Closed for Business...

I wrote this last week and I forgot to post it.  Sorry about that!  Sorry, also,  for sort of falling off of the face of the earth, but I've been super busy!  We went on a little trip over the weekend and I can't wait to tell you all about it.  For now I'll leave you with this post...

As long as I can remember, I have dreamed of being a mom.  Not just any mom, but a mom to many, many children.  Not quite Duggar-ish, but at one point, I thought six would be perfect.   Luckily, I married a man that was just as in love with the idea of having tons of kid as I was.   Fast forward to now...we have two kids and I think we're throwing in the baby making towel.  I have to say, I didn't see that one coming.  My younger self would be shaking her head in disbelief.   

Now, by no means was this an easy decision.  We have gone back and forth--over and over.  Well, by "we", I mean "me".  Mark has seemed fairly certain for quite some time now.  His fear of having three daughters paralyzed his thinking beyond two.  I, however, have struggled.  On one hand, I feel so very blessed and content with our two little ladies.  Why press our luck?  On the other hand, the idea of closing that chapter is overwhelming.  No more feeling a baby kicking inside my belly?  No more bringing a baby home from the hospital?  No more baby coos and baby smells?  Then again, no more morning sickness or my crazy pregnancy itching.  No more three a.m. feedings or mastitis or sleep training.  There are definite pros and cons.  Lately, though, I've been feeling more okay with embracing our four person family, so I think we're settled.  Not to say we won't change our minds down the road or there won't be some unplanned accident baby (please Lord, no).  There's always that chance, but for now, that's are decision.  

So anyway, with the decision made, we felt it was time to get rid of some of the baby stuff that's been crowding our garage.  This week, I sold the car seat, stroller, swing, bottle warmer, bouncer, activity gym, bathtub, infant travel bed, bumbo chair, changing table pad, some blankets and toys, a lampshade, and some other randoms.  Yeah, I don't mess around after I make up my mind.   I also went through some of the bins of baby clothes (ages newborn to 6 months) and forced myself to part with some of it.  I couldn't bare to let much go.  I was just planning on keeping a few special outfits, but ended up with A LOT.  For example, I kept every last one of the preemie outfits.  There was no way I could let those tiny little outfits leave my possession.  I'm just too sentimental! 

I set up a little "store" in my den with all of the clothes and posted on my neighborhood fb page.  A few ladies came over and bought quite a bit.  I'm going to leave my "store" up a few more days, and then I think I'll take the rest to consignment.  

So, it's been a very bittersweet week.  It was nice to get rid of "stuff," but it was so hard parting with stuff so full of memories.    

Here are a few pictures from our week...

We went out to play and Kiki decided on this hat...and she wouldn't take it off.  She even ate her dinner wearing it.  

You may remember that Rosie really liked that hat, too as a little person...and I've been told that it was Mark's favorite as a little boy.  

There's just something about that hat. 

I think I might have stumbled upon a stain removing miracle.  Mix a little cascade powder soap with dawn dish soap and warm water.  Soak the stained clothing in the solution and then use a scrub brush to really let the stain have it.  Throw in the washing machine and watch magic happen!  I've only met one stain that it didn't get rid of.  Give it a try! 

A Cross Stitch in Time

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  Ours was productive.  We worked outside and cleaned out the garage on Sunday and I now have a whole van load of stuff I'm taking to Goodwill.  I also put a few things on Craigslist and our neighborhood facebook page.  I sold some stuff today and hope to sell some more tomorrow.  

Time change is the pits!  Can I get an AMEN?!   We've been dragging around here all day, although we did do a little "school" session.  We started "C" week today.  We began by practicing our C's and then she traced all of the letters of the alphabet using a new app I found for the ipad.  It's a free app that I would definitely recommend called "Little Writer".  It really helps with recognition.

Another fun thing I found to help with letter recognition is this...

Rosie loved eating these for snack today!  She had so much fun naming the letters.  Even Kiki got in on the fun, although she called every letter "A".  

Here are a few more pictures from our day...

I found this cute picnic game that is supposed to help teach manners to toddlers and preschoolers.  Well, it ended with hair pulling and hitting, so I'm not sure if it's the game for us.  

Lunch today!  Heart-shaped pb&j's, fruit salad, peanut butter bananas and string cheese.  

This precious gift came in the mail today from Kaylee.  Isn't it so cute!  

I think it's pretty obvious, but it's us!!!  You can't miss Mark's mustard pants:) I just love it.  

She had it made by a little shop on Etsy called Scarlet Pyjamas.  Go check them out, if you are interested in getting your own family cross stitch.  

Thank You, Weatherman!!!

