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new book, grilled cheese & organization

March 7, 2016

shannan
i am so excited for Shannan’s book!!
it doesn’t come out until September but you can pre-order it on amazon already.
don’t you want to be the first round of readers?!
i know i do!
i also know i am going to be buying this for everyone i know.
you won’t get charged until it’s shipped.
shannan is an amazing writer and lives so genuinely.
go pre-order her book right now!

(she didn’t ask me to share about her book – i just can’t contain my excitement for her!)

this was a recent text thread between annie and me:

(i was trying to watch a basketball game at the time of these texts )
_______________________________________________________________________

gc1
gc2
gc3
gc4
gc5
gc6
_________________________
holy cow.
i was really hungry for grilled cheese after that 20 minutes of texting.
ha ha ha!

and last thing on this monday… i am LOVING the monthly subscription from Paper Works by Jones Design Co!
it’s so pretty!
each month’s design is different.
last month’s was flowery beauty and this month’s is all FUN!
i mean – it’s RAINBOW-TIZED!
what is better than that???
🙂

ok so… my friends laughed at me and i know you will too but… for the FIRST time –
i made a weekly meal plan WITH a detailed grocery list AND i used it.
and i bought no other groceries!
i just used my list!
i told my friends afterwards “it’s crazy that I’ve never done that before! i feel so organized and accomplished!”
i am sure most of you already do that.
and you are shaking your heads.
but i am also sure that at least one of you does her grocery shopping the way i have been fro the past 20 years… winging it.
and it’s obviously been sufficient since no one in my family has starved – yet.
but it was also not efficient and caused frustration when i constantly forgot things.
and having a PLAN means less stress every day because i have planned what we were eating that night.
it’s mind blowing!
(i know i know – stop laughing! ha ha ha)

SO… i have to give credit to this pretty package that arrives every month.
it is changing my disorganized self in all the best ways.
i repeated that grocery list/meal plan 3 weeks in a row.
i am hooked!

the monthly kits are sold in different levels where you can print it yourself, enjoy it digitally or have it all printed & sent to you in the mail.
you can figure out which plan works best for you.

this print!
the perfect green and super cute!
and i really enjoy having the bible verse cards!
they are great to help with memorizing… to stick in a note to a friend… a kiddo’s lunch box!

CLICK HERE for the shop with $5.00 off your subscription to Paper Works!

and enjoy all the fun ways you can organize your day!

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molly - oh my goodness. laughed until i was crying tears to the grilled cheese text exchange. my oldest is the same age as annie. this is so something she would do. so hilarious.

sharon / tpt - holy triple cow! the grilled cheese presentation! laughed so hard. listen, you gotta start at the beginning with grilled cheese i guess, right? until you become a ‘pro!’ –where did i read recently (it was a singer or something? someone famous?) someone in the south made them a grilled cheese with mayo instead of butter! wow! (don’t tell Annie yet … it will just confuse her, lol!)

~i will be one of those Shannon book readers. i want to be like her when i grow up~

Amy - LOVE the grilled cheese conversation!!! <3 <3

elma - Oh my word I loved the grilled cheese!! That was just awesome!!!

Kerri - My favorite part is when you tell her to try and if she messes up it will still be ok. 🙂

Jenny B. - That conversation was hilarious. I love the clapping hands and celebration emoticons. You are such a good mom. 🙂

Jessica - Loved reading your grilled cheese conversation. You were so patient! I remember calling my mom the first time I made an egg.

Lisa - You were way more patient than I would have been texting through all that with your daughter! Haha!

Also going to look into that book. I follow her on instagram. 🙂

Kristin S - Oh my word. That grilled cheese text series is hilarious!

A few years ago one of my co-workers (single guy in his late 20’s at the time) called his mom from the grocery store looking for “cupcake mix”. Cupcake mix. He had no idea that cake mixes would work for cupcakes. Bless.

phyllis - Oh gosh it feels good to laugh!! That was priceless!

Patty - That was the most hysterical – typical teenager – parent – text exchange. OMGoodness I laughed SO hard while reading that!!

