::photo recap of 2012:: pt.1

I still can't believe that 2012 is pretty much over. This year has FLOWN by! I'm really needing for time to slow down. {i say this in almost EVERY blog post. but seriously......}

JANUARY:

grayson turned one!!

FEBRUARY:

february's are usually pretty laid back. we celebrated valentine's day & my the start of my last year in my 20's!

MARCH:

ava lost {and swallowed!!} her first tooth!

APRIL:

ava was OFFICIALLY registered for kindergarten!!

a lot of time was spent with our favorite family.  seriously. pretty much every weekend we did something together! it was great!

MAY:

the kids & i took a weekend trip to beaufort/charleston, sc to visit my sister in law with my mom.

Part two will be up later.......I must tend to my demanding children!! 

Happy New Year!

Living Room Re-do!

A few weeks ago....I finally got around to putting up our updated family pictures from our beach trip. It was SO hard to decide what prints to order!!! And finding frames....HA! That's nearly impossible....or so I thought!!! 

I was able to score an AMAZING frame at the new HomeGoods for a whopping $14.99!! Not too shabby for a matted frame to hold an 11 x 14!!! I found ONE frame at Hobby Lobby & the rest at WalMart(!!!!!!shocker!!!!!!). It took me a while to figure out how I wanted to arrange them. But, after moving them around a million times, I finally had the frames situated the way I liked them. Once that was done, I was able to get a few "filler" pieces! I got two crosses & a big "S" from Hobby Lobby for all of MAYBE $10!! My wall was fairly inexpensive! And I must say, I'm pretty proud of it! Here's the finished product......

I LOVE the way it turned out!! And how the "random" frames!! All I need is a little something to go above the black & white photo of the kids........

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I did two more little updates in the living room this month. Zoe decided to leave us a pretty little present on the area rug. So, it had to be replaced since it wouldn't come clean. I have been DYING to get a "shag" rug for the living room....and this was the perfect excuse to finally get it! 

It looks SO much better & is a lot more comfortable of a rug!!! And, you can't see the dog hair...or the dog!!!!

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Next, I had to break down & replace my living room pillows. The ones I had were SUPER old. Like, almost 8 years old. And were home made. I had to wash them about a week ago.....and in the process, they ripped. Well, the two big ones did. I tried to make them work as long as I could. But, we were having company over last weekend & I couldn't bare to have them any longer! So, off to WalMart I went! I was actually really surprised at what I found! I love the subtle pop's of color!!! The living room totally feels more "homey" now! 

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OH! Before I forget....we FINALLY got our back door replaced! Here's a peek at the NEW door & window treatments!!

Sorry for the horrible picture! I'll post more on this lovely experience later!!!!

November is almost over!?

How can it be? Did I REALLY ignore this blog the entire month of October!? Goodness! So much has happened, I don't know where to begin!! I guess with a quick rundown of October's life events!!

: OCTOBER : 

*Ava had her first REAL kindergarten field trip to the local pumpkin patch & I was lucky enough to chaperone. All I can say is.....it takes a VERY special person to be a kindergarten etcher & I am BEYOND thankful that Ava has such an amazing one!

*The hubs spent a week in Phoenix for work. I swear, these week long trips feel like they take F.O.R.E.V.E.R!!!!

*We painted pumpkins this year instead of carving.....let me take that back....the KIDS painted pumpkins & the hubs carved his. It was fun watching Ava be so creative! That girl.....she's going to go FAR in life & that just makes my heart so happy!

*Halloween!!! We Trick-or-Treated in our neighborhood. Our little Hulk & pretty Pirate had a blast! They got entirely too much candy....as usual!!

: NOVEMBER :

*I started a new job at a local drug/alcohol rehab facility. It is definitely an eye opening experience. It makes me sad to see all of the young teenagers that are in there. 

*After spending a week working....the hubby & I decided that maybe it's time for me to look back into going to school. Originally, I wanted to go back for my RN.....but since working in the medical field the past 6+ years, I don't think that's really what I want to do! So, I decided to do what I originally wanted to do & go back to school for Dental Hygiene. Right now, I'm in the process of getting all transcripts, applications, and forms sent in! Fingers crossed all goes well & I'm able to start in the spring!! (well, really january! but whatever!!)

*Thanksgiving......we will be having our OWN Thanksgiving dinner at OUR house this year. Just the four of us. I'm nervous, sad, and excited all at the same time. My parents are going to Pennsylvania & my brother & sister in law will be in Nevada! It should be a good time......

*A few weekends ago we did our family pics for our Christmas card. Oh lord. Grayson wasn't having ANY of it! (of course!!) But, as usual, Jenny was able to produce some awesome pics!! Here's a peek.....

I guess that's it for now! There's been so much more......but I don't want to bore everyone with it!! So here's just a few more pictures of the past few weeks!!!

Enjoy!!

yes. we're still alive...

....just busier than ever!!! Between school & ballet & homework.....finding the time to sit down & blog is pretty nonexistent.

Here's a small peek at what we've been up to these past few weeks......

we got to meet our new niece...ava was in LOVE & didn't want to put her down.....gryason on the other hand wasn't too sure what to think of her....

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newest craft for the front door!!! i love it! and the colors are PERFECT for fall!

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auburn game day shirts for the kids! i even tried my hand at bow making....and i have to say i'm pretty proud of myself for the bow i made for ava!!

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ava passed out on the way to her first day of ballet for this year!! i must say.....i am VERY impressed with the dance company!! so glad we made the decision to change studios! i love my tiny dancer!

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i decided to make some "no sew roman blinds" for the dining room doors. and OH.MY.GOSH! i love them! they make SUCH a difference in the morning! we're no longer blinded by the sun while we eat breakfast! i'm super proud of myself on this project because #1 i actually did it & #2 i only spend NINETEEN DOLLARS on it!! awesome!

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 the past few weeks we have had an amazing amount of mushrooms that have been popping up in our front yard. it's pretty gross. about 2 hours after i took this picture, they doubled in size AND more came up!

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oh how this boy makes me laugh! he's become SO much more vocal since ava has started school! 

"playroom" redo {before & after}

I FINALLY got around to putting my latest crafts on the wall upstairs. The only thing that's left to do is possibly find a replacement "toy box" or some sort of storage for the mounds of toys my five year old has accumulated in her little life. {my dad made one for ava's 1st birthday...it takes up a TON of space, is EXTREMELY heavy, & the lid is falling apart. awesome.}

So far, I'm pretty happy with the way the wall has turned out!!

{before}

kinda drab & not so kid friendly decor.

{after}

i must say. i'm proud of myself for redecorating the kids' play area upstairs. and. all for about $15! [gome!] i moved the off-white stars onto this weird wall between the bathroom door & grayson's bedroom. and the big swirly star thing is now on the weird wall next to the hvac unit. i'm still debating on if i want to revamp the stars with a little bit of paint.

**on a side note....my mom wanted me to make a koozie for one of her friends! apparently, her saying is "just one more" when they're out or having a get together! when you use that black fluffy stuff...spray it with a little bit of hairspray....it keeps it from going EVERYWHERE!!!**

my sweet surprise

Is now an official kindergartner. We ALL {hubby & brother included} survived sending her off to school!! I can't wait to hear how her first day went!! 2:30 seems so far away!!!

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so excited to get to school!!

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 ready to head into the school!!!

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 big girl at her desk!!

I can honestly say, that if we did not send her to daycare or preschool today would have been a TON harder. I am so so excited for my sweet surprise & this new chapter in our lives!!!