Measuring Up

This is one of those projects that has been a loooooong time in coming. When I first saw a growth chart ruler years ago I knew I wanted one for our house. About a year and a half ago I found an old piece of 2x12 sitting out in our pasture and knew it would make the perfect board for the ruler. And bonus, I didn't even have to fake the weathered look because it had been sitting out in the rain for so long.

Then that board sat leaning up against our garage for about six months. When I finally got tired of looking at it outside I brought it in to the garage so it could "dry out", which apparently took about a year because I just got around to bringing it inside and actually doing a project with it last week.

I mean, why rush things?

The actual project itself was actually super simple. The only prep I did to the board was give it a light sand to eliminate any big splinters. I used the Silhouette to cut the hash marks and numbers out of black matte vinyl, one foot at a time.

Now let's talk about these hash marks for a minute. The extremely OCD side of me really, really wanted to divide each foot into sixteenths just like you would see on a ruler. Twelve hashmarks just isn't a thing. BUT with a little convincing from Bryce, I realized it really does make so much more sense to have each inch marked. Thus, authenticity be darned, we've got twelve hashmarks for each foot.

My first attempt at putting the vinyl on the wood was a total failure. It just wouldn't stick. So I sent a SOS text to my fantastic and very crafty sister-in-law and she suggested using spray adhesive. She's a genius. I gave the back of the vinyl a quick spray of Elmer's Spray Adhesive before putting it on the wood and it stuck without any problem.

I had great intentions of putting a top coat on the whole thing, but so far it hasn't happened. If the vinyl starts to peel or if little hands start picking at it maybe I will, but for now I'll take the easy way out.

I've been saving the kids' visit summaries from their pediatrician since Audrey was born just to be able to one day add them to a growth chart. It's fun to be able to see just how much they've grown and how they compare to each other a different ages.

If anyone is interested I'd be happy to share the Silhouette file with the hashmarks and number. Simply leave a comment with your email address or email me directly at raising1543@gmail.com.

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Pumpkins for Sale

I just finished telling my mother-in-law that I am ready for fall to start. Realizing that that technically has already happened, it sure doesn't feel very fall-ish around here. Frankly, we are having beautiful weather and I shouldn't complain, but I'm ready for the gray skies, rainy days, the fire in the wood stove, and a hot mug of apple cider. 

Although it doesn't feel like fall, the garden is telling us otherwise. It's pumpkin season. We seem to have improved our timing and all of the plants Audrey planted thrived this year and are ripening at just the right time (our timing was off last year and we ended up with a bunch of rotten pumpkins by September.) 

A couple of days ago she spent the afternoon picking all the pumpkins that were ready, making signs, and setting up her pumpkin stand. She takes the selling of her pumpkins very seriously and made sure that they were arranged just right.

Luckily for the passerby's who decide to stop she also doesn't have much of a concept of the value of money, so her prices are pretty reasonable. Each day she has gone back out to her plants to see if more are ready to add to her stand.

Even though the weather is deceiving, I guess it's time for me to embrace our warm fall weather. I better head down the driveway and buy a few pumpkins to decorate the house.

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Kindergarten

While many kids have been in school for weeks at this point, schools around here just started last week and the kindergarteners didn't start until today. And while I'm still trying to figure out how it happened that I blinked and my beautiful first born baby became old enough, Audrey was one of the many kindergarteners filing into class this morning. 

She was bursting with excitement. 

She picked her outfit out last night and is obviously not afraid to mix patterns. Her sense of style is a pretty great reflection of who she is, adventurous, fun, and not afraid to take a chance. 

A friend asked me how I was holding up this morning and honestly, I'm a little sad for me that my sidekick for the past five years won't be here all day anymore, but more than anything I am just so excited for her. She is starting on such a grand adventure. I loved school as a kid and I see that same enthusiasm in her. 

I can't wait to hear all about her first day! 

Six Weeks

Ella is six weeks old. Six weeks! (Enter all cliches about growing too quickly and time moving too fast here, they're all true!)

