Pretty Vs Spooky

I decorated for Fall. I wanted really simple, pretty and white. I mostly used what I had and added some free printables online into my frames and some ceramic owls from the Dollar Tree. The kids came out from quiet time and I said, "Isn't it PRETTY?!" And they kind of nodded. Then looked at each other and said, "We want spooky." Oh. Here are some pictures of our home this season. I took these with my phone. They're blurry, but you get the idea.

So I thought I'd stack pumpkins on a few crates on the porch. I called my neighbor who has EVERYTHING in his yard. I asked if I could borrow any crates and he showed up with a bunch of crates and this cool old chest for me. I pulled dirty lanterns out of my garage and pumpkins from the house.We went to Target and splurged on this owl who hoots and a plug in pumpkin. The kids agree, now it's spooky.

 How cool are these ugly rats? $5 for a sheet of decals from Target, we put some on the front door and some inside.

And since I already had the wood crates from my neighbor, I thought I might as well do Halloween inside too. The spider candles are from past years and the mini chalkboards are from my kitchen.

 Dollar Tree roses.

The room's a little cluttered, but it's fun. My favorite decorating is changing out frames that I already have up. It's so easy to find fun things online and either print them out at home or send them to your local copy center. I email my bigger prints to Staples.

That's it :)

Little Scavengers

Last week we went on a walk down the road. The familiar trail by our house became an adventure when we searched for signs of fall (thank you scavenger hunt from Pinterest). These weeks months are getting away from me and I have to force myself to get the camera out. Has instagram replaced blogging for anyone else? Lately the kids have LOVED watching videos of themselves as babies. I love it too. I'm trying to record them more to capture them at four, because all of the sudden they're little people. And soon they'll be five. Then twelve. But for now, four's good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

lemonade and smiles for sale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Hayride.

We're starting to think about Fall. I want to hang on to our gorgeous weather and play summer for another season, but the kids are anxious for change. They want to talk Halloween, changing leaves, and thanks to Costco... CHRISTMAS. IN SEPTEMBER. It's kind of gross that they have decorations out, but it makes the kids smile. So we're easing in slow. Starting with a hayride with old friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Happy Spot

Since it's a little obnoxious to instagram 20 photos, I'm blogging my phone pics instead. The beach is our happy place. Each of us love it. Mike called me from a job he was finishing in Morro Bay and we threw towels in a bag at 3:30 to meet him there. I'm so glad we did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Star Struck

Last week the kids had their first school performance. It was an end of the year program their Preschool put on (they go to preschool Tuesday mornings). You would have thought they were graduating high school by the way my heart felt. I brought my camera but ended up recording in some crazy night vision so good luck seeing anything. But it was so, so sweet.

Ella is on the left in a white polka dot dress, Maxwell is on the far right wearing a white shirt. I'm the one behind the camera BEAMING as if they are the only ones on stage.

X's and O's

I cherish these years I've stayed home with the kids. Lately it feels like time's getting away from me. There's always a new phase, always a new season. This one feels busy- but in a good way. Sometimes I look at the clock and can't believe it's almost dinner time. Maxwell and Ella feel like such big kids. They wake up with their own desires and ideas and do their best to fit all they can into every day. Instagram has become the easiest way for me to capture our little moments, although I miss writing here. I have to be intentional about recording these passing months because I'll never have time to go back and remember it as fresh as it is now.

Last night M & E discovered the joy of tic tac toe. Caked in chalk, they covered our driveway in X's and O's. I felt the tug to slow down a little bit and make the ordinary things exciting again. The metaphor is too easy but I felt tremendous gratitude and love for this family of mine.

xxx. ooo. xoxo.