Andrea - I have read your blog for years and years. I’ve read (and reread) every archived post. I’ve cried, laughed, been challenged and encouraged. I’ve learned parenting strategies, read new books, tried new recipes, found new bloggers, and lived vicariously through every craft weekend. I’ve copied your decorating style, your fashion style, your origination tips and lived vicariously through your fitness life :). But despite the dozens of comments I composed in my head none of them have ever made it past my thoughts until today. Oh. My. Goodness! The text between you and Annie was so hilarious I was actually laughing out loud. Having kids of the same age that are old enough to do big things but need specific instructions, this just cracked me up! Thanks so much, I needed that laugh 🙂

Raylene - Thank you for sharing the grilled cheese convo between you and Annie. Hilarious!! It made me laugh out loud. Also made me hungry for grilled cheese!

marnie - i laughed so hard at that.
kid texts are the best.
I add laughing cow cheese to the kids grilled cheese…and now i’m the MASTER grilled cheese maker.

Jeri - Now I am craving grilled cheese…

Rebekah - This is the funniest thing I’ve read in forever!!!!😂😂😂😂

amy jupin - you are such a patient mom!
after a few mins i would have texted back “make a PB&J!”
hahahaaaa!

Debbie H - And THAT is how my kids get to 150 – 200 texts PER DAY. (which drives me crazy). They can be knuckleheads. Ya gotta feel bad for teachers. 🙂 It was very funny though.

Lee Ann - The grilled cheese texts made my day! That was HILARIOUS!!!!

Gabby - Thanks for sharing that hilarious grilled cheese text conversation. I love it!

Rachel - Oh my gosh! I laughed so hard at your grilled cheese text exchange! Describes teens so well. They’re so smart and so dumb at the same time.

Martha - That is way funny about the grilled cheese. My niece wanted to make grilled cheese and her mom told her to butter the bread and she said which side! Love your post they are so real. I’m from Plymouth, In. Close to Goshen

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rainbow rearranged

January 2, 2016

View on Flipagram

i just love pictures!
i put this together of all my instagram pics from 2015 and just smile so big as it plays.

over the break i had to do something with poor annie’s room.
i knew she would be bringing more in at christmas and there was just no room.
she had SO many clothes that she was just living out of laundry baskets, never could find what she needed and everything was always wrinkled.
i say “she has so many clothes” meaning – summer clothes still out, last years clothes she’d outgrown, and all the clothes talby passed onto her that didn’t quite fit yet.
all in one space that is meant to hold about 1/3 of what it was holding.
i sat with her pretty much all day long and we organized.
we piled everything into groups – ALL pants… ALL shorts… long sleeve… short sleeve… etc.
she tried on so many things that day.
in the end she had one bag to donate, one that was for next year and three bags she’d outgrown!
suddenly she had gained all her floor space back in her room!
when we were finally organized i asked if she would like to rearrange her room since we had the time and it was so clean?
YES!
(i should’ve gotten out my real camera & taken these pics because they are grainy with my phone… but i didn’t)

when we had her furniture the way she liked i recalled i had several things for her walls that i’d forgotten about!
seriously… my brain!
i found the giraffe from a shop called Makewells.
the frame is from target as well as the floral comforter.
her name pillow is from ChrissieGraceDesigns… special from a fundraiser way back when. 🙂

IMG_0162-2
her curtains were made from fabric at hobby lobby and i “lined” them with a flat sheet from walmart.

she has more prints she’d like to hang on this wall yet but we need to get some colorful frames first.
the bunting up top was a gift from Joy’s Hope and the arrows came from AidiesHideaway.
and that is the 11×14 sized canvas in my shop.
it’s 25% off this week!! Use the code 25OFFPHIL48 at checkout.

i found these shadow box type frames at TJMaxx this summer.
i found two at one store and a week later found two a another store… it was meant to be… right?
they are so darn cute and THE perfect shade of turquoise!
i hung scripture cards from TheLovelyWords on the clips.
it looks like her shop doesn’t have any right now but i saw these cute ones too when i searched etsy. 🙂

all of her furniture is second hand… that’s just how we roll.
add a coat of paint and it’s like new.
it’s pretty much that way in our whole house actually…

and just in case you wondered how it looked before… here is the link to when we surprised her with a room makeover in 2014!
complete with paint colors, a young Stanley and a little video.

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meg duerksen - Karen click the link at the end of this post to the original post about her room.

