in all the  ill-fitted trim: caulked.

Any little spaces that I can get to with my caulk will be filled! I'm a little obsessed. It just looks so clean when there aren't any gaps for dust to settle in.

So to all those who told us to try it that we would like it, you were right. So. Right.

Best friends for life!

Our Week in Pictures

 

Our week was full of projects! It started off with priming trim in the basement

 

Watching My Kids Watch Movies

We surprised the girls with a trip the the movie theatre (or movie gator, as Amelia would say) tonight to watch Planes. It isn't often we take them, they're still a little young to expect them to sit quietly and behave for an entire show. Days like today are the best though, it's pretty much guaranteed you will have the theatre to yourselves at 5 p.m. on a Tuesday when you're watching a movie that has been in theatres for a while.

Settled in to the perfect seats we were ready for one of my favorite things:

watching my girls watch a movie

The music heightens, action begins and tiny girls are moved to their feet. There are shrieks of excitement, generous 'ohs' in defeats, chair gripping in the serious parts, and of course, great cheers as the protagonist claims victory over the 'mean guy.' There may have even been some dancing and high-fiving thrown into the mix. 

 

I know how fleeting these moments of genuine, unfiltered reactions are so I plan to savor as many moments like these as I can!

Fall Traditions: Costume Making

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I love watching everything change color and give way to the stillness in preparation for the coming spring. Cool weather brings layers upon layers of warm, cozy clothes and warm drinks to wash away the chill. The air of change is refreshing to me and I love getting caught up in it all.

There are many things I love doing this time of year; trips to the pumpkin patch, photo shoots in the leaves, hayrides, pumpkin drinks..pumpkin foods...pumpkin everything, apple picking and, of course, costume making.

I've never been big on Halloween, it's just not my thing. I find it strange to send your kids door to door asking for candy under the cover of darkness. As much of a scrooge as I can be about the holiday there is one things that I can get into and that is the costumes.

I have made every costume my girls have worn and I hope to continue the tradition until they outgrow the need for them.

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.