1st Day Back

As I have already said before, Trigger was on a two week break from school until Larkin got her shots.  It was HIGH time that he got back into school and a routine.  As much as I try to have a routine here, I FAIL miserably!  I mean part of the benefit of me staying home is flexibility and no need for a routine.  All children need some routine but Trigger HAS to have it.  Anyway, he does so much better when he’s in school.  He started back to school on March 6th and it just so happened to be spring portrait day.  I know it looks like we broke fashion rules wearing seersucker so early but good grief, its already miserably hot AND it was SPRING portraits.  I didn’t want him in winter clothes. 

Trigger was SOOO excited to be able to come back.  I knew he would be nervous when he got there, and I was right.  He was pretty timid.  After two months, it was like starting at the beginning of the year again.  Anyway, he did good and from what Mrs. Lisa says, he was pretty quiet. 

I took Trigger’s picture since he was dressed nice…I think this picture is so funny.  Campbell hopped right in the picture…and look at how he’s looking at Trigger.  SOOOO sweet!!!  He sure misses his brother these days and cries when I get out to take Trigger inside and leave him in the car.  I also think this picture is funny for another reason.  Look at Trigger.  He has on seersucker and a pink polo and sperry shoes.  AND THEN THERE IS CAMPBELL….dressed in his mossy oak hunting shirt and jeans.  Preppy and redneck.  Haha!Trigger was quite excited to be able to wear his sperry shoes again!!!  He LOVES THEM!

Aunt Deanna and Larkin’s first night

My sister came into town…she had about two weeks off because she was in between jobs.  We got to see her several times and she was a big help with the kids….of course she loved snuggling with Larkin!  This particular night she came over and helped with our nighttime routine which is ALWAYS chaotic.  BUT, it was especially chaotic this night (MARCH 18, 2012) because Matt was frantically trying to get monitors moved…Larkin spent her first night in her crib…IN HER ROOM…across the house on this night. 

Somehow all of their pictures together end up looking like Trigger is happy as a lark and Campbell is being wrangled down. 

The move to the crib went good.  She didn’t sleep any better but it wasn’t worse so that’s good.  It’s a far hike across the house when she cries so that’s a pain but I like being able to watch tv or sew or take a bath after she goes down….hahahaha…I just laughed out loud because I don’t think I have done any of those things since she has been in her room because of all the sleep issues with the boys.  BUT, it’s nice to know that IF I wanted to watch tv or sing in the shower at night, I could!

Our nighttime routine is quite interesting because with the move to her new room, I also started putting her down around the same time that we put the boys down. I feed her around 7/8ish and I don’t wake her up for another feeding…she usually makes it until 11:00-1:00 depending on when I put her down.  I still usually have to wake up for two feedings a night.

Our House

Let me just say that we are LOVING our house…and our new addition…BUT…and that is a big fat BUT, I will NEVER, EVER, EVER do another remodel while living in the house.  Just thinking back on it makes me want to CRY.  It was exhausting.  Our house was in shambles all of the time…layers upon layers of dust everywhere…we had to sweep and clean every evening.  Campbell was living in the playroom for over 2 months…Triggers room had half of the playroom in it PLUS it was all pushed to one side while they walled up an old window, patched, painted, ripped up carpet, and floored it….not to mention that NOT only were they working on that side of the house but they were also adding on a master closet off of our bedroom AND redoing my bathtub.  SO, to say that it was chaotic and very nasty in my house, is a HUGE understatement.  We started this project in September and they finished a few days before Christmas…Here is the before (of the outside)

Here is the after:

Let’s start with the back.  We added a outdoor kitchen/patio/fireplace.  If  you look above, we had a stone patio that Matt and I (mostly Matt) put in.  It was horrible and pretty dangerous from not being level.  We are loving this new area.  We have already grilled several times.   We can’t wait to have a party so we can use the space.  That hole over there to the right of the grill, will have a refrigerator which is still sitting in a box…but we are waiting on a contractor to come help Matt do a few things before putting it in. 