We are still growing into life as a family of five. Some days everything seems to run so smoothly, while others leave us run down and a little ragged. And while I would always choose the smooth running days over the not-so-easy ones I'm trying my best to savor them all. Ella is changing by the minute, Owen is becoming such a little boy with a big personality, and Audrey starts kindergarten this year. Now how did that happen? Wasn't she just Ella's size yesterday?

So I'm learning to be patient, to let go of the mess and the fact that 2.5 seconds after I clean things are dirty again, to ignore the to-do list and just be with the kids, to savor each frustrating, hair-pulling, beautiful second of being a mom. I'm going to blink and before I know it sweet Ella will be the one going off to kindergarten and my chance to have these kids to myself all day will be gone.

BUT...

and this is a big but, I also know myself and know that when the house is a mess, the laundry is dirty, and dinner hasn't even been thought about everything feels 100 times harder. Each time the kids throw another toy on the ground or when we can't find any clean clothes because they are all buried somewhere in a laundry basket I get closer and closer to my boiling point.

There has to be a balance. So we are all learning and growing together into this family of five thing. Learning to be patient, to listen, to help, and to be a little more understanding of each other. We are far from perfect, but it sure is a great adventure we are on together.

Think Pink

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We went in for the big 20 week anatomy ultrasound yesterday. Most importantly everything on baby #3 looks spot on and just how/where it should be. However, most excitingly we found out we are having another girl! We are all thrilled (we also would have been thrilled to find out it was a boy, we really didn't care... the joy of already having one of each). Audrey is over the moon as she had been really, really hoping for a sister to be her "twin".

This will be the first pregnancy for me where we haven't moved at some point. With Audrey we moved at 5 months, with Owen it was just a week before he was born. I'm excited to get started decorating her room and pulling out all of Audrey's old clothes knowing we will still be here when she is born. I'm sure plenty of oohing, aahing, and "can you believe you were ever so little?" will follow.

Happy Valentine's Day

Just popping in to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day (and possibly even explain the lack of posting recently)! I hope it is a day full of fun, laughter, and happiness no matter who you are sharing it with.

Why, Hello January

Is it really already January? 

Wasn't it just Thanksgiving? Weren't we just Christmas tree hunting? I'm pretty sure we just pulled all the Christmas decorations out and started listening to Christmas music.

Owen found his favorite place behind the Christmas tree.

Needless to say, December seems like a whirlwind. There wasn't any one big thing that made it go so quickly, I mean other than the whole celebrating Jesus' birth thing, which is pretty huge, but other than that it was a lot of little things, school shows, a few parties, lots of visits with family. 

Audrey was sure she wanted to make a cranberry and popcorn chain for her Christmas tree. I don't think it ever got longer than about 6 inches, but somehow that whole bowl of popcorn still disappeared. 

Now Audrey is back to school and we are starting to get back to a bit of a routine. I didn't make any big New Year's resolutions this year. I usually don't. But there are definitely a few things on my to-do list for the year that I would really like to get done.

Swinging with Grandpa in his new moose hat.

At the top of my list is getting caught up with all my pictures. My mom is the best at keeping photo albums, she started around the time my sister was born and still has them caught up to within a month. The albums are all numbered, I think she is somewhere around 30 right now. It is impressive. And as much as I would love to emulate her and her photo album abilities I have fallen short, I'm nearly three years behind on pictures. This is the year that changes, I am catching up. Also on the list are a few landscaping projects and a little sprucing up of some rooms inside. 

I'm excited for everything 2015 has to offer and am looking forward to another year of fun and laughs with this great family of mine. 

Christmas Tree Hunt

It's been a little quiet around here. I have to guess that that is how it will be for the next month or so. Our calendar is full of Christmas parties, a birthday party, school shows, church activities and visits with family; all of which put this little blog on the back burner. Hopefully I'll have a minute to pop in here or there. 

My brother, sister and both of their families were able to come our way for Thanksgiving this year. We spent most of the week at my parents house watching the cousins play. It is so fun to see them all together. 

The Friday after Thanksgiving we headed up to the mountains to find Christmas trees. 

"Eye black" courtesy of her uncle. 

