Priorities and new kitchen rugs

It's Monday!  And for a change I'm actually greeting this Monday with open arms.  Last week was a tough one around here.  My little buddy has been sick.

SO sick.  I snapped this pic with my phone just before his Xray.  Soon after our Dr. told me he had pneumonia and an ear infection in each ear.  :(  I pretty much held him for three days straight.  It's so hard for me when my kids are sick.  It's hard for all moms.  For obvious reasons it's hard - forget about anything you thought you were going to get done.  But worse than that, it's just hard to see them not feeling well.  You wish you could take all of their pain away.  But you can't.  So you just hold them and love them and take care of them and get up in the night with them and feed them and clean up after them and then hold them some more.  A favorite quote of mine kept running through my head whenever I felt frustrated that nothing on my to-do list was being accomplished.  

I wrote about this quote last March and think of it often when I face hard days as a mom.  I love it and believe it 100%.  Thankfully my little boyfriend is doing MUCH better and next week will be a happier one for both of us.  I just know it.  :)  

While not much was accomplished around the house last week, I did somehow manage to get my floors clean enough to take some pics of my new kitchen rugs!  

I found them at Target.  I've been looking for some kitchen rugs with color for a while and just couldn't commit to anything.

 When I saw these I knew they'd be perfect.  At least for a while until they get trashed or until I can make up my mind on other options (whichever comes first!).  The long, skinny runner fits perfectly in front of one of my sinks.

And the shorter 4 x 2 1/2  rugs work great for in front of my kitchen islands.  

 I know.  More grey and white.  But color is coming soon.  I promise.  

Aside from being in a grey and white rut, I seem to also be obsessed with this trellis pattern.  

Now I have it in my kitchen rugs, a rug in El's room (pics coming soon), the nook light, and on my staircase.  Oh my word!  Just remembered I haven't showed you my finished stairs yet!  I'll take pics of them soon too.  I still have a lot of our new house left to share!  It's all coming.  As soon as my kids are 100%.  Priorities.   

Hope you all have a happy and HEALTHY Monday.  And if you're feeling low, head to Target.  They have cute rugs.   Plus that place always seems to cheer me up.  Like I said - priorities.  

                                                                                     :)

One step forward, three steps back

I have had so much help this past week packing and moving.  SO much help.

Some of my "help" is especially sneaky.  

And especially helpful.  

 What would I do without all of this help?

Perhaps actually get something done.  

:)  

A good buddy and a fireplace

I adore this picture because I adore the two people in it.  This is my little buddy with one of his favorite buddies - our finish carpenter Chuck.  Chuck is one of the sweetest people I've ever met.  

Every morning when I need to head to the new house I say to Kole "it's time to see Chuck and the diggers!" and he races to the car.  Chuck is so good with Kole.  He shows him his tools and saws and the two of them chat about hammers and spiders and diggers and all sorts of things of the utmost importance to three year old little boys.  

Chuck's kindness to my son isn't the only reason I admire him.  He is so amazingly talented.  I explain to him what I want things to look like and then like magic!  He makes it happen.  His woodwork and attention to detail have blown me away.  Here are a some pics of my family room fireplace in progress...

 Now you can see why I adore Chuck as much as Kole does.  When I picture it all painted and finished with Christmas decor on the mantel I can't help but grin from ear to ear.  :)

And a few more pics of my little man and his "diggers."  He will be so bummed the day this house is finished and there aren't trucks and a construction crew around to entertain him 24/7.  I will be a bit sad too.  So may people who have worked on our house have become good friends of ours.

Kole being a "scary monster."  We play out this scene about oh...  3,728 times a day.  

 This outfit is a favorite of mine btw.  Whenever Kole has it on I tell people he dresses like his daddy - business casual.  :)

Happy Monday friends!  

