What's On My Mind

On this cold and dreary Monday morning this is what I'm thinking about-

•  Drake had a lock down drill at his school on Friday. I can't even begin to tell you the heartbreak I felt as he told me "we had to pretend there was a bad shooter in the building and turn off all the lights and hide."  So, so sad that a lock down drill will now be the new normal for kids at school.

• I'm feeling really grateful for my husband lately. I have been gone a lot in the evenings the past month and my husband is wonderful about it. He never makes me feel guilty for being away and I love that I can leave and not have to give him directions on what to do with the kids because he already knows since he is such a big part of their care everyday anyway. I'm just so happy I get to do life with him

• I went to the Pink concert with my mom and sisters on Friday night. What.A.Show! Seriously, if you ever get the chance to see her concert, please do. Hand down the best show I've ever seen!

 

• Our church puts on a Turkey Mission Dinner every fall and gives 100% of the money away.  All the food is donated and the tickets are free (a free will donation is taken at the door). Two year ago the dinner raised $25,000. Last year $60,000 was raised and this year over $87,000 will be given away to Habit for Humanity and Imagine No Malaria. I get goosebumps just thinking of what God is doing in our church and how many lives will be changed as a result of this turkey dinner.

• This is my new favorite picture. I love how it captures everyday life at our house.  And Charlie's expression? Priceless! I wonder what he is plotting...

 

• I continue to be amazed at the distinct personality differences between our 2 boys. Drake is sensitive and emotional. He is a cuddler and over thinker. Charlie is wild and tough. He is busy and carefree.  They both bring so many great qualities  to our little family that I love.

And Here are a few links I'm loving right now-

• I did the Fresh 20 Meal planning a lot last winter and I'm ready to get back on the wagon again. Makes meal time SO much easier.


• Do you use Instagram? It is my favorite social media site. I would love to follow you! You can follow me here.


• I am loving these Design Dilemma posts on Young House Love. I think it would be so much fun to submit a room in our house and get some fresh ideas.


• Watch this. The message speaks to everyone.


• If you plan on buying any Fisher Price toys for the holidays here are some great coupons for you!


• I just got done reading this book. Wow, just, wow. Read it.


• I bought this cardigan for Drake last week. There is just something about little boys wearing grow-up clothes that melts my heart.

Have a wonderful week!

Monday Moments

• It snowed on Thursday and Friday. Not just a little snow but 6.5 inches of the stuff fell. After already experiencing the longest winter ever, this about put me over the edge.


• I have been feeling so overwhelmed by cleaning and laundry lately. I feel like I just can't keep up and that the second my house is clean it is dirty again and that my pile of laundry never gets smaller. I know this is just the season of life I'm in right now, but man it still drives me nuts... And don't even get me started on the never-ending dog hair.


• Charlie is walking 90% of the time now. I'm so in love with his little waddle and can't get enough of how proud he is of himself.


• Charlie has also been talking so much more. The other day I picked him up from his crib and he looked right at me and said "good boy." He also kept telling me "thank you" as I fed him blueberries last night. So sweet.


• Drake has learned how to spell his first and last name and goes around the house saying it over and over again. I can't believe how fast he is growing up.


• Last night at supper (while my parents were over) Drake started to sing "I'm sexy and I know it."  Time to really monitor the music that he listens to.


• Things have been quiet on the blog the last couple of weeks and I kind of like it. I'm really trying to focus on just writing when I have things to say and not forcing myself to write a certain number of times a week, etc.


• I'm still working really hard to lose the rest of this weight. It is slow going, but my clothes are fitting so much differently and I just feel better so that gives me the motivation I need to keep going.


• I will be turning thirty in July and I'm excited about it. I could have never had imagined all the great things that my twenties had in store for me and I'm really excited to see what my thirties hold.

I will leave you with a couple of pictures of my babies. Charlie and his big blue eyes get me every time and that sweet smile just melts my heart to pieces. My big boy, Drake, looks so handsome and I just can't get enough of him in that hat...way too cute.  I just love those boys  to pieces.

Have a great week!

A Little of This, A Little of That

• My weight loss journey is slowly chugging along. I am down 16 lbs and getting so close to posting my 20 lb lost picture.


• Drake calls Sunday School "Someday School". Might be the cutest thing I've ever heard.


• Speaking of "Someday School", we told Drake that he is not allowed to talk about Superheros there (he is obsessed and is all he wants to talk about, play, etc.). His response? "But Jesus is a Superhero!!" Hard to argue with that...


