a job jar.

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The first day of school came fast for us.
We are on our first year of YEAR ROUND school.
Yes…. the dreaded on + off again schedule.
But I can only hate it or try to embrace it, so that’s what I’m going to do!
………..Embrace the CRAP out of it!!!!
I’ve got these BIG plans + fun things that I’ve been planning to do with my kiddos.
We’ll see what I actually get around to though.
These days I have a lot of ambition but not a lot of follow through.
Which is just how I have to accept life right now.

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Riley + Hadley have done awesome going back to school.
I am so proud of these to little ladies!!
They have grown up so fast, I just don’t know where the time has gone!


In other news, I posted this super simple idea on Instagram that I got from here.
It was something that I needed to make our mornings run a little smoother.
Since school starts now almost a whole 30 minutes earlier, I just can’t seem to get the
outfits put together, the hair done, beds made, breakfast made for 4 kiddos, teeth brushed, lunches packed, jobs done + girls out the door by 8:25.

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I had lots of people asking what kinds of jobs I put in there.
Well I just did what I thought would work for us.
Some are kind of silly to keep the excitement in the jobs + some are kind of boring.
But that being said, I also needed a system that was different than what we were doing before.
So here is what we are doing + some ideas to hopfully inspire you:

Dust fireplace mantel
Dust tables in the living room while humming a tune
Wash French door windows in back
Wash 2 windows by front door {inside + out}
Clean out bathroom cabinets and drawers
Dust tables in family room
Organize + clean bathroom counter
Clear off back porch + do a flip on the tramp
Dust black table in the entry
Pick up all shoes + put away
Pick up family room while singing your favorite song
Sweep off front porch while dancing
Wipe out shelves in fridge
Straighten stuff in the pantry
Dust pictures going up the stairs
Wipe down outside of fridge, microwave, oven + dishwasher
Clean out inside of microwave
Wipe down chairs and stools
Clean toilets while singing “Whistle While you Work”
Dust banister with a blindfold on
Sweep the entry way
Take out bathroom garbage’s
Weed for 15 minutes + do a flip on the tramp
Water pots out front + shake your BOOTY!
Do a secret service for your Mom
Do a secret service for your Dad
Do a secret service for your sister
Do a secret service for your brother
Write a letter to Peela + Papa
Write a letter to Grandma Doris
Write a letter to Papa Tom
Write a letter to a friend + deliver it later
Write a thank you card to someone

> > >  NO JOB TODAY  < < <
I love you + have a great day!!

> > >  SUPER SANT PICK-UP  < < <
Pick up 10 things + put away

Kiss and hug mom + dad!
Tell them 3 things you love about them.

Play with Grayson for 10 minutes.
{Read a book, play school, wrestle or play with toys}

Play with Deacon for 10 minutes.
{Play with toys, toss a ball or crawl around with him}

 Write a note to a cousin:
Tell them why you love them

> > >  Write in your journal  < < <
{Ask Mom or Dad what to write about}

Well, hello there!!

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Alright, it’s just been so long that I think at one point I thought I was done with this whole blogging thing. But after having our new little man (yes, almost a year ago) I have this new
commitment to want to blog again. My reasons are this + this alone…..

I LOVE to document my life. I feel a sense of success, happiness + peace when I do.
I love looking back + seeing just how blessed + happy we are. Yes, we do have trials,
hard times, etc, etc….. I feel like a bad mom A LOT, I feel frustrated A LOT, four kids for us
is HARD!! (SO HARD) But I feet like my blog allows ME to find the simple joys in my ordinary life.
The fun among the hard times AND the good times. This is a way to really help me

FIND MY HAPPINESS.

To have those ordinary moments made special.

…….So I’m gunna do it!! 🙂

the simple things.

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Today was a sad, sad day.
With the horrible news we got today
of loosing a wonderful mother, wife + friend in a car accident
it made me start thinking………..
That life is so precious.
That family is so very important.
And that my beliefs are everything.

