Sweet Valentines

These girls make my heart so happy.








We had an awesome 4 day weekend thanks to President's Day AND a snow day. It was great to be holed up at home with zero plans.

Audrey earned a wonderful report card. So proud of that girl, I really love seeing her thrive. She still loves snuggle time with her momma :) She's doing much better sleeping in her own room and we've been letting her stay up later (8:00.) She says she feels much better when I'm upstairs as she's falling asleep. A couple times a week she'll fall asleep in bed with me and then Chris moves her when he comes to bed. I love that I get special one-on-one time with her every night when the littlest girls are fast asleep...

Abigail is my earliest riser and she comes down to snuggle with me on the couch every morning. I LOVE this one-on-one time with HER. I could just eat her up! She loves to read and write. She reads familiar books to me at bedtime, and to her baby dolls as well. She writes notes for Audrey's lunch box and asks me to bring home papers from Kindergarten for her to work on. She and Audrey "do work" when they play together, which consists of Audrey teaching Abby math, reading, and writing. Those girls!! When I pick her up from school, her teachers say, "She is SOOO fun to hang out with!" And she really is...it has been amazing to see her thrive socially. I watch her hug her friends as she leaves (she especially loves Lyla and Jason!) and it makes me so happy :)

Anne is such a clown. She is just so goofy! She can also be sassy if her older sisters are getting on her nerves, which is 90% of the time. She's very independent; when her big sisters are "working", she is completely fine doing her own thing. This is when I get my alone time with her, as well as before bed (she's the first one down and the last one up!)

I love them more than words can say.

Our House: Living Room

Oh how I love this room!!





When we were going over our options, Chris was dead set against having a fireplace (for several reasons.) I was bummed- I grew up with a fireplace and I loved laying next to it after a long day of sledding and playing in the snow. I also wanted a mantel I could decorate!

He wouldn't budge and so no fireplace for us :( However, I am completely in love with our credenza! Originally we had planned to hang the tv but we really like the way it looks now (and I don't have to decorate the top!) As much as I thought I'd want a mantel to decorate, I'm kind of glad we don't have one...I'm way too indecisive and it would probably just be bare.



I had been staring at the blank wall across from the couch for weeks. I couldn't decide what to hang, and for me it was between two choices...a gallery wall or a 3x3 array of large white picture frames. I had already started gathering items for a gallery wall and I had another space in mind for the photo frame idea, so one morning I just picked up a hammer and started. I absolutely LOVE how it turned out! In the old house our tv wall stayed bare because I could not decide on how to decorate it. This time I was determined to NOT wait years to decide on something!









To do:

-style the credenza shelves

-hang more curtains on the big windows (the guys left out 2 panels for some reason?!)

-purchase the chair and a half for in front of the gallery wall

-buy a floor lamp or a small table & lamp to go with the chair and a half

-should we hang something above the tv?

-drill a hole in the small table and feed the lamp cord through

-possibly put a console table or something under the two mirrors



View from the kitchen




I love sitting here early in the morning with my coffee until Miss Abby comes down to snuggle with me. We can see the beautiful sunrise out of the side windows. The large picture window is my favorite! There is so much natural light that comes through, even on cloudy days I have to close the curtains, lol.

This room quickly came together and I really love it. It's so colorful- a complete switch from the boring beige of the old house. I'm hoping to carry out the colorful scheme throughout the first floor.

Our Home: Kitchen

When I first walked into the Emerson model last December, I fell in love with how open the kitchen was. It doesn't feel separate from the living area at all.





There's plenty of room to move around and tons of counter space for food prep. It gets SO much light from the door and windows. I am so, so happy we went with the white/gray combination. It's so airy and cheerful and bright. It always looks so clean and fresh.


This space is really functional. Coffee mugs are above the coffee maker. The girls have the far right top cabinet for their snacks and the bottom cabinet for their plates/bowls/cups and containers, so I use this space to pack their lunches.

We like to keep the countertops as clear as possible. In the old house we had everything out and it not only limited our work space, but it just looked so busy and cramped, even when the kitchen was all cleaned up. We still have a toaster but after we use it and empty it, we put it away. We have plenty of drawers now, so there's no need for a canister of large utensils. Now we only leave out the essentials- coffee maker and knife block. We do leave the mixer out too, because it's pretty :)

Originally Chris was against having a drying rack. He said, "We'll wash them, dry them, and put them right away." HA. HAHAHAHAHAHA. Needless to say, we also leave out the drying rack.