Karen - Hi– did you ever post the colors for this room? My daughter loves it and we’d love to do this exact rainbow in her room. Thanks so much!

meg duerksen - julie i wish i had some tips but i am the world’s laziest painter. 🙂 i spray paint when i can which is what i did for annie’s bed and bedside table because the colors were so bright. the dresser was semi gloss trim paint. some times i sand and prime… sometimes i don’t. just depends on the project.

Amy Lynne - Your flipbook was so much fun! What a great idea!

Kirsten - So happy!! I love it. I went to Target today and spied some awesome curtains. Brought them home, hung them up and then thought, hmmm, I’ve seen these before. And then it dawned on me. They are nearly identical to A’s new ones! I’m feeling so validated in my life choices now. 🙂 🙂

Stacy - My middle daughter and Annie must be kindred spirits! She wanted orange and pink in her room…we compromised and she has a seriously gorgeous sunrise orange ceiling and light gray walls. The pinks are on her bed and she is so happy. Now that I’m seeing those cute shadow boxes with the clips, I think I may have to do a DIY for that same daughter’s room. Thanks for sharing!

Julie - Just curious, what is your process for painting furniture? Thanks 🎨😊

cyndilohoo - That video made me smile! Beautiful way to look back at the year.

Gevay - Happy New Year, Meg! I loved your Flipagram! The colorful pics speak joy.

Whitni - Her whole room is so happy! I seriously wish I could hire you as my interior decorator. I love your use of color!

Krista - Beautiful video! Brought tears to my eyes and you picked the most perfect song to go with the photos.

amy jupin - it’s so bright and cheery and FUN.
you are so good at decorating with that in mind.
you know me…colorphobic!
also that video is RAD!!!!

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a fall walk

November 9, 2015

kansas has such a beautiful fall season with the best temperatures.
but we know how soon it will change from the colorful leaves to everything dead and brown.
so we got outside this past weekend and we brought the dogs.

you’d have thought those dogs had NEVER been outside before?!
they were so happy!

of all the leaves, my favorite trees are always the red ones.

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Andrea - GORGEOUS!!!!

Amy - Gorgeous colors!! Thanks for sharing!

Mindy - Stunning photos of the fall leaves and such cute kids and dogs : )

Kendra - Such gorgeous photos!!

library momma - What camera did you shoot with? Nice!

Lynne - Hi,

Your dogs got a very special treat this weekend. Is one of your dogs a labordoodle? We have a labordoodle and Sadie would be so happy to have gotten that great walk you had. I was also happy to see you with your children as well!!!!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - ohhhh mother nature! you win, again!!

Julie - Such stunnig leaf colours, especially against that blue sky!!

Jennifer - I love your photos and was wondering what camera you use?

Becky Fouts - your photos are stunning!! I can’t quit looking at them, thank you!

Carrie - So pretty! I always love all your posts, but I especially love photo-heavy ones!

Stephanie - What a beautiful post! I miss fall….

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Tishomingo

October 10, 2015

for my 40th birthday my girlfriends surprised me with a road trip girls getaway!
i was completely out of the loop!
it was the craziest feeling.
but i love them and they know me so well!
they took to me Tishomingo, Oklahoma to stay at The LadySmith Bed & Breakfast.
Tishomingo is the home town to country singer Miranda Lambert and she owns The Ladysmith.
It was SO COOL!!!
(these next 7 pics are from the their website)
building_1_lg-4c56ff1a french_quarter_1_lg-601517d7 french_quarter_3_lg-627f778a 2nds_please_1_lg-014a9662 losa_lounge_3_lg-de13a684 losa_lounge_2_lg-17b132fd losa_lounge_1_lg-ff3f71de
we spent 85% of our time in these chairs right here!

I was in the Lacy Jill room… with a headboard made up of hundreds of leather jean patches?!
how creative is that?
and two of us stayed in the Curtain Call room.
it was very rock star in there!

i loved every detail!
the light fixtures, the textures on every wall, the colors, the patterns!
it was like being in my dream house where you literally get to do ANYTHING you want with decor!
all the wallpaper looked 3D and most of them weren’t! You would touch it and expect it to have texture and it didn’t!
and the wood walls everywhere with chippy paint?
i die.

now… the only downfall to Tishomingo is that it is a tiny town… like the one i live in.
so when you roll in to town on a sunday afternoon there is literally nothing to do.
at all.
we were told the best place to get pizza was from the Quick Mart.
oh my.
we hit the grocery store and filled in around our QMart pizza with some healthy snacks and some not so healthy.

