Guest and Girls bathroom

Nine months ago, my parents took the big girls with them to the lake for a few days. I was just coming out of a stretch of intense parenting with Amelia - no breaks, holding her constantly, feeding her constantly, all the fun newborn baby stuff - and was full of ambition. I got some paint picked out and brought it home to paint and got just the edges on one side of the room and the smallest wall done. That's it. For months, we're talking like seven months here, not just a few, that was how it sat. Along the way, I decided that the original paint color I had chosen was not the right color. Along the way, I had painted the hallway a great gray color that seemed to somehow brighten up while also make it fresh and less outdated. I decided this color would work better in the bathroom as well.

A few weeks ago, I got the whole room painted. The gray is a much better choice than the original brown beige I had chosen (what was I thinking, really?) I replaced the towel bar with towel hooks (we have more than two girls using this bathroom now so multiple hooks is a necessity). I added a hand towel rack on the other side so it was clear which to use after washing hands. Finally, I put the other towel bar above the toilet and hung a basket from it (thank you, pinterest) below a wooden plaque picture I took of the girls in the tub. (Please note that when I say that "I" did this, I really mean that I thought of it and hubby did it. He's the real deal handyman, after all.)

My parents are combining their two homes (one in the city they work in, one at the lake) so we got their shower curtain, rug, and towels. These added just the pop this room needed. I cannot tell you how happy this room has made me every time I walk by. We haven't done a lot of updates to the house yet since most of them are major and will not be started any time soon. It is very rewarding to have another room done. More and more, the house feels like "us" and not like the previous owners. And bonus: I'm not embarrassed to have our guests use this room anymore. Here are the photos. Please remember how impossible it is to photograph a small, long and narrow room. :)

the little things

This second wind of winter-like weather has got us locked indoors for the most part, so there's been much more puzzle playing and blanket forts than one would expect in April. I've been playing around with my DSLR more lately thanks to a Facebook group that gives feedback and support, so I'll be dumping a few here more often lest they get forgotten in the dark corners of my computer folders.

Meanwhile, Amelia continues to cruise around and get more teeth. That's about all going on in her world. On one hand, she's super happy to have more mobility. On the other hand, she's super crabby from a sore mouth. We're feeling a bit overwhelmed with her emotions lately.

This colder weather has be grasping at anything spring-like and colorful. I've been adding (and sometimes killing) plants around the house and grabbing clearance flowers from the local grocery store every other week or so. This brings me so much joy. How can such a small thing make me smile so often?

I got the Easter decorations put away (it took about three minutes, that's my kind of decorating) but left up my bunny banner over the sink because I can't bear to leave that spot empty but have no good summer replacement. I know I could make something, but I just keep hoping that the Target Hot Spot will come through again with the perfect thing.

I finally got the bathroom completely painted and hubby got all of the towel racks and rings hung up. That bathroom has never been finished since we moved in, sad I know, so it looks pretty great in comparison. I will post pictures of that once I get the shower curtain and matching towels put up in a few weeks. That sad "home" tab above needs a new room that is relevant to what our house really looks like right now.

Hubby has been putting in crazy hours for this time of year and recently hired a full-time guy that is not a student (re: can work during Spring and Fall busy seasons) and will have another student start when school is done. I'm hoping and praying that he reaps some rewards from this extra task (being a boss and spending the time teaching and guiding them) and that it's not more stressful. We'd love for him to be home more. And yet, even as I say that, I am so grateful that he is here most weekends and the later parts of each day.

I'm itching to go out exploring now that we have all we need (appropriate shoes for everyone, backpacks, water bottles, etc) but that mention of ticks being out and present made me instantly reconsider. I need to get over this, because we can't be inside forever, but after tick season comes mosquito season and I'm not ready.

My computer is about to die, so that is all for now. Happy Tuesday, friends.

Easter festivities... one for the books

Literally, this one is for the books. As in I am writing it down so that it is properly documented. So much documenting...

Easter was a lot of fun this year. I didn't bring the girls to any big egg hunt and we didn't have the Easter bunny come to our house, although we did hide baskets full of goodies that was assumed to be from Mom and Dad. 

We did do our traditional Easter egg dying with the Deyle's (I really want to just always call them the Smiley Deyle's but my husband does not agree with this nickname). Amelia was not interested at all. She was working on her walking skills (her first steps were the next day, so that makes sense now looking back). Josie and Audrey are old pro's at this and got to work right away. To keep it entertaining, my niece, Clara, who is just four months older than Amelia, did her job by throwing the eggs in as hard as she can while also climbing on the table when nobody was looking and probably eating some of the dye when she got the chance. Kids are fun, especially when they aren't yours and you can just sit back and laugh. 

See that blurry leg? Always moving, this one. Also, she lost her pants due to a super wet diaper and then later lost her shirt, shoes, and socks due to other precarious situations. Twas a rough night for her wardrobe.