With all the time we gained from moving closer, we can keep it much more tidy. And since it is so open to the main living area, it really needs to be kept that way. It also helps that we have a separate pantry and a ton of cabinets and drawers for storage space. It feels like we filled them all up pretty quickly!

Eating area:



Usually the girls eat at the island since they tend to be messy and sweeping the floor is much easier than busting out the vacuum. Even though we have a pocket office, I still like to work at the table because I have so many things to spread out...plus I like being in the middle of all the action :)


To do:
-Decorate the wall between the window and the door. Also, do something with the wall between the eating area and living room. I welcome any advice/suggestions!



-Build a deck...oh that will be so lovely!!

-Get a centerpiece for the kitchen table.

One of my favorite things about the kitchen is the island. I love to see all three girls sitting there, enjoying meals and each other. I sure do love these faces and the new memories we're making in this house!

Our Home: The Playroom

Initially I wanted to go bright and colorful with the playroom. I had so many awesome Pins for inspiration.


Then I came across this beauty and my plans completely changed! Their bedrooms are bright and cheerful, so I felt really good about making this room a little more serene. In the far future it will be a full fledged office.





We had decided not to paint the playroom gray like the rest of the house, so I knew that gold would look great with the beige walls. We bought the large beanbags and pillows for the girls for Christmas (confession- I bought the Hello Lovely pillow first because I can't pass up anything with the word lovely...it's my favorite word!)







I love the alligator toy box! It totally does not go with the decor, but if it has a gator, I need it. Once the girls have outgrown it I'm sure it'll be going to my classroom! We also have a ton of nesting boxes that we use for toys.


Love these windows!

To do:

-We have a PBK table and chairs to put here, but it's currently being used in my classroom. I honestly think I'll leave it there until Summer break. I like having the playroom floor wide open.

-Organize the closet...it's crazy! It has several wire shelves that are super deep. I am committed to getting rid of lots of stuff, but it's hard to part with things I think they're going to miss! However it seems like every time I go in there to clean, I end up with a box full of things to take to Goodwill :)

-We're going to add a strip of cork board underneath the Instagram posters. We need all that space for their amazing creations!

-Set up the art easel.

-Find a picture or printable for the 8x10 frame on the shelf.




Having a playroom is invaluable and was another deciding factor when choosing this particular floor plan. The fact that it's right off the main living area and we can close the door? So perfect.

Our home: Mudroom

While it's nowhere near being "done," I wanted to post some pictures so that we have a record of what it looked like when it was new (and clean!) I'm going to post each room separately because if I save it all for one post it'll never get done!







The mudroom is such a lifesaver. In our old house there was no spot to drop backpacks, coats, shoes, and bags. Our dining room table ended up being the drop zone because it was right next to the kitchen where I packed lunches, checked backpacks, etc. When we were looking at floor plans, this new house won because of the mudroom.

This part of the house is super functional. The mudroom is right off the garage AND next to the kitchen. The pantry is on one end and the laundry room is on the other. There is also a coat closet where we keep extra coats, mine and Chris's shoes, and the vacuum and broom and step stool.




The girls know their routine; shoes off and in their basket, backpacks put on the bench (Abigail likes to go a step further and stand on the bench to hang hers up- LOVE her!) We usually don't have coats hanging around because we're just a few steps from the van :)

Chris made the rack above the bench and he painted an old mirror, two things I definitely needed in there right away.

To do: I have picture frames to hang above the hooks, and I'm searching for matching floor rugs. We still need to get shutters (or even just a cheap set of blinds) for the laundry room window. We also need to organize our pantry.




Every time I walk into the house I'm grateful for this room. Even when it's a mess it looks organized!



Now we have a space for all of our stuff...it's convenient as we're coming and going and our kitchen table stays (relatively) empty!

Audrey Catherine is SEVEN!

Seven...it's so hard to believe! Partly because she still looks like she's five, lol.

Audrey is such a darling girl. She's funny, positive, and kind. I wish I were seven so I could be her BFF. She is silly, good-natured, and hilarious. She loves to draw and write, and she is so creative. I'm amazed at how she reads...she bought a chapter book at the book fair and actually reads it to herself!

She has such a tender heart. We definitely have to discipline her with a sensitive approach.

She is getting more opinionated with her wardrobe- she mostly wants to wear jeggings and t-shirts. She's denounced frilly dresses- she absolutely would not wear a cute red dress I picked for a Christmas party. BUT she loves her navy and white striped a-line dress (it's been hanging in her closet for 2 years...that's how much I loved it!!) I love that she's getting her own sense of style. I had her put on the red dress, thinking she'd change her mind or just go with it- but she was truly miserable and I decided right then and there I would NEVER argue with her about clothes. So long as they are appropriate, she can wear what she pleases.

