Hold your horses!

Today was one of those "holy cow, when did my kids get so big?!" type days.

As opposed to the more common "holy cow, why aren't you old enough to fold the laundry for me?!"

This is becoming a common feeling when I look at Addison.  I'm not particularly fond of the idea of her growing up.  Although I am particularly fond of her learning to fold laundry.

Here's the picture that started it all. 
(Although RARE, she does let me put her in the bouncy chair once in a while.)

She looks HUGE in that picture!
Especially when you compare it to this picture taken 6 months ago.

It's like two different babies.

Gosh, she is so dang cute - if I do say so myself.  Which I do.

Have I mentioned that she's crawling now?  She waited until the morning we got to our new house to go ahead and take off.  Marty was very happy she hadn't done it without it.  So, just pretend I'm a super mom and this is the video of her first crawling as opposed to a video of her from today.

I just don't understand why they think it's a good idea to grow up so fast.

*SIGH*

And, on a totally un-related side note...unless you consider funny pictures of my kids as evidence that they are growing up way to fast...here are some pictures of Brielle and Claire after a fun morning of digging holes in the dirt in our back yard.

They were quite pleased with their work.

Ahh...to be a kid growing up too fast before your very mother's eyes.

Our home...so far

I know, I'm on post overload here...but, oh well.  I'll get over it.

There have been some requests for pictures of our new place.  I am happy to oblige, but I'm warning you that you may want to steal my amazing design ideas for yourself.

You have been warned.
 

I still have wish lists of things I'd like to add to some of the rooms, but you do what you can right?  

We have permission to paint walls in the house, and I am torn about doing it. So for now, we just have white walls...which isn't the worst thing in the world, and may not be changed.  Also, I have not acquired any new decor or furniture, so really these pictures may seem very familiar from every other time we've moved. 
All that's changed is it's a different house and layout.

Again, you've been warned.

First I give you the Master Bedroom:

On my wish list for this room would be some sort of headboard or large artwork to go above the bed.  For now the pictures I have hanging work just fine...and if we're being honest will probably be what stays there the whole time we're in Washington. I would also like matching night stands and some bed side lamps.

Next, I give you Brielle and Claire's bedroom:

 There isn't really much I would change about their room.  I wish it was a little bigger, and we may get some of those wall decals to add a little color to the wall (or paint if we get brave) but other than that, I like it for them.  And in case you were wondering, the small plaque hanging below the picture of a crown says "Girls Rule, Boys Drool".  I think it's funny...Marty doesn't find it quite as humorous for some reason.

Next up, Addison's Room:

I love this room!  We haven't had a nursery solely for one baby since Brielle was a baby, so this is fun.  Wish list for this room...decorative baskets to organize changing table, and this room REALLY needs either paint or wall decals to add a little more color.  Other than that, it's the perfect little room for Addison.

Next up, the Family Room/Office/Dining Room: (It's quite the multi-tasking space.)

Our little dining room.  That closed door is a pocket sliding door in to the kitchen.  I closed it because the kitchen wasn't in shape for being in a picture at that moment, and rather than clean the kitchen...I closed the door.  That's the beauty of having doors.  Out of sight, out of mind.

Our little office area hidden behind the couch. 

 

My wish list for this room (these rooms) could get quite ridiculous.  I mean, I'd love all new furniture and a total overhaul of the whole thing.  BUT since that isn't going to happen any time soon (or ever), the main thing I would like is a new dining room table and chairs (as you can see in the picture we've outgrown ours and Marty is now using a folding chair to sit on...lucky guy.)  I would like some color on the walls, maybe some new pillows and accessories or art work, possibly an area rug for under the dining table....but that's about it.

So, there you have it. 
When my yard doesn't look so desolate (still working on Project Beautification) I will take pictures of that as well.

I hope those curious souls have been satisfied.

The Gardening Master

In case you haven't noticed, or I haven't made it blatantly obvious, we have moved to Washington.

