fourth fun!

I know I'm all sorts of our of order...but that's okay!  

We had a pretty chill fourth...R has his last day of swimming lessons in the morning, we took a nice nap after eating lunch and then it was time for the friends to come over!  

 I loved this picture I got of the American Flag hanging and the beautiful light coming into the pool.  

All the kids got to jump off the diving board to their teacher and then swim to the side of the pool since it was the last day!  R loved it and did really good (after we told him to jump OUT, away from the board)!!!

I honestly don't have one pictures of lunch with the fam.  The kids all played in the water in the driveway all afternoon...with 7 cousins running around, I rarely see or hear from R until they leave!  Ha!

We've never gone to the CC to watch FW or anything...we've just always done our own at home, and R didn't know he was missing out on anything.  Well, this year we got brave and made out way out to the CC.  It wasn't bad at first, but we were reminded as to why we avoid that area!  Talk about anxiety for this Mama...I just don't do crowds of people well.

He collected these balls and tees from the range while we patiently waited for the sun to go down!

MacKenzie came to visit us!

Beautiful night!

The ice cream truck drove thru while we were waiting...and you better believe I chased that thing down to get my baby an ice cream!

The fireworks were great and R loved that they "came and then disappeared"!  We left a little before they were over to avoid the crowds....best idea we've had!

R did realize the day after that we didn't do our "own fireworks".  Mom of the year award I know....he cried, but quickly got over it with a trip to the park and ice cream.

snuggle bug easter party

I loved this little "Spring Book" R made at school!  I love how he wrote the words on his own and drew his own little pictures!  These are the first "words" I've seen him write other than his name.  

He was beYOND excited about the Easter Egg hunt and carrying around his basket to ensure he didnt' miss it! :P

All the Snuggle Bugs getting ready to head outside!

Ryder and Lexi at the starting line!

They had a wonderful hunt and then we went in to enjoy some delicious pot lunch dinner provided by all the Snuggle Bug parents, and wonderful smoked meat from Mr. Jerry!--He always does such a good job!

This is Mamaw Rose.  She is like a Snuggle Bug grandma and all the kids just LOVE her!  She told me R was "her buddy" and he wanted his picture made with her!

easter table set up

My roommate and and one of my best friends from college recently moved to town with her husband and bought the cutest little house!  They've already repainted every room in the house, redone the flower beds, painted the front door, etc. etc.  I am always excited when she sends me pics of her latest projects!  I keep telling her SHE needs a blog, but if she isn't gonna take me serious, then I'm just gonna blog all her handy work! ;)

With Easter a little over a week away, I thought I would share her cute dining room set up she put together for her family coming in!  

Allie loves all things natural, but I love the turquoise she added to her tablescape.  There aren't too many pastel colors taking over...which can sometimes be overwhelming.  Plain and simple neutrals, with added texture and the perfect amount of color to make it feel Spring-y and make things "pop"!  

The burlap table runner is from their wedding reception...and I am all for reusing things!  The bunny ear napkin rings match perfectly to continue the "rustic" feel.

The ivory eyelet napkins equal-out the burlaps' "rustic-ness" and add just enough "fancy" to the table to make things feels extra SPECIAL!  I'm not sure if I would have though to put the two together on my own...but I LOVE the look and feel that they create!

Love their little china cabinet and all the pretties displayed inside!  {and check out that cute pic of them above! ;)}

She found the little tags, ribbons and stickers at none other than...The Target Dollar Spot!  It gives the table that personalized touch that gives your guest that extra special feeling during their visit!  

Aren't her reupholstered chairs just fabulous!?

I think it all came together VERY well and I can't wait to see pictures of it after the table and plates are full of yummy FOOD as they celebrate the resurrection of our Christ Jesus on Sunday!

Burlap Bunny Ears Napkin Rings / Ivory Lace Napkins / Old Havana Salad Plate {now currently all on sale, but don't tell Allie! ;) }

gettin' in the spirit

Squeak made his way back to our house this week!  I didn't get around to our whole "North Pole Breakfast" like last year since we were out of town for 7 days and this was my last week of my Internship...but it will definitely be back next year!  I can't believe this is our third year with Squeak!  R was so glad to see he was back...and that he brought him a friend to play with!!

I've tried to get R to watch some Christmas movies with me...but he just isn't really into "movies".  So far the only one he'll watch is Polar Express, but I'll take it!

I stayed up late on Monday night working on school stuff and watching Hostages.  If you watch the show you know why it is appropriate that I watch the show this way!  OH.EMM.GEE!!

 On my way to school I literally LOLed at this deer stand blow up!

 Squeak brought R some window clings to hang on the window!  R loved them and spelling out "HO HO HO!"

 R went to his Mimi's on Tuesday night and made me a girl gingerbread!  I had honestly never tasted gingerbread before and I actually really liked it!

We've been reading Christmas stories every opportunity we get!  Mimi got him a new Christmas Disney book that has a Toy Story, Bambi and Tarzan Christmas story that have actually been really good!  He's loved them too!

Silly Squeak got caught drinking the syrup the other morning!  Silly elf!

Frozen rain/sleet and ice were predicted for us on Thursday night...so off to the grocery store everybody goes!  I wasn't going to go, but I'm glad I did.  R is a great helper at the self check out.  School on Friday was cancelled Thursday night which is something that RARELY happens around here...but because the weather was calling for ICE and not SNOW--I think they took it a little more serious!

Our advent activity Thursday night was to make a gingerbread house which is one of R's favorite things!  We went the smart route the this year and bought a pre-build house...because last year's was a DISASTER!

Move Christmas movie/show watching while we have freezing temps outside!

We had "elf pancakes" Friday morning while we listened to the sleet hit our windows!  This are fun and easy to eat with your fingers...just dip and go!

Today we had to get out of the house.  I wanted to take R to see Frozen, but again...I showed him the trailer and he didn't want to go!  So...Sonic and Kroger it was instead!  :P  He just likes looking at all the toys!

Poppy got the four wheeler out and did a lil old school pulling on the sleet (yes...that's sleet, not snow!)

Tonight's advent activity was to write a letter to Santa.  R did great with his letters but we only got half way thru!  Ha!--that's okay...he's four!  We'll finish the rest tomorrow!

I got all my decor out last weekend and I finally got my tree out of the box, put up and decorated last night--so we are good to go now!  Such a relief--I just want to enjoy this special time with my lil guy making memories and teaching him the TRUE and ONLY meaning of Christmas.