If you would have talked to me on Friday night, I would have grumbled at you while peering through sleepy eyes that I way, way, way overdid it this month. I’m not a napper, but on Friday afternoon I napped for two hours while my girls thankfully also slept, and then I went back to bed at 6:50 p.m. for the night.
Now that I’m caught up on rest after a very low-key weekend, I am smiling about what a beyond fun-filled month it’s been with friends and family. We’ve made a heck of a lot of great memories with so (!) many of our favorite people, and I’m just plain grateful for it!
I’ve shared about our trip to Savannah, Mother’s Day weekend, and my trip to Turks and Caicos, but here’s a little slice of our lives in between all of the aforementioned May goodness. 🙂
The girls have had lots of extra loving from all four grandparents as well as a couple of their great-grandmothers. Sadie & my dad have a special relationship, and it’s very sweet to watch them together.
Jamie’s grandmother flew into town for eight days, and within a couple hours of getting here she was in the kitchen baking with them. Hadley and Mamaw have baked together every visit for a couple years now, so it’s definitely become their special little “thing”.
They teamed up to whip together some of Joanna Gaines’s chocolate chip cookies, and oh my goodness, they did not disappoint!
They love love love their Mamaw (we all do. She is so special, and if you know her, you know that!)
Jamie’s parents made the long drive over from Austin to spend a week with us, which was extra helpful because they were able to watch the girls for us while I was in Turks and Jamie was working during the day. The girls loved their time with Miya and Papaw as usual! I don’t have a pic of my FIL from this visit, but I loved the pictures I got from the date night Jamie took his mom and Hadley on. Jamie treated his mom to P. F. Changs as a belated Mothers Day gift, and they all had so much fun.
We’ve lived here for two months already, but last week was the first chance we had to spend a random afternoon running errands with my mom. I always envisioned that we’d do this type of thing all the time, but time just slips away from ya! She’s busy, and goodness knows so are we! We sure do love and appreciate you, Mom/Grandma!
One of my favorite things about Sadie right now is that she loves holding hands. Feeling her teeny little hand so secure in mine never gets old. (Excuse my wet shirt in the picture below; We were leaving swim lessons.)
My MIL sent me this picture from the date night that Jamie took them on, and I must have stared at it for a solid 60 seconds because she just looks so mature to me!
This next statement may sound so bizarre, but it really is strange to me that this big girl is my child. Like, I’m her mom – the only mom she’ll have! She’s mine! How freaking lucky am I? How am I old enough to have a child who is this big? I honestly feel so young, but I’m raising a kid of my own. It blows my mind sometimes. I know so many of you who have older children are laughing at me like “She’s only four; Just wait!” And I believe you! I know I’ll probably always feel this wonder as she grows and grows. <3
I shared on Instagram a few days ago that Whimsical September was recently published in a coffee table book entitled Passion Over Pay, which is a compilation of stories about people who are driven to do what they do for reasons besides just making money. A very, very, very sweet reader named Emilie nominated me, and last fall I went through a series of phone interviews to make sure that my story was what they were looking for. Sure enough, I was selected, interviewed, and had my story put together in a six-day feature.
Reading through this book was so incredibly inspiring. I’ve always been a firm believer that true, long-lasting peace and happiness doesn’t come from money, and while I like to live comfortably and have “nice things” like everyone else, my blog’s purpose has never been to create a fortunate. The fact that Emilie could read between the lines and know this about me meant a lot.
Also, did you know that kindness makes the stinkin’ world go round? It really does. When someone does something nice for me, I always feel more inclined to pay it forward and/or pay it back. When I do something kind for others, it always brings me just as much joy as it likely brings them. Recognizing others and doing kind things for those around you is the bees knees, I tell ya. Thank you, Emilie.
