Hurry up, summer!

This season in our lives has been SO CRAZY BUSY! It's amazing how much people manage to pack in to a day...a week...a month... Yep - we are so GUILTY! Our days are packed with stuff and A LOT of it.

We do it to ourselves and then we complain. Okay, Brett doesn't really complain, but I'll confess that I'm not as strong in that area. Let's be honest, I enjoy seeing my husband every once in awhile.

Well, change is coming. (Hopefully along with some sunny summer weather. I love the beauty of Oregon, but I'm pretty sure we had every season wrapped up into one day this past Saturday...enough already!) At the end of this month, I will be leaving my job at ClubSport. I've been there for just under 2 years and have really enjoyed it. The only thing I haven't enjoyed is the almost 2 hours worth of a commute each day. YUCK! So, after much thought and even more prayer, we felt like it was time to make a change. We're not sure what's next for me, but we do know that everything will work out. It always does.

Before we get too wrapped up in figuring out the future, we are going to focus on enjoying our summer together. Brett and I are coming up on our 2 year anniversary and both summers since then haven't exactly been...umm, what's the word...relaxing, enjoyable, together time.... Our first summer after getting married, Brett was working for a paving company and would literally work from sun up to sun down. He would then come home completely wiped out to a wife with a runny nose, itchy, watery eyes and a completely stuffed up head. I've never had worse allergies in my life and I was miserable. Then, last summer, Brett came down with a case of mono that knocked him completely flat for almost 8 weeks. I'm talking fever of 104, 2 visits to ER, can't get off the couch, can't lift an arm to feed himself or even get a drink, throwing up on the floor, lose 30 lbs, sick. I couldn't even go into work because someone had to be with him throughout the day in case he needed something. Craziness!

We look back on all of that now and laugh (there will be some good stories for our kids some day) and we realize that things could have been much worse. So even though all of that happened, we are very thankful for everything God has given us and what we've learned from it all. And now we are looking forward to what's in store for us this time around. :) I'll be finishing up work at the end of May and Brett will be getting done with teaching by mid-June. We don't have a whole lot planned for the summer months, but one thing is for sure - whatever we do, we'll be doing it together and enjoying every minute!

Jackson West Billing

Nephew #2 -
born April 17
7lbs. 13oz. and 20 inches long

Welcome to the world, baby!

Lazy days

Oh how I love lazy days. You know - the ones where there is absolutely nothing on the schedule - you get to relax and do whatever your little heart desires. Well, if I'm lucky, I get one every couple weeks, which isn't too bad. That one day is something I look forward to more than a lot of other things. Don't get me wrong, my personality is one that requires the go-go-go lifestyle, and I enjoy those things that keep us ever so busy. However, I can't deny how nice it is and very much needed to have a day here and there when you can just "aaahhhhh" - breathe! So what do I do on days such as these? Like I said - whatever I want.

Here is what a perfect lazy day for me might look like - minus the hubby. (It's a snapshot of a day when Brett is busy with work, baseball or golf. If he's around, this day looks completely different, and even more wonderful, because not only would it be a lazy day, but a lazy day with my husband. It couldn't be much better than that).

* When I wake up, it's not to my alarm, but rather because I've gotten all the sleep I need and I'm simply not tired any more. Preferrably, the clock would read somewhere between 8:30 and 9:30am. (oh and the sun is out - not a cloud in the sky).

* Time to curl up on the couch (still in my pajamas) with a nice hot cup of coffee, a blanket, and a good book. Here's what I'm currently reading

* An extra long shower, no rush to get my hair and make-up done, and plenty of time to pick out a comfy, but super cute outfit.

* A little outing that might include stops at Craft Warehouse, Tuesday Morning, Goodwill (maybe I'll find a treasure or two), Ross and of course Target - don't worry, I won't go crazy. I just get a few things that are super on sale and are a great addition to my home or wardrobe. Some of my previous finds include a $7 mirror, $2 candle and $4 candlestick all from Ross, and $4 frames from Tuesday Morning, all pictured below.

* Back home for some lunch and maybe even a little cat nap while watching HGTV - something that isn't really "allowed" when Brett is home.

* Blog surfing (particularly on blogs that have to do with crafting or decorating) so I can get some good inspiration - and satisfy my guilty pleasure of blog stalking. While surfing, I found this adorable idea. We don't have a family yet, so therefore no "Family Rules," but this little gem of an idea is something I will definitely keep in mind for the future. Such a fun and creative idea for a kids play room or even a family room.

and last, but not least - because it's just a part of who I am,

*straightening and cleaning up the house until Brett gets home. Mainly using this bad boy of a dustbuster. I love this thing and Brett will confirm that it was by far my favorite wedding gift. I know, I know - I'm SO cool.

lazy day . . . I await you!

Another Project

Every once in awhile I get really tired of/bored with something. Once that feeling sets in, it doesn't go away until I change it. So. . . .

I've had these three mirrors (which I don't know why I ever purchased) hanging on our wall for some time now. For whatever reason, I've been SO OVER them lately, and finally decided to do something about it. For $12 I created a new look - Nothing too spectacular, but it will keep me satisfied for at least a little while.

the "blah" mirrors:

the $12 dollars:the "happy for now" look:

a sleepover :)

On Friday night we had the pleasure of watching this little guy

(don't worry - I let him tear up this old phone book)

so that these two

could go on this birthday suprise.

It's always so much fun for us to have Sterling! Having him overnight gave me my first "real" taste of motherhood and contrary to what others might think about taking a baby overnight that's not yours - it didn't make me any less excited to have my own. :)