Just a few thoughts about spring and upcoming summer!

This past weekend was Easter! It was a great day! It was a simple easy day with baskets, egg hunt in the living room and relaxing until dinner time. We went to Tony’s parents for dinner and the girls definitely enjoyed spending time with their grandparents.

I saw in the newspaper that rummage sales are starting and I am super excited! I absolutely love good rummage sales and hope to hit many this summer.

Today, was in the 60s which is way above what it has been since “spring” has started. I am very thankful because the girls are getting cabin fever from being cooped up all day! I have to admit I am too! We did get to enjoy this morning before the rain hit. We ate lunch out there and played on the porch.

Thinking about summer! I am pumped to get the camper all cleaned and ready to go! Camping season is coming up quickly and I want to make sure we have all that we need done and for it!! My parents were wonderful and got the girls each their own backpacks that have camping “necessities”.

Oh how I love spring and summer! So many great activities! What is your favorite thing to do in spring or summer? I would love some more great ideas!

Hey New Year! I’m Still Catching Up

It’s been about two months since I have blogged. Christmas came and went as well as the New Year! Here’s a little catch up for you!

Our elf Pixie stopped in after Thanksgiving. She was such a hit this year! Definitely will be back next year!

The girls went with Tony’s parents to cut down a tree! We still didn’t have snow.

Tenley started a new smile! What a cutie! She loves glasses!

Lyla decorated her own christmas tree in her room. It will be a new tradition each year. Both girls will get their own tree in their rooms to decorate however they would like. She was so proud of her tree. I absolutely loved it!!

Since Tenley liked to break the ornaments and pull them off and not put them on. I decided I would still do the little tree but I would decorate it for her a little. Next year, she will decorate her own! She loved having it in her room. Every morning she would point at it and laugh and smile!

My sisters and my brothers girl friend Michelle went to my moms house and did baking! After a few hours we had a tub full for each family! Great tradition! Love spending time with family!

We have a local park that does a light show for free every December. We took the girls again this year and it was a total hit! It’s definitely worth going to see it at least once!

Lyla made her own christmas list to Santa this year! She was in heaven cutting and gluing! It’s her favorite I think! I just love her hand writing! She is getting really good at writing the letters without seeing them!

Baby Santa

The girls spent the night at my parents house and Pixie out elf went to grandmas house too!! Lyla was so surprised!! My mom was so creative with how she had Pixie the next morning! I can’t thank her enough for helping keep the spirit alive for our girls!

Tony got me a christmas gift! Origami owl jewelry. It’s a locket with two girl charms with October and march birthstones and also a march birthstone heart for him. I picked it all out! I absolutely love it!!

Christmas Eve came and we did pjs and hot chocolate after spending the afternoon at Tony’s parents! We got so many great items! It was so nice seeing everyone as well! Christmas Day we went to my parents house after we did our family opening. All the cousins were there and the kids had a ton of fun! It was nice to spend the day with family. We all got great items there as well! We were spoiled!

My nephew Jordan came to stay with us for 5 days! Lyla was in heaven! She didn’t leave his side the instant he got to our house! We stayed in at home with him on New Years! Were definitely boring! Just kidding! It’s nice to stay home sometimes and not go out!

The girls got sick and now they finally feel better! Glad we got the sickness gone and done for the year! Now we don’t need to get sick anymore! **knock on wood**
My house is a disaster but I am thankful we have a home and warm heat because the temperatures have been -20 degrees with a wind chill of -50! Yes that’s negative 50! Insane we haven’t gone any where. Haven’t done much because relax and snuggle!

Ooo in the next week I will be showing you my voxbox I received! Super pumped! Also, I will be working hard on valentines day owls! Exciting stuff happening!

Cleaning and organizing! School! LyTen Love! Busy Busy! Can’t wait to get back to blogging! See you soon!

