Summer Fun

We've tried to do some special things with the kids this summer and thought I'd share some pictures!

We went on our very first (and definately not last) camping trip. We went to a small campsite at the bottom of the Sequoia National Forest. It was perfect for a family with little ones.










Our big trip was a surprise for the kids...Disneyland!! We just got them up in the morning without telling them where we were going. We kicked things off with a stop at Krispy Kreme.











We had a great summer (but hot and exhausting!!) and we're ready for Fall. Apple picking and Pumpkin carving are just around the corner!!!

Making Our House A Home...

We bought our first house almost 2 years ago. It was a new build home so everything was white and we just left it that way. For Mother's Day I decided I really wanted to paint our Master Bedroom. I felt like we hadn't made this into "our" place yet. Our room is always the last thing to be worked on and I thought that should change. We painted it a pale grey-blue and I love it! We haven't been able to buy the accessories and headboard I want yet but it's much more welcoming.

We've started planning how we want to add personal touches to our downstairs great room. I picked a paint color for the 2 main walls.

It's a bit bright but I think it will work with out dark wood furniture. The rest of the walls will get a new coat of white to cover all the finger prints!

We've also been wanting a new (larger) dining table for a long time. Noah will be outgrowing his highchair before we know it and ours only seats 5. A new table isn't exactly in the budget but thanks to my new addiction to Pinterest, I'm feeling creative and crafty. So Jay and I have decided to try building one plus a bench seat (maybe with storage underneath?). We'll buy chairs though...that's a bit out of our ability! Probably unfinished ones though so we can stain them the same color as the table. I'm thinking something like this but stained all a dark brown (no white):

We also plan on pulling up the carpet downstairs and putting in laminate. We learned the hard way that getting the cheapest quality carpet/padding when building a home isn't smart. We cleaned our beige carpet with our carpet cleaner and the blue color from the padding bled through. We now have blue spots everywhere! :(

I'll post photo updates as we get things done! I'm also going to be making some holiday/home decor from ideas I've gotten on Pinterest!

We're Back and Ready for Fall!

Long time no see! My blog was pushed to the back of my mind with all of the changes this past year. Juggling 3 kiddos, working and going to school can be insane...and exhausting! So we're back and with a new name and design!

We're hanging in there. Jason is still out of work but hasn't really been looking. It's so easy having him home to pick the kids up from school and be with the kids while I work from 3p-1130p. His unemployment won't last forever though so his job hunt will start again soon.

The girls start school in less than 2 weeks and are really excited. I'm so glad they enjoy school. I loved elementary school and I hope they continue to! Hannah decided she wants to try gymnastics this year instead of cheer. It seems like it'll definately be more of a workout and will hopefully get rid of some of her extra energy! Avery will be starting her last year of preschool and her cousin, Hayden, will be in her class. She's very excited! I can't believe I'll have 2 kids in elementary school next year...

Noah's such a little man now! He just turned 14 months and is a full-on walker now. Not really talking at all...more of a squealer...but Avery didn't talk until around 18 months so I'm not really concerned. He's such a happy, well-behaved boy! He's extremely tolerant even when his schedule gets messed up.

I'm enjoying my new job but it's tiring working full-time. I have my moments where I wish I could go back to part-time or be a SAHM. But that's not something we can do right now. It'll be hard once the girls are in school because I'll only see Hannah in the mornings before she goes to school and on the weekends. I worry that she'll look back on her childhood and think I was never around. I would definately switch to day shift if the opportunity came up!

I'm also back on Weight Watchers and finally trying to get rid of the last of the baby weight. My hope is that we will be in a better financial situation next summer and I'll have gotten down to my goal weight so we can TTC#4 (and our last!).

I've also become a Pinterest addict as of late and am feeling the urge to get crafty! I plan to post all of my crafts, decor and baking here as I go!

My Healthy Eater!

This is what my 3 year old asked to have for snack:

Light Laughing Cow Cheese Wedge, Organic baby carrots, Tomato slices, Celery

And she ate it all! Hoping she stays a healthy eater as she grows up!

*~*~*7 Months Old*~*~*

Today my baby boy, Noah, turned 7 months old! His first year is just flying by! I am so thankful to have this little boy in my life. He is such a joy and the light of our lives. His sisters adore him and he is fascinated by them!



At 7 months Noah:



~Can roll both ways...across the floor!

~Is working towards pushing himself up on all 4s.

~Can scootch around (usually backwards!)

~Babbles and squeals constantly. I think his first word is right around the corner!

~Eats like a champ! He's still nursing or drinking EBM about 5 times a day. He's also eating solids (homemade by Mommy! Yay!) 3 times a day. His favorites are Sweet Potato, Avocado, Peas and Carrots. Chicken is pretty much the only thing he won't eat but that might be because I didn't puree it well!

~Sleeps from 7pm to 5am. Then he nurses in bed with Mommy and goes back to sleep until 8 or 9a! He also take two 2-2 1/2 hour naps during the day. He's a great sleeper (A first for us!) and prefers to be laid down in his crib awake with his Sound/Light Projector, binky, Jedi dog and StarWars bear so he can fall asleep on his own. Such a blessing!

~Loves his jumperoo and any toy he can stick in his mouth!

~Wears 6-9 month clothes but will be outgrowing them soon. He's wearing size 3 diapers and will be for a while still.

~Loves showers and baths...but hates getting out!

Noah Gryphon~ 7 Months

Menu Plan Monday~ 1/17/11

I'm not planning on going grocery shopping this week since there's a holiday delay in getting Jason's next check. I'm going to do my best with what we've got at home already. We flip flopped some of our meals from last week and had leftovers one night because no one was super hungry. Can't wait to go grocery shopping though because I want to try some new things (couscous!) next week! :) Have a great week everyone!!

Monday 1/17- Tamale Pie (This was great! Even Miss Picky Hannah ate it...beans and all! I eliminated the pepper in it because I can't stand them. LoL)

Tuesday 1/18- BBQ Pulled Pork (freezer), Baked Potatoes, Corn

Wednesday 1/19- Ham, Stuffing, Gravy (all from freezer), Green Beans

Thursday 1/20- Potato Cheese Soup (freezer), Corn Bread Muffins (looking for a scratch recipe!)

Friday 1/21- Steak/Mushroom Fajitas

Saturday 1/22- Date Night Takeout??

Check back next week for some new recipes!

Head over to OrgJunkie for more menu plans!

Menu Plan Monday~ 1/10/11

I always work on Mondays so I never go grocery shopping until Tuesday or Wednesday. My weekly plans start those days. This one is Wed-Tues. :) I'm a bit burned out in the cooking department so I have a few easy or freezer food days on here. I am trying a new recipe on Tuesday though. (In fact, I'm trying a new one tonight too from last weeks plan...must be a Tuesday thing!)

Wednesday 1/12- Lemon Butter Tilapia, Brown Rice, Green Beans
Thursday 1/13- Veggie Lasagna, Salad
Friday 1/14- Date Night! Takeout for Mommy and Daddy!
Saturday 1/15- Eggs, Sausage, Biscuits and Gravy
Sunday 1/16- Ham, Stuffing (both from freezer), Broccoli
Monday 1/17- Pulled Pork (freezer), Baked Potatoes, Corn
Tuesday 1/18- Tamale Pie

Head on over to OrgJunkie for more menu plans and recipes!