March Memories

March flew by in a blink of an eye, it seems! We had a great month and enjoyed days at home as well as visiting family & friends! I love spring...I was hoping with the end of March would come warmer weather, but here on April 2, it's still chilly!

Before/After: Our yard needed lots of TLC; this house was empty for over a year, and by the time we moved in at the very end of July, we just didn't have the time or energy to get it looking good. Our talented friend Tim has his own lawn service. He came one day, and we now have a great start! I used to cringe when I drove up!

Reid hung out with us one afternoon while his parents went to a wedding. He and Ava had a blast! They were both bottomless pits that day too! He was saying, "Brooke, snack!"

I tried my first burlap door hanger..

Playing under the crib. Ava is so wonderful with Addison! When I'm getting ready or straightening up, she's the best entertainer!

Crafting as usual! This was a Saturday that we stayed in our pajamas all day. Ava made us bracelets out of clay. She found this kit at Goodwill.

Snuggling in our bed

Addison's first time to swing at the park (and yes, she got sunburned and I felt terrible!)

My fair-skinned, sunburned baby;(

Jeanine & Jilly came to spend the day with us on spring break! Jilly & Addison are about 6 months apart.

Sweet baby loves to go to sleep on Daddy's shoulder

Addison has advanced to the high chair! She loves puffs and yogurt bites!

They are soooo sweet in the mornings! This was a Monday morning when we're all extra tired. Addi ended up falling back asleep on Big Sis. I asked Ava if she wanted me to get her, and she, "Oh no, she's fine!" She's a little mommy:)

One afternoon, Emily watched the girls while I went to a training at work. She texted me this picture of Paisley, Lexie, & Ava. They have so much fun!

It makes me laugh when we go to Target & Ava wants to take pictures of toys to remind me what she wants for her birthday. Ha!

Me & Lauren at our small group's game night

Britt & I took our kiddos to Sky Zone, and indoor trampoline park. It's so much fun! We jumped with Ava & Reid. I def got some exercise. Oh my!

Corrie, Brittany, and their children came over on Good Friday for an Easter-egg dying party. We had lunch, chatted, and decorated eggs. Afterwards, the girls played upstairs for hours.

Ava loves having her cousins and friends over.

Ava, Evie, & Lilly

We did pictures of our little ones at church to give to their parents on Easter Sunday.

St. Patrick's Day

We went to my parents' church for their Homecoming.

I randomly bought this little costume at a yard sale last spring for $2. Ava and I dressed Addison up last week.

She was cracking me up. She acted like it was the most normal thing to be wearing this. Ha!

They both love bath time.

Lexie & Ava at our church's rainy day Easter egg hunt! It was great!

Addison looked very skeptical about this...

We were pretty excited to put our warm pajamas on after this:)

Ava & Macy Claire (her umbrella hat was too cute!)

Ava was showing off her new reading skills to the ultimate reading teacher: Aunt Bobbie.

Mimi and Addison (her head is blurred because her favorite thing is shaking her head)

Happy 60th Birthday!

I love her so much! She crashed on me Saturday night after our busy day. Those cheeks and those hands...

Easter Sunday... our fancy lunch at Taco Bell

So thankful

Addison's first Easter

Sweet sisters

We ended our Easter weekend and March with our sweet friends, the Shuff family. We grilled out and enjoyed their company Sunday evening.

Running

Accountability post;)...I've been at a plateau with losing weight even though I've continued the workout videos and no sodas & desserts... So it's time to start running again. It's been two years since I ran consistently, even did two 5Ks then. I'm nervous because running is hard! But I'm also excited because it can be relaxing too. And with today being April 1st, a Monday, and gorgeous weather, it's the perfect day to begin!

Laundry Room: Before & After

 

I blame Pinterest for this laundry room obsession! Ha. If my friend Corrie is reading this, she's rolling her eyes. My first laundry pin is below, and I couldn't get that cozy lamp & candle out of my mind. Then later pins are like this gorgeous, sunny room... I've been working on mine here and there since we moved here about 7 months ago.

 

Before: striped wallpaper, stained cabinets, plastic hooks, wooden & brass hooks...

After: The walls are painted SW's wheat grass; the cabinets, Navajo White. I spray painted the pulls with Rustoleum hammered bronze (I think).



After: I love having the big bulletin board in here. Even though I keep a personal day-by-day planner, I like seeing the whole month like this-- it's been really good for realizing when I'm overcommitting.

After: Our friends James & Kim made the ledge with coat hooks. This is my newest addition, and it's perfect! Since the laundry room is right beside the outside door that we use all the time, we needed somewhere to hang jackets, keys, purses, diaper bags. That stuff was getting dumped in the floor or on the kitchen counters or on a chair..

After: The chicken wire paper organizers were found at Marshall's for the neverending piles of papers (on a side note, Ron recently requested paperless billing, and I'm excited about less clutter!)

After: The big glass jar was used at my sister's wedding for sweet tea, and I'm enjoying using it! My uncle's silver baby cup is my 'scoop.' Beside it in my turquoise jar, I keep those Purex crystals-- smells so good!

After: I know I've mentioned my laundry sorter in another post, but it's been the best. Before I got it, there was usually just a pile of dirty clothes in here.

After: I found this raggy rug at HomeGoods. I love it!

After: When we looked at this house, I could not believe the storage! This laundry room has more cabinets & drawers than our apartment had in the kitchen. I'm able to store ironing supplies, light bulbs, batteries, stationary, office supplies, cleaning products all in the upper cabinets with room to spare. The lower cabinets have Ron's tools and all of Ava's art supplies (she loves to sit in here on the rug and do her crafty projects). I 'borrowed' her lamp too.

Now if I could find away for this not to be the catch all spot when I'm cleaning up in a hurry...

Addison: 10 months

Addison! You've been busy learning new things this past month and have two more teeth for a total of three. You say ''Da da" and "Na Na" (which is me:). I LOVE it! You have learned to crawl (oh my!) so well and shake your head no; we've had the best time asking you questions and watching you shake your head. We laugh so much at you. Ava has been a wonderful big sister to you. She helps me watch out for you; you light up when she walks in the room. You have a cute little personality. When I tell you to stop doing something, you turn, look at me, and wave those little fat hands. You're a good little napper and take one or two per day depending on what we are doing. At night, you're spoiled rotten. You want to be up with us just as late as we are. I live with three night owls for sure. You are a momma's girl, and I love you so, so much!! When I put your little 10 month sticker on your shirt, I could have cried. In so many ways, it's flown by, but I can't imagine our family with our little Addi! [and yes, you are sunburned:( ]

Fun in Feb

I have mixed feelings about winter. There's a part of me that really does not like the cold, rain, gray skies, short days, or dead grass, but there's part of me that loves the idea of being snuggled up at home-- not feeling like we have to get out plus my winter wardrobe is better. Ha! I think I embraced the winter better this year than usual, and now that March is here, so is my spring fever-- spring is by far my favorite season:).

Here's some of our February fun:

boots shopping

a birthday party!

table setting 101

learning about how to set a proper table

visiting their great-Papaw

first ice skating experience

very fun day

Saturday afternoon playdate

at the end of a busy Saturday

pizza, popcorn, & movie night with friends

daisy & addison

Sam's Club shopping.. perfect shopping cart.

nail painting