"playroom" redo {on the cheap}

I've fallen back into the grips of Pinterest. I was doing good at not spending hours on end looking at random things. And then my sister in law sent me a picture of a monogram that she made for her & my brother. Stupid me asked where she found it. I was then hooked. I am now wanting to decorate my house for fall & totally redecorate (and organize) the loft area upstairs. Getting back on Pinterest also made me want to go to Hobby Lobby. 

So. I've gotten a few ideas on what I want to do upstairs for the kids. There isn't very much space up there......but it's big enough for a few of G's bigger toys & A's massive toy box that my dad built. I hate the wall decor that I have up there now. Okay. I take that back. HATE is a strong word....I'm starting to "dislike" them. I want something that is kid friendly & gender neutral. 

{see. very BLAH. it looked good when the hubs desk was there. now...not so much!}

Here's what I've come up with : 

~ Canvas Monogram for each of them with their birth dates.

{So far I have the pages printed, mod podge, & blank 8 x 10 canvases. All that I need to do is attach the paper to the canvas & they'll be done! Easy Peasy!!}

~ Canvas Photo of each of them when they're around the same age. They both got AMAZING photos done when they were around 4-5 months old. So, I think I'm going to tackle making my own!!!

~ New toy storage.

~ Display for some of their art work. I LOVE this one.......

but don't really love the price ($57!!!). So, I decided to make my own. It's going to be my first project for the play area!        

       

I braved the lovely WalMart with both kids & picked up a few supplies. I spent UNDER $10! I already have an old wooden sign that I don't really like anymore & have tons of craft paint. So all I really needed was sandpaper, a paint marker, & the little clippy things. I didn't like that ones that were in the photo above because they didn't look like they would be easy to attach. Instead, I got the smaller ones that are attached to a magnet. I figured a little super glue or even hot glue would do the trick! 

My plan is to get started on this little project tomorrow. Along with the monograms! Fingers crossed it goes the way I want it to!!! I will post photos once they're done!

finally.....we have a new family photo!

I mean really. It only took 3 years!! Not to mention a new addition to the family! While we were at the beach, we took total advantage that our travel buddy was also an amazing photographer! Thanks to Jenny, we are now able to update some of our photos around the house.....mainly the family picture we got done when Ava was maybe two! 

Here's a look at what Jenny was able to get!! Grayson was less than cooperative the morning we decided to do our pictures......so that's why we only have maybe 4 good pictures of all of us together!! Ava didn't mind though....she's a bit of a camera hog!!

But for real, if you live in the Madison/Huntsville/Athens, Alabama area.....check out JennyLynn Photography. She's AMAZING!!!!

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and here's the BEST picture from the ENTIRE shoot!!!

oh how i love grayson!!!!

..panama city beach 2012..

A few weeks ago, we FINALLY had our family summer vacation. And it was AMAZING!!! (and very much needed!!!) I was able to convince our favorite family (the Fitts) to join us! I was amazed at how great everyone got along.....kids AND adults! We're already wanting to plan an "adults only" trip & our vacation for next year!!

Here's a few pics of our week at the beach!!!!

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the car was all packed & ready to go AHEAD of schedule!!
(go me!!)

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grayson's first glimpse of the beach!!

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my sweet loves ready for pictures.....but.....the rain changed those plans!!

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love this girl!

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grayson!

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love these kids!!!

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 ava & kenzie enjoying a "girls only" morning on the beach!

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"skinnydipping" by bethenny frankel + frozen starbucks + beach = complete relaxation

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ava was a fish this entire trip!

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 daddy asked to be buried in the sand......

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gray finally learned to love the sand on our last beach day!

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totally heartbroken that daddy didn't take him in the water!

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building a sand castle!

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my little fish!

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so in love with my family!

.tuesday ramblings.

just a little glimpse of what we've been up to.....

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last friday{june13}the hubby & i celebrated our anniversary @ the melting pot.

YUM! i think it's safe to say that the melting pot is our top pick for when we go out for our anniversary....although, ruth's chris comes in at a very close second!!

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our poor dog. she serves as a chair for the kids. she's a trooper though. she has NEVER once been aggressive towards them....no matter what they do to her!!!

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grayson got 2 new car tracks from the photographer friend. BOTH kids LOVE them! and they're doing a pretty good job sharing them!

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ava has been doing a great job of putting her laundry away as i fold it! 

{please excuse the mis-matched pajamas...it's what she wanted to wear!}

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the photographer & i had a "mommy day" a couple of weekends ago! it was WONDERFUL & very much needed. we ventured to the outlet mall in birmingham & then went to dinner at the cheesecake factory. it was YUMMY! we're already planning another trip down that way to do some school shopping for the girls......and we'll probably end up at the cheesecake factory again!

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someone found the cookie jar......

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grayson has become obsessed with wearing other peoples shoes. if you come to my house & take your shoes off.....it's pretty much guaranteed that grayson will steal them. 

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tangerine cosmo from the melting pot. it was AMAZING!! and is definitely one of those drinks that sneak up on you!! thankfully, i only had one....because if i had more....i wouldn't have made it out of the melting pot OR through "the amazing spiderman"!!!

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the hubby & ava had a "daddy & ava date" a few friday's ago! they went to see "brave". ava was one happy girl!!

Four Years Ago.....

.....I married my best friend! Although it's been a rocky road, I couldn't imagine spending my life with anyone else! 

Happy Anniversary to my best friend! I love you more than you'll ever know!! xoxo

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our new "official" family!

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walking into our reception

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this is by far one of my favorite photos from our wedding. it's me & my little brother. even though we don't always get along.....i am so thankful for him!

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me &  my grandfather at our rehearsal. he walked me 1/2 way down the isle to my dad. this was the last time i saw him in good health. i miss him terribly....

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me with my beautiful bridesmaids.

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 our wedding party. plus ava!!

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we're married!!

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pap handing me off to dad! i was fine until i saw my dad!!

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rings.

**sorry these are so out of order.....i think someone named grayson may be entering the terrible twos a little early**