Mother's Day in a Nutshell

 

1:  Traditional Mother's Day pictures after church.

2:  Progress on making bigger, better, and stronger raised garden beds.  Here's to more vegetables!

3:  S'more face.

4:  The umbrella and chimney fire pit made an appearance on the patio!

5 and 6:  Little boy antics.

7:  I made some new herb markers.  I used this method found via Lemonade Makin' Mama.

8:  Henry found work as a tow truck driver.

9.  Mother's Day steak on the grill.  Divine.

My boys gave me their gifts, all wrapped up in their little blankies.  I got my most favorite Sharpie pens, a new pizza wheel for family pizza night, and guys, TOMORROW I'M GETTING AN iPHONE!!!

It was a good day and I'm very thankful.

More Than I Could Have Ever Wanted

There are three activities that my boys sometimes request doing that really make me search for an answer that goes something like this:  "Sure, that sounds like fun!" as I inwardly am shouting "NOOO!  ANYTHING BUT THAT!"  Those three activities are playing in the sandbox, playing with play dough, and painting.  I picture the mess that I will most certainly have to clean up and baths will have to be given and almost beg for them to do anything else.

However.

Lately, I've been aware that my little Henry will be venturing off to Kindergarten next year.  {Cue the tears and panic attacks}  Who knew that Kindergarten could sneak up on you like that?  Let me tell you, I do not want him to go.  Am I the only parent who thinks that all day every day Kindergarten is a lot of school for a five year old?  What will Oliver and I do without him?  I can barely stand to think about it.

So.

 I've been trying to ignore the mess, the piles of laundry that come out of the dryer and refuse to fold themselves, and the dishes.  Instead we've been doing all of those activities that make lots of messes and require hauling out the vacuum cleaner.  I am soaking up as much of my Henry as I can before he goes off to school this fall.  I will sit and watch these little brothers play and laugh together and marvel at the conversations the two of them have.  And I will love every minute of it, messes and all, because God has really blessed me with more than I could have ever wanted.

Our Weekend and Signs of Progress

Our weekend was full and busy.  Here are some highlights, in a nutshell.  Or not, because those darn squirrels keep digging up my tulips...

I finally picked out a sewing machine!  My parents and siblings graciously gave me a gift card to purchase one and I love it.  I have already spent hours on it, but that's mostly because I pretty much have no idea what I'm doing.  My first project was to make my boys some whales, based off of an idea I pinned off of Pinterest.

Here is my pin.  Yes, I know mine look nothing like the beautiful whales in the pinned picture.  However, I have been bitten by the sewing bug and things can only improve from now on, right?!?  

Pancakes were enjoyed by all.  But mostly by the boys, who both ate more than mom and dad.

I made French baguettes for the first time.

We enjoyed one last meal of boeuf bourguignon before we begin to eat things that taste more like Spring!

I removed hardware on my desk and filled holes.  Priming never happened because that wind was strong this weekend!

We planted grass seeds in a few containers.  The boys are already looking forward to "mowing."

Jason built some shelves for the boys' toys in an unused corner of the basement play room.  I bought some baskets but am unsure yet if I'll keep them.  I also have to paint the shelves.  Obviously, something needs to be done to corral those toys.  Or perhaps we should just have a yard sale.

I started making new cushion covers for our chair in the basement.

I almost ripped my hair out trying to figure out that zipper and I really wished my mom lived next door so that she could just come over and help me!

The bead board wall behind the fireplace is painted, the hearth stained and covered with a few coats of polyurethane, and the the nail holes filled and sanded.  We only have to paint the fireplace mantel and we can call this project done!

I would apologize for all of the boring, simple sentences in this post, but I'm much too tired to care.  How's that for being honest?

Have a great week!

Alone Time

Sometimes, sometimes it is nice for a mom just to sit down.  By herself.  Because even moms need alone time.

Well, hello there!

But really, alone time can be overrated when you have a sweet little Oliver who wants to sit and whisper with you.  And drink hot chocolate "in one of those fancy cups" while singing the pizza song over and over and over.

I love you, Ollie.  Let's do it again tomorrow, shall we?