Autumn, house stuff... oh, and one more thing

Here where we live its a balmy 60 something today... on November 8th! Crazy. Though, I won't complain because it just makes the trees hold onto those last few colorful leaves a little longer. I love this time of year. The other night I went outside for some reason and could smell someone's wood burning stove... {sigh} and just breathed it in. It smelled comfortable and familiar. We haven't done a ton of outdoor-sy type stuff as a family lately but even just the 10 minutes here and there have been lovely.

The other day at Target I was walking down their "uber-expensive aisle". You know...the one name brand company there that sells wreaths, candles, doormats and nothing is under $20. Much to my suprise all of their fall decor was clearanced down super low. I found two adorable twine pumpkins that just jumped into my cart... and then found this platter a few aisles over at a discounted price.

As I learn how to decorate a house I'm finding that I'm more of a simple type gal. I like simple. And this, for me, is pretty exciting! And, it makes the living room feel so homey. :) Also, I found some beautiful wire ribbon at the dollar tree and re-did my large vases... I heart it.

But can you believe that in just a few weeks we'll be tearing all this down and getting out those tubs of Christmas stuff?! Good grief!!! And I'll now admit - I've been listening to Christmas Music for several weeks now... and loving every minute of it. :)

Well, happy Monday. But, one more thing before I log off... isn't my Ava girl adorable?
{and, what do you think of her shirt?! look closely...}

It's true! This May, Lord Willing, we'll welcome #2!
Brad is telling his co-workers tomorrow and then we'll be in the clear to tell the world ;)
I'm 12 weeks and starting to feel better... praying that if the Lord allows us to keep this baby - we'll treasure every minute. Like we have with our Ava. :)

Christmas Shopping: Done

This weekend we picked up our last gift for Ava's Christmas. I think I'm more excited about it then anyone else...

I have been wanting to get her a little kitchen for SO long and didn't have any luck this summer @ yard sales or any of the goodwill/salvation army stops I made. I was seriously bummed to find out how much these things ran cost wise :( But, lo and behold, this week I got that target Christmas toy catalog and it was full of coupons. And there on one of the pages was an ad for this Step 2 kitchen- complete with coffee pot, pans, spoons and a phone! lol. And with the coupon it was under $65! So exciting! So we grabbed one yesterday {one of the two left on the shelf!} and headed for home.

This morning Ava went and sat in front of the big box and was telling me, "a kitchen, a sink, an apple" and all the things she could see. I don't think that she knows its hers.. but just watching how excited she was by just the picture on the box made me SOOO excited. I can't wait to see her little eyes light up when she opens it at Christmas time. Since we are going to Ohio this year - she'll get it a few days earlier - which means we'll both have time to play with it! :) What an amazing feeling to watch your children enjoy something.... it's priceless!

Now all we need is some pretend food and she's set. The cashier at Target told me to keep my eyes open, that in the next few weeks they'll have pretend food sets in the DOLLAR BIN! :)

Sa-weet! Now if only I can restrain myself from giving it to her... like today. ;)

So many reasons to THANK God

I had a really rough night from the hours of say, 11-2 and then 5-8am this morning. I've had this weird cough/phlegm thing going on for a few days now, only, it's not really days at all...always nights, always when I just want to crash in bed and drift off peacefully, always, always, always. So I hack and cough and make all sorts of hideous noises until my hubs says, "you ok? Need me to do anything?" And I sigh, "no" and wish there was something he could do. I roll over and think if I prop up a leeetle bit higher the pointless coughing will end... nope. So that was from 11-2am. Then, at 5:20 I hear a little girl talking in her bed. Ava ALWAYS sleeps till after 7/7:30. Dreaming? So I perk up and sure enough, she's kinda whining, talking and saying, "momma". So I ask Brad what time it is... 5:20?! NO way! I peek in and she's curled into a perfect ball with her hiney up in the air - arms tucked beneath her, shivering. Poor poor baby girl. I thought I could use her summer PJ's one more time. You know, the ones with a short sleeve t-shirt and silky pants. In a home where the thermostat is set to 64 tops! Wrong again. So I tucked her huge blanket up around her and she went back to sleep, whew! {still confused on how those kiddos can't stay under a blanket twice their size... but oh well} So, Ava was taken care of... but now I was fully awake and, yep, you guessed it, the coughing was starting up again. Rather then annoying my husband for the next two sacred hours of rest - I headed to the couch. And there I attempted to rest until 7ish when a certain little girl was awake again and a certain handsome guy was getting ready for work. NO REST FOR THE WEARY. I couldn't fathom moving off of that couch - did I even sleep lastnight? And, I have a very busy little one - who, if I don't get off of this couch - will take everything out of every drawer, cupboard and basket.

But, now, a few hours later while Ava is down for her nap and Brad is at work and I may {or may not} have Christmas music playing throughout the house... I'm just feeling thankful and its taken over my exhaustion. I have so many reasons to thank God today.

-my coughing is just a nagging cold
-my daughter is alive, healthy, and dependant on me
-my husband has a job to go to
-we have beds and couches to lay on when we are feeling ill
-I have a daughter
-I have a husband
-we have blankets and heat and a home, which is more then over half the world can say
and the list goes on.