We had her birthday party a few weekends ago and over 30 kids came to celebrate! She has formed so many wonderful friendships. I love hearing her talk about all the sweet kids and the daily interactions she has with them. The start of my lunch coincides with the end of hers...when I walk up to her table, I always see her laughing with her friends, sometimes the ones from another class, lol.) She gives me hugs and kisses and begs me to stay (will this be the last year she does this?!) It's such a treat for me to see her in the middle of the day.

One of the things I love most about Audrey is her radiant joy. She's so delightful and sincere and genuine. I could cry when I think of how fast she has grown. Especially with leaving the old house, and all the baby memories of her there...it's all just too much. But I could not be more proud of the sweet young lady that she is.

She is so giving. When she opened her birthday gifts, she was more than happy to give away TWO Monster High dolls (which was the ONLY thing she asked for her birthday) to Abby and Bella because she already had one. Brand new dolls! I couldn't believe it. She impresses me every day.

A couple of weeks ago my father passed away. I can't bring myself to write fully about it just yet; I couldn't speak at his funeral- I couldn't even find the right words to write down so that the pastor could read them. I told Audrey that I was sad and I just couldn't write down what I was feeling. The night before the funeral she sat down and wrote about Pop Pop. She said she wanted to read it and she DID. She got right up in front of everyone and read about her Pop. I've never been more proud.

I recently read an article written by a father of girls; his response to the typical "poor dad of girls" comments really resonated with me..."It only gets better." I definitely see this with my girls, especially with Audrey. We are so close- our conversations are so meaningful and go beyond, "How was your day?"- she knows she can tell me anything. We gets each other's jokes (I make some awesome Mom jokes and she just cracks up!) We love to be silly together, to snuggle with each other, to communicate everything we're feeling. I truly feel like I'm raising my best friend.

Seven years ago I fell madly in love with her- I didn't know that it would just get better and better :)

Week 19: Moving in

On Monday we closed on our new home. What an awesome adventure it has been. The entire building process went smoothly. Once we got through the permit process it went so quickly!

After closing we grabbed some lunch on the way back to the house. Earlier in the day Chris had picked up a few household things (ceiling fans, broom, step stool, etc.) I brought Audrey's bed, the new Christmas tree and our entry console table. The house hadn't been cleaned yet, so most of the stuff went into the garage.

As Chris tinkered with a few things, I wandered around, playing with light switches and just sitting in each room envisioning where furniture would go. It was nice just to enjoy the empty, silent space.




Of course it rained on Tuesday (furniture delivery day) and Wednesday (for realsies moving day.) Of COURSE it did. But everything went smoothly and on Wednesday after school I took the girls to pick up some Chick-fil-a and then we went to our new home :) The movers had a few things to finish up and then they were gone. We put Anne's crib together and she went right to bed. Audrey and Abby had a sleepover in Abby's room. They slept wonderfully, too. Chris went to the store to pick up a few things. I cleared the kitchen of all the boxes so we'd have a nice clean kitchen to work in. When he got home we put up our bedroom curtains and made up the bed. I didn't have to work the next day so I was completely energized and motivated, lol.

On Thursday I took the girls to school and Staci's. Then we worked in the kitchen while the cable/internet guy worked on setting everything up. We went to lunch and then did a bunch of shopping for household stuff & groceries. I picked up the girls and brought them home (I FREAKING LOVE OUR SHORTER COMMUTE!!) That night we had an issue with the dishwasher (something wasn't tightened properly and it caused a water leak which caused the smoke detectors to go off- sheesh!!) Luckily it was resolved quickly.

On Friday I dropped off the girls and went straight home. Chris had already left to go work at the old house (so weird to call it that.) I felt like Kevin from Home Alone. Big house, all to myself...I blasted the Christmas music and put up the tree, lol. Afterwards I worked solidly for hours on unpacking and I made tremendous progress. When Chris got home we got ready and picked up the girls. We took them to Grandma's for a sleepover, then headed to downtown for his holiday work party. After a week of craziness, sitting back with drinks, yummy food, and awesome people was just what we needed :) Poor Chris has been through the wringer this week- he handled the move by himself and he was sick...he really needs some plain old down time to just rest and relax.

