Bubble Bath!

Thankful

It's dusk and I'm sitting on my sofa, listening to the crickets, watching the light get lower and lower. My children are asleep in their "comfy cozy" beds. Everyone is healthy and well. My dear husband just finished mowing the yard and it looks great for being the end of summer in Louisiana. My house is semi-straight. As straightened up as a house with 2 kids can be I suppose. The floors are clean, at least. This afternoon my five year old rode her bike (with home made streamers attached to the handlebars) down the street to a friends house. I helped Jack along on his tricycle. The kids played and played while my friends and I talked and talked. We didn't gossip or complain. We just talked like we always do. I
Am so incredibly thankful for my friends and the encouragement they provide. They don't have to say anything special or give me compliments. I just enjoy feeling comfortable talking with them. I enjoy that we can spend the last hour or two of the day together before daddies arrive home from work and supper needs to be cooked and baths need to be given and dishes need to be done and toys need to be picked up. What a blessing to have neighbors and dear friends to share these times with. What a blessing to have a home filled with people who genuinely love and even like each other. What a blessing to have kids who play well together and enjoy reading stacks of books with their mother on the sofa after lunch and think grits and eggs and fruit for dinner is wonderful. I am thankful tonight. Very very thankful.

First Sno-Cone of the Summer

Furniture Makeover

The week that the kids were in Arkansas I worked like a crazy person. After cleaning out our junk room to make an extra room for baby Benjamin... I painted trim on 6 windows, 1 door frame, 2 walls, 2 doors, sewed curtains for 4 windows, and at the last minute decided to refinish our bedroom furniture. I don't think I have any before pictures. The bed belonged to Granny and Papa and was a early 90s honey oak glossy finish. The little side tables were black. I liked nothing about our furniture and have always wanted to do something to it, but we keep on moving and having babies and well, it gets the big back burner. I am SO glad I did the extra work and changed it up. Although not perfect by any means, it is about 1,000 times better than before and I don't cringe every time I enter our bedroom.

Now to get a few pictures up and curtains and some nice pillows... Maybe in the next 3 years or so.... I'm just keepin' it real here y'all.

Help in the Kitchen

I went to put a chicken in my pot, but I had to stop because I found this...

Picnic

The kids had a picnic yesterday while I prepared our real tea party lunch. I think they did a great job! It's fun to see them think up and implement ideas all on their own now.

My Morning With Jack

Jack and I had a great morning together today. We went to Shreveport Music, ate lunch at Strawn's, walked back through Shreveport Music and then came home and did a little yard work.

I am thankful for this sweet little boy who chooses Strawn's over Chick-fil-a. :)

It's Back to School Time

Well, ready or not, we are getting ready for kindergarten around this house. I'm not going to lie. I cry a little at least once a day. I am going to MISS that precious girl so much. Who thought up the grand idea of having a 5 year old out of the house 5 days a week, anyway?!? Somebody who didn't like their kid I guess.

We went by school this week to see the teacher lists that were posted. We were so happy to find out that Grace's friend Ali is in her class! Yay! I am SO thankful she will know someone on the first day. The girls have already gotten together and played... And even planned a slumber party. :)


We were also super excited to find out that Grace's teacher is Ms. Vailes! Everything I have heard about this teacher has been positive. We were very impressed when we met her during our school tour with the fact that when introduced, she bent down and spoke softly with Grace before speaking with us. I also really liked her classroom. It looked just like a good Kindergarten class should look to me with tons and tons and tons of books! I think Grace will really have a good time in that room.


Well, after getting such wonderful news the kids and I celebrated by stopping at Jason's deli for lunch before hitting up the Brookshires next door.


What a big day for this big kid!

Yahtzee!

The other morning I thought I was heading into Grace's room to deal with an argument. I instead stumbled upon a friendly brother sister game of Princess Yahtzee!!

That makes a mother smile, y'all.

It's Another...

I have been a bad blogger lately. There is so much going on and so many changes to process and so many things that I want to do a great job of processing that I have posted none of them! But first thing is first. Our little baby is growing and healthy and I am now 19 weeks along!

We had our in depth ultrasound last week and this little one was moving all over the place! The tech had trouble keeping up and getting pictures before baby was on the move again.

Here is the sweet little profile shot.


And a wave!


The kids had spent the week with Nana and Paw Paw in Arkansas and we went to pick them up the afternoon of the ultrasound. I thought it would be fun to wrap a little box and let them open their "gift" of baby things that would be either girl or boy things.

Our house was divided about gender guesses. Jonathan and Grace voted girl. I said boy. Jack said a boy (named Catherine Wilkerson).

And ...



We are so thankful for this new little BOY!!!


What a blessing! Grace was disappointed for a few seconds but took the news in stride, saying she thought a boy would be better than a girl, she had changed her mind.

We have decided to name this little one Benjamin Mitchiner. We both love the name Benjamin. We also really wanted to use my family name of Mitchiner since it holds so much family history and meaning. Jonathan and I were a little nervous about having a boy because we have such a hard time agreeing on boy names! I think we both truly love this name though, and are SO thankful to have another little one to name. It is also wonderful to be able to call "it" something official. The kids love to hug my belly and give Benjamin kisses and talk to him. It is really great, really really wonderful. What a blessing.

Disnei

Grace had Mickey on her mind I guess.

Boy or Girl?

We find out Thursday and I am SO excited!

I love little baby boys and girls. Especially these two...

Today Grace Said:

As I was plunging the kids toilet (GROSS!!!) and she was watching in horror at what was taking place...

"Will I have to do that when I'm an adult!?!"

Me: Probably so. Just enjoy being a kid for now.

Pretty Pink and Purple

Grace drew this yesterday. It's her in a pretty pink and purple dress.

Because she LOVES pink and purple SO much now... Because she liked pink and purple (and every color but orange) and Ella likes pink and purple too, so now she LOVES pink and purple and they are her FAVORITE colors ever, and she wants pink and purple clothes and shoes and ribbons and everything.

Sigh. I always loved that green and blue were her favorite colors... Up until yesterday, apparently. Green and blue are my favorite colors. I guess that's just what happens when a little girl turns five... I will be holding out hope, though, that one day she will come back around.

Good Morning, Eagle Brand

We made a lemon ice box pie this morning. The kids more than enjoyed licking the utensils. I think they will enjoy the final product after dinner tonight!

Today Jack Said:

"Grace, I'm sorry I took your toy. Here ya go. Will you forgive me?"

Un-prompted. I didn't even know a toy had been taken. I only overheard this conversation from the next room

Believe me, this is not always how things go down, but I've got to record the little victories. And that, my friends, is a little victory in life with a 2 year old boy.

Backyard BBQ Excursion

Last weekend, Papa wanted to satisfy his craving for some Backyard. As you can imagine, no one in our family disagreed with his idea to make an evening of driving to magnolia for some ribs. So we tried out our new van and headed north for a short road trip! It was a lot of fun!

We didn't make Granny and Papa sit in the back. They wanted to. Papa played around with all of the air vents etc the whole way and enjoyed looking out the window. :)

Jack approved of the ribs. Glad he has some sense.


The kids share a blue bell strawberry ice cream. Yummy!


Then we stopped by Minden and the cousins on our way home to visit and bring a lemon ice box pie. Super yum!


I'm glad we decided to make a little trip. It was a great evening!