{happy}

 

Source: linneaingridphotography.com via Courtney on Pinterest

A few weeks ago while visiting my sister we had the opportunity to have a little cousins photo session with her talented photographer friend Linnea. She just posted a few on her website which I am totally taking from because they are just to sweet not to share!

My littlest was a total wreck when we started the shoot. I had just gotten to town two hours before this after being away from them for a week. Linnea took some really cool back in the woods barn photos that he would have nothing to do with. By the time we came back down to the house (we had these photos taken at another one of my sister's friends houses) and unleashed them on the play structure, he came around.

She managed to get some really darling group shots. The one where they are all jumping just kills me - their expressions are so funny! So thank you Linnea for capturing my little sweeties (cousin sweeties included) so beautifully! And thanks to my big sister for letting me in on her photo shoot! By the way, it is my sister's birthday today. Happy Birthday Nicole! I love you and I'm so thankful we have each other!

On another note, what are you all doing for this weekend? Are you celebrating the fourth of July this weekend or next weekend? It's a confusing time with the fourth falling in the middle of the week. We are planning to celebrate both weekends! I know, living it up aren't we? We are headed to the lake both weekends, hoping for fantastic weather to work on our tan lines.
Happy fourth of July friends!

 

Source: linneaingridphotography.com via Courtney on Pinterest

 

Source: linneaingridphotography.com via Courtney on Pinterest

 

Source: linneaingridphotography.com via Courtney on Pinterest

 

Source: linneaingridphotography.com via Courtney on Pinterest

{Shop Updates}

 

Well, I finally did what I have been saying I'd do since I opened my etsy shop! 

Vintage items are being added little by little. 

Come on in and check it out!

{Rearranging}

 

Do you remember back in March when I did a little home tour on the Life Made Lovely blog? This photo was taken of my boy's room. My littlest was still in a crib and I mentioned that soon, very soon, we would be trading out that crib for a custom built bunk bed! Yes, I had dreams of a fancy built in bunk bed and had the Pinterest board to prove it!

Well, reality set in. I knew what I didn't want. I didn't want your typical bunk bed that  you see all over Craigslist. The problem is that custom bunks are expeeensive. Even when you build them yourselves. So not wanting a cheapy bunk bed, what did I do? I bought about the cheapest you can find...at a little place called Ikea. No biggie.

My sister picked it up for me on her way to my house for a visit a few months back. We picked up some Annie Sloan chalkpaint in red...Emperor's Silk perhaps? I loved how it turned out and we quickly set the room up in a new arrangement with the bunk bed tucked into the little nook that the crib used to be in. 

 

This is a before with the crib. Below is a shamefully messy photo of the old bunk bed arrangement. Taken with my phone before I tackled the room.

 

Yeah, it was just okay. It worked but bugged me just a little. I thought their heads tucked in that little corner would be cozy and nookish but no, it was just annoying to have to peek in there to see them. Just blah.

 

I basically went back to the original arrangement. I guess you just have to stick with what works! The room is so much more open and cozy. We also moved some old wall sconces that weren't being used in my daughter's room to the bunk beds. I love that they each have their own cozy little light by their beds now. 

My favorite part of the room now though is the little nook that used to hold the crib!

 

 The locker was a happy compromise at this years Farm Chicks show. I had been eyeing this amazing orange double locker but it would have eaten up my entire budget. By the time I had decided I might go for it some woman was guarding it with her body as she talked to her husband on the phone. Oh, and there were three others in line after her for it. I graciously accepted it was not meant to be and moments later found this humble locker a few booths down. The price was great and I thought immediately that I would paint it some bright and happy color. I didn't have a clue where I would use it but I bought it. It has been sitting in my garage for the past month just waiting for the perfect spot. It is filled with shelves too! From top to bottom so it is a really great place to stash stuff. It would be cute a bright color but I actually think the brown works okay in the boy's room so it just may stay as is! The chair was found at an Estate sale on Friday for a steal. My new weakness seems to be old chairs that nobody else wants.

 The kids suddenly got an urge to clean as I was taking photos!

This little guy is seeming so big to me now. He has done great sleeping in a big bed and stays put pretty well at night. This is his current pose for the camera grin. 

