ears and teething

So many of you already know this about my kids, but I have had the hardest time figuring out when my kids have an ear infection vs. when they are just teething.  (Did I just say JUST!?!?!)  I have become that frantic mother who calls and has to be seen ASAP so that my kids ears can be assessed.  I always second guess myself and I hate how worried I get!  Sheesh!

Two weeks ago, Eden had several nights in a row where she did not sleep at all during the night.  I was so strung out and I felt like my poor Ryder had the worst mother EVER!

Guess who had an ear infection?  Yep, this was Eden's third one since birth.  She had one at her one month appointment (Ryder had been sick too...), this last february, and then a few weeks ago.  We have been in so many times and told that she is teething and that her symptoms are normal.  

So we just had a doctor's apointment this week that ears look AWESOME and that teething is in full effect!  I hate what worry does to me.  It spirals me out of control, I can let it dominate how I care for my babies.  Goodness, there is nothing quite like parenthood to have you on your knees, realizing my need for dependence on Christ.

All that to say, we were so happy to get the result that Eden's ears are healthy!

Here we were in the doctor's office, happy as a clam:

 Can you tell that she has been teething?

Reading up on staying healthy:

Ok, my friends! Have a great day!  Thank you for all of you that have been praying for Eden.  I felt them and so did she!!!♥

creating: using chalk ink for parties

You know how I have that obsession with metal magnet boards?  Well, the obsession keeps getting better!  While we were in Napa, I bought these metal easels that can be used for writing on (menus or messages) or with magnets for things like pictures or recipes.  In the store they recommended using chalk ink on them.  I have never used chalk ink, but after seeing how this little store used it for their party set ups, I was pretty sold.  After researching the best chalk ink reviews, this is the one that I liked the most:

The finished product:

It is so easy to clean, I just used a wet wipe!
We have been using it as a fun way to send messages to Kit through out his day...

 (Yep, no clothes during breakfast means less laundry that day.♥)

I have a sheet of steel in my garage and I can't wait to think of all the things that my tin cutters and I can tackle together... This little obsession is just getting better and better!

Mia

Yesterday my mom came out to spend the day with us.  Ryder could hardly sleep the night before...

I had asked Ryder what he wanted to do for the day with his Mia, he wanted to go to the La Habra Children's Museum.

Ryder's number one fan loved listening to her brother sing 

"You've got to Move it Move it..."

 Watching the trains:

 Riding the carousel:

(He looks so little!)

Then after lunch, we had ice cream in cones.  Ryder was THRILLED!

Then after nap time, we crashed in Eden;s room with mounds of books and just read.

My mom does the voices to different characters and Ryder thinks it's the best.

It was such a great day!  Kit didn't get home until after 10p that night so to get some family time just made the kids' days!

We love you, Mia!!!  Come back soon!

making some effort: thrift store addition

In an effort to keep up with the challenge of picking a few days in the week where I get out of my work out and yard work clothes, I have been having some fun putting outfits together and feeling a little more dressed up! Recently I have been having some fun finding little items at thrift stores.  (I was really inspired by Jen Hatmaker in her book Seven to shop at thrift stores and I have been having some fun getting some good stuff!)

I noticed that some of my recent favorites have been from the Good Will and so I wanted to post them.

Did I mention that this is NOT a fashion blog, as evidenced by the photos and ensembles.♥

All the tops are thrifted:

(All together they came to less than $25! Yep, that's 5 tops and one pair of shoes!)

White top from the Loft:

 My baby girl helped me get ready. An adorable baby goes with everything I wear...Literally... 

(Truthfully, I pretty much haven't had privacy to get dressed since April of 2010♥.)

Another top from the Loft:

 This chambray top was American Eagle:

My first Mother's Day gift.  I love this necklace!

Thrifted Old Navy shirt:

 I love stripes, so this one just had to come home with me, and it was only three dollars!

 I got these Mossimo shoes at Good Will, never worn with tags still on for six dollars, IN MY SIZE!!! It was meant to be...