Speaking of doing nice things, my husband is a smarty pants! I’ve been going to an ungodly early Orangetheory class lately, and Jamie has been making my pre-workout drink ahead of time so that it’s one less thing I have to do when I’m trying to run out the door in the morning (still half asleep). This tiny, kind gesture fills my tank! Jamie’s always like “So all I have to do to make you love me is make your pre-workout drink?!” LOL. After 7.5 years of marriage, he’s pretty well figured out that those “tiny” things keep us going in a good direction.
Moving on to some “new home” stuff! My MIL is also a smarty pants. 🙂 I adore this window in our master bath, but it’s definitely see-through. One night Jamie had his shirt off and was bathing the girls, so I went outside to make sure it wasn’t see-through. Sure enough, I could see a completely fresh-colored outline. Yikes! Why would they put in a window like this?! So confused.
Anyway, my MIL had the idea to hang Hadley’s old balloon shade there.
I’d always viewed the fabric as somewhat childish (since the only place I’d seen it was hung in a toddler’s bedroom), but she was SO RIGHT! It goes really well with the light gray walls, and the balloon shade is so perfect for offering privacy when needed (really easy to lower and raise) while still showing off the detailed window most of the day and letting in light. Ah, sometimes you just need another set of eyes. 🙂
Moving out into our backyard, the girls’ new swing set is a total hit!
We had a tough time figuring our exactly where to put it thanks to that darn, unexpected bump in the yard that I’ve mentioned having a grudge against before (it doesn’t look as raised in pictures as it actually is), but we found spot that works wonderfully. We have wanted a swing set for the girls for a couple of years but wanted to hold out until we could stake it in the ground for the long haul.
We’ve been living outside per our usual in the warm months, and nightly popsicles have been a thing.
The ice cream truck has come screaming through a few times, but the kids aren’t the one who freak out like there’s a fire… IT’S JAMIE!
Jamie hears ice cream truck. Jamie freaks. Scrambles for shoes. Scrambles for cash. Scrambles for kids who are likely half-naked. Runs (literally) down the street to catch truck with one kid in each arm. Happily pay $4 per ice cream.
I swear, I knew he would be a good daddy when we were dating, and I was right on the money! He is such a kid himself!
We have the best neighbors! Our neighbor Alyssa (to the left of me) suggested we take our first “neighbor” pic since we will likely all live here and spend time together for years to come. I loved her idea. 🙂
And finally, have you ever tried Beautycounter products? One of my very best girlfriends has jumped on board as a consultant after being a diehard customer for a few years, and now she’s got me hooked on a few products myself! She had a recent Cinco de Mayo party where we shopped while drinking margs and eating chips and dip, and it was so much fun! I snagged a facial charcoal bar (my second one), kids shampoo, and sunscreen stick. My mom got a few things including some foundation, and she told me Friday that she is in LOVE.
If you’d like to try a few products from my girl Amy, here’s her link! I’m so proud of her authentic business venture and would love for you all to meet her and get your hands on a few great products too (or maybe even become a consultant! I can’t think of anyone better to learn from than Amy.)
I hope you enjoy a day off for Memorial Day. I wrote a little bit of my thoughts about it here. This day almost makes me feel a bit somber, grateful, and overwhelmed all at the same time.
See you Tuesday with another post! <3
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Hi! I’m Erica, and I absolutely adore sharing my life on this website with you! I come here almost daily to blab about all of the things related to being a regular wife and mother in today’s ever-evolving society. I share about our new home, what’s on our kitchen table, what we’re hanging in our closets, where we’re traveling to next, my crazy 5 a.m. work outs, how I make time for girlfriends, our faith, and much more. We always have a lot of balls in the air and somewhat thrive on the chaos. I believe in the power of story-telling as a form of inspiration and entertainment, so I’m here to do both! I was born and raised in north Alabama and recently re-planted roots here again after my husband transitioned out of the Army (he is now in the Reserve and it’s going so well!) I’m a super proud mom to three little girls (ages 7, 4, and 1) who seem to be the stars of the show around here (for good reason – they’re pretty great!) I’m so glad you found me and are here reading! I hope we can get to know each other here on the blog as well as Facebook and/or Instagram. xoxo