First Day of School

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen the girls’ first day of school pictures, but if not – no fear! – I have them right here for you!  We made sure to pack lunches and pick out outfits the night before, just in case we were feeling a little rushed.  That morning was great – everyone got up fairly easy, got dressed, and headed out the door without some bribing (which is what goes on some mornings.)

Hadleigh started Kindergarten and was very adamant about riding the bus.  She did amazing – no tears were shed at all.   We let her ride the bus, but Daniel and I met her up at the school to see her walk in.  If she wanted us to walk her to her class we would have, but she caught up with a friend from preschool and was 100% fine.  I walked away proud, but still shed a few tears. 

Hayden started her 3 year old preschool class.  She will be in there for the next 6 months before they move her to her next class.  She has amazing teachers and it is a familiar place to us, so I wasn’t worried too much.  It was a little bit of an adjustment being in a new class and now going to school every day versus three.  Hayden still gets upset in the morning when I drop her off, but she has great days.  I’m sure she forgets about me 2 minutes after I walk out of the door!

We started Harper in the 18 month classroom 3 days a week.  I was so worried about Hadleighs transition, that it didn’t really give me time to think about Harpers.  Plus, Harper is a social butterfly so I knew she would adjust well.  I was right.  I sat her breakfast down at the table and she immediately walked over to sit at the “big girl” table to eat.  I gave kisses and told her bye and she looked at me and waved!!  Totally different than Hadleigh & Hayden!  She loves it which makes for a happy mama!

Linking up here today!

Fall Bucket List

You know I have a Fall bucket list! This is the time of year when I want to do ALL.THE.THINGS!  My husband is going to love all of my ideas, I’m sure of it ;)

Check out past Bucket Lists here

Virginia State Fair // We’ve actually crossed this off our list already, but I still need to include it!  Anyone else have to write it, just so they have the joy of crossing it off?! 

Pumpkin Fun // We have to go get some pumpkins for decorating and for outside décor.  It’s a must when you have kids and need a fun activity to do!  We’ve done stickers, paint,  and making them into witches – who knows what we will end up doing this year!  Any ideas?

Apple Festival // I’m not sure this will happen, but I love going apple picking.  We’ve been to Carter Mountain & Graves Mountain in the past, but I personally like Graves much better.  Picking apples, hay mazes, great food, and just walking around make for a great day.

Weekend Getaway // I’ve been struggling for some balance in my life.  As much as I love my kids, Daniel and I need to get away!  I’m sure the weekend will go by quick, but hopefully it recharges us (at least until the next weekend away or date night ;)

Halloween // I’ve already bought the girls’ Halloween costumes, so they are ready to go!  We will have an Anna, Elsa, and Ariel  this year.

Fall Festivals // Our neighborhood has a Fall Festival this coming weekend and the girls’ school also has a Fall Festival at the end of the month.  The girls always enjoy themselves and the activities each festival has.

Fall CookOut // We’ve been getting our deck re-built, so I cannot wait for it to be completed to have a cookout!  Our entire vision for the area will not be finished, but the deck part will be.  More to come on that another day.  I love hosting parties and events, so I’m excited to get things planned!

Christmas Mini Session // I’ve signed us up for another mini session with the great Nikki Santerre again this year and I cannot wait!  She is amazing, so go check her out!

What's on your list to do this Fall?

I think I’m back?

I think I’m back.  I want to be back in the space and writing.  Even though I don’t really write about anything earth shattering, but I love writing about our girls and their adventures.  And I have this grand idea of making them into blog books for them one day. One Day.

Things have been busy around here lately, and I really want to blame it on Hadleigh starting school.  Who knew the pressure of getting her to the end of the road for the bus on time would be so stressful? No, but really. These past few weeks have been crazy for whatever reason and I really need to get back to doing some things I love doing.

I have a few things I want to back track and blog about, so you know, when I do those said blog books, those events were documented ;)  Things like our summer shenanigans all wrapped into one post, Hayden’s birthday, Hadleigh’s birthday, and first day of school pictures.  Then I’ll be all caught up and can blog real time.

Stay tuned!

The end of the "School Year"

I have a pre-school graduate. A pre-school graduate who will be starting Kindergarten in September!

In bloggy mom fashion, I have first & last day side-by-side pictures. Hadleigh’s graduation pictures are so cute, although I hate those darn caps! 

With Hadleigh's favorite teacher - Ms. Casey!

I can’t forget about Hayden who was a Flamingo (2-2.5) & a Lion (2.5-3) this year.   Hayden was not having any part of pictures when I was taking them on their last day.  I was going to take them another day and pretend she smiled, but I decided to use the ones I had on the actual last day of school. Real life people!

Lately

Things have been crazy lately – I know everyone says that. Life happens!

We had a busy May – with Harper’s party, Harper’s actual 1^st birthday, 2 weddings, 1 long weekend away at the beach, and then celebrating Memorial weekend at the river.  So far in June we’ve had the last day of school for the 2 older girls, Hadleigh’s pre-school graduation, and a week at the Outer Banks for vacation.

Hopefully I’ll get caught up and blog about all these things, so stay tuned!

Since Orange is the New Black Released Season 3, it’s gotten my butt in gear to finish Season 2.  It still has me a bit shocked when certain things or scenes are shown.  Anyone else too?  Oh and while I’m writing about watching TV.  We just cancelled our DirecTv service.  It’s something we’ve talked about for MONTHS.  I finally pulled the plug on them.  We were paying $150 a month for internet & TV and we didn’t get hardly any channels.  Honestly, the only channels we watched were PBS, Disney Jr., ESPN, Comedy Central, TBS, and HGTV.   We are buying 2 Roku sticks and just going to subscribe to a few more app-type services.  Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime…just have to research which ones will be best for those channels we are used to watching.