It's been really fun finding these little steals and getting to make a few fun outfits together with them.

Happy Memorial Day

I hope that you have a wonderful day. At some point I hope you have a chance to remember and reflect on the sacrifices of people that have given their lives for our freedom. 

We are so thankful!

creating: kitchen art with favorite lyrics

I have been wanting to make a change in our kitchen. We had gotten that Italian calendar on our honeymoon in Italy and I have loved having it up, but to be honest, after 10 years, I needed a little change. So here is the before:

Kit and I love the hymn, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus", So I decided to print them out on card stock.

I had a frame that I had gotten for 3 bucks at Target on clearance, and it came with a matte, so I just used orange spray paint to make it fit the space a little better:

 (If you decide to spray paint frame matte and it will be behind glass, I would use flat spray paint, not glossy.)

So here is the finished product:

I love seeing these lyrics on my wall.  Between making meals and cleaning them up, we sure spend lots of time in the kitchen so having them up as a reminder of where my focus should be is such a blessing! 

friendship

We got to watch our little buddy, Micah, on Tuesday.  He is so precious to us and I LOVE watching the friendship that he and Ryder have grow!

Making funny faces:

Playdough time:

 Bandaids:

 Outside lunch:

I can't wait to add Micah's baby brother Seth to this group!

A Napa Get away recap!

We are back and we had SO MUCH FUN!  I got Kit all to myself and we just had the best time being together, eating amazing food, staying in a beautiful place, and just enjoying some much needed alone time♥.

Here are a few highlights!

This was the first plane ride I have taken since 2008.  I was really excited and even though it was a short flight, that made it feel even more like a vacation!

The first place we ate was Gott's burgers:
It was so good!

Get the garlic fries, they were amazing!
Before heading to our resort, we walked around St. Helena.
This town has become a favorite of ours and we are so excited to go back!

Then we headed to Calistoga Ranch Resort and Spa, in Calistoga.
Our porch:

Complete with fireplace:
(We had so many great conversations out here!

 

Our room:
Waiting for us was a bottle of champagne and a chocolate mousse in celebration of our anniversary.

It had an outdoor shower.  
Yep.  We LOVED this place! 

We ordered room service our first night:

And talked by the fire:

The next day we started our day at the spa's steam room and pools:

 

To say that we were relaxed was a HUGE understatement...
We had brunch at French Blue in St. Helena:

French Blue's version of a bloody mary:
It was so tasty! 

We walked around the town and just had the best time relaxing and not feeling rushed!

We checked out the Culinary Institute of America:

 

Then we headed back to our place to get ready for dinner at Botega in Yountville:          
It was so fun to get dressed up!

(The resort lends cars out on a first come first serve basis FOR FREE, so we enjhoyed an evening with a Mercedes E550 CONVERTIBLE!
Sunset, In Napa Valley, in a convertible...
It was the best ride ever...

Botega was amazing!

Then we headed to the store for some in room snacks:
(Dear Lord, we were in heaven!)

 

Then, what do you do when you have just eaten dinner, and you have a bag full of tasty snacks?  You go for cocktails!
Yep, we rolled ourselves to Goose and Gander in St. Helena and sat tucked away with fun drinks in a leather tufted booth, feeling so connected and enjoying each other's company!

We ordered this scallop appetizer.
Between a chili cream sauce, fried green tomato, crisped prosciutto, avocado,  and a perfectly cooked scallop, I think that this may have been my perfect bite. 

 It was the best eating day I think we have ever had!
We had so much fun on our trip.  We had made three goals:
1. Connect
2. Eat amazing food
3. Feel rested
We were able to check them all off our list!

We were so excited to see the kids, though.  
We really missed them!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We got back late on Monday night and can I tell you that I am having the hardest time catching up?!? Between laundry and grocery shopping and just wanting to snuggle my kiddos, it has been taking longer than I anticipated to get back into the groove!  Sheesh...