The boys each have a little book basket by their beds as well as a bulletin board and their lights. Looking at this picture all I can see is the huge gap between their lights and baskets though! Hmmm..maybe something ought to go there? The bedding is also a work in progress. We got the top quilt from Pottery Barn Kids six years ago when my oldest moved out of his crib. I still really love it and I always thought when the time came we would get a matching quilt for my little guy. Well, they are no longer making that quilt! I've searched ebay and haven't been able to find a twin or any other size at a decent price. So right now we are making due with a green blanket we already had. I think I just need to find a complementary quilt but that is easier said than done!

This corner of the room stayed the same as well. I did move the artwork that was on the window wall though and need to find something to fill that space up. I'm an all or nothing kind of gal. I can't seem to have any empty spots on my walls! 

So other than cuddling my little girl who was sick for a solid week, this was what I did over the weekend! It now seems right to me and all is well in this little corner of out home!

{Our very own Summer Fun list}

 

Last year I wrote out our own Summer Bucket list on our big chalkboard in our living room. 

Well, this year that chalkboard is in a different place and I just don't know if I'm going to use it or not. 

So until I find a cute place and have a clever idea for displaying our list it is just going to be right here on this little old blog. 

2012 Summer Bucket List

Family Chapter Book Reading

Build a fort (inside and outside)

Ride bikes

Sonic Happy Hour

Homemade pizza on the barbeque

Water fight

Go on a donut run

Run in the sprinklers

Take Daddy lunch

Play mini golf

Play badminton in the backyard

Go on a boat ride

Go to our neighborhood Farmer's Market

Camp in the backyard

Make smores

Family walks to the park

Slumber party

Watch fireworks

Go swimming

Go to the splashpad

Make homemade pie

Do a big bubble party

Go to the library

Get ice cream from the ice cream truck

Go to the lake

Go see a movie

Go to a baseball game

Have a picnic at the park with friends

Go to the carousel

Make homemade ice cream

Go to the amusement park

Visit Grandpa and Grandma 

One of the most fun parts of this is the actual brainstorming with the kids. The way their faces would light up as something would get suggested. Anticipation is a wonderful thing! 

This is what we did last year. Cute? Yes. Original? No.

My friend Leslie who is so good at combining teaching with fun stuff is doing a brilliant get chores done/pull a fun activity out of the envelope sort of thing. She is one of the best Mom's I know at being intentional with her kids.

My kids, well mostly my eight year old, has been bugging me to do a chore chart because he is dreaming of an allowance. So Leslie's method of tying the summer fun stuff into rewards for chores would probably work great. I just need to come up with more of a daily fun list rather than a list that has so many big fun activities. My son had said while we were brainstorming that we could do one of these everyday! Some of them, sure we could do everyday but others? Go to an amusement park? Make homemade pie? Not so much. So next up is more of a daily small activity list of fun stuff for the kids. Things like art projects or games, walks to the park. 

*To do today: 

Go to the Farmer's Market! Definitely

Go to the pool. Maybe

{Summer Fun}

Our summer started almost a month ago with an earlier than most dismissal from school.

My kids have already had an almost two week "summer camp" at Grandma and Grandpa/Cousins house. One week totally without Mom and Dad and five days with me there. They live about a five hour drive away from us. It was a first and not surprisingly it was my oldest (the eight year old) that struggled the most with missing us.

They had quite an activity schedule while they were there and my oldest kept Grandma accountable for all she mentioned they might do!

They went to the beach...numerous times.

Visited the zoo.

Went to the movie theater to see Madagascar 3.

Visited the Children's Museum.

Had a playdate with their cousin's friends.

Had a photo shoot and got to jump on a big trampoline for the first time as a reward.

Played for countless hours with their cousins.

Got to watch movies every night before they went to sleep.

While they were gone I got to sleep in. 

Take naps.

Work on embroidery projects while I watched whatever I wanted on t.v.

Go out to dinner twice.

Get together with friends to quilt.

Host a baby shower at my house with friends.

Basically do whatever I wanted to do whenever I wanted to do it! 

By the end of the week I was getting a little teary though and missing my little ones quite a bit. The week went by so quickly and I really didn't get all that much done. 

It was my very own summer break though...a bittersweet treat!

Summer Sale in the Shop!

 

Summer Sale in the shop! 

All buntings are discounted! 

Come on in and take a look!