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Riley said the family prayer tonight + it brought me to tears.
She asked that the Dosch family would have comfort.
Earlier in conversation today I was telling Riley
that G wouldn’t see his mom anymore.
Riley quickly reminded me that I was wrong…..
That they would see each other someday just not for a long time.

This simple conversations I had with her
+ her beautiful prayer full of simple thoughtfulness
made me realize that there is so much more to life.
That each day is full of the simple things that matter most.
Which for me tonight is life, family togetherness + a sweet prayer.

Our prayers + thoughts go out to the Dosch Family. XOXO

linking up here:
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January | Month In Photos 2012

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Confession: I am NOT doing Project Life this year. 😦
I’ve LOVED doing it but I am behind on the two years that I have tried to tackle it.
And really, if I’m being honest it’s so time consuming + hard IF you aren’t into it.
This year, I just wasn’t into it. So I have decided to go the Month In Photos rout.
It just seemed simple. If you are interested here’s the free template.

Reward Charts.

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I wanted to share what we’ve been doing in our home + (with some doing) has actually worked! It all started with my cute neighbor doing this with her kids. And yes, I just up + copied her whole system!! But it’s so great + my girls seem to be having success with it. Which makes Damon + I thrilled. The whole idea is to let the kids earn “chips” for: doing what we ask, getting daily jobs done or doing a good deed for another family member. Like the typical reward system for any child. Well when they get their boards full they get a reward that they right now they choose from a hat. But my cute neighbor made a spinner that the kids get to spin with the thrill of not knowing what their reward is. And gives them more motive to fill up their boards to spin for that ONE thing they’ve been wanting. I think it’s brilliant!! But perhaps I’m most happy about this because I actually made, finished + have a system that works for our family.
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Supplies Needed:
Clip boards
20 Wooded chips (I used 1 1/4 inch)
2 Paint colors (Paint color for board + one for chips)
Scrapbook Paper
Mod Podge
20 Velcro circles
Printed or stamped label for title
Ribbon for embellishing

To get my kids excited for this new system I let them do ALL the painting. Yes it was messy but they loved doing it. I didn’t worry if they weren’t getting it everywhere. I just went with it. After that step I did the rest. I mod podged the scrapbook paper + title to the board. Then put another finishing coat on top. I Mod Podged the painted chips for a more finished look as well. Then applied the Velcro to the backs of all the chips + adhered them in place on the board. Lastly, I embellished with a bit of ribbon on top. It’s not the most perfect looking thing. It’s simple, but done. That’s all that matters to me!!

the simple things | round + round

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It’s been a while since I’ve been…well lots of things.
– blogging
– taking pictures
– documenting
– + sharing my simple things.

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So today I am sharing a simple thing that makes my heart oh, so happy.
I love getting crayons out + messing up the table for craft time.
I love when my kids love it too.
Grayson is almost 2 + I in no way think he is above average smart.
But he did have the patience the other day to let me teach him how to draw a circle!
It needs a little refined but at 23 months I am happy to have this documented to remember.
These are the simple things I want to remember…

I am linking up here:
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It’s official….

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We’re going to have baby number 4!!

I am only 12 weeks but look like I’m 6 months.
I am sick every single day.
We were very surprised with the news!
I was not very excited at first (because I get so sick).
The girls pray for me every day to feel better.
I get random notes from the girls that say, “Mom, I hope you start to feel better.”
I don’t really get morning sickness, I get sick after I eat.
I saw our sweet baby in a ultrasound + my heart melted!!
I’m slowly getting excited for another bitty baby in our home…
Expected arrival in August.

(Yes... hot, hot August.)

Other things on my mind.

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Yes this is our Christmas card.
I didn’t print it, dress it up + package it to send it to family + friends.
No…… this year I just kept it all to myself.
Guess there’s been other things on my mind.

I’ll post more about that later……..

(But for now, I’m secretly GLAD that the holidays are over)

a CHRIST centered Christmas.

