What's Up

So I've been super busy these days! I'm gearing up for the next Triple Crown run. That's right, I'm crazy enough to run the same three half marathons next year that I ran this year. The first run is MLK weekend, and that's only 6 weeks away!!!!

To add to my stress I decided to build Eden a bed so we can move Hunter into Eden's current bed. We like the idea of a lofted bed. It's much a bunk bed, but without a bottom bunk. It gives Eden more space in her room and hopefully we can make the underneath portion a little reading area. When we started looking around most of what we saw {that was close to what we wanted} looked like it was going to cost us close to $2000 and even more some times. Not to mention that cost doesn't include the new mattress. Yeah…we weren't interested in spending that kind of cash right now!

As I dug deeper and started looking into what we wanted I found plans for a bed that I loved. Check it out! {We used this same site to get plans to build our picnic table.}

We love that the stairs go up to the foot of the bed and isn't a ladder at the side of the bed. I love that there's space under the bed. If we have visitors, they can stay in Hunter's bed {that is now Eden's bed} and he can sleep on a pallet on the floor in her room. I love that the bed isn't so tall that it will interfere with the ceiling fan.

There was so much to love about this bed that I jumped at the opportunity to get started. I went to buy the lumber, and got to cutting immediately.

The wood was cut, I got to sanding. I've been working on the project since Tuesday afternoon and I'm almost done sanding the boards. Well…I'm a little more than half way done with the sanding. I guess projects don't move as quickly when you're breaking up fights over toys, making sure kids aren't playing in the street, and being stopped early because of the lack of sunlight. 

I can't wait for this project to be completed! I must admit though, I'm terrified {and a little sad} at the idea of moving Hunter from a crib into a big kid bed…

Motherhood Is…{49}

I am blessed by love.

I know that sounds redundant, but even on the worst days of parenthood, there are glimpses of love throughout. Like today, Eden had a fabulous morning, but then after lunch she turned into a maniac and there wasn't anything that could tame her. As we were getting ready for bed she was brushing my hair and she told me that I was her best friend.

Look at the 2 of them in this picture! How can you not look at this and be blessed by the amount of love here?! They were running around like crazy people, and we asked them to go into the toy room and calm down together. When we checked on them and this is what we saw. They were sitting quietly watching a show, under the blanket, enjoying being together. It was the best ending to a stressful day!

They really do love each other deep down!

Motherhood Is…{48}

I am blessed by my children's creativity.

I was out running with the kids in the stroller and Eden stopped me because she saw a dinosaur! I couldn't figure out what she was talking about, until I looked at what she saw. She was noticing that there was a cloud that looked like a t-rex. I thought it was so cool that I just had to take a picture of it - because it actually *does* look like a dinosaur!

This isn't the only ounce of creativity that she shows on a daily basis. She and Hunter play so well together these days. He's getting to the stage of using his imagination and enjoying creative play with Eden. They've been known to have tea parties together. He loves to drive his cars. They love to color together. I just love it!

Holidays are Here!

This week is the week of Thanksgiving and I'm not going to lie - I'm already getting a head start on Christmas decorating and crafting with the kids. Some of our crafts can't be shown yet because they're going to double as Christmas gifts for grandparents and other extended family.

Since Thanksgiving is first and I just can't overlook it completely I made shirts for the kids to wear to Thanksgiving dinner. I've tried my hand at different things, but this is by far what I'm most proud of to date! It didn't take a whole lot of time - probably 3 hours total, beginning to end {cutting the fabric to completion} - and they turned out kind of cute.

The kids and I are trying our best to get into the holiday spirit. It isn't taking much effort, so that's a plus! My favorite craft that the kids and I have worked on {that I can share now} is their Christmas list.

Eden had circled things in a Target catalog recently, so I cut them out and the kids and I made their Christmas list. After we glued the items on the card stock I broke out the white paint and let the kids paint "snow" on the paper. We included a hand print on the paper that I turned into snowmen {like an ornament I made last year with the kids} and I now use the lists as a visual to remind the kids to behave. If they're getting out of control they get a warning that the list will come down. If the list is down, Santa knows not to bring anything for them. Eden has had her list taken down at least twice and they've only been up for a week…she's just got too much energy!

Motherhood Is…{47}

I am blessed to have this man in my life! {I mean, don't we look good together?!}

It is so great to get a night out every now and then. Not to mention, we got to celebrate the Marine Corps birthday together. I love getting dressed up every year for the ball, it's one of my favorite times of the year. The timing of the ball this year was perfect for when Lane came home from deployment. We were able to take a night out and spend time together without him having to take leave.

I've always been a firm believer that time away from the kids {especially with your significant other when you can} is vital to being a good mom {or dad!} Getting a night out gives me the opportunity to unwind. It never fails that Lane and I start talking about the kids when we aren't with the kids. What's funny is that no matter what we're talking about we end up laughing about it. Even if we're talking about something that might have made us want to rip our hair out earlier that day, we are able to laugh about it.

A night out is refreshing, rejuvenating, and restful! I love being able to spend time with Lane, especially when I can claim that I feel like I'm a better mom for doing so.

Motherhood Is...{46}

I am blessed that there are 4 people in our ice cream picture this month!

Don't we look good together?! I couldn't be more excited abut the fact that we all got to have ice cream together. Ice cream tasted so much better to know that our company was as good as it could get!

Motherhood Is…{45}

I am so blessed by so many things in this picture…

We only ever had to use one hand to count the months that Lane was gone
We had great ice cream company each month
We were able to celebrate each month instead of being disappointed/sad/depressed - each month marked one month closer to Daddy!
We had a great excuse for ice cream
We got to enjoy pumpkin pie ice cream!
Hunter never looked at the camera for our monthly pictures - it makes me laugh!
Eden counted each month for the visual in the picture
We got to have ice cream WITH Daddy after this monthly celebration because this was our last one before he came home.