Busy Busy

Been pretty busy here. We’ve been doing school, organizing and spending family time together. A few weeks ago Tony and I went with his parents to Illinois to do some antiquing. I have to say that I am glad we experienced it. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. There were so many vendors there. I think over 500! That’s a lot of walking and a lot of seeing the same things. I was hoping that were going to be much more of the items that I wanted but that wasn’t the case. The ones that I did want though the price was insane. There is no reason the price needs to be jacked up that high. I know everyone has to make that dollar but yikes!! I would definitely go to more around Wisconsin than go there again to get the prices we do!!
We have been at least going every other weekend antiquing. Then, taking the other day for family and the weekend in between for cleaning. Although, we havent done much cleaning. I did also decide to take custom orders for LyTen Love. I haven’t got too many which is probably a good thing because I have been working on a few special items. A little surprise for a friend and also a little something for our home. I am pretty excited to be getting ready for christmas. Tony agreed I could put up Christmas items the day after Halloween. Well, it’s already the 5th of November and I haven’t yet. Wow!! That is a miracle. I can’t wait to show you all the ideas I have. Also, I have been making a tradition list for the girls. Super excited!! Elf is coming to our house this year!! I have pinned so many awesome ideas. The girls are going to love him!! Is anyone else doing elf? Have any great ideas?

Sensory Containers

Last week, we worked on the stages of a caterpillar which was way fun. We even had a caterpillar to watch. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it fully through the chrysalis stage. I am waiting to just make sure but I am pretty positive he didn’t make it. We have not told Lyla yet in fear of her reaction. Hoping we can make it easier by telling her that we will get a kit for her birthday in March. Get your own kit.

This week we are going to be working on All About You. Since, I am watching another child this week until friday we are not going to be working on the letter as much. She knows the letter Y pretty well because it’s in her name. I am moving the first two letters to the end of our schedule.

After this week, I will post links to the pages we worked on for all about you. It will include her phone number, address, family information and what she likes and doesn’t like.

To hold you off I wanted to show you some sensory color containers my mom made for Lyla ! I am hoping to add more to them and also make colored rice to add the to the buckets.

I am pretty sure she will love them when I start them!! My fabulous mom has helped me get so many things prepared. I am not sure I could do this alone!!

Hawaiian Luau

Last year on my side of the family we all discussed how troubling it is to meet everyone for birthdays throughout the year. We decided that it would be fun to plan a one year birthday party for all the kids. There are seven all together. Ranging from age 14-1. We also live about 20 minutes to an hour away. Also, most of the older kids have so many activities going on its hard to plan for weekends that are free with summer school, dance, softball and church. It gets just a little crazy. So last year at christmas we planned that we would try it out this year in July. My parents and sister had most of all the decorations for a Hawaiian party so that’s what we went with. We were suppose to buy each child a present ten dollars or more. We also had since Christmas to get something. Which made it easier I think!! Since, most of the time I am a procrastinator when it comes to that and always buy last-minute. Well, it turned out great my parents decorated it perfect, we had grass skirts and leis and good food! Here are a few snap shots from the party!

There is a ton!! Lets just say it will be like you are there!

The kids really loved getting together! My parents made up games and an obstacle course which was a blast. I helped Lyla through it but really she did great by herself! She kept up really well with the older kids. I cannot wait for next years party. We decided we are doing a pirate party! So fun!! Arrrrggg Matey! Well I may have to perfect that a little before the party. I have some time which is good! It had been fun already searching pirate ideas on Pinterest!!

Celebrating Our Hero

Happy Father’s Day! It was a pretty uneventful day. Tony wasn’t feeling the best and he had to work this morning. What a way to spend a day dedicated to wonderful dads like him! I am pretty sure he’s the best dad that the girls could have. He’s absolutely so loving and cares so much about us. All of us, not just the girls. I think that makes him our hero! He truly is one of kind. I couldn’t of asked for anyone better.

My Golden Birthday

So it’s about 3 and half months away from my golden birthday! September I will be turning 27! Yikes. I know most are like yeah you’re still young and have lots of time. I know I probably do but then I sit here and think of how fast it has been since Lyla was born. That was 4 years ago!! I still can’t believe it! I don’t understand how quickly it can pass. I remember when time seemed soo slow when I was in high school and younger. I felt like the school year would never end. I guess time passes by when you’re having fun. I must be having the time of my life because I swear just yesterday I was 20. I have a lot of amazing things that have happened. Two of my biggest accomplishments are my two beautiful girls. I wouldn’t change a thing. They are the best. I feel most days they make me feel young, but at the same time old. Tony and I have been together for 7 years which is pretty incredible. Crazy to think about!!