Last year we started a new tradition that Audrey could pick a tree to have in her room. The "rules" are that you have to be two years old and the tree has to be shorter than you. She definitely is over two, but her and her dad decided to ignore that whole part about the height. Oh well. 

Unfortunately for Owen they also miscalculated where the tree was going to fall after they cut it. Poor guy was right in its path. He wasn't amused, but everyone else thought it was pretty funny. 

We've been decorating all around the house this week. Nothing too fancy, but a little splash of Christmas here and there. Audrey's tree is up in her room strung with multi-colored lights. She thinks it makes the perfect night light. 

One Pretty Flower Girl

We had a wonderful weekend away this last weekend. We headed a few hours south to my in-laws house. Although everyone was excited for a little getaway, Audrey's enthusiasm had us all beat by a mile. You see, not only were we spending the weekend with her grandparents, but she was also the flower girl in the wedding of one of Bryce's closest friends growing up. Before this I don't think she had a concept of what a flower girl was, but as soon as we explained it, it was like a dream come true to her. 

When it came time to decide what to wear we consulted the bride and groom and their only request was something white, otherwise Audrey could choose. When I relayed that message to Audrey her reply was, "Great, I want a really, really long, and really, really, really poofy dress with a bow on the back and flowers." 

So twelve yards of tulle, one yard of satin, and six inches of chiffon later that is what she got. This was one of those trial by fire kinds of sewing projects. Much to my mother's chagrin, I didn't have any sort of pattern and just kind of winged it as I went. There are definitely a few imperfections, but luckily they weren't easily noticeable.

As soon as she put it on she said, "Mom, don't I look like a princess?" Success!

She was absolutely beautiful walking down the aisle and throwing the flower petals. It definitely brought a tear to my eye. And then she danced her little heart out at the reception. She stayed until the final songs were playing and went back to the house just beaming. She also came back with holes in her dress and tights from a fall and holes in her new shoes from running and dancing so much. All in all I think she had the perfect day. 

Hold Still and Smile

A couple of days ago I decided to attempt a very mini "photoshoot", using that term extremely loosely, with the kids. They are growing so quickly I didn't want this stage to go by without at least one good photo of them together. Ha! I should have just asked them to solve world peace, it might have been just as easy. No wonder photographers set the prices they do, I would say they earn every single penny of it.

Luckily enough, I think we might have gotten that one decent picture I was after, but we also got a whole bunch of "outtakes" too.

Things started well enough. Both of them at least attempted cooperation and a smile. Unfortunately, Owen also felt he NEEDED to have his hand on his face.

We decided to move things outside which Audrey translated as time for me to take pictures of her doing "cartwheels". As evidenced by this picture she is still trying to figure out just how to do a cartwheel.

Back inside Audrey started doing "princess poses", something she picked up after going to Disneyland and Owen refused to look at me.

But I saved the best for last. I LOVE this picture. While it isn't the beautiful, happy, smiley picture I was after, it sums up our life so perfectly right now... unpredictable, silly, and a whole lot of crazy. Just looking at it makes me smile.

Happy Monday!

18 Months

This cute little man is 18 months old today. A year and a half. My, oh, my, it is hard to believe how big he is. Sometimes I find myself trying to compare him with Audrey at this age, and the hardest part is that  I don't remember all of the little things about Audrey at 18 months. The things that while you are dealing with them you think you'll never forget, but eventually you do. So I'm trying to savor each moment with Owen. I'm sure I'll end up forgetting the little things, but at least I'm enjoying them now.

P.S. Check out those arms. This kid tans instantly. Seriously, no amount of sunscreen I use would keep him from tanning. I'm kind of ridiculously jealous. 

P.P.S. Feel fortunate that I cropped that photo where I did! 

The World Through Audrey's Lens

Before we bought our first DSLR four years ago we had a great little point and shoot camera. When we bought our "big camera" I hung on to that point and shoot thinking it might still be nice to have around.

Fast forward a couple of years and Audrey started asking for a camera. We looked at all of the "kid cameras" out there and were disappointed with most of the options, so in a complete gamble we decided to "give" the point and shoot to her. She was two. The likelihood that is got beat up or broken was high, but we were willing to give it a chance.