Say what?

I know, it snuck up on you, it was like we secretly moved in the night without warning.

When we pulled in to the driveway of our new home, I instantly felt depressed.  Not what I had expected to feel.  I thought I would be excited.  But nope, there was a dead as dead can be yellow brittle lawn and an empty flower bed staring at me.  With the lack of rain the state has had lately and no sprinkler systems (why would they normally need it?) it left things looking a bit bare.

I then thought to myself: no, this will just not do.  

It was apparent that one of my first orders of business would have to be beautifying the entrance to the home.  I wouldn't want people knowing that underneath all my perfectness I am not actually perfect.

So me and my little green thumb apprentice, Brielle (me being the real green thumb in this house...I mean I used to be in charge of cutting the dead flower heads off the daisy's at my mom's house.  Hello??  That means I'm an expert in all things green) went to pick out a few flowers/plants to begin the beautification project.

Here is the "before".   

(Kind of...I remembered a little into our working that I should be taking pictures, so that when my garden rivals the Garden of Eden, I can look back at its humble beginnings.)

A little during (while we were mastering the beautification project, Claire was mastering her new mix for a mud spa facial.)

And finally...the after.  (Prepare to ooh and ah all over these pictures.)

Do you see a face staring back at you??

Plus, Brielle got to choose flowers for her own special pot (really it's MY pot, but I was generous and told her she could use it.  I'm super awesome like that.)

Next on our list of beautification is bringing our lawn back to life.  I'm hoping if I just leave the sprinkler on it 24/7 for the next week or two it will be green and lush in no time.

See?  I'm a freaking GENIUS at gardening.

Ocean Shore, Washington

This weekend we had planned to head out to Astoria, Oregon...home of the Goonie's movie.  Marty was desperate to do the "truffle shuffle" and find the Goonie house, while I was just desperate to leave the house.  

We had a change of plans - however - and ended up going to Ocean Shore, Washington, which was a little bit closer for us.  (Astoria is still on our list of must-see things).

The problem is we had dressed and packed a few things in preparation for hiking and walking around Astoria.  We were all in pants and sneakers and ready to go.

But wouldn't you know that this place called Ocean Shore ACTUALLY has beaches!  I know, mind blowing.  So we found beach access, and it was packed full of people.  We felt like quite the schmucks driving up in our van all fully clothed while people frolicked in the ocean and sun bathed in the sand.  So, we did what any mature person would do and fled the premises.  Luckily we kept driving and found a sparsely populated beach (it was public...I checked) and were surrounded by fellow schmucks wearing regular old clothes just relaxing by the water.  We fit right in.

It was a fantastic outing.  The older girls were sad that we weren't able to play more - but like I said, we were totally unprepared - but we promised we would go back because it was just awesome.  

So, enough talk - even though I'm so good at it - time for the pictures!

On the way through Aberdeen, WA.  The houses were so colorful and charming!  

Finally made it to the perfect beach (for us).

Brielle ran straight for the water with Marty, playing in the waves while Claire was happy to throw rocks in the water from afar.  (Possibly hitting a few family members in the process)

Addison wasn't so sure about the sand and only let us sit her on this little mat thing for a couple minutes before being mad.  But mad baby or not, I couldn't resist the picture.

And now, some more pictures...I think they are self explanatory.

The kids were beyond thrilled at all the seashells they found (which hopefully wasn't illegal)...Addison decided they made a good chew toy.

And finally, my "edited" pictures of the beach.

So, there you have it.  Our first outing as Washingtonians (wow, that actually made it through spell check!!!)  We have already decided we need to do something like this at least once a month.  There is so much beauty here, it's just incredible!  We feel very lucky to be here in such a beautiful area of the country. 

Not sure how I just ended on such a warm and fuzzy note...feels kind of strange.  I'm not sure I like it.  But oh well.  I have nothing else to say about this trip to the ocean.

The end.