Thankful

Today I am thankful for the big, squishy, attitude-y, stinkerella, funny, loveable, huggable character that is our Maddie.


She's that little bit of spice that every life needs.


She's that whole lot of attitude that keeps us in check.


And she's the lovebug that can lift up our hearts without warning.

Not in a million years could I have ordered up a little girl so perfectly cut out for our little family.

I promise you I thank God for her every single day.

Thankful

Oh. My. GOD. Almost 2 months since my last post!? Really?!?!? Wow. How did THAT happen? Hmmmmm....

Oh well.

I saw this little thang on Facebook that people are doing where they share something they're thankful for every day in November. I like it. I think I do it privately every day but I like the idea of writing it down and sharing it. Yes, November's almost halfway through but who cares. Maybe later I'll go back and do the days I've missed. But for today, I am grateful...

That I have friends that miss me when I'm not around. I think it's a gift.

Ana's Big Day, cont...

Ana's 1st Day of Pre-School!

Our super big baby girl, so happy to finally go to school...

Yep, I let her get a character backpack. And so the relinquishing of control begins...

My baby girls...

Settling in all on her own...

And of course we can't forget the eco-chic snack bag :)...

She did amazingly well. Went right in like the independent little one that she is. Me? I lost it. Not until 5 minutes after Maddie and I left but I did. It wasn't pretty, people. I did the ugly cry. The noonecanunderstandmewhileI'mblubbering cry. Not my proudest moment but hey, I earned it.

There was a bonafide photo shoot happenin' here before we left so more pictures to come!

Tough

Being a mom is tough.

Being surrounded by fits and "no"s and "she hit me"s and "mine"s is tough.

Being mistaken for a jungle gym and getting a finger in the eye or a foot to the cheek almost daily is tough.

Having to keep your cool when your two little wonders decide that doing the exact opposite of what you tell them would be hilarious is tough.

And hearing your two-year-old tell you to leave her alone for the first time is really, really tough.

And then your 3-year-old writes her name all by herself for the first time.

And your 2-year-old goes on the potty for the first time.

And you get to lay in bed with your two little girls reading story after story while they hold hands and the 3-year-old rubs your head and whispers "I'm the happiest girl in the world, Mommy."

Then it becomes a whole lot of easy and you wonder what you were ever complaining about.

DIY Day - Our Kitchen Island!

I've been busy! I know I keep promising updates but really, I really have been busy making this house of our a home we're beginning to totally *heart*. It's comin', it's comin'!

BUT for now...here's a DIY for DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land!

Before...

After...

I painted it red, added a butcher block top, some corbels (I think that's what those are called, right??), a hook for a towel, and some beadboard to go with the "new" cabinets.

I bought the island from World Market for $120 because it was the last one (and the display). I bought the butcher block top from Ikea for $89. The paint was $8, and the corbels were $3 a piece. The beadboard was left over from the kitchen reno so the total for my new island.........$223. A little pricey for my frugal tastes but it's the PERFECT size for our kitchen and will serve it's purpose of housing some little cookie-bakin' hands well :).

Chit Chattin' with Ana

As I'm putting her to bed tonight Ana puts her sweet little hands on my face...

Ana: Oh Mommy, you're such a sweet girl to me. I think I'll keep you.

Heart. Melting. And then it continues...

Ana: Mommy, should we keep Daddy too?

Mama: I think so.

Ana: And Maddie? I think we'll keep her too.

Mama: Ok, baby.

Ana: Mommy, are you going to keep me?

Mama: I'm going to keep you forever.

I LOVE this kid.