I was reading a great blog about how she just turned 29 and she wanted to do 30 things before she turned 30.
Here is a link to the post! Check it out!
http://optimisticfascination.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/birthday-goals-29-things-to-do-before-i-turn-30/

I got so inspired. Made me want to make a list as well. Except, I will be doing 30 things before I am thirty and I will have 3 years instead of just one year. I want to give myself good time for a few things and this is the perfect way to go about it. Yeah there are many things I want to do before I die but there are some short-term goals I would like to have done!

These are not in order of what I want to do. It’s just a list of what I want to do! I will probably randomly cross things off the next three years.

1. Buy a house

2. Get a tattoo

3. Finish the girls baby scrapbooks

4. Join a gym

5. Get married to Tony

6. Have a garden and eat from it

7. Take more family pictures. Hoping every 6 months!

8. Sew a dress

9. Go to Ikea in Chicago

10. Run three miles straight

11. Open my Etsy Shop

12. Swim in the ocean

13. Read the entire Bible

14. Get a dog

15. Say yes to everything for one entire day. (don’t tell anyone of course what day)

16. Go to church at least 20 times

17. Go to a midnight premiere

18. Keep up with my blog

19. Have a kid free weekend with Tony at a hotel out-of-town

20. Learn sign language and teach the girls

21. Bake a 3 layer cake

22. Limit my time on social media (Facebook, twitter, internet, blogs, pinterest, and instagram)

23. Spend more family time together, make memories the girls will remember

24. Ride my bike with the girls in the trailer often

25. Be successful with my business

26. Visit family more- mom and dad, grandparents, sister and brothers

27. Finish all the laundry- don’t have any dirty clothes besides the ones on us
(this one might be the hardest one haha)

28. Finish more projects

29. Read 200 books

30. Print out most of the pictures I have taken and at least put them in albums

Hopefully I can accomplish most if not all of these!! I would love to cross all the them off!! I am pretty excited to start a few of these! I feel like if I can see them I will do them!! It will be a constant reminder hey get on track!! Don’t slack!! Wish me good luck!! Here’s to crossing things off my list!

What do you want to do? What is your bucketlist?

Camping With Kids

This summer we have decided to try to test out our pop-up camper. I am very excited to take the girls in the camper I grew up going camping in. I have been planning and prepping for a few weeks so we are ready to go when daddy has off work! We are going to go to a close state park so in case we have to come back home we haven’t spent a ton and also are too far from home. I am crossing my fingers that all goes smooth. I have started making some lists of what to pack with us. Just the girls alone need a ton of items. I will separating each area with its own large container. Mainly, kitchen, cleaning and miscellaneous, first aid and hygiene, kids activity bin, bedding, and each person will get their own personal bag or container.

Kitchen Container
Plates
Bowls
Cups
Containers
Measuring cups
Pots
Frying pans
Mixing bowl
Toaster
Paper towels
Egg holder
Napkins
Plastic wrap
Plastic baggies
Aluminum foil
Knives
Forks
Spoons
Serving spoons
Spatula
Can opener
Tongs
Marshmallow sticks
Water bottles
Water jug
Coolers
Whisk
Dish drain
Mini grill
Camp kitchen
Camp stove
Kids cups
Kids utensils
Kids plates
High chair

Cleaning and miscellaneous Container
Dust pan
Broom
Garbage bags
Bucket
Scrubbers
Wash cloths
Dish towels
Bath towels
Clothes pins
Laundry line
Flash lights
Batteries
Matches
Lighter
Camper table
Table cloth
Table cloth clips
Backpack
Carpet
Tarps
Duct tape
Chairs
Kids chairs

Bedding Container
Sheets
Pillows
Blankets

Kids Activity Container
Scooter
Balls
Chalk
Paint
Crayons
Paper
Bubbles
Sand toys
Tablet or Ipad(put into vehicle bag)
Charger for tablet or Ipad (put into vehicle bag)
Bug catchers
Books
Pool noodles
Beads
Tub for water
Scavenger hunt list
Paper bags
Glow sticks
Puzzles
Net