Am I tired? You bet. But, so many good reasons to be tired. I'm a blessed woman and so thankful today for all that God has done in my life.

Before and After : Hair edition

I haven't had a good cut since Ava was born... well, before Ava was born. So if you are counting, that's about 2 years. It was well overdue.

Here is before:
The long, super thick, broken ends shot -

And, about an hour later and a wonderfully talented hairdresser:
The new look -

I love it! And, haven't had bangs since college... when it looked more like a tidal wave on my forehead rather then hair. ;) don't believe me? ...

Told ya!

Pottery Barn - Schmottery Barn

Today was a good mail day... if, by good mail I mean, that you like looking through catalogs. I got two big ones - Target's Christmas toy catalog and Pottery Barn Kids holiday book. I always enjoy turning the pages and "ooohing" and "aaahhhing" the extremely well decorated pretend rooms in PB. I love going into the store and just imagining what it would be like to be able to just drop $4k on a set of beds... or a bookshelf. But you know what always, always, always happens moments after I step out of the store, or put down the catalog? That ugly beast of covetousness and "poor me" feeling begins to seep in and tempt me... and if I (with the help of the Holy Spirit) don't catch it... can take over my day, causing me to resemble an ugly beast by the time my hubs gets home. Because you know what? I WANT my girls room to look amazing, picture perfect and like pure, childhood, bliss. Take for example - this:What on earth? {if you have this...I'm not judging, btw - good for you!} I would LOOOOVE to have an all-in-one playhouse/bed/little girl dream world room. Can you see the complete pink kitchen set inside the house? Do you see the perfect chandelier and curtains?! Part of me wants to be 8 again and live right here.

But, it's not just kids room stuff that gets me. It's decor stuff... stuff I wish I could throw together and have my family love and admire. Like this felt leaf garland. How difficult could this be to make? But, it's $50 in PB! I'm seeing some ribbon and a bunch of cut out leaf patterns. Hmmm.

Anyway, Pottery Barn - Schmottery Barn.

So, I'm sure you are thinking, "look lady, if its that much of an issue for you.. STOP looking at it". True. And, sometimes I do. But, in a way this challenge is so good for me - though you may see it as unneccesary torture. Each time I open this catalog I remind myself of a few things:

-These things will not make you happy

-These things will not make Ava happier

-These things don't define you or who God wants you to be

God knows my heart - and He gives me my value. So, thankfully, most of the time I can put the book down and remember that... and praise God that though, yes, I do admire pretty things in this world - they don't define me or save me or make me ultimately happy (Eccl. 1:8). Christ alone DOES! I must find my satisfaction in Him. I must seek Him alone... for the desires of my heart. And, I know that as women we do struggle with this topic. So I hope today - in some round about way - someone was encouraged or challenged with my ramblings. Go hug your babies or husband and thank God for your life that is jam-packed with blessings!

"But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.
If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness,faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.
Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

I Timothy 6:6-12

Long weekend

Well, we just had a very full weekend. {sigh} Now it's back to reality... my house is a mess from all the weekend fun and I MUST get to the store at some point today.

My husband is amazing at planning family day fun. Friday is his day off and he is so good about coming up with ideas... this weekend was no exception. Friday night we went out to eat and then took a certain little girl to Living History Farms for their "non-scary family night". While we had a great time together - complete with horse drawn carriage ride and FREE popcorn - we agreed that we probably won't shell out the $15 to do that again... walking away with only 7 pieces of candy. Bah! But it was fun at the time! If you can't tell from the above pic, she is wearing a pink scrubs set. The back says, "nurse in training". It was cute :)

Saturday we joined up with the rest of the family and had a good night enjoying Papa Murphys pizza (my first time!) and taking the kiddos around the blocks for candy. That night our girlie was an OSU cheerleader - in unfriendly territory ;) Good thing she's cute!

So, today, Monday, we are all feeling a little sleepy and unmotivated. It's a laid-back kind of morning... :) November 1st already. I can't believe we are heading to FL in a few weeks. :)
I believe my coffee pot and peppermint mocha creamer is beckoning me... and the last few minutes of Sesame street with my little girl. Enjoy your start to November!

To Ponder

"The way you keep your house, the way you organize your time, the care you take in your personal appearance, the things you spend your money on all speak loudly about what you believe."

-Elisabeth Elliot

I used to get annoyed as a teenager when people older then me would hint at things like this. And yet, now that I'm older I see the truth in it more and more. I know I could pull up at least 10 verses from God's word that correlate with this...

This quote smacked me straight between the eyes yesterday and its stuck with me all day today. My house is a big, fat, disorganized mess right now. My 3 day old - unwashed - hair is up in the ponytail, sweats still on from this morning and zero makeup. And, instead of making healthy, homecooked meals the last few days... I've vouched for Mickey D's, a frozen pizza and a BBQ joint up the street. No wonder I feel un-motivated, exhausted and just blah. And not just about life but about my Faith. It makes sense - nothing, as it seems, in this home is to the "ultimate Glory of God" today, which, is my reason for life, right?

Pondering. And... planning to at least go wash my face and start some laundry.