The Ladysmith is smart and provide a bartender all evening.
we were almost the only people there so it basically our own private bartender!
PERFECT!
we talked for hours and then we watched Pitch Perfect 2 because that was the best movie option we had.

the next morning we enjoyed breakfast served to us in the beautiful white dining room.
it was so nice to just be served food with out even having to order!
no thinking required!
next we headed next door to Spa 211.
oh my word… wow!
i was blown away by this wonderful place in such small middle-of-nowhere town.
it was gorgeously decorated, smelled amazing and was so relaxing!

i’m all ready to be pampered. 🙂

the whole place – every room – had that gray faux wood tile!
those floors are tile!!
have you seen the tile that looks like wood up close in real life?
crazy beautiful.
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i had a 90 minute Herbal Body Wrap!
it was bonkers.
they cover your body in sugar scrub and then shower you off – all while you are laying on the table!
then you are wrapped in warm towels that are steamed in fragrances, then your whole body is wrapped into a foil lined blanket and then you basically steep like a cup of tea for 20 minutes. i dazed in & out of sleep.
then they put shea butter over your whole body too.
talk about dream birthday?!
that was worth turning 40!

what an awesome place to have in Tishomingo!
such a gift for the community as well a wonderful place for visitors!
we talked with the owner quite a bit and i was so impressed.
i can’t say enough how beautiful it was!

The Pink Pistol was a fun store FULL of gifts and “cowgirl” bling.

attempting to get a selfie with the welcome mural…

it looked better with all of us instead. 🙂

i was surprised they even had a movie theater in Tish!

so on monday… several of their shops were open.
i found that wood arrow and brought it home.

this trunk looks like a girls weekend doesn’t it?

but on our way out of town we got side tracked to a pumpkin patch… we couldn’t resist.

ha ha ha!
rear views are over rated anyway…

just like with every girls trip… God used my friends to love on me, fill me up and challenge me.
we get down to the big stuff pretty darn quick.
like even before we left our city limits on the way to Tishomingo!!
they speak truth. they keep it real. they go deep.
and we laugh like crazy.
i came home having felt seen and heard.

so here is my advice:
Go to Tishomingo, Oklahoma with your girls
(or your spouse would be fun too… if he likes spas and shopping?)
but go on a Friday – Sunday so you can enjoy the shops and restaurants and other small towns close by.
maybe pack some food/snacks to have just in case. 🙂
and DEFINITELY go to Spa211.
that is an absolute must.

ps: no one in Tish knows me or asked me to write this post.
i just like to share my favorite stuff with you!

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April R - just wanted to say a late Happy Birthday and I’m so happy for you – that looks like an amazing way to celebrate you and 40

Flower Patch Farmgirl - HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like so much fun. You had me at “then you steep like a cup of tea”!

Brittney - My grandparents lived in Tishomingo for most of my life! As a child I would stay a few weeks with them during the summer…back when Tishomingo was a ghost town! -the highlight of our day was going to Sonic for happy hour! I learned to drive at the age of 14 in that town -so many memories! Anyway, it really has turned into a darling place…it makes me so happy to see it thrive! I live in a town about 30 miles from Tish called Ada (shout out to all the other locals!) It sounds like you had a wonderful trip with your girlfriends! I’m hoping to make it to your neck of the woods soon! Fingers crossed on the craft weekend lottery!

Deb Meyers - i’M THINKING Tish won’t know what hit it, after this post, Meg!

dmeyers

Melissa - Where did you get your hello shirt?

Melissa - How do you get friends like this!! Most of the time mine drain me mentally and physically!! You are a lucky girl meg!

Katie - Awesome! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

Cassie - I am so blessed to call this little jewel of town, home. Thank you so much for all your praise for it.

Tony Reese - Rhonda,I am so happy 😊 you enjoyed your stay in Tishomingo. I am from here, and never , ever thought it would be any vacation destination. A few years ago, it was a ghost town. There was nothing here, but good people. Once Miranda Lambert put her mark on the town, it seemed like everyone else followed. All of those shops, boutiques, Spa 211, and the Indie theatre were nonexistent. Too bad you missed Miranda. She pops in from time to time, and is treated like a normal person. I think that’s why she’s chosen Tishomingo to come for r&r. I’m glad you had a happy birthday 🎂. Thanks for posting.