The weather around these parts lately has been mediocre, at best.  I have been wishing for some warm weather, and although I don't normally trust the weather reports, the weatherman told us that we could expect a warm up this weekend and I chose to believe.  Since, Greenville's temps are usually a few degrees warmer than Asheville's, we hopped in the car this afternoon and made the hour long trip south, so we could get the girls outside and into the sun and fresh air.  It was so therapeutic for all of us.  It really was the best day.  

We had lunch and then we played at two wonderful parks.  We ended the day, by taking a stroll down Main Street and having dinner at a little pizza place.   The girls were exhausted by the time we got to the car and slept the whole way back.  I only took my camera to the first park, but got a few pictures with my phone at the second.  

Our day was just getting started

Sliding is much more fun with a partner 

I love this man! 

I love this one.  

Sliding with my girl 

Headed to Park #2

My favorite park ever.  It's hard to capture it's grandeur with a phone camera, but it is so beautiful!!! I just love the waterfalls. 

We weren't the only ones who thought of going to the park today...It was PACKED!

My loves 

The poor man's double stroller (we forgot ours and had to improvise)

They rode like this the whole time we were walking downtown.  It was pretty hilarious.  

See, it was a pretty full day!  Mark and I are both pretty exhausted, but Justin Timberlake is hosting SNL, and there's not a chance we'll miss that one.  I know I'm going to regret it in the morning, especially since we're springing forward tomorrow.  Man, I HATE losing an hour!  

Easter Mantel

I'm still working on my mantel, but I thought I'd show you what I've got so far...

Easter Garland

 I was so excited to find these linen covered cardboard cutouts in the $2 section at Michaels.  They are supposed to be for making journals and come in a pack of four.  They were perfect for a making a banner, so I got two packs.  

 I attached the scrapbook paper letters with tape so that I can easily change them out for different seasons and projects.  

I'm linking up with the Francis Family Blog for the "Dog Days of Winter Are Over" Link up! 

Let the De-cluttering Begin!

So, this morning I started on my 30 bags in 30 days project.  Will it take only 30 days?  Nope.  I know I won't get to an area every day, but I'm going to try (excluding weekends).  The first area I decided to conquer was my bedside table.  I don't really use it, except to stuff things I don't know what to do with.  

I'm a little embarrassed to even show you the inside before, but if I'm going to do this, I've got to be honest about my disorganization.  I spent the morning on this project.   The process was complicated a bit, by the two little girlies that were curious about all of the stuff.  I forced myself to part with lots of things that I haven't been able to bring myself to get rid of before and that feels pretty great.  I still can't seem to throw away all of the cards Mark has ever given me.  He's got a way with words and I love reading them over and over.  Baby steps, though, right?    

Top Drawer...

Bottom Drawer...

So, anyway, one space down, 29 more to go.  Do you have any great decluttering/organization ideas?  Do share!!!

A Taste of Summer

After pilates today, we came home and Rosie worked on her "B's".  In fact, she actually made a bee.  First, she painted her "B" Bee yellow and then I showed her how to paint black stripes on it.  She was completely uninterested in my explanation and decided to do her own thing.   It took everything in me not to try and get her to do stripes, but I bit my tongue and let her use her creativity.  I'm glad I did.

Rosie's Bee

While we were working on her bee project, we heard a really loud thump from upstairs and then some pretty intense crying.  I ran upstairs to find that Kiki had "jumped crib" again, but this time didn't go as smoothly.  She took a lamp and a few frames down with her when she jumped and her poor little eye took the brunt of it.  

It's hard to tell, but it's a black eye now:( 

Rosie and I decided to work on a Easter project today.  Earlier this week, I had put some "Springy decor" up on the mantel, but for some reason, I wasn't completely thrilled with it.  I guess I wanted it to be a little more Eastery, if that makes sense.  This was my first go...

Anyway, I went through my supplies and found stuff to make ribbon easter eggs.  I cut the ribbon and she glued it on the paper.   They turned out really cute.

One of our Ribbon Easter Egg pictures

Tomorrow, I'm going to work on the mantel and I'll try to post some pictures of the finished product.

I think the horribly cold weather has me really wishing for spring and summer.   If I can't make the weather warmer, I can at least make the tastes of summer, right?  Tonight, we had veggie burgers and corn on the cob.  It was really good and the girls really loved it.  

 I'll leave you with a few Throwback Thursday pictures...

This was at one of my showers when I was pregnant with Rosie.  It was thrown by my one of my dear friends, Tasha.  Two days later, Rosie entered the world! I look pretty uncomfortable, huh!

Monroe Mary-Jean joined our lives! 

She was so teeny and fragile!  I can't believe she's pushing 4-years-old now.