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It was a Christ centered Christmas party indeed.
It was an old fashion, rustic + homemade theme.
I was put on the Christmas party committee this year.
I have to say it was SOOO much fun + a little stressful too.
I was glad in the last few days that it was all coming to an end.
However, the day of setup was the day of the horrific windstorm that blew through Farmington.
I have to say setup was a quiet, dark, humbling yet am amazing experience
being with such amazing women that I already look up to.
It brings me to tears to even think of the sacrifice they put in for two days for me {+ for the ward family}
And can I just say, it turned out even better than I had imagined……..
Thanks to everyone who helped set up!!!!!

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED!!!

Pictures don’t do it justice + of course I failed to get pictures of it all, but here it is:
{Warning: This is a lot of pictures!!!}

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Damon built the stable out of pallet wood. Very simple + very rustic.

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I imagined lighting up top. So again, Damon build a wood frame + my friends +
I dressed Big Bertha up with lights, ornaments + berries. She looked magical!!
If you look behind Big Bertha you can see more lighting that appeared as the lights went
down. Miniature lunch sacks filled with {LED} tea lights. Fun little touch.

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Next was the stage. Lots of homemade hanging ornaments + paper garlands hanging
with fun over sized presents dressed-up in their simplest.

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This has to be my favorite touch of all……LOVE a garland in any form!!

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Posters + again more HANDMADE ornaments. Can I just say there was a lot of love
that went into the making of these!!! Thumbs were numb + fingers burned.
Sweating with every crease that was made to make the paper accordion flowers.

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It all was worth it though!!

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I tried to decorate all the creases + crevices. When the lights were dimmed this
turned into magic. Love how this turned out.

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Now to the tables….I wanted to keep it simple but sweet.
Mason jars filled with tissue paper flowers, dressed up with doilies on the outside
+ standing on old books. Plates attached to candlesticks were dressed up with a unique
present on top while a friend lent me these simple baby Jesus’ to tie it all together.

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Simple message attached to every centerpiece.

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presents dressed up every plate on a candlestick.

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And lastly, crayons for the kiddos. I used roll ends from the Clipper to top the tables.
This was just a little touch for the kids + adults to doodle, create + hopefully
enjoy their evening. And that’s it!! Loved the magical feeling that was created as
the lights were dimmed + the room filled up with dear friends + laughter.

a month in photos | SEPTEMBER

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1. We enjoy growing a garden each year. We aren’t the best at it + I wish we knew more but for now we do what we can. This year we tried watermelon. It was delish.

2. Hadley saying the Pledge of Allegiance for me after earning some gum balls at school for saying it all by herself. She was stoked!

3. Hadley coloring, drawing or writing. She loves to sit at the table + do her thang.

4. Riley on the other hand just can’t stop coloring. She wants to color before + after school; inside or outside. I love that they both have a creative bug in them!!

5. Grayson wasn’t feeling well AT ALL. He had Hand/Foot/Mouth disease while he was teething. {Yuck!} So this was the first day in two weeks he got down to play with his cars.

 linking up here:

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a month in photos | AUGUST

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1. Riley leaving for the first day of school. {First Grade} We all were so happy for her yet so sad to see her go. Love, love, love this shot I got of all the kids together.

2. Woke up to so much rain. The girls immediately got their suits on + started playing. We had our very own pool in our back yard. The kids loved it!

3. Hadley riding her bike on the first day of Pre-school. Her school is only two houses away from ours but she insisted!

4. We celebrated Riley’s Birthday on the 3rd with our little family + later up in Green Mountain with the Sants. Had a wonderful time! She got an iPOD, an iPOD player + a pink fishing pole that lights up.

5. Riley checking out her classroom for the first time + meeting her teacher, Mrs. Haycock.

a month in photos | JULY

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I’m very behind on my month in photos.
I wanted to catch up only because it’s simple.
I also like looking back + seeing just a few of the highlights.
The kids love it too!!

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1. We went to visit my sister in Colorado. SO.MUCH.FUN!! Nuf said.

2. Having a family picnic at the park.

3. Taking the kids fishing. I think Riley liked it the very most so Damon took her out one Saturday morning just the two of them. She’s got this {weird} love for fishing!!