Happy Memorial Day

From our loved ones to yours.

xx

Today

I was at the new house from 11:00 am - 8:00 pm.  I had meetings with the tile guys and the counter top guys and the balcony railing guys and the landscaping guys and the finish work guys and the exterior paint guys and my builder.  He's a guy too.  That's a lot of meetings with a lot of guys.  So many issues were worked out and so many details were discussed and so many notes were taken.  My head is spinning and I am truly worn out.

Where were my kids during these meetings?

In school and then home with their dad.

Aside from the two hours they were riding scooters through the house.  

:)

These are crazy days/evenings for our family.  All routines are tossed out the window.  Homework is rushed.  Dinner is rushed.  House is always a mess because mom isn't around to clean it.  Kenny and I have so much on our minds right now and are beyond excited to wrap up this process.  We are very much looking forward to a little more normal around here.  A time when we don't wake up in the middle of the night rambling about the door hardware bid or the shower back splash.  A time when we have conversations that don't involve electrical outlets and concrete pavers and paint swatches.  A time when we aren't so distracted and scattered with all we have going on.  It will be a good time indeed!

In the meantime, the kids seem to be enjoying our new "normal."  

To them this is all one big PAR - TAY. 

So I am going to put on my party hat and press on!

Maybe it's time I buy myself a scooter.  

:)  

Happy Mother's Day!

  

Looking forward to all of the handmade love coming my way.

:)

Hope yours is a great one!  

Weekends like this one

I want to remember weekends like this one.

Rainy weather.

Slow mornings in pajamas.

Toys all over the place.

Kenny's phone fairly silent (rare).

Kole marching around the house singing "hi ho hi ho.. it's off to work we go..."  

(we're a little obsessed with the seven dwarfs at the moment)

Sunday drive through pretty neighborhoods with tree lined streets.

Naps for the boys.

All caught up on laundry (also rare).

Waffles for breakfast.  And dinner.

Lots of cuddling on the couch.

Stories at bedtime.  

I want to remember how happy we are right now.

Especially during weekends like this one.

An eventful week

Last week was an eventful one around here.  A couple of days before our fun little TV appearance, the girls got new haircuts!  

A quick "before."  Their hair was getting so long!  

 We were able to donate what we cut for cancer patients are were so excited about that.  

And after!  Nothing like a new do!  

Quick pics I snapped with my Iphone on Easter Sunday.  This was the dress Ad wore on TV and a few of you asked me where I bought it.  The dresses are from Children's Place.  LOVE them!  They came with a darling yellow belt but the belt sits too low on my girls right now because I bought them a little big so they can wear them next spring/summer too.  So next year they will be rockin' the belt.  :)

The little dude got a haircut too!  This is the only way we pull it off.  We sit him on Kenny's lap with a game or movie on the ipad.  And even this set up only last a few minutes before he is ready to bolt!  Luckily our hair dresser is FAST.  :)

Last week was also monumental for us because Kole started pre-school!  It is an amazing little school and I know it will be so good for him.  Just a few hours in the morning, a great program plus he will receive additional speech therapy in school.  I'm thrilled about that.  But can I just say that I had a really emotional week because of it.  The first day of school he was so excited to be there (we had visited the school together a few times so it was familiar) right up until it was time to say good-bye to mom.  He cried.  I was brave.  I blew kisses and waved good-bye and told him I'd be right back.  I held it together and drove away.  I went to the grocery store and started wandering down the first isle in the store thinking of how for so many years I have thought about what it would be like to get groceries without dealing with a baby or chasing a busy toddler throughout the store.  Nine years to be exact.  I thought about how so many times I had dreamt of this very moment.  How wonderful it would be.  By isle 2 I had tears streaming down my cheeks and by isle 5 I was full on bawling.  I just left the store.  Didn't even buy groceries.  I went to my car and called to check on Kole.  Of course he had only cried for a minute and was fine and having a ball.  I on the other hand, cried on and off throughout the entire week.  It is the end of an era for me and I guess I'm having a harder time with it than I thought I would.  Even though it's time and I'm ready for it.  Even though I wouldn't change it.  It is still hard.  Moms understand.  :)

