Snow Day

We had a snow day today..technically the snow melted around lunch time but the kiddos made it out in time this morning! While I'm not partial to winter I love a good snow that is beautiful to look at. In Harper's words "it's like we are in a shimmery ice forest!" She would be correct, the snow stuck to every little branch on all the trees and it was gorgeous! Usually, like all parents experience it took twice as long to dress the bunch, then actual play time, however there are some essentials that make playing in the snow that much easier. First off are the always adorable duck boots. I have found since Harper was little that these little gems are a life saver. They are easy to get off and on and come up high enough to keep the snow out but still easy enough for the kids to walk in. I have been able to use them as hand me downs for Crew and hopefully, Tilghman. Can I get a hallelujah to that!! My kids are sooo hard on shoes and that is a pet peeve of mine..roughed up shoes.. talk about ruining an outfit, am I right hahah! These are sturdy and last my kids rough use. Secondly, is waterproof mittens. This may seem like a no brainer, but there are so many cutesy mittens/gloves out there and we get so few snow days that they seem to be a purchase I had put off simply because I thought they weren't necessary. Wrongo, I went ahead and bit the bullet and it has paid off. Not only do the kids have their hands all in the snow getting soaked but the cotton mittens always fell off and left their tiny little digits freezing cold, which would shorten the time outside..if that's possible. The waterproof pairs I found have a velcro strap which you can tighten and keep on the tiny wrists, and hands stay warm! I'm happy to say the snow is almost melted but we had a touch of winter bliss for a short time anyway and they always look stinkin' cute out there! Do you have any must have winter play accessories!?

Mittens       Duck Boots

New Year..Houseolution

I don't have resolutions per say for the new year, but as always there is a ton that I would love to get done in our house. We have officially been living here for a year! A little hard to believe but also seems like we have been here much longer and it definitely feels like we will be here forever..(I know, I know my husband loves to move, but we will not be moving again, I repeat NEVER again, unless its to Disney World and in that case, see yaaa!). I bought a roll of wallpaper that I am still dying to put up, it is pre pasted but not sure I should tackle that myself I see that becoming disastrous. Upstairs we have a room that has been a debate since before we moved in, Russ calls it his office and I assure everyone it is in fact my craft room, ha! None the less we both need to share the space and turn it into great useable space. Right now it is filled with craft supplies and random office supplies with no real purpose. I've been diligently researching on Pinterest and I found all kinds of beautiful office spaces/craft spaces for two so we can both benefit. Lastly, on the docket is making Crew's room more into a "big boy" room. He is still in his crib and we have sort of been holding off on doing anything to his room in hopes of him being potty trained and that being his reward. Howeverrrr..potty training is not even on his radar and I have told him many times that I hope he is able to find a prom date that is willing to change diapers because it feels like he will be in them until then!! Still that precious little face gets me every time and he has been asking for a big boy room like "hoorpaaa". So, we have ordered a bed and sheets and they are expected to arrive in the spring, so there still is some hope for the potty to be conquered! He adores horses and requested horse sheets, which were basically impossible to find for boys and what few I did find were a little too tacky for my taste. So I have found some great horse photography prints from Minted and am planning to use those for above his bed. Talking about homes, Santa brought Crew a copy of the book Home by Carson Ellis and it is adorable. The illustrations are to die for and the kids love it!

Home

Horse Photography

Jersey Bedding

Freeze

As I'm sitting here in the middle of winter, anxiously, scratch that dying for it to get warmer and less dreary around here and hoping that we will get through this season super fast; I can't help but think about freezing. Freezing time would be about perfect right now, while I wish it was not freezing outside the thought of actually freezing my family would be great. Time never seems to slow down in this house and honestly I like it that way. We always have a million parties, activities and kids running around and this is a dream come true. Some people have the perfect job and they love what they do. I've personally been struggling with that lately and while from the outside to some it may look like I don't "work" this is what my childhood heart has always dreamed. You may have wanted to be a vet or doctor when you were a kid, but for me it was always a mommy. I went to college I got the degree and its just "okay" I have never loved that, but the day my babies came into my life I was like okay this is it, this is what makes me happy and have a purpose. This winter season seems to be slow because of the long days that we can't go outside and it seems to get dark so quick but at the same time we are already filling out kindergarten forms for Harper. How in the world did that happen!? Getting all the paperwork out to teachers, doctor's offices, etc making sure that we have everything checked off the list is a task. I looked back the other day at my sweet baby and she seems so mature all the sudden. Harper was the epitome of threenager, she had the sass and attitude and we thought for sure we were not making it out of the last year and a half alive. In the last several months its almost like a light switch. She is so helpful and just listens! Which may not sound like a big deal but for the first time in a long time, I tell her something and she just does it..weirrrddd. She helps with her brothers, eats all of her dinner(another major deal, since we fought her every.single.night), and is just a joy to be around.  Now its like when she gets to be this little angel all over again, its time for her to leave. Kindergarten and I are not friends right now. Harper could not be more excited, mainly to ride the bus because she will not have to be in a car seat or wear a seat belt so she cannot wait! I obviously am so excited for her to be in "big girl" school and start this new adventure but I'm so sad to loose my buddy, all day, every day. It's like you work so hard to form and shape this little person into who you want them to be and then you just have to hand them over to someone else who they spend their entire days with. You relinquish all responsibility of your perfect little human to someone else and they get to stare and listen to that beautiful little face all day. A piece of me is going to kindergarten with her, and I know she is going to absolutely love it there. She is a brilliant, funny and creative little soul and she is dying to learn and grow. So here I go, finishing up my babies kindergarten registration wishing I could freeze her just a little while longer, maybe forever. My dream job will continue and there will always be a need for me, but like anything its hard to let your biggest, most perfect project go.