4. I made some flower clips for my girls’ hair. Very simple, very cute.

5. Grayson just cracks us up ALL the time. This is just one of the many things he does to make the whole family smile {+ gut laugh!}

quiet.

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It’s quiet here in my semi warm house.
{I feel like I’m always cold these days}

I keep thinking about this talk that has
given me perspective on my own life.
It’s been in my head for days now.

With all these thoughts in my head I want to make changes:

One of which is being done with photography
for the rest of the year – just taking a long break.
{I will be scheduling again some time in the spring}

And second is making good sacrifices which is
why I have decided to take a break from photography.

Third, looking to find those small successes that I
accomplish every day in my home + with my family.
Being thankful for my own small successes + celebrating
my good efforts every day.

And fourth, committing my time + energy
for the things that matter most.

What goals are YOU working on?

the simple things | learning to ride

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Damon’s Dad had a thing for bikes…
Damon has a thing for bikes too.
Before Damon’s Dad died he would go mt. biking a lot.
That has now turned into something that
Damon does to feel closer to his Dad.
So naturally it’s important for him to teach the kids how to ride.
And even though it’s pink, Damon is determined to get this kid riding.

Something I want my kids to know now + when they are older
is how much their Daddy {+ Mommy} loves them.

I think this shows it!

These are the dear, simple things I always want to remember.

linking up here:

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Instagram + Postalpix

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I love instagram.
I’m pretty much a junky.
{follow me: haileysant}
I take so many pictures + wanted
to find a way to print them…..
Well I did + I do.
I now have so many fun
printed pictures that we put everywhere.

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It’s called Postalpix.
It’s an app you download
onto your phone.
From there you upload the pics
from your phone to the app.
They then mail them strait to your door.
The quality of the prints?
I love em + you will too!!

So you can see my pictures are little:
4×4 to be exact.
You can prints all different sizes
but I am in love with the minis.

And with me + my girls starting our own
SMASH books, we now have cute little
pictures to play around with.

Please, go get SMASHING!!

 

the simple things | coloring books

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Back in the day I use to feel guilty if my kitchen table wasn’t clean.
Now, it makes me feel like a better mother to see
what fun things my kids are working on!

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In this picture my girls are working on their Halloween coloring books.
I told them if they finished this book without ripping any pages out
then I’d go buy them each their very own candy bar at the gas station.
I know it’s bribery but I’m sick of seeing ripped up coloring books
with a scribble here + there on each page. What a waist!!
So this is my effort in finishing a coloring book.

linking up here:
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ps. go check out this amazing giveaway!!

moments that matter most.

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This has got to be my favorite Mormon Message.
I love the message behind this!!!
With stuff that has been going on in my life
+ with being so busy I’ve needed this reminder.
There ARE moments that matter most in each of our lives.

This year I’ve been focusing on simplifying.
I’ve even stumbled across a cute blog called
Simple as That filled with inspiration
to catch + document the simple things.
This has been one of my top priorities
as I’ve tried to be a better mother + wife.
It has definitely brought our family together.

Well, I taught a lesson a while back + showed this video.
I made a little book of quotes for a reminder of this.
Feel free to download these free 4×6 quotes.
Each are quotes from the video.

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happy fall | a peek into my home…

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I love fall.
I love to decorate.
I know I’m not the best at it.
I know what I like a lot of you might not like.
And that is okay because I like my home.
So here are just a few pics of some of the details from each room.

Let’s start in the entryway….
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I don’t know that this will be staying but it’s fun to switch out words.

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Halloween Subway art was a free download via Eighteen25.

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Our living room is where we spend our evenings.
Daily Reading, family Scripture study, Super Sant of the Day + family prayer.
{BTW: Super Sant of the day has worked amazing! Thanks Janeen!!}
Love this room because it brings us all together.

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A decorating tip I learned from BH was to
have pictures from previous years out to display.
If you look closely I added the year it was from.
I love pulling out the old pictures of their Halloween costumes
from when the kiddos were younger. LOVE!

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On to the kitchen:
Cute little gal that comes off our pantry door.
Love. Purchased from Target not long ago.