Now two years later the camera is still in great shape. Audrey takes the job of taking care of her camera very seriously. It has come on all of our trips with us and taken thousands of photos. Most are quite silly, but it is so entertaining to look through everything she deems worthy of a picture.

Tonight the memory card was full (again) so I took a minute to sit down and look through the photos as they were loading onto the computer. I know it is because she's my daughter and I'm looking at them all with a mom's eye, but I love every single one.

So I can't take any photo credit for the pictures above, they are all Audrey's straight out of the camera. Life according to a four year old.

I did take the picture below. A selfie of the two of us that her arm wasn't quite long enough for. A picture, that despite its blurriness and imperfections, I love.

Now the memory card is cleared, the battery has been recharged and I can't wait to see what the next round of pictures will be.

Union Creek

Yesterday the mister and I celebrated our eighth anniversary.

This is the most recent picture I could find of the two of us together.
It is from July 2nd. That's over two months ago. And it's a pretty darn poor iPhone selfie at that.
 I guess I need to start taking more pictures of the two of us. 

We were doubly lucky because Bryce had the day off and his brother and his super sweet girlfriend were here visiting. We decided to escape the heat and smoke (from many wildfires burning in every direction around us) and head into the hills a bit.

We ended up at Union Creek and explored the Natural Bridge, a place where the Rogue River flows into underground lava tubes. It was beautiful. There is a very easy paved trail to the Natural Bridge and then another easy hiking trail continued up the river from there. It was the perfect hike for two little kids.

I love hiking with the kids. We didn't keep track of how far we went, I'd be surprised if it was even a mile, but watching the kids take it all in is so much fun. Audrey was our fearless leader and Owen made sure to climb on every stump, downed tree, and rock he could find.

The best group shot, minus Bryce, we got. I love it! 

We ended our outing at Beckie's, a small cafe in Union Creek that is famous for their pies. The food was delicious and the pie lived up to its reputation.

It was a pretty perfect way to celebrate the last eight years.

Watermelon!

We picked another watermelon from the garden this week. It was delicious. Owen especially enjoyed it.

And like most things go these days, Owen found a way to attack his sister. Luckily she loves the attention from him and takes it all in stride.

Happy Thursday!

My Favorite Kind of Day

Yesterday was such a nice day. The kids were in happy and helpful moods, we got out of the house for a bit, crossed things off our to-do list, had a great homemade dinner, and the weather here was gorgeous. The temperature finally dropped back to something much more normal (80s) for this time of year and the smoke from all the nearby forest fires was blown away for the day.

It was just one of those days that everything seemed to work. (Or almost everything. Let's be honest, we all have our moments and the wheels really started coming off right before bedtime when Audrey stepped barefoot in a patch of bull thorns.)

To cap off a beautiful day we spent the evening together in the garden, my happy place. I could spend hours their just wandering up and down the rows.  Sure, there is definitely some weeding to do and we still need to install the permanent watering system and the list goes on, but despite the imperfections it is such a peaceful place.

I think the kids like it just as much as I do. They spend their time digging in the dirt, finding bugs, and picking anything they deem ripe enough. Audrey was running through the garden declaring the green beans were so good they tasted like candy. Music to my ears.

And of course all of the best gardening is done while wearing a princess dress.

It helps that everything seems to be thriving right now. It is so fun to be able to walk around the garden and pick all sorts of delicious food.

Life always seems a bit slower while we are in the garden and I love that. It is such a great reminder that I need to slow down and enjoy the simple things a little more. 

First Day of Preschool

Audrey started preschool today.  

She had absolutely no reservations walking in and saying goodbye. In fact, she was almost too busy playing to even give me a hug before I left.

I, on the other hand, was full of reservation, not about the preschool or the merit of going, but about my first born, my baby, my sweet, tender, innocent little girl being old enough for school. When did that happen?

Thankfully she was just as full of smiles and excitement when I picked her up as when I dropped her off and is already talking about how fun Monday will be.