First Aid / Hygiene Container
(may put first aid items into a tackle box then put that into container with other hygiene items)
Sunscreen
Shampoo
Conditioner
Razor
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Body wash
Toilet paper
Hairbrush
Hair comb
Detangling spray
Mirror
Burn cream
Band aids
Gauze
Tweezers
Alcohol wipes
Baby powder
Butt cream
Diapers
Wipes
Antibiotic cream
Aloe gel
Butterfly band aids
Athletic tape
Neosporin
Insect bite cream
Ibuprofen
Makeup
Lotion
Chapstick
Perfume/cologne
Tissues
Listerine
Contact solution
Contact case
Mirror
Hydrocortisone cream
Cloth tape
Cold Compress
Gloves
Scissors
Roller bandage
Gauze pads
Oral thermometer
Bandaids
Vaseline
Aspirin
Anti-diarrhea medication
Laxative
Children’s Tylenol
Children’s Pepto
Orajel

Personal Container
T-shirts
Shirts
Tank tops
Underwear/ undergarments
Pants
Shorts
Pjs
Long sleeve shirts
Sweaters
Bathing suit
Baseball cap
Hat
Beach shoes
Sandals
Tennis shoes
Socks
Jacket
Poncho
Beach bag
Sunglasses

Items to Take into the Vehicle on the Way
Cellphone charger
Cellphone
Camera
Camera Charger
Cash and Credit cards
Maps
Registration info for the camp site
Camping binder
Ipad/tablet
Ipad/tablet charger
snacks and drinks
music

Other Items to Take for the Kids
Bouncer
Pack N Play
Favorite sleeping item

Printable list:
https://sites.google.com/site/wiscomomcampinglist/wiscomom-camping-list

Our Camper

Sleeping area

Smiling for the camera!

Counter space

Being silly with daddy!

Tenley loved sweeping the floor!

Lyla loves being in the camper!

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Me

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Me

1. I love brussel sprouts- they are absolutely delicious! Probably my favorite vegetable.
2. I hate my bones touched. Yes, I know so weird right?! Well, its really gross to me and it will actually make me feel sick to my stomach. Like elbows, ankles, wrists, ribs, and especially collar bones!
3. I love all kinds of music. Country and Christian are my two favorites at the moment.
4. I am only 4’10”! On occasion I can ride all the rides I swear!! My girls will hopefully pass me up!! Though daddy is only about 5’9″
5. Penguins are my true love especially for Christmas time but my love of owls have taken over my house! Soon I will have to count my collection!
6. I am trying to live by His word. To find God and live within his grace.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

7. I have been a stay at home mom since April 2012. Best decision ever!
8. I love creating items: handsewing, painting, scrapbooking, projectlife, and diy furniture.
9. I am a procrastinator which I hate. Trying to be much better. I tend to move from project to project. That’s why my house never looks clean when I have been cleaning all day!! I go from one thing to another too often rather than sticking to one room and finishing.
10. Tony and I met online and decided to meet and just look at us now!! Two lovebirds with two little birdies by our side!

Busy busy life of a mom

I haven’t been on here in awhile and I’m not even sure why. I feel like I have been way busy and haven’t gotten much done. I did on the other hand get my bulletin and white board hung up! So excited to have an area to teach. I have to still get some kind of bookcase up to place items in. In the end I think it turned out well.

Excited for when Tenley can sit at the table with Lyla. Either way they enjoy the area a lot.
We went to a wedding at the Mitchel Domes. First time I had been there. The bride was beautiful and the food was amazing.

Since last posting on here I added to my collection of owls. So excited!!

We’ve been soo busy just living life! We just recently took family photos! We will be taking more. First time doing this by ourselves. Tripod works well but if we had a remote it would be much easier.

Here are a few updates of our lives lately!!

We bought a tv stand for 40 dollars on the buy sell and will be painting it!! I will update with pictures!! Can’t wait to pick out cute knobs for the doors!!