Rhonda - Tishomingo IS my hometown – so glad you found out what a truly wonderful place it is! Small towns rock, they are full of people who care about one another and work to support others – thanks for sharing the info about Baker’s Acres – they are hometown people who believe in their community!

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fun stuff.

September 4, 2015

have you seen this fun video.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
it makes me so happy.

these running shoes!!!
they are crazy bright yellow.
but i kind of crazy love them… soft and cushy!
they were here at Finish Line.

FullSizeRender-23 copy
the girls learned to play Dutch Blitz at camp this summer.
i’ve heard of it all my life but i have never learned… yet.
they wanted to get the game as soon as they were home.
we couldn’t find it locally at our stores so we ordered it off amazon.
they’ve been playing each other non-stop.
(the UNO cards in the top corner have nothing to do with Dutch Blitz.

i am sure i am WAY behind on what’s cool with nail stuff but i found these and super like them!
they are really easy to use and FAST!
and i could bring them in my carry on for all my trips this summer not having to worry about another liquid.
it’s nice to just have in my purse too.
so you probably already use these but i hadn’t even seen them before!
i don’t know why they are faster than cotton balls and the bottle… but they are!
i found them at walmart and they probably cost 20 times more than for what you would get out of the bottle but it’s still only $2. 89.

TALBY GOT HER BRACES OFF!!!
she is the funniest girl.
she was SO happy and then got the retainer and was SO mad.
she was all over the place emotionally that day.
but what a knock out smile!! i love that girl.

annie found out about the show Chopped.
craig and i used to watch it but i am so not into food that i couldn’t keep watching.
i mean… who eatS octopus cooked with gummy bears?
can you just help me make a real dinner for 4 picky kids????
but annie heard about it and came home and put it on the dvr.
what she has been watching (and now we ALL are watching!) was the Chopped Teen Tournament!

it is truly adorable!
chopped
they are all teenagers trying for the prize of $25,000 and a scholarship to culinary school.
i cried on every show.
i am a dork.
since she has been watching Chopped… annie has asked “can i make dinner?”
ummm YES!!!
she made one of our favorite meals.
We call it Sicilian but i don’t really know why and i doubt it has much to do with Sicily.
and it definitely has NO nutritional value… oy!
but they looooove it.
it’s a butter, cream & parmesan cheese sauce… with ham.. over pasta.
and she made it all by herself!
i hope this becomes a thing around here!
i would LOVE to share cooking duties with anyone who wants to do it.
yay for The Food Network!
seriously… find that show and watch it with your kids.
it’s the sweetest!!

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Flower Patch Farmgirl - Dutch Blitz!!!
Cory’s family is all bonkers for this game.
We’ll have to play it next time we’re together.
HAHAHAA!

And yes, I’m behind on my blog reading. Yes, I miss you right now.

Charlton - My 6 year old loves to watch Cutthroat Kitchen. She’s a super picky eater and would probably never eat what they cook, but she loves to watch the different challenges and sabotages. 🙂

Cassandra - LOVED the video! Thank you for that, just what I needed this morning. Now the only problem is I want to go watch several movies 🙂

Amanda - Life at Cloverhill - I love Dutch Blitz!! I learned at a friends’ cottage years ago and my family has been hooked ever since. It’s our go-to rainy day game.

Jenny B. - Yay for Talby’s braces! and Yay for Annie’s cooking! I haven’t ever been able to get into watching Chopped. I think it’s because the set is so dark and gray. Seriously. 🙂 We’ve been watching Carnival Cravings, and our 6-year-old told us last night that Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives is his favorite food show. 🙂

Sara - I wish my kids would show an interest in cooking instead of always baking! We make a dish similar to Annie’s “sicilian” but we put peas in it, so we think we are healthy! HA!

Jen - Silly question: I see your fruit/veggies in a glass jar. How do they hold up? I feel like they would get mushy or moldy really fast? I LOVE the idea but wondered how they last? Or maybe fruit doesn’t stick around your house long enough to go bad! HAHA

Been playing Dutch Blitz all my life (probably because I’m from PA Dutch country!). It’s the BEST! Glad they’re enjoying it!

