Vacation Dreamin'.... Sandbox Livin'

I don't know about you but there is something about the 'mid-year rut' that makes me CRAVE a vacation. I love this time of year. Its busy, full of fun parties, big cookouts, long walks, quick trips to the park, swingset swinging and fattening food eatin'. Regardless of all the festitivities Im ready to see the world outside my own....

As I am vacation dreamin', Ayla is sandbox livin' (and lovin', I might add)...

Welcome to our oasis

We have the only blue sand on the block!

Show us Where you Live Friday: Children's Room/Nursery Edition

OK... I have been wanting to do ALL of the home tours that Kelly's Korner has been hosting, but I just had a baby folks. Plus I like to do other things like paint my toddlers toenails, write pizza crust posts (be on the lookout), cook for my family, relandscape my yard, go to walmart without my kids, cuddle with my husband, rock a baby, chase my toddler, coo at my little one, and have tutu time... you know the everyday stuff.

So this is a little late, but who's counting? I took the pics in a hurry this morning, so please excuse the poor lighting and possibly out of focus photos and then refer to the list above for reasons why I didn't take more time to photograph my home :)

Ayla wanted to start the tour off... and I think she did with flair...

little cheeser wouldn't let me take a pic without her in it, and rightfully so, it IS her room.

Her BIG girl bed....

She is doing great in her new bed, only fell out a few times. I keep a pillow on the floor just in case. (not a big drop- just sad) She sleeps with my baby blanket my grandma made me in her bed every night. She does not know how special it is yet, but one day I will tell her.


Her dresser, chair, etc- Note: tutu on the wall ready for easy 'tutu time' in our home
Her room is a little boring for my taste. I am still unsure what I invision for such a large room. I have a thang for stripes. She had vertical stripes in her first nursery and I miss them. So right now I am at a stand still. Don't know if I will repaint the back wall as a focal wall or I have some UL ideas in my head. What do you guys think?

This is the girl's bathroom... It is in her room, but our girls will share this growing up, and possibly share this Large room one day.

Their bathroom is so sweet... still pinks & greens with a funky fun feel to it. Pay no attention to the ugly tile under the rockin' rug. It is on the long list of things left to update!

Definitely girl heaven.

(some photos lost of her closet and book storage due to ridicuously poor lighting- sorry)

Miss Leah's Room- most of you have seen it recently since its a newer addition, but here are a few new glimpses.

....view from door

The dresser ahead has clothes and accessories stored. On top is the cutest lamp and my wedding bouquet. I love that my girls have little pieces of my past in their room.

Next to the dresser is the 'tree wall' Now with a birdhouse. Her shelves only have a few things- a nest holding Leah's newborn booties and picture frame.

Her crib....

...oh and look who joined us?!

My favorite seat in the house... my rocker. This chair has rocked both of my girls to sleep and hopefully will the rest of our children.

Thanks for visiting our home, or at least some of the most colorful parts of it :)

Hello There

Hello There...

... look at me.

I am getting so strong.

I am really trying to hold my head up

& doing a great job at it, might I add.

Im wearing size 1 diapers now.

Mom says I won't like my butt getting big later.

But, my dresses are starting to fit great.

I rolled over from belly to back the other day.

I did it just to freak my Mommy out! I will not

do it again til I am ready.

I am a Mommy's girl!

My fussy periods are becoming less, and Im smiling alot more.

(Chelsa nominated me for a blogger award- Im working on it girl!)

So far so good...

I l.o.v.e. holiday weekends.

Wow. I bet that came as a shocker, huh? But, really. Everyone is laid back and spending time with family. Everyone is eating... alot. Definitely right up my alley! But, the reason why my heart is singing this weekend is because I have been able to wake up to my hubby snoring laying next to me 2 days in a row.

See Jeff has a fantastic job. His employers are great people who take good care of us. However, one downfall is he works most, if not every, Saturday. Boo.

We have spent alot of time with the girls, hanging with my in-laws, and of course a few landscaping projects so far this weekend. I feel like I have talked til I am blue in the face about our home projects and as soon as one ever gets completed I will be sure to document. But, we have our eggs in alot of baskets- so to speak.

So far so good...

Here are a few pictures to sum up the first part of our holiday weekend....

we took Ayla swimming thanks to our awesome neighbors! she is really a fish this year!

Mommy got the gumpshun to pump, so Leah took her first bottle! She did amazingly well. Piggy ate it Way too quick so most of it came back up, but great first effort. I have a couple shifts coming up soon plus dance picks back up in the summer...

We are always trying to get pics of the Owens grandkids when Ridge is home. But its hard with nursing times, nap times, time out times... ha I got a couple cute ones in the few minutes I snapped, you can see no one looks thrilled I am making them do this. Britt you have your work cut out for you. But it works.... Fischer 8, holding Ridge 10 mo, Ayla 2, Wyatt 4, holding Leah 5.5 weeks.

Looking forward to another day of time with my husband, my girls, and the rest of our family :)

Leah's First Friend

Leah has been long awaiting the birth of her first friend (her age) Abigail. Yesterday we went to visit Abbi twice. She is such a sweet baby. She seemed very content, had the sweetest buttery colored skin and just a little blonde hair. Im pretty sure our girls are going to be gorgeous. Or as Jeff's dad always says.... "Dad's get out your shot gun" eekk... I bet Jon actually owns one?!

Bri and I have been close for a long time. We were big & lil sis in high school on our dance team. We were silly. We sang (and weren't very good). We, of course, danced. We were best friends. Even in high school we talked of the day we would be 'Mommies'. We talked of being pregnant together.... and it actually happened! Sadly, we didn't get to spend more than a few moments together while both pregnant. But, hopefully we won't let distance get between our girls!

Congrats Jon & Bri! She is perfect!

We love you....

Amazing Grace

God is good.
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/investigative/In_Depth_Sharing_Stellans_Story_may_19_2009

Summertime Fun

I always say the sweatier and dirtier you are when you come in for the day the better the day was. :) As we came in for nap today we all were definitely sweaty, dirty, and happy.

Poor Ayla is battling her allergies...again. But, I guess we are so used to it we try not to let it stop us. So today after getting up and moving (ps. Im getting way good at dressing, feeding, cuddling, etc 2 babies) we went to visit baby Abi. Oh man is she sweet... short cute legs, long beautiful toes. She reminded me a bit of my Leah. I can't wait to stop by again tonight. Im really excited that Leah and her will grow up together!

After our visit we had a quick lunch at Mi Pueblo with Mimi then off to the park we went. We walked for a long time. I was the one wearing flip flops & pushing my beast double stroller. All was great in the world. Two beautiful girls, big blue sky, bright shining sun, & one happy mama.

the beast

(if you look close you can see L's toes)

me & my little

A rewind to some fun summer-ness you may have missed:

in chronological order of course

This is what we wanted to call the last photo before Leah- we walked 3 mi while 5 cm dilated, pushing a stroller.... she was stubborn and WORTH the wait. Don't you dare tell Jeff, but it kinda makes me miss being pregnant!

Leah was able to be in baby dedication at church when she was only about a week old. We were so thankful that Jeff's brother & our SIL were home from Cincy. That chubby lil one is Ridge, isn't he perfect!?

This is from Ay's bday lunch w/ Daddy... I would like to add how HOT my hubby is to the things I love about him. :)

We were able to go roller skate at gma's gym. Ayla had to join in so we put her in the smallest pair which were HUGE! But she was pretty good. Someone tell me how to upload a video?!