Just Rainbows and Butterflies

These Days.

2016-06-16T11:23:00.002-07:00

These are the days of...
Meeting with contractors to renovate our new house.

Making sure Rhett didn't put anything in his mouth

Creating healthy boundaries with my family

Meeting friends at spray grounds and out to dinners

Having good in-depth conversations about my struggles and anxieties

Eating a new kind of ice cream with Z before we watch a show and after the kids go to bed

Feeling proud of Z's accomplishments and watching his dreams become a reality

Being excited over new beginnings and clinging to the good from this chapter here in DC

Practicing writing Sawyer's name

Laughing over Rhett and his fearlessness

Thanking God for closing this chapter in the most perfect way

Favorite Things

2016-01-16T11:45:00.001-08:00

Hi friends (or really anyone who reads this blog anymore!)-

When I first started blogging, I loved this little place. I was able to write about my courtship with Z, my wedding, my sweet pregnancies, and some of our fun adventures. Since Rhett burst onto the scene--and really before that if I'm being honest--my heart hasn't been in this blog. My priorities changed and this place just doesn't feel like it reflects me or who I really am. On top of that, there just isn't a lot of time or emotional energy left in me at the end of each day. My days and all of who I am right now are focused on my boys and my family. I pour all of myself into my kids--making sure I'm instilling the right values in them, helping them become kind and brave, and teaching them about Jesus-- that the little time I have left I'm focused on my marriage, work, and friends. Mixing that with the fact that this place doesn't spark much joy in me anymore has meant that this blog has fallen by the wayside.

Before I leave though, I do want to leave you with some things that have been so so good for me these last few months. Some of these things are silly, but all of these products are ones I love and insert some happiness into my day.

Life Stuff.
The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. I discovered this podcast last week and I've gone through 6 episodes so far. This podcast is so so good. I feel like I'm drinking wine with my girlfriends whenever I listen, so it's so fun. I was just texting with a friend the other day and told her about it. She immediately wrote back, "I know! It's amazing!" I was so glad that she listened to it as well because after each one I feel like I need to call up a friend to debrief. I love it so much and if you need a great pick-me-up or a new podcast to listen to then I recommend this one.

HelloFresh! I know that everyone loves Blue Apron, but it never did it for me. I found the recipes to be so hit or miss. We started doing HelloFresh and have loved every recipe--which is crazy to say--and we also love the portions. With BlueApron, we would eat dinner and there wouldn't be leftovers for the next day, which was a bummer. With HelloFresh, we have leftovers, so it ends up saving us money on groceries. Oh, and its farm to fork, which is nice too!

Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood. There is a reason this book is so highly rated and recommended. Each chapter has great wisdom, awesome tips, and a wonderful perspective. My Biblestudy just finished this and I was so sad to see if go. This will definitely be a book that I'll be picking up and re-reading at some point during this season. There is just so much good stuff in there.

Kate Somerville Gentle Daily Wash. Won't be switching from this anytime soon. So gentle and I could see a noticeable difference in my skin the next morning.

Bookworm Stuff.
I always love when blogs recommend books, so I'm going to recommend two to you guys. Our book club chose these two books for December and January. The first was The Royal We, which is a fun chick lit book and the second was The Marriage of Opposites. Loved both and was agreeing with the host of this month's club that The Marriage of Opposites had be staying up way too late to finish.

Kid Stuff.
Rain for Roots. I mentioned this in my Christmas post, but LOVE this kids CD. Its one that won't make you go mad and the songs are really fun and powerful. I'm also a sucker for anything that is blue-grassy. :)

I hope you enjoy and thank you all for your friendship, love, and following us on this crazy adventure. I've made friends from this space (Hi Kate, Caitlyn, and Beth!) and its been so good to have some of our life documented. I hope to start a new thing once again when I have the time, drive, and energy and I hope you follow along then.

PS-You are also find me on instagram (Jessicaleigho3)

xo

Christmas Eve & Christmas 2015

2015-12-28T11:44:00.000-08:00

I love this time of year and how the season becomes so much more when you have a 3-year old who just gets so excited over every Christmas light, story, and thing. When we were making cookies the night before and Sawyer was telling me how he was so excited for Santa to come, I couldn't help but feel almost childlike again. Kids just do something to the season that makes the spirit of it all just so much more.