Stephanie Wilson - Okay, that video made me cry and laugh the entire time. Anybody else try and name every movie? Love your shoes and that Annie is cooking! Lucky mama 🙂

sharon / tpt - first if all, you have the cutest dang little glasses eye peeking through on that car shot! pretty eyes, girl! . . . and not for not I have the same video posted too. SO engaging I had to trace down every movie, dance, and actors on YouTube. yah, I know, get a live, right? 🙂

Amber - I love those polish removers and Dutch Blitz too.

Krista - My favorite running shoes!! Brooks Glycerin, so squishy and wonderful!

Juli - Congrats on even one of your kids showing interest in cooking! I couldn’t get any of mine to learn much when they were in high school–they always had something else they “needed” to do. Now in their 20s (two gals and a guy), they are all GREAT cooks! So rejoice! One of yours is on her way!

Lindsey Jo - ypu should try cut throat kitchen next! it’s a lot of fun!

Jenn - That video totally made me smile! Who doesn’t love that song and who doesn’t love to dance!!!!

Thanks for the tip on the polish remover. I’m a big polish girl and had not heard of it.

Yay for help with dinner, yay for big happy straight smiles!

Happy Friday!

Lee Ann - We love Dutch Blitz and Chopped! Keep your eyes open for the next Master Chef Jr. I think it should be starting again soon. She will love it! You will all love it! The things those kids can cook is amazing!

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flowers, roller coasters, football & cake

August 30, 2015

since school has started i am missing my lazy mornings on the deck.
and this is totally sad because it’s PERFECT out there!
nice cool breeze and the flowers are growing like bonkers.

i have never grown hibiscus before.
i thought it was a tropical flower or something but i picked it up at our nursery and it’s done so well!
it’s very fancy pants and dramatic.

two weeks ago craig took the kids to Kansas City for a Royals game & Worlds of Fun.
i don’t like roller coasters.
not at all.
i did some when i was younger but i have more memories of sickness and no memories of enjoying a roller coaster.
once in jr. high at a carnival i had a huge screaming meltdown to “STOP THE RIDE!!!” because i would surely die in the next two minutes if not.
they let me off.
it wasn’t my finest moment.
i also have slight (major) hysteria about haunted houses but we can save that for another post.
and we won’t even talk about the vomiting.
the last time i rode a roller coaster was when annie was a baby.
i gave it one last shot.
i hated it.
i was positive the headline would read “Mother of 5 Dies on Roller Coaster… who will care for her children now?”
i said “i am done with these forever.”
the end.
so… i don’t go to Worlds of Fun because craig & i don’t think we should pay $40 for me to walk around for 8 hours.
and that means i got to stay home!
A L O N E.
talk about dreamy right?
i even got an over night at home alone!!!
it was absolutely the best.
i love my family to the max but alone time is so good for recharging me!
and my kids had a blast!
craig sent me this picture from the Royals game… they are pretty cute!

i did some meal prep and i worked on curtains for the craft house.

later in the week i pulled weeds, cut down dead flowers at the craft house and i cut these pretty ones too!
i also cleaned the kitchen. (obviously)
ha!
because this is NOT how it normally looks 98% of the time.

Talby started 8th grade. Annie joined the middle school by starting 5th grade!
didn’t i just blog about how scared she was that first day of kindergarten?!!
BOO.
whether i like it or not… school started.
the boys were already gone at morning football practice so i didn’t get a photo of them.
volleyball is going for the girls and this year my boys are on the same team in football!
this has never happened.
i can’t wait!

scott is a senior (whaaaat?!!) and Sean is a freshman.

these are scott’s senior buddies.
it’s fun (and kind of crazy!) to watch them turn into men right before our eyes!

friday night was a scrimmage and next week the real games start.
🙂

i made a new schedule for me for working out… i am a visual person.
i like to check stuff off.
and as you can see i am a month away from the big 4-0.
oy veh.

annie loves to bake and i suggested a back-to-school cake.
she searched pinterest for chocolate cake and landed on this one but only the cake.
we made the frosting by melting half a bag of chocolate chips and adding that to powdered sugar.
because that was all we had.
and it was delicious!!

but just wanted to be sure you saw THE REAL kitchen too…not just the clean version.

stanley also likes when annie bakes. 🙂

this week i am working hard on everything for Camp Create.
it’s coming up quick!
and my 21st anniversary is happening on thursday!
and games start for talby and the boys.
it’s going to be a really good week… i have already decided. ha ha ha

today i am meal prepping again.
and maaaybe a quick nap.

