Pool House Update

Christmas came early for us with the install of our hardwood floors. You never know if you're going to like something from a little swatch and I'm relieved that I love them. =) Josh is too. 

I'm also thrilled with the white subway tile walls and the basalt floor contrast and texture in the master bath.

UPDATE This is a terrible photo but the grout has been added to the kid's bathroom floor and I'm really loving the tiny black squares. Phew!

Also, apparently we are one in 7,700 people in LA trying to build a poolhouse without the pool. Who knew!

My mom and sister are practically done with their Christmas shopping. I keep telling myself that I have plenty of time.. I tried on black friday but we ended up buying a dishwasher, washer/dryer, refrigerator, and a label maker. Not so fun (except the label maker, low-key excited to label all the things). lol Here's what I wish I could have spent that money on instead.

The most amazing blush tassel throw for E's bed. Oh the cuddles!

And the most luxurious sleep sack for a new baby girl, ever. Do they make adult sizes? Zip me up.

And, carried over from last year, the most beautiful and silliest priced Christmas tree stand ever. 

Annnd here's the kid's Wish List for those that have asked. Should I tell them now or later their choices don't fit into the aesthetic of the new house?

Tiny Tim

We had a nice Thanksgiving shuffling between my side and Josh's side. Emerson loved Auntie Miss Emily's cookies and my Mil's turkey and gravy was perfection. At my Auntie Ruth's, Landon shared that he was thankful for his new baby sister. Unbelievably, not coerced or suggested prior. This kid..

We picked up a tree too. Our tiniest one yet. =)

Josh added the lights. The easiest task for him in all the years he's been putting lights on our tree. Emerson and Batman assisted.

And my mom made homemade ornaments with the kids to decorate it.

Tiny Tim is already fully of presents to give and brings much joy and childlike fun to the house. Not a normal year for us by any means, but a very special one nonetheless. 

We took our Christmas card pictures in the house this past weekend. Always an easy and enjoyable task. 

My brother in law is a saint.

Thanksgiving Feast

E had a Thanksgiving feast at school today. The classes were either the Pilgrims or the Indians. E's class were the Native Americans. Josh jokingly said our class got the Native Americans because E and another girl make our class the most diverse. lol

Many thanks to my mom for her help decorating.

Last week I had dinner with a dear friend. While we were eating I shared some fears I've been having about this pregnancy. At the end of our time together she asked if she could pray for me. So we sat in my car in a dark parking lot behind the restaurant and she prayed. But it wasn't a prayer really. It was more a plea, a covering, a denouncement. She prayed over this baby, over me carrying this baby. Then she moved on to my husband, my daughter, my son praying about very specific things. We didn't talk about them during dinner but unbeknownst to her, what she prayed were my exact fears and concerns for each one of them. The memory will forever be etched in my heart.

I share this very personal and meaningful time with you as an encouragement. We all need to have a prayer warrior in our inner circle, someone who will go to bat for us at the throne of glory. If you don't have one, I encourage you to seek one out. If you've never prayed before, find someone who has and ask them about it. If you are surrounded by church friends but don't have someone to pray with, then take that initial step of faith, and ask someone to pray with you.

God will meet you there.

Pool House Update

We emailed out our new address. Even though we aren't living there yet, we can receive mail so if you didn't get an email from me, send me a msg! 

This week they are finishing up the drywall, installing the interior doors, and prepping the exterior for the board and batten. 

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel in the attic. We decided to do carpet up here so it's really comfortable for the kids. I'm thankful Josh had the foresight to make sure the space was insulated, installed with air ducts, and lit properly so it could potentially be a great play space for the kids. And maybe as they grow older, a sweet spot to watch movies and have sleepovers. 

Our Architect prefers modern and I prefer more of a blend so one of the hard things is not really having the same vision for the house. Like our interior doors. I wanted two panel shaker, he recommended something else that was more streamlined and much more expensive. After much searching, Josh found our doors at a much cheaper price point at Home Depot and they are exactly what I wanted. This week they are being hung but soon they'll take them out again to paint. When they get put back in permanently they'll have black matte hinges and black matte door handles.