Lately, Audrey's posed smiles are a little painful. She was grinning and laughing right up until I put the camera (my phone) in her face. I don't know what she's thinking here.

Waiting for the eggs to be ready can be so very hard. 

The business that hubby works with also did a candy hunt (they skipped the eggs and just put candy everywhere in their showroom) for the employees' families. There were just our kids and another group of two, so we came home with way too much candy. They loved it though!

As per usual, I decided to make something I've never made before that didn't have a good chance at succeeding on Easter morning. I'd heard of using hashbrowns as a nest and an egg as... an egg... for a great Spring themed breakfast, so that's what I did. You can't really see the hashbrowns because the eggs grew and overwhelmed them, but other than that it was a hit. I'll be making this again soon. With more hashbrowns.

The last few years, we've tried to stay home over Easter weekend since we are always traveling for the other holidays. It's really something special for us to go to our church on Resurrection Sunday. I helped out with the kids' program this year and got to see almost every single little kiddo in their Easter best. Precious, I tell you.

Our girls' outfits were thrown together that morning without much forethought. It worked out well if I do say so myself! In my effort to rid us of over-bright clothes, the girls' wardrobes have all taken on muted shades of blue, soft pink, whites, grays, and creams. It was simple matching their dresses to each other's. When we got to church, we noticed several other girls with similar colors. Maybe I'm not the only mom sick of the bright colors and excessive pink?

We had my family here for Easter, and the day was just about perfect. We all chipped in for food so nobody was overwhelmed. They also don't judge when my house isn't perfectly clean, so there was no stress there either. We got to spend some time outside (never a guarantee this time of year) and talked, drank tea, sang songs, and played all afternoon.

We are so thankful that we get to celebrate that Jesus is Risen. It's a gift. It really is. I hope and pray that my girls can appreciate it each year renewed.

The rest of these pictures were taken with my Canon Rebel. I'm working on having it readily available and using it more. These were on Easter while the weatherw as beautiful in the afternoon.

Charming, isn't he?

My parents. This one should be framed.

Every time she did anything at all with the hoola hoop, she'd ask whoever was closest, "Wasn't that ah-maz-in??" Not lacking in confidence, this one.

Snapshots of daily life

I've been fiddling around with my fancy camera (aka not my phone) and tried to get at least one picture of each girl that represented them where they are right now. Of course, when I thought I had a good one, it didn't transfer well on the computer screen, and the shots I thought were too dark or blurry ended up being pretty good. I have a lot to learn! Either way, here is what I got.

Audrey's been focusing harder on her tasks and imaginative play. She quietly plays out different scenarios and conversations during quiet time that can last for over an hour. I hear her soft voice floating up the stairs, not clear enough to understand the actual words, but enough that I can hear the patterns of conversation and role play. Words are not in short supply, though. She can talk endlessly about the smallest details happening around her. She asks questions that she knows the answers to, waiting for affirmation which she rewards with a huge grin. She hates conflict and much prefers to return to her natural happy state, but also likes to reflect on what happened a little longer than necessary. She's a bit of a grudge holder, which seems to be in contrast to her sweet demeanor. She gives hugs and kisses willingly to those she loves. I hope she never loses that ability to love whole heartedly.

Amelia is walking now, just a little here and there, but her motivation is outweighing her actual ability which means she is stumbling and falling, bumping into hard furniture, acquiring bruises and earning a lot of attention. She knows we get excited and looks to us for affirmation. We are happy to cheer her on, but at the same time, slow down, little lady! I'm not ready for her to be a toddler. She is a fine mix of both girls. On one hand, she wants to go and explore like Josie, but on the other hand, she's happy to be held and will give sweet hugs like Audrey. She can be shy around others and will absolutely  not go to them if asked (which I don't mind, stranger danger and all). She will, though, offer big smiles and waves as long as one of us is near or holding her.

As is normal for our dearest oldest, the characteristics usually attached to certain ages happen about six months early. Now that we are in the homestretch towards Josie turning five, it is clear that this age is no exception. She's developed a certain level of sass and girlish teen-like attitude that cannot be blamed on influences around her. Her independence is causing an inner battle to continue to obey and respect what we ask her to do. She wants to please us but also wants to try things her way. She's learned that she can ignore us or pretend that she can't hear us to get out of doing something right away. She tries to sneak away quietly and then runs at full speed once she's out of our reach. It can be exasperating, like when I'm asking her to stay by me while I car is about to drive by and she decides she can make it to our car across the street before the approaching car passes (yes, I almost had a heart attack, and yes, she felt really bad about it and apologized on her own). At the same time, she's asking great questions, retaining what she's hearing, and applying it in her own ways to her life. She's a great little conversationalist and provides endless entertainment if given the time to talk your year off. She's an independent person from me (us) and it's fascinating and delightfully fun to get to know her. Loving Josie is fierce and intense. She's a spitfire, but that's one of the great things about her.