The night before, my parents were in town and my Mom and I were able to get a little shopping done before our Christmas Eve service at church. Afterwards, we all took Christmas pictures in front of our little tree and went to church. Our church service was geared towards kids this year, so Sawyer and Rhett were able to join us for the service. The little kids sang carols and then put on a cute little play. It was a lot of fun and I'm so glad that we were all able to enjoy that together.

After the service, we went to a Christmas Eve party briefly before heading home to open up our Christmas pajamas and make some Christmas cookies. Sawyer was very excited and an awesome helper in the kitchen as we talked about this season and watched the cookies bake in the oven. After the kids were asleep, Z and I hung out and chatted. It was a really fun and peaceful night.

The next morning we actually had to wake Sawyer up--I think it's because we stayed up late making cookies, but I was not complaining for those few extra moments of sleep-- and Z videotaped him as he sprung out of bed and questioned why Santa didn't eat all of the cookies--he had 2 out of 3! We then opened presents and Sawyer graciously helped Rhett open his too. Poor Rhett was just so confused and amazed by it all. Sweet boy.

For Christmas breakfast, I made biscuits, a fruit salad, and a breakfast casserole. My Mom would always make something similar for us growing up, so I liked keeping that tradition alive.

After face-timing our families, we enjoyed a lazy day of watching The Grinch and playing with toys. The perfect and most magical Christmas.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas as well and here's to a happy and healthy 2016!

Christmas Season 2015 {Gaylord Ice Village & A Christmas Carol}

2015-12-22T18:45:00.000-08:00

This Christmas season has been a good one. It's been slow, intentional, and relaxing. Definitely not the words that I would typically think of when describing a holiday season, but I'm so grateful that it's been that way for this year at least.

Starting in November, I planned out a few things that I would love to do with the boys. Nothing crazy, but I had one activity a weekend and most of them were things that we did the last few years and loved. Some of them were visiting Santa, going to see the trains at the Botantical Gardens, making Christmas cookies with friends, and venturing to the Ice! Village at Gaylord National. All were accomplished and not because I was a drill sergeant on keeping up with the plan, but more because miraculously, life just fell into place and we had more free time than usual.

Last weekend, we went to the Ice! Village at Gaylord National. It was really fun and very cold! We were wrapped up in blue parka-like coats and had our winter coats still on underneath. We walked through ice sculptures that told the history of Santa and then ended with a beautiful naivety scene. It was pretty spectacular, but we did have to rush through the latter half because Sawyer was getting too cold. Poor guy. Thankfully, hot cocoa cured everything.

Another fun thing that we did was see The Christmas Carol at the Ford Theatre. It was Sawyer's first professional play and we invited my parents up to see it with us. It was a fantastic performance and Sawyer loved it--well, he got a little freaked out with Marley, but other than that, he was pretty captivated. It was so cute though during intermission, he pointed to the program and said, "I thought that guy was going to be so nice, but he's really mean!"

It was also fun to do this with Z. We had missed our chance to do this last year because this show sells out quickly, so he had set a google alert for September of this year. He had been looking forward to seeing a performance in this infamous theatre, so I'm glad we got to do that. He was pretty excited all week and especially today.

This week and holiday is quickly becoming my favorite with all the activities that we've managed to do and with Sawyer eating everything up. He's just at such a fun age and I can't wait for a slow and fun Christmas morning with him. He makes everything so magical for me.

Christmas Traditions

2015-12-02T06:41:00.000-08:00

For me, Christmas is a time of reflection, family and traditions. Its what we keep going back to year after year and the memories that we create from those experiences keep us laughing and reminiscing as the years go on. Some of my favorite Christmas memories growing up is looking at Christmas lights with my cousins. We would drive around our hometown and pretend to grade people's decorations based on creativity, abundance, and effort. It was a great way to get all the cousins together for a night of silliness and fun.

Since Z and I have started our own little family, we have tried to create traditions of our own. Here are some traditions that we do and some that we don't do, but I think are fun ideas.

Traditions We Do:

1. Watch Little Women, White Christmas and Have a Little Faith .
(Have A Little Faith was made in 2011, so it's not an old tradition, but a movie I loved and have watched every year since. It's about author, Mitch Albom going back to visit his old Rabbi and at the same time getting involved in a local church. It's a goodie and one I highly recommend.)

