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!

Date night with our big kids

It's that such adorable time again for Michael to take his girl to the Daddy Daughter Dance 

So I decided it would be a perfect time for Kade and I to have a date too!

Boys need spoiled just as much as girls, so he got a candy bouquet when Jenna got her flowers and favorite snack!

I can not believe how grown up these two are!

My handsome young man

and stunning little lady

Mike took Jenna to have sushi (her new favorite dinner)

And I took Kade to his favorite restaurant 

though his favorite part is not the food, but the tropical drinks :)

Then while Mike and Jenna were dancing the night away

 Kade kicked my butt at airhocky, and we saw the movie Sing

He loves me

This man does such a beautiful job of showing me that he loves me all year a round, but on my birthday he goes all out all month!

On the day of my birthday he sent me for the morning to a spa 

Then he arranged for us to do a wine and chocolate tour 

 God provided the beautiful day and sunny weather

We went to 5 different wineries 

Finishing at my favorite for lunch!

That evening we went to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants 

And wandered downtown 

 I love spending my special moments and being silly with this incredible man!