This week is our Spring Break and I am so happy to have all three of my kiddos home with me all day.  I need that right now.  If for nothing else but to remind me that I need them to all head right back to school the following week!  ;)  

Kole needs a little backpack for pre-school (how cute is that!?).  They use it to send home notes about what he did each morning.  I have narrowed it down to three and I'd love to hear your vote!  Aside from haircuts, being on the news, and Kole starting pre-school we also had a stressful week with the new house and I am so OVER making decisions!  So will you make this one for me?  :)  

I found these darling shark backpacks from Pottery Barn Kids that I can personalize with his name (so cool you can test it out on-line!).  

 Navy and Red

Green and Navy

OR...

This adorable monkey backpack I found on sale at Joss and Main.  Too cute!  I'm kind of leaning towards this one because Kole is a little monkey himself.  :)  What is your favorite?  Anyone else have a crying jag last week?

:)   

3 years ago today (Dear Kole)

{THEN}

{NOW}

Oh Mr. Kole.  My little boyfriend.  Today you turn three.  I don't think you can turn three.  You are too good at being two.  In fact, you pretty much have the two year old thing mastered.  :)

I can't look at these recent pictures without smiling.  They so perfectly capture your little expressions and personality.  You are so much fun right now.  And so much trouble.  Fun and trouble all mixed into one.  Your favorite thing to say is "not yet."  It cracks us up.  Sometimes you say it so matter of fact.  "Kole - it's time to brush your teeth" --  "not yet."  Sometimes you say it when you are mad and throwing a fit.  "Kole it's time for a nap."  NOT! YETTTTT!!!!!!!"  You are still such a mommas boy.  We are together 24/7 and we both prefer it that way.  Sometimes if I'm away from you it feels nice to have a break.  For about 20 minutes.  Then I start to miss you and wonder what you are up to and I can't wait to see you again.  You love your sisters so much Kole.  You call them "my Ellie" and "my Addie."  When they are at school you run around upstairs calling "my Ellie!" "my Addie!"  "where are you!?"  Then when I tell you they are at school you get mad and yell "not yet!"  :)  You also adore your daddy and get so excited to see him.  I have a hard time getting you in bed at night because you don't want to leave dad's side.  You still love your pillows Kole.  You love to pile them all up on my bed and then tap all of us on the shoulder to "come play."  So we do.  We all pile on the bed and play in the pillows with you.  Your favorite is when dad tosses you high in the air on top of them all.  You also love to cuddle.  Our favorite time together is right after you wake up from your nap.  I get you out of your crib and we come downstairs to the couch and we turn on Peppa Pig (your favorite) and then we cuddle.  We cuddle as long as we possibly can.  We are always bummed when our cuddle time is interrupted by life and the schedule.  You love swinging at the park, practicing your ABC's, riding in the car, Eggo waffles, taking baths, and your choo choo trains.  You are working hard on your speech Kole.  I am so proud of how hard you try and of all of the progress you've made this year.  Your therapists adore you.  Even though they say you have "compliance issues."  I have to suppress a smile sometimes when you are acting up in therapy.  You love to stir things up and get a reaction.  Like I said before, you are very good at being two.  :)  You are one big ball of energy Kole.  You love to run and climb and jump and play play play and mess up your sisters toys and mess up the house and mess up the laundry and mess up whatever you can find to mess up.  You make life messy.  And I never thought I'd say this, but because of you, I'm starting to like messy too.  I wouldn't change one hair on your sweet smelling head little buddy.  

At least "not yet."  :)

Love you so much Kole -
Happy Birthday!

xoxo,

mommy

New duds

Had to have this for my little boyfriend.  Dr. Love indeed.  :)

And because my mini stud loves Dinosaurs this top had to leave Gap and come home with me too.  

He requests his dinosaur shirt every day now.  

 This is us doing our mini dinosaur roar.  

And our not so mini dinosaur ROAR!

We entertain ourselves quite easily around here.  

:)