My little loves

Art frames to decorate the downstairs bathroom.  

Found them at Target. 

New frames by the door and our new bench for getting ready for school. 

Ava's Barnyard Moosical. Her class were cows. 

Ava made me a Mother's Day card and picture of herself. 

Silly girl. 

The "Sophie Eyes."

Ryder is getting so big - here he is 10.5 months. 

Love this necklace I got from Target. It reminds me of this site. 

Rooms

Heaviness.

It hits our hearts in certain seasons.

Jobs. Moving. School. Graduation.

And yet, this season of life has def been one of the hardest we have encountered. Every comfortable thing we have known has been stripped. At times that wound was raw and felt so real and fresh. And yet, it's healing. Our past hurts are healing. Our present looks sweeter and our lives are returning to somewhat of a cycle.

Is the Christian life supposed to be comfortable? Aren't we always supposed to be a little uncomfortable in a world that is just the cover? A beginning of something that "no eye has seen or beheld?"

I was nursing Ryder one day and though of the verse that loosely says, "In my Father's home there are many mansions, if it were not so, I would not say it." And the Holy Spirit gently said "rooms."

In the old testament mansions meant "room" or "abode." These places were built as changes were made in families in birth or marriages. It was an extension of the home to accommodate the life change and to have everyone living closely together.

We are not meant to live alone. Even in Heaven the Father is having us live together in an abode. And to dwell together.

This free wallpaper is a great reminder that He is always faithful even in times of change.

“All their life in this world and all their adventures had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

C.S. Lewis - "The Last Battle" 

10 year anniversary and Kuhns family visit celebration

Celebrating our 10 years together at Pasture in Richmond, VA. It was so yum! The fried okra,  chorizo meatballs and clam ceviche was the best. And we loved the jars water was served to us in. 

Brandon and I at our anniversary celebration. 

These chairs reminded me of the Young House Love chairs and they were numbered. So cool. The spot had vintage maps and chalkboards. My kind of place.

Besides celebrating our anniversary, we had a great time this weekend with our family who was in town visiting. Ethan, Charlie, Luke and Kelly came and shared "four days" as Charlotte pointed out at the beginning of her stay. She did a countdown each day.

The kids really loved seeing each other and acted like long lost friends. Ava and Ethan usually buddy up and Charlotte and Soph hang out and try to keep their toys from being sequestered from the older kids. We joke that Charlotte and Soph are frenemies, meaning, sometimes they have a good time together while other times they fight. Seriously though they had a blast this weekend.

On Thursday and Friday we wasted no time and hit the pool since it was 80s outside. It was glorious. The weather helped us feel like we were on vacation. Sophia swims like a fish and I can't wait to see how good she does in swim lessons. Girl has no fear.

We visited Maymont, a beautiful garden and estate on Saturday and it was gorg. We enjoyed a picnic on the lawn before going through the park. The weather and walk had animals, gardens and giant stepping stones. The icing on the cake was the snow cones!

Aunt Kelly 

Charlie 

So didn't plan these colors but love it! 

Ethan

Ry Ry 

Ava had her best friend back

Ry Ry thinks he's big stuff drinking a juice box.

Mom time! 

Sophia 

Charlie by the goats

Snow cone city at Maymont

family pic with the Kuhns

These stepping stones kind've rocked!! 

Sweet family that we love! 

family shot with my besties

Swim season

Warm weather is slipping into our weeks more and more. This weekend we are looking at 80s and our pool at the gym is open so I have been planning ahead.

I have already got some swimming suits for the kiddos and I, pool towels, cover ups, and swim toys. Yes, this is way ahead of the game.

I learned my lesson the hard way last year after every size of swimming suit was sold out and the toys were gone. I literally could not buy a size 5 bathing suit for the girls. Odd.

I got a cute swimming suit from Down East Basics. My friend Sarah recommended it as a place that had modest suits. I love that they are tankinis and awesome for rounding up kids at the pool.

Yellow suit that is so cute.

I also liked this suit but it's already out of stock. See!?

Sleeping like a baby

My little Ryder is getting big. He must be having a growth spurt because literally overnight his little self is growing out of his 12 months jeans. Boo.

And Sophie is growing out of her size 3 (she's tiny) jeans and Ava is getting so long that her shirts are showing her cute little belly. Insert extra money in the clothes budget line item this month huh! :)

I was talking with my mom the other day about Ryder and his sleeping. He had a rough night and was up from 8-10 pm and then two more times that night. It was rough.

Have you seen this article from Honest Toddler? It makes me laugh so hard. I died. I agree with the silent whispering threats and the immediate waking from bed.

Barbara Walters: So, you did hear your child crying. And you ignored your young. Why?

Mom (in prison garb): Well…uh…I just…I didn’t…*tears* I’m so sorry…

Barbara Walters: Daddy. Did you not hear your precious angel?

Daddy (in a straitjacket): Rack city *mumbling something inaudible* hello kitty *twitching*sippy cup cheese.

Brandon and I have always been pretty go with the flow for sleeping. We are strict about routines and bedtime, but if they get up in the middle of the night until about two, we know they probably need a diaper change, food during a growth spurt or are sick. Or teething. 

For some reason, Ryder has been sick for two months. The doctor said it was the bronchiolitis and that it takes a little while to clear up. Plus, he's teething. 

He's also walking a couple of steps and putting everything in his mouth. I died today at the park when he jugged half a pail of sand in his mouth. 

Do you have a strict bedtime routine or are you more go with the flow?