I fell off the wagon from working out and cooking dinners around here.  This past week I’ve done pretty well with getting back to planning meals and actually cooking them in the evening after work.  Still haven’t started back with my workouts.  I set my alarm for 5am with intentions of going for a run or doing one of my 21 Day Fix workouts…but I just hit snooze. I’m so mad at myself yet I keep doing it. Funny how that happens!

Here’s to getting my shit together and working out, eating better, and maybe blogging on the regular again?! CHEERS!

·         Do you watch OITNB?

·         Have you gotten rid of cable? What do you use if you have?

Harper's 1st Birthday

Harper Madden, I cannot believe you are already ONE!  You definitely complete our family and you are such a joy!  Our social baby for sure, she lights up the room with her smile, red hair, and laughs. 

I still mourn that you are the last baby in this family when I really sit down and think about it.  Physically, I know my body can’t handle another pregnancy, but you and you sisters are so amazing, that I think about another often.  Then there are days, when you are crawling around crazy, getting into everything, and your older sisters aren't listening and I think, “yep. I’m good with three!” Your sisters absolutely adore you and you adore them.  You already stand up for yourself when they take things from you.  That red hair stands true to that feisty personality you have! 

You’re sleeping better at night, but still wake up once.  You take 2 naps during the day, although only one of them I would consider a good nap.  When you are awake – you are 100% full force.  Crawling, climbing, throwing, laughing, pulling…anything and everything you can get your hands on.

You love food – any food at that really.  Yogurt is your favorite, but there isn't much you don’t like.  If someone is eating, you think you should be eating too.  I’ve pretty much started giving you anything and everything – peanut butter, jelly, olives, pickles, chicken, rice…anything!

1 year stats

Weight: 21 pounds 11 ounces (78 percentile)

Height: 30.25” (86 percentile)

Head: 18.75” (98 percentile)

 Your birthday party was so fun to plan and everyone had a great time.  You loved swinging, playing with your gifts, eating, and diving into your cupcake. 

 Birthday Party details:

On your actual birthday, our family went to a local diner and had dinner & ice cream to celebrate. 

 You are so loved!!

1/2 bathroom is FINISHED!

The ½ bathroom is officially DONE! This is a tiny space, but it took the longest to complete.  We got used to using our other bathrooms and since it’s away from everything else, we left it alone for a while.  

 I’m so happy with how it turned out though – I’m in love with it!!

 Mirror - Home Depot
Vanity Light - Shades of Light
Pedestal Sink - Home Depot
faucet - Amazon
Tile - Lowe's

Cow Art - Hobby Lobby
Chicken Wire Basket - we had on hand already, but I think Hobby Lobby

 Towel bar - Target
Towel - Target
Shelf - Hobby Lobby
Knick Knacks on shelf - Hobby Lobby

Easter Weekend {Re-Cap}

 Our weekend consisted of matching outfits and eggs…pretty much sums it up.

Friday:  The girls had their Spring parties at school.  Their classes had egg hunts and then good food to follow!

Saturday: Hadleigh, Hayden, and I dyed some eggs and then dressed them all up.  We took advantage of Harper taking a nap and daddy going outside to cut the grass.  They wanted to dye most all of the eggs pink as you can see.

I dressed the girls in their matching Lolly Wolly Doodle dresses, so I had to get some pictures.  I’ve told Hadleigh that every time the three of them are dressed alike, that I need to take a picture.  So, she gets it.

Sunday:  The girls woke up and came downstairs to see what the Easter Bunny had brought them.

 They were pretty excited and immediately wanted to eat candy.  They had a few pieces and then we were off to get them all dressed in their matching Easter dresses (from Zulily.)  We met Daniel’s family for breakfast.  We were in and out of the restaurant in an hour (benefits of not going to church on Sunday).  

 After breakfast we came back home to start our Easter Egg Hunt.  The guys did a good job hiding all the eggs and the girls did awesome finding them!

  More candy was consumed while Daniel and his dad worked on our ½ bathroom (which is DONE by the way – update coming this week!)

We missed spending Easter with my family as they were in South Carolina, but we got to chat with them through FaceTime!

How was your Easter weekend?

St. Patrick's Day, Boyfriends, and Cinderella

For lack of knowing what exactly to write about today but wanting to write something….I’m going to fill y’all in on what we've been up to the past week. 

On St. Patrick’s Day, Daniel and I were working from home.  Hadleigh had to get one of her ear tubes removed that morning, so we had to take her to the surgery facility to be put under anesthesia.  She was a trooper!  She was a little grumpy after the procedure and complained about her ears hurting only until about lunch.  Promises of Chick-Fil-A perked this girl right up {my daughter through and through}J  All three girls were sporting their green though!

Friday Hadleigh came home with a flower in hand from school. Her “friend” Whitman had brought two in for show and share, but then decided to give it to Hadleigh before he left for the day.  Those two.  They are nap-time buddies because Whitman’s parents and Daniel & I refuse to let them go to sleep during that time.  Bedtime would be horrible for us! So, they hang out for two hours every day just the two of them.  Hadleigh gets super shy when Whit gets brought up in conversation, but she enjoys his friendship!

Saturday I took Hadleigh & Hayden out to lunch and then we met my mom to see Cinderella.  It was a cute movie and the girls really liked it.   They loved the Frozen Fever at the beginning and were dressed appropriately in their Elsa dresses!  I honestly thought the movie was a little drawn out (especially for little ones).  Overall it was a really good movie though.

Sunday we played around the house and cleaned some.  Then we went to my parents for dinner.  The girls were pooped and all 3 fell asleep on the way home – which hardly ever happens!  

What did your weekend look like?