Once the drywall is completely finished, they'll install the floors. Guys, the floors were delivered last week and I'm dying to see them. I can't wait! Also, we finally ordered our IKEA kitchen and that is being delivered on Wednesday. We decided to buy Semi Handmade cabinet fronts to make the kitchen more high end while still staying within budget. I'm hoping that makes a big difference too. I'm still going back and forth between an all white kitchen and a two toned cabinet (white on top, different color on the bottom) kitchen.

They were supposed to start the bathroom tile this past week but it's been pushed till next week.

I'll do a Splurge and Save post when this all wraps up, but one place we splurged were the floors, the exterior door, and the large sliding glass door. We saved on the windows, the kitchen, and the interior doors. The bathrooms are still TBD because we are still searching for vanities and mirrors. I'll also do a Choices I Regret and Ones That I Love post too but I already know that one miss for me was not putting in pocket doors to the master bathroom and the master closet since the room is so small. And not having the money to add the roof over the deck.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend. I'm off to bed. Sweet dreams!

A Jiggly Jab and Other Things

Phew. It has been a week!

The most notable is the little learned how to climb out of the crib and I fear our easy bedtimes and peaceful nights are a thing of the past. Emerson is a rule follower so her transition to a toddler bed was pretty easy. We told her she couldn't get out of her bed and so she never did. In the morning she'd wait till we came and got her and at night she'd just roll around in her bed until she fell asleep. In retrospect, a dream toddler.

Landon is a bit more of a rascal so I'm not sure a simple, "You can't get out of bed. Call me if you need me." is going to work as well. We will see. Last night was his first in the toddler bed and he slept through and didn't get out in the morning till Josh came and got him. We will see how tonight goes. *fingers crossed

Certainly not a pretty picture but also the prettiest of all pictures. 

Last week Josh was really busy so it was nice having him around this morning when the kids got up and this evening when the kids went down. They need him and, as all the moms know, so do I. lol

And to round out this week, I've begun weekly shots of progesterone to ensure I don't go into early labor as I have in my previous pregnancies. Thankfully I can administer them at home but last night Josh and I realized that he cannot be the administrator. My a** is still hurting from his timid and excruciatingly slow and jiggly jab. Oh the things women go through for the sake of their husbands wanting a third child (Josh is that babymoon back on the table now? lol).

House update coming next.

Her first school picture. Where did my baby go?

But she is still the little girl who sucks her two fingers and holds her blankey. She's still the girl who wants me to stay with her until the last second before school starts. She's still the girl who is too scared to go into the living room by herself. She's still the girl who happily holds my hand and tells me her secrets. 

But I see the beginnings of her independence. And my greatest hope is that as she leaves me, her grasp on our Heavenly Father deepens. 

'Little one, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.' 1 John 4:4

A Teddy Bear Tea Party

Emerson's class hosted a teddy bear tea party yesterday as a way of teaching manners and etiquette. I was able to join the festivities so naturally I enlisted the help of my mom, the hostess with the mostest, to decorate. We had mini appetizers, party favors, tea party books, and special glow wands for excellent manners. It was so fun.

There are so so many opportunities to volunteer and get involved at this school but I've kept most of my volunteering to Emerson's class and activities. I enjoy getting to know the other kids in her class, seeing how she interacts with others, and observing how she responds to her teachers.

Grateful to Josh for encouraging me to be a stay at home mom, even though it would be financially easier if I wasn't.

Also, I'm exhausted. lol

Halloween 2018

Trunk or Treat, school Fall Festival and costume parade, and Trick or Treating. Phew! 

Sharon had this idea for a soft Batman costume since that's who Landon wanted to be..and then Luke went and made something so real looking that everyone thought I bought it from somewhere.

Underneath are black Hanna pj's. Isn't it incredible?! Sharon also found matching treat bags and figured out a golden lasso for Emerson's costume. 

The Batman's got to participate in the costume parade at E's school too. So sweet!

Guys, I ran into someone I knew from high school...looking like this. GAH!

Bonding over their love of candy.

This was the first year we trick or treated till after the sun went down. The kids went longer than years past and really seemed to enjoy the festivities. Last year we were trick or treating in Valencia. My, life has changed.