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This magnet board was just added to my kitchen not too long ago.
Purchased at Swiss Days. {A local craft show done every year}
Notice how cute + little the pictures are?
They are pics taken from my iphone then mailed right to my door.
I’ll post more about that another day. Love, love, love it!!

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Kitchen. It’s where it all happens. So I have my favorite pictures here.
Again one from a couple years ago + all three of my kiddos from last year.
Pumpkin jar + pumpkins found at my local Home Goods.

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In to the family room:

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yes, pumpkins are placed everywhere….

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fun colorful jars: small pumpkins from Pier 1 + green balls from Tai Pan.

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Another fun tip from BH: dressing up a candlestick with
something other than a candle can be fun too!

Happy Fall!!

hope this inspires your fall decorating. xo, hailey

G.

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This poor little guy is teething.
His poor gums even bleed.
This is the happiest I’ve seen him in a while.
Poor, poor little guy…
makes me so sad.

PS. Happy first day of fall!

In celebration I will be sharing
some of my fall decor in my home.
Stay tuned……..

the simple things | our morning.

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It all started with the pumpkin pancakes I made this morning for breakfast.
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Let me tell you about our morning….
1 – I thought my pumpkin pancakes turned out pretty cute.
2 – So, I was going to use this for my POTD.
3 – But as I was cleaning up breakfast I heard 2 little kids trying to very, very quiet.

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This is what I found….
A stolen bag of marshmallows,
Two cute, little thieves sitting in the time-out chair,
And one cute picture to be my new POTD.

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These are the simple things I never want to forget!!

Linking up here:

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we’re going on a leaf hunt….

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I don’t know why but my kids are so into leaf hunts + bug hunts.
Always have been.
So when playgroup was at our house today with the theme FALL
I knew exactly what we should do….
A leaf hunt!

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First, I went outside to pick some leafs that were in our own back yard.
I put them on white paper + took a picture.
Then photoshoped it by cropping + finishing the edges in white.

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After printing them on a 4×6 piece of paper, I placed the leaf prints
in a simple sandwich baggie for each kid to collect their leaves in.

Then they went to town searching, looking + hunting for the leaves on their map!!
They were all so excited about something so simple + easy to make:
I was happy!!
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Then to make sure they found them all,
I had the kids match up their leaves to their pictures.
They all felt really proud of their work or they realized they needed to find more.

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And that’s that!! Eazy-peezy, lemon squeezy {as Riley would say}
They all took their leaves home along with their pictures.
It turned out to be a fun + easy activity.

DIY Crates | The House of Smiths

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How long has it been since I’ve shared my favorite finds?
That’s what I was thinking….waaaay too long!!
Check out this crate that I want to say I WILL be making.
But then I remember how long it’s been since I actually did
a project like this for me….
I LOVE this though {to say the very least!}
Check out the tutorial here.

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{The House of Smiths}

the simple things | learning + the face

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Hadley came home today SO excited about a
pack of bubble gum she got from pre-school today.
She said the Pledge of Allegiance at school +
was excited to show me she could do it.
I did believe her but alas she began to show me.
So simple but glad I got her in action!!

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Then there’s our little G-Love that’s got this face going on.
It makes me laugh just looking at it!!
{And yes, his teeth are getting ruined by his binki.
Never had a binki baby until now + boy does he love his “bi-bi”}
Not sure what this face is, why he started doing it or where he got it from….
but how can you not document it?!!
These are the simple things I want to remember.

linking up here:
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The Simple Things | G’s new shoes.

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We bought Grayson some new shoes a while back.
He’s just started wearing them.
He broke them in on our weekend trip to our cabin in Midway.
Couldn’t have been a more beautiful time to be up there.
The kids had SO much fun with their cousins.
We had so much fun hanging out with the fam.
These are the simple things I want to remember….

linking up here:
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summer nights

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Summer nights mean dinner is outside.
Now that the evenings are cooling off I could live in our backyard.
Of course, I grabbed my camera to catch a few shots of a recent dinner.
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Can I just say how much I love this picture.
It depicts my girls perfectly.
Riley’s face is priceless: affectionate + sweet
Hadley, so her!! Trying to get as close as she can to her Daddy
even if it means her face squishes up to stay close.
{If she could be glued to Damon she would!!}
+ Damon’s hands wrapped around each of his girls.
I love this picture.

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And Grayson….. oh poor Grayson.
I never, ever thought I would say this but this is usually him.
He gets crazy angry mad sad when he doesn’t get what he wants.
Poor kid has a little temper.
We’re working on it!!

she collects trash.

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She tells me EVERY DAY to NOT throw away the milk carton.
I’m instructed to keep any boxes, papers, cardboard, tags, ribbon, twine, fabric
buttons, egg cartons: pretty much anything that IS garbage!
{+ she checks the garbage when she gets home}
I have to say, I’m a little sick of it.
But she makes bird nests….
+ this is her latest.

the simple things.

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ImageThis last week has been fun as summer is finally winding down.
We made play-dough as to check off some of our last things on our Summer To-Do List.
Of course it wouldn’t be as fun with out some dear friends.

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Damon + Grayson. I just love the look on G’s face!!
I feel like we are always mowing our lawn.
Kind of excited for warm fall weather.

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And….I got a new chandelier!!
I love it + can’t wait to finish the room.
Perhaps more pictures when it starts to come together.

 

Linking up over here:

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we cry a lot.

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It’s that time of night when I get depressed that he’s gone…
Every evening since we decided we to get rid of Junior I just get so down.
I cry in the morning, I cry in the evening, I cry when I see pictures or videos.
I cry when I talk about him, I especially cry when my kids cry that he’s gone.

Please, please remind me that he’s just a DOG!!

little explorers.

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These girls love crafting, exploring + playing. They have quite the imagination. Yesterday….they made exploring books. {In the past they made bird houses out of milk cartons. So cute!!} Anywho, they take their exploring pretty serious!! Just check them out in the act….

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our month in photos | JUNE

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1. Said good-bye to teachers. Riley + her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Yardley.

2. We got season passports to Lagoon! The train probably is the highlight for everyone. {well besides Riley loving all the big kid rides}

3. Riley had her {amazing} ballet recital.

4. We made a “Summer To-Do List.” Running through the sprinklers was one of them. Hadley’s heart was racing, she was having so much fun!!

5. Summer wouldn’t be summer with-out swimming at Peela’s pool! Grayson has gotten pretty brave since the first time we went.

the simple things.

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This is typical of our summer nights these days. I have the camera + am trying to freeze every moment I can. Hadley always ends up in the sand box. She is such a cheese when the camera come out! Grayson starts in the sand box but has now found our play house + is loving it. Riley, she goes to the beat of her own drum. She usually is tending the garden, looking for bugs or watching Daddy do a project. One thing is the same with her though, she always seems to have hair in her face at any time of the day. Damon is undertaking a new project this year…. building a pergola. I am thrilled + so proud of him as I’ve watched it go up.

I am so grateful for easy, warm, summer nights like this. I am especially grateful for the simple things each day that I can capture as I document our lives…our good life!

 I'm linking up here:

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little frogs.

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ImageToday was a busy day.
But these little frogs made it all worth it!
Today was filled with rehearsals while tomorrow will be filled with two recitals.
Can’t wait, should be lots of fun!!

Image{Riley’s cute little friends in her class}

Grayson.

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this kid is a hoot!
he finally learned an animal noise.
he can tell you what a monkey says.
{oooohh, ooohh, aahhh, ahhhh}
he walks like crazy + is almost running.
he says cheese when ever i pull out the camera.
he says he’s one years old when i ask him.
he knows where his ears are + sometimes his nose.
he’s pretty moody + random.
he loves his daddy.
he was giving junior kisses today.
he then gave me kisses. {gross!}
we played on the floor today for an hour or so.
he loves balls + cars.
he loves when i push him on the floor.
we were gut laughing….
he makes my heart want to leap out of my chest.
i am feeling blessed to have this little guy today.
love you short stuff.
xo, your mommy