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Lisa - Thank you for showing the “real” kitchen. I needed to see that today.

ileana - I love your kitchen! Where did you find that cute basket with the napkins in it?

Jenn - I feel exactly the same way about roller coasters and most rides, even Ferris Wheels. I’m going to die, plan and simple.

Your flowers are beautiful!

40’s awesome! Now 42 (me), not so great! I’m embracing it. What else are ya gonna do 😉

Tobi Layton - I love this post for so many (sort of weird) reasons! 1) My ultimate fantasy is a day (or two, or six) in my own home alone! 2) My kitchen has multiple personalities, too, and 3) Your kids go to my alma mater! I just happened upon your blog by coincidence, but it’s so cool to see familiar faces and places! Coach S. used to be my track coach and my brothers played football for him, too! Small world!

Melanie Sidwell - I just love Annie’s cheetah shirt! Where did you get it? My new 6th grader loves big cats and would wear a shirt like this with pride.

Gevay - Family life is so fun! Everyone is so much older than when I first starting reading the blog. Time goes so fast.

Rae - I am a long-time follower and I was wondering if you’d give us some advice on mothering boys? My oldest son has completely undone any thinking I had about raising boys. I was totally unprepared for the emotions and drama. He is a first-grader and I am always surprised when he meltdowns over something. I expect this from my daughter — but not him. I am told this is not uncommon. I grew up with all girls and have no baseline with what is normal boy behavior. Since you have two in high school — any advice on how to survive the elementary/middle school years? For either boys or girls? 🙂

Lorieloo - Well. I found a flaw in our friendship.
I love me some rollercoasters.
😉
Did you know we had a friendship?
Has Tara outed me on that yet?
Maybe I should just stop talking now.
Ok, bye. Happy Monday.

Heather S. - WOW – just realized that means you were 18(!!!!) when you got married. That is super young! We were 21 when we got married and took a TON of flack for it (despite having dated since we were 15).

marli - i love that you shared both versions of your kitchen! and your littlest in 5th grade?!?!? cray. i still remember watching the video of her reading the giant squid book. precious!!!

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last week of summer

August 13, 2015

so… i feel like i was JUST writing about being ready for summer and now it’s over.
time is so dumb.
i decided to just dump a bunch of pics here and talk about what’s been going on.

this summer i let my girls into the world of starbucks.
until this summer i have always said no to them getting Starbucks and i have no idea why but i caved and now it’s a special treat for the girls when we are out and about. we don’t have one in our town so it’s a rare treat.
and the Smores fraps are already gone which means summer is over right?

we have been to all the restaurants everywhere.
we have visited the water parks.
and the pools.

i have enjoyed a full month of morning coffee right here while my kids sleep in or watch cartoons.

i helped scotty dye his hair for no reason other than total fun.

these four were hired as helpers at the craft house. 🙂
the boys have been working for almost two weeks… the girls one afternoon.

i finally finished the back stair way with a final coat of white and three coats of varnish.

treats at the craft house for hard workers.

Annie tried to pick her favorite color at home depot while i tried to pick a replacement color for the purple on the outside of the Craft House.

the previously brown bedroom is now “Painter’s White”
Sean, Scott and Craig have power washed, scraped, sanded, primed and are now painting the house.
SO MUCH WORK!
i am super proud of all of them.
we dreamed for a weekend about painting the whole house white.
it would be GORGEOUS!!
but in the end we knew we just didn’t have the time it would take to re-do everything.
we recalled that we have five kids, two homes, two jobs, football season, volleyball season, and a life AND its a THREE STORY house… so we decided to just fix what is there. 🙂
except the purple is going navy.
making grown up decisions is a a bummer sometimes.

we looked on craigslist for a few more chickens to add to our flock.
we didn’t know what we were headed into (like usual on craigslist) and we came home with these weirdos!
Talby’s is Cecelia…a silkie.
Annie’s is Pearl and we think she’s a silkie mix.
Sean’s is Sadie and she’s a show girl.
they are the crazy looking chickens!

i can’t not be outside this summer.
it’s my calm and quiet place.
every morning and evening.

these two are becoming expert grasshopper hunters.
they eat several every morning.