• Thinking it is time to start trying to get Charlie into a better sleep routine. He has been sleeping from 7:00-11:30 then wanting to eat and then getting up again around 4:30 wanting to eat again or snuggle. I am tired.


• I am loving this fall weather we have been having. Perfect for boots, and leggings, and sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, and chili.


• Ben and I have started having at home date nights about once a week. We wait until the kids go to bed to eat and spend the time chatting and catching up on our favorite fall TV shows.  It is a relaxing and fun  way to spend time together without spending money.


• We have owned our minivan for about 5 months now and I still feel funny driving it. I don't even really know how to explain it, except for the fact that it makes me feel so grown up.  I also love listening to loud rap music when I am all alone and driving home from work and it just feels super awkward to jam out to it in the mini. I guess I had to grow up sometime :)

Have a great week!

P.S.- Enter here to win tickets to see Phineas and Ferb Live

Miscellany Monday

{Easter Egg Tree}

I made a Easter Egg Tree using a branch from a tree in our backyard and egg ornaments that my Mom passed down to me. I love the simple look. 

{Better Than Any Toy}

Drake's new favorite game is pretending to sleep. Strange, right?!? He grabs a paci and three blankets and makes himself a little bed on the steps. He moves his 'bed' from step to step but can play this game for a good 30 minutes.

{Sassy Silly Spunky Designs}

I have had such a great time creating and selling my felt ruffle wreathes I thought it was time to make it Facebook Official by creating a Facebook Page. I would love for you to 'like' my page!

{Spring is In the Air}

Trips to the zoo, playing outside until bedtime, eating supper later, walks around the neighborhood, windows open, and the sound of thunderstorms while you sleep all mean one thing-Spring has finally sprung in Iowa!

{A New Saturday Tradition}

Saturday mornings spent at our favorite local coffee house lingering over coffee, pancakes, bacon and eggs are the perfect way to start off the weekend. I'm a big lover of traditions and I'm so happy to be starting my own with my family!

{Bubble Beards}

Does anything say childhood baths like bubble beards? I think not.

{Because Momma Needs Hobbies Too}

With Drake approaching 20 months old (ummmm....still can't believe he is almost 2!!!) and becoming more independent by the second, I'm finally getting time to explore my hobbies. Crafting, reading, baking and photography are all things I have had more time to pursue in the last couple of months. Tonight I'm going to my first official photography class and could not be more excited to learn some new skills.

 

{A Few Questions}

• What free program do you like to use for photo editing?
• We are dealing with thunderstorm fear at our house. How do you help your kids cope with that? 
• Calling all bakers. What is your go to muffin recipe? I'm having a little bake-off with my Mom and sisters (love you guys) and want an award winning recipe to impress!

I'm participating in:

Miscellany Monday and a Little Crafting Too

{Felt Ruffle Wreath}

When I saw the felt ruffle wreath that Vanessa over at The Crafty Nest had made, I knew I had found my  next craft project!

I had some yellow felt squares left over from Drake's car mat and went to Hobby Lobby and bought a yard of white felt, a foam wreath, and straight pins.

Here is how the whole thing came together-

You start by cutting your felt into circles. I used the lid to a can of fried onions (green bean casserole anyone?) to trace my circles.

 You then fold your piece of felt in half

and then in half again

You then pin the circle to the foam wreath filling in until it is completely covered

Here is a pretty good shot of what it should look like when it is all filled in

Final product

I have it hanging on my front door which is in DESPERATE need of a new paint job

 I love the touch of spring it brings and the pop of color the yellow adds.

{Can I Get a Vote?}

I know everybody and their dog is asking for your vote since Top Baby Blogs reset SO I figured I might as well ask too. If you like Sassy Silly Spunky Momma would you mind voting by clicking on the button below?


{Toddlers}
Drake learned the word "poop". He says it when he poops or when he sees Skinner pooping outside. But of course his favorite times to say it is when we are grocery shopping or out to eat. He especially loves to shout  it when somebody is looking right at him in public. I guess boys will be boys!

{Leaving HTML to the Experts}
I wanted to change the color of some of the fonts on the blog this weekend. I was going to contact Shannon to help me out, but after snooping around the html coding for a bit I figured out how to do it on my own! I was thinking I was so smart figuring it out all by myself until I saw that I somehow deleted the beautiful font used for my post titles. Looks like I will need some help after all!
ETA:Now it seems to be back to normal. This is why I do not like Blogger. No consistency. Seriously looking to switch to Wordpress soon!

{CSN Stores Giveaway}

I'm giving away a $20 Store Credit to CSN Stores. Click here to enter

I'm participating in: