Oh Hello Spring!

After months of yucky snow and cold I can not tell you how happy I am for the sunshine we have had lately!

I have been counting down the days until we had a Saturday with Kade, so that we could have some family time in the sun "hiking"!

We started our day with working out and swimming.

We stopped by the store for some snacks, then we headed to the park for lunch.

Once the kids were done playing we headed up the hill

So... this is my kids watching a group of cops.

We thought there was a car accident,

but apparently someone was shot!

We found a new trail, and hung out making sure people knew we were there ;)

Which then meant the kids needed to write their names everywhere

The older 2 did some exploring while we took a walk with our baby to find rocks

Once all the rocks and sticks were found we went for a walk/skate to our favorite snack shop!

 Kade decided running on his skates would be fun..

 Yay Candy!!

It started to sprinkle, so we headed to the Discovery Center to see Sue  

 Now we are kicked back watching basketball

(March Madness just another wonderful part of spring) 



8 Years later...

8 years ago I was a young single mom who decided with her new boyfriend it was time to introduce each other to our 2 year olds. 

We planned a play date to planet kid, and the rest is well... history!

 From the 1st day they met he has been so good to her, and 8 years later she is such a daddy's girl!

 From the day I met Kade I knew I would always love him as my own, and from the day he met his sister they have been such good friends!

 A lot has changed! Like this smile has joined our family!

 Kade is still the leader and fun finder!

 But Jenna who use to be afraid of her own shadow (not even kidding)is now such a fearless fun spirit!

They all love each other so much like there was never a time we didn't all belong together!

 And I am so glad that we are a family, and I am the mom of 3!

 8 Years later, and I could not have imagined 
life would be this great!

Our New House: Kid's Loft Fort

At the beginning of Christmas Break the kids found their 1st gift. 

The plans to their new play house with a Home Depot gift card to pay for it, so they could be apart of building it over break! Jenna especially has loved learning to build, and we feel it helps the kids appreciate their home more when they are apart of the building process!

 The week leading up to Christmas Mike and his elves worked on turning

 the corner of our loft into a fort

 Grandma Sue came over to help too

 I just love how Mike was willing to make most anything an opportunity for the kids to learn and be a part of things even when it is more work. 

We used left over siding from our play house outside (that matches our house)

 And made sure it was sturdy enough for them to have a comfortable place to hangout

By Christmas it was "done enough" for us to hide some gifts in :)

Before the building started I picked out some fabric for Grandma April and Papa Paul to have made into couch pillows, a rug, curtains, and big pillows for the fort. 

If you ever need similar things made Indigo Bird is such a great store, and the quality is amazing!

Slowly but surly (while the kids watched shows) Mike and I finished painting

 I added a magnet wall... that paint sucks in case you are wondering!

But now all the magnets can get off my fridge ;)

Now they have a fun little place to play. 

The game of choise most days is restaurant 

 To have a place to showcase all of the art that the kids bring home and make at home

 we made an art corner

 we added a cork board to hang any awards and notes of praise

and a mermaid fabric board that Jenna likes to change each day 

 Here is an up close of the fun pillows 

 and the curtains 

 I found some cubby boxes for their toys that match the zebra on the pillows perfectly

 The big pillows (made to match the rug) mostly stay up on the loft for cuddling,

 and the kids have a box for books and their white board up there.

I am so very happy with how this area turned out, and enjoy all the fun the kids and their friends have been having up there this winter!