my parents came to stay the night for talby’s baptism.
we about passed out from the heat eating out there.
it must have been the hottest day we’ve had!
OH MY WORD!

talby stood up in front of our whole church family and gave her testimony.
she said she wants to be a missionary when she grows up.
and then she was baptized.
i was crying the whole time.
i am so proud of her.

we named this chicken Big Bertha.
she’s bigger than all the other girls and no one likes her but me.
i love her black beak and black feet!

this is why the dogs are getting so good at catching grasshoppers… because there are a million!
this ginormous spider is hanging out in the fenced area of the chicken coop.
she’s smart enough to be too high for the chickens to get to.
and a place where her web stays uninterrupted.
i’m terrified of her but totally intrigued and curious.
i like to check on her everyday.
Pearl’s eggs are SO TINY!!
it’s hilarious.
my friend said two eggs = one regular egg but i can’t imagine that to be true.
these are bitty bitty.
like an american girl doll kind of omelet.
ha!

back to the craft house today for more trim paint for me, outside paint for the boys and curtains need to get finished.
and school starts in FOUR DAYS!! yikes!
my only concern is getting up in time to get out the door!
how will this possibly happen?

we may be late the first month of school…..

#thestruggleisREAL

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Eliza - Aloha – I stop by once every so often here on your blog, and this may be the first or second time commenting. Let me offer appreciation of the ongoing sharing of your family life here – all the aspects chosen to be public.

I’m a bug lover, so I can tell you that your spider is an argiope. It is a big family of spiders, and we have a variety over here in Hawaii. Kansas has two. Yours is a Argiope aurantia. They’re on a site if you look up “Spiders of Kansas”. The boy spiders are very very small and live on the other side of the web. That way, they share meals. There will be an egg case tucked somewhere so they’ll come back next year. They are very shy with humans.

Enjoy your fall season. Peace to you & yours. Eliza

Lori - Loved seeing all your pictures ❤️

Lisa - ok, don’t get mad but…the Craft House screams “PAINT ME WHITE!”
thanks for sharing your Summer pics! I agree, it went too fast!

Rachel - Im not sure where the summer went either, but I am ready for the Fall for sure. Lets just hope it brings some cooler weather.

Anna - the picture of you dyeing Scott’s hair…..he could be an avett brother! he looks like Seth. which by the way, thanks for talking about them on your blog. I’ve fallen in love. I went to their concert at red rocks this summer…..best concert ever. EVer.

Angela - Oh meg, I love it when you dump a bunch a pictures!!!!!! It looks like you all have been having an amazing time! I can’t wait to see the pictures of the craft house with the new trim paint, I bet you’re happy to get rid of your most unloved color, purple!! lol So happy and proud for Talby, it’s such a special moment in her life, you’ve done a good job Mama!

Sarah Lahrman - Love all your summer pics. Isn’t it nice to hold tight to them…summer days just seem to pass by too quickly (especially in Indiana). I adore your chickens. A co-worker of mine have some exactly like yours and they have named them after opera singers! Enjoy those last few days…our kiddos started back this Wednesday.

Chris - I love seeing all your summer pics – especially the dogs and chickens. Thanks for sharing your summer fun!

Sarah - I love reading your posts and I’m still enjoying all the color in your great life. 🙂
We’re back to school in a couple weeks and I am so not ready!

Elma - Awesome pictures and what a wonderful summer!! I can’t stand that it is time for school again!! Now with the new chickens did you just put them with the other ones and no problems with them all getting along??

Ranee - and the rest of your summer and photos are so great! long live summertime.

Ranee - I don’t know why, but the American Girl sized omelet…can’t.stop.laughing.

bekkah - congratulations on Talby’s baptism!! that’s so great 🙂
I would love to spend a little bit of time in a town with no starbucks. i’ve got city fatigue over here in The Bay area.

Julie - What a great summer you have all had. Those grasshoppers are huge, so glad I don’t see things like that in New Zealand.
Enjoy the last few days before the madness of school rushes start.

Maggie - looks like a great summer. Are the donuts from Drubers? I grew up in Newton and miss those!

DB - Looks like a perfect summer to me! Being able to relax outside like that is adding fuel to my dream of getting out of the ‘city’…
I love that black and white striped skirt!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - . . . all those darling summer freckles.

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