Don’t you love our trucks and digger. We need patio furniture but we just haven’t gotten around to that yet!That part of the house on the right side was added.  It’s our master closet…with a work space for Matt. We also had a generator put in…now, if the electricity goes out, we shouldn’t have more than a few seconds without electricity.  My parents had one installed too…so I guess everyone can come over to our house or theirs.  I would probably choose theirs because it’s a lot quieter there! I wish Matt’s truck had not been there when I took these pictures but I was a tad too lazy to go in and get the keys to move it.This area to the right (in the picture above) with the two windows is the addition of rooms.  In this area, there’s Trigger’s room, Campbell’s room, their bathroom, and a safe room.We need something on the bricks on the front of the closet addition…not sure what yet.  We also had Lincoln Outdoor Living (Brian Beck) come out and put in a fence.  Our neighbors behind us have a pool without a fence which is very, very dangerous with my three little ones soooo we put in a fence!  Brian also did all of our landscaping, sod, and sprinklers.  Our flower beds were pitiful before…because I do NOT have a green thumb.Let’s move inside.  Here is my new bathtub and tile.  I am NOT a fan of whirlpool tubs…the gunk that builds up in the pipes really grosses me out!  So, we put in just a soaker tub…I know I’m werid…I can’t help it!Our master closet…I’m slightly in love with the island.  It is PERFECT for projects, wrapping presents, etc.  The desk is PERFECT for working late at night.Oh and this was where Larkin slept until a couple of nights ago.  It’s getting a little junked up…I need to do some straightening up but I have NO time right now.  Oh well.I LOVE, LOVE our laundry room.  This was Campbell’s room.  We had to have a hallway leading back to the new rooms so we went through Campbell’s old room.  The leftovers of his room became my laundry room.  Do you see those doors to the right.  That was Campbell’s old closet.  We just had 8 foot doors put on and had douglas cabinet make shelving/drawers in there.  I wish I had taken a picture of the inside.  I wanted a desk…which is right by the back door…PERFECT for throwing my purse, keys, mail, school notes, etc.  I also wanted a place to hold baskets of clean clothes so that they weren’t piled up at the end of our bed…now, that wouldn’t be a problem if I could keep up with the laundry but I can’t and I know that about myself.  I really need to buy all matching baskets but I just really haven’t care that much.  And our old laundry room…if you could even call it a room…it was more of an alley/walk through….it became the mudroom.  It’s pretty messy in this picture…sorry for that!  but, we USE this room.  We are practical people.  I had someone ask me if we were planning on having another child since we have four locker…ummm, NO, Matt and I share a locker.  However, I don’t really keep my stuff in there.In the mudroom, we have this little closet that holds mops, vacuum, etc.  When I come in the back door every day, I get to see these three adorable children! ;) 

That’s all for tonight.  I forgot to take pictures of the boys new rooms.  I still don’t have anything hung in their rooms.  I am so indecisive!!!

Anyway, we are loving all the extra space!!!!  Now if I can just keep it clean…or at least decent!

Bows, Bows, Bows

At the same time that I took the pictures of Larkin with the green headband/flower, I took these.  Trigger had become disinterested in helping…Campbell was now up so the photo session was quickly over because he wanted me to “hoe-l” him.  He’s so spoiled and so attached! Anyway, I had to share these.  I love her many bows that she has!Go DAWGS!  Aunt Jenn got Larkin a ton of bows which was great because at the time, she had NONE!And of course our future Cougar, had to have a CC bow!Campbell did let me take one picture of him and “Lar-Lar”.

Poppy and Zizzys

It’s no secret that the boys LOVE playing at Poppy and Zizzy’s house…they still have the playset that was built for me, will and seth when we were little…they have the golf cart, “fire jeep”, and may other things to play with!  AND, Zizzy would much rather play outside than inside so they spend a lot of time outside when they are there!

I thought it was so cute when both of the boys jumped on the twirly bird. I was quite surprised that Trigger could operate it by himself….and surprised that Campbell could hang on! 

And they had to test out the swing!

I’m so thankful that my parents still have this playset for my children to play on…and so thankful that Zizzy (and poppy) are so willing to take them outside and chase them around!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Well..I laugh at this holiday because my sweet husband claims to be Irish…He is so funny!  When I sent him these pictures, he said, “I’m so glad that you are embracing our heritage”…HAHA!  I do love the color kelly green and so miss priss had to have a kelly green headband for the holiday!My little assistant did an awesome job and he was happy most of the time…but there are always moments where he is a little less than cooperative!Do you see how Trigger is holding his hand…these were taken when his finger was injured and he thought he couldn’t use it.LOVE, LOVE these next three!!!!!!

I have several fun St. Patricks day activities planned for today…I must get busy!  Soooo, from the Irish family ;) , HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!!!!!