On Saturday morning Chris went to the clinic (because being sick wasn't good enough- he now has pink eye!) and then went to work. I drove down to the old house and cleaned out the rest of my stuff- I made a trip to the dump and Goodwill. When I was doing my final walk through, I found an old fortune that I had saved. It couldn't have been more perfect timing:

As if I weren't teary enough! It made me so sad to see our house all emptied out. My most treasured moments have happened in that house. I wish I could have avoided going. I was completely fine when the girls and I left on moving day. Chris was quick to remind me that we still own it, lol. Soon it will be cleaned up and ready for the market for another lucky family to make memories in.

Chris came home from work early and it was the first night we all just relaxed. We LOVE this house. There is still so much to do, but for now it is functional for us. Winter break is just 2 weeks and 2 days away!

I can't wait to completely decorate. It's going to be a long time before it's all done (and is it ever really ALL done?) Our home is already super functional (thanks to a mudroom and pocket office!) My goal is to make it cozy, warm, and inviting. I want it to be free of clutter, where everything has a place. We're gong to focus on creating new habits so that it stays clean and organized. I'm excited to watch these girls grow in this house!

Week 18: Thankful

So much to be grateful for.

My family...no doubt about it, nothing would mean anything without them. Chris is my best friend and together we've created such a beautiful life. Our girls are the best blessing we could ever hope for. We wish for their continued health and happiness in the coming years.

My job...I don't even think of it as a job. It's just part of who I am and what I do. I am SO thankful for the children I get to spend time with everyday. I love Kindergarten so much I wish I could marry it. I'm grateful that my work is so rewarding and fulfilling; I couldn't imagine doing anything else.

My home...we're moving in less than a week. It's going to be very difficult to leave the place we've called home the last 9 years. It's the only home our girls have ever known. It's been the place for the best memories I have. I am beyond thankful to have made this place a wonderful home as we started our family. Now we're moving on to another home. I am grateful to Chris for working so hard in his career to afford us this opportunity. We've built our dream home and we get to raise our three incredible girls there.

House updates: Grandpa has been working hard all week! I'm happy to report that the new door color is EXACTLY what we were envisioning and we are completely in love with it!

Chris has been off since Tuesday and he was dying to see it all in person. So on Thanksgiving morning we took the girls. They loved seeing their painted bedrooms- they were over the moon with excitement. I really love the gray we picked for the walls and the way it looks with the kitchen and front door.

Chris will do the final walk through on Monday morning and then I'll meet him for closing in the afternoon. On Tuesday all the new furniture we ordered will get delivered (fingers crossed!) The movers come on Wednesday, so when the girls and I leave for school it will be our last time in the house :( I took off Thursday and Friday so I can unpack while the girls are gone. I can't believe it's finally moving week! We've been busy packing the past few days. It's a lot of work and takes more time than I realized. Luckily the girls have been so good about staying entertained while we're busy. Audrey & Abigail play for hours on end (they are best buds!) and Anne is happy to play with or without them, lol. Speaking of Anne, she now goes pee on the potty! She skipped the froggy potty and training seat. Her face is priceless when she goes- she's sooo proud of herself!

This next week is going to be exciting and exhausting. Hoping for a smooth-as-possible transition!

Abigail Mae is 4 1/2!

My word. I might be a little obsessed with this one :)



Abigail is just fascinating to me. I just want to shrink myself and be carried around in her pocket for a day, lol. I can't even put my finger on it. I just love to watch her talk, think, interact, and play. I seriously cannot get enough of her!

She is so smart. She knows how to get what she wants, but she also knows when to back down. She is passionate and loves fiercely. She has attitude and sass and can be unpredictable.



She has matured so much. Last school year she would cry when I left her at home. Now she just asks that I wake her up before I go so she can give me a hug and kiss :) HOWEVER, she has just recently reverted back to being sad....see? Unpredictable!



She's still a terrible listener. Completely selective. You can call her name 10 times and she won't acknowledge you until she wants to. Even when you *think* you have her attention, she'll say something completely unrelated to whatever you were just talking about. So frustrating, yet so funny (sometimes.)



She's become so good at drawing. I think she's learned a lot of technique from Audrey, but she definitely has her own flair. She really likes to write. She can spell her name and simple words like mom, dad, love. She likes to play with her princess toys, Minnie clip on set, and dolls. She loves to read, especially her e-readers and Violet read to me books.



She enjoys playing outside and taking baths. She is early to bed and early to rise. She can be very particular when it comes to routine, just like her momma. She really loves school and is excited to go every day. I seriously cannot wait until she's in kindergarten with me and Audrey next year.

She calls Audrey, "Audge." How cute is that?? I die every time she says it, lol. They spend hours together in her room playing. They are best buds. She is just the BEST big sister to Anne. It's one of my most favorite things about her.



Abigail has our hearts and we love her more than words could ever say.