Home Sweet home

My house is not large.  

My house is not extravagant.

My house is not always tidy.

My house can be crowded, cramped and unorganized.  

I might have weeds in my flowers.

I might have dishes in my sink.

I know I have dirty laundry piled up.

But. It. Is. Our. Home.  There is no place like it.  I don't need bells and whistles.  I'm not that kinda gal.  I need a deck.  A fire pit.  and a large yard.  That's it. 

So when you come to my house, don't think about how your kitchen is bigger, think about all the meals I have prepared in my tiny kitchen while my family waits with hungry bellies.  Think of how many birthday cakes I have baked for special girls on special days.  Think of all the bottles I prepared. Think of all the dishes I have washed  while hearing my lil ladies play in the room next door.  That is what matters, not the size of my kitchen.

 Kadee fell asleep by my feet as I was doing dishes...

When you see my bedroom, all tiny and sweet.  Don't think of how much bigger your bedroom is.  Think of all the thunderstorm nights that 3 lil ladies have snuck into my tiny room.  Think of all the nights that my girls have been sick and Dad slept on the couch for his girls. Think of all the late nights I climbed out of bed to hold a crying new born. 

When you see my bathroom, small and unorganized.  Don't worry about it's size and chaos.    Think of ALL THE HAIR I have to do on a Sunday morning before church.  Think of all the new babies I have washed in that old paint chipped tub!  Think of all the mornings I didn't feel well, while pregnant with my girls!  

When you see my family room with used furniture, stained carpet and chipped walls.  Don't think about how I should paint, and replace carpet.  Think of all the movie nights we have had on that couch.  Think of all the popcorn spilt by careless girls.  Think of all the fun  the girls had when they were carrying that toy, that scraped my walls.  Think of all the laughter and tears we have shared in this room. Think of all the forts we have created. Think of all the birthday and Christmas presents tore open.  Think of how many times you couldn't see the floor because 3 lil ladies were playing with barbies. Think of how many arguments of " I had it first"  I broke up in this room. 

This home is my first home as a family.  We have brought 2 brand new babies home from the hospital to this house.  We have had birthday parties, Christmas parties, and just plain parties here. We have painted the walls, added some decor, but most importantly we made this house a  home.    We made it a safe secure place for our family.  It doesn't matter the size.  The paint color.  The old carpet or used furniture.  

I am so blessed everyday to have a place to call home. And even more thankful that it is THIS home :) 

The smell of Summer

Ahhh Summer air?  Do you feel it?  Do you smell it?  I woke up this morning, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, ladies still sleeping........so I slipped outside to the back deck. I sat there bundled in my blanket to shield the warm morning breeze.  What a beautiful morning!  I was so content just sitting there, watching the birds, sipping my toffee flavored coffee with coconut creamer..mmmmm, enjoying my new pots and flowers, these are the days I cherish so greatly. What is it about summer that makes you feel rejuvenated?  The bright colors of green leaves, and yellow flowers?  The smell of fresh cut grass?  The presence of care free children getting to enjoy life without the structure of school?  It is magical! 

Summers were special for me as a kid. My mom was home.  She made sure to make them memorable. She took me, along with the whole neighborhood, on adventures.  She forced me outside to get dirty!  She cooked 3 meals a day.  Ahhh summer as a kid! I want to make those memories for my children.  I want them to remember me as the mom who went on nature walks, canon balled in the pool, and got dirty with them! Summer for me, as a mom of school girls, is magical.  It is a short few months, where I don't have to send my babies away for long days.  They get to stay up late with me cuddled on the couch, and sneak in my bed for long mornings.

Summer is up north trips, shriveled fingers from the pool, and the smell of sunscreen.  It is long boat rides, sun hats, parks and dirty faces.  Ahhh Summer!

This memorial weekend, was the kick off to making our summer special.  The beginning to making summer memories.  We went to Morely, MI to our family property on the Little Muskegon river.  Speaking of summer memories, I have so many from " the river" .  A childhood full of camping with family and friends, outhouses, leaches, crawdads,  tubing,bug spray, smores, canoeing, and campfires, and hopefully my kids remember the same!  It was a short weekend for us, but relaxing.  We sat by the river as the girls ran around.  We put our feet in the icy cold water.  We played scrabble, and I won. ( you didn't think I wasn't going to mention I won?? I mean Dude, I kicked some scrabble butt!)  We made memories!

We cut our weekend early on Monday to race home to open our pool!  I have always wanted a pool! My mom always wanted a pool, but our yard growing up had too many trees.  OH man, I wanted a pool as a kid, and  so what do you do as an adult when you didn't get something as a kid, you make up for it with your own kids!  SOOO, we got a pool:)  Last year the pool was a big hassle! Cutting down a tree for it to fit, digging the dirt out,setting it up, getting water delivered,  buying a cover, building a deck. Although, I am aware that it will still be a lot of work, I am looking forward to being able to simply enjoy it this year.  Yup, a girls got plans to float for 3 months straight, with nothing but a diet coke in hand!  AHHHH Summer!!!  ( by the way this AHH is like after you just take a drink from a cold can of pop on a hot day, not the ahhhh the kids have no clean socks and the bus will be here in 5 min. kinda AHHH, just to clarify) 

What will you do with your summer to make it memorable?  

I plan on.........

Trips to the park

Splashing in the pool

Catching lighting bugs

Going up north

Having bonfires

Sitting on the deck with my morning coffee

Swimming in the dark

Cooking on the grill

Going to Cross Roads village

Staying up late

Walking barefoot

Making french toast

Having a sun kissed nose

Meeting other moms for summer play dates

Going to the movies on a rainy day

Going on family bike rides

Fishing with Dad

BUT most of all, I plan on enjoying my girls for the few months,  I have them fully!

Yes, summer is short, all good things must come to an end, but because of that, I am going to make it as memorable as possible! 

AHHHH SUMMER!!!!

Oh, and off the subject, but I thought kinda funny, Kadence just brought me the bug spray and said" Mamma, I need this, I'm stinky!"  Poor kid thought it was perfume all weekend, and I had been dousing her in it cause she stinks! She probably wasn't  too far off!  Kids got some Stanky FEET!