2. Send out a Christmas card to friends and family.

3. Pick out a Christmas tree and decorate it.

4. Listen to Christmas music.

5. Set Up a Nativity Scene. (Full disclosure: we somehow lost baby Jesus!! Yikes! We are improvising right now, but need to remedy this soon.)

6. Make a visit to Santa and take a picture.

7. Go to the Botanical Gardens to see the Christmas display.

8. Make and decorate a gingerbread house. (This is actually a competition in Z's family between all the cousins. Everyone submits a video of their creation and his parents are the judge.)

9. Have Thai food on Christmas Eve. (Z and I were on our honeymoon in Thailand during our first Christmas together and we thought it would be a fun tradition that we remember that time together every year by eating some sort of Thai food on Christmas Eve. Usually, we have it for lunch and then a Christmas dinner with family.)

10. Go to a Christmas Eve service.

11. Make a birthday cake for Jesus and sing Happy Birthday. (This is Sawyer's favorite.)

12. Open family Christmas pajamas that you get the night before.

13. Leave cookies out for Santa and leave reindeer food out for his helpers. Our reindeer food consists of oatmeal and glitter that we leave out on the porch or backyard.

14. Have a big breakfast Christmas morning.

15. Open presents.

Traditions that Sound Fun:

1. See the Nutcracker.

2. Decorate Christmas cookies and bring them to a friend or neighbor.

3. Write a letter to Santa.

4. Get together with friends for an ugly Christmas sweater party.

5. Go caroling.

6. Make homemade Christmas cards and hand them out in a nursing home.

7. Make an ornament

8. Read the birth of Jesus from the Bible.

9. Go to a cookie swap.

Holiday Gifts for Little Boys

2015-11-26T05:35:00.000-08:00

For Christmas, we try to follow the 3 wise men rule. You get 3 gifts--something you need, something you want, and a surprise. For us, it makes Christmas simple, stress-free (at least when it comes to gift giving) and also helps us to remember the real reason that we celebrate Christmas.

This Christmas will be so fun for us. Sawyer finally understands all of the holidays and gets so excited over them. He screams whenever he sees Christmas lights and exclaims, "Oh my gosh, I'm so excited! I'm so excited!" His excitement instantly puts a smile on everyone's face and for that reason, I'm just so, so, so eager for this holiday season.

That is the biggest reason that we decided that we will no longer be traveling to see family on Christmas. I want Sawyer to throw open his door on Christmas morning and tear through his presents. I want to go to Christmas Eve service and afterwards have him open up new Christmas pajamas to throw on. I'm already planning all these fun things and Z and I are so excited to start our own holiday traditions even though it is a little bittersweet that I won't be doing that from my old childhood home any longer.

But here are the gifts that we are getting the boys this year and some of the presents that Sawyer will be opening up on Christmas morn:

Land of Nod Sleeping Bag--We travel a lot as a family and I love that these can come with us wherever we go. A little piece of home on the road. Plus, they will be fun when the boys start to have sleepovers as well.

Pottery Barn Duffle Bag--Sawyer got this last year and we use it constantly, so I had to get Rhett one as well. I love that it's monogrammed and that it can grow with them throughout the years.

Spanish for Kids--Whenever Sawyer gets screen time, we have the cartoons be in Spanish. The Spanish camp--and a few parents who are raising their kids bilingual--do this and we thought it was such a good and smart idea. I love this DVD series, so we'll be getting him another one from them to watch.

Thomas the Train--Sawyer has been consistently asking for a train from Santa, so that's what he'll be getting as his surprise! This one can do wheelies and back-flips, so I'm hoping he'll love it.

Rain for Roots:The Kingdom of Heaven is Like This--I've had several friends rave about this CD and say that its good for kids and adults alike, so I'm excited about that. This will be Rhett's little gift, but it'll really be a gift for the family. Right now, we have a CD that we've just about played out, so really looking forward to the change up. I mean, you can only hear Wheels on the Bus so many times. ;)

Baja Baby Night Night Lavender Body wash and Shampoo--I love this all natural body wash and will be getting this for Rhett. He needs anything he can get that allows him to relax at night.

Christmas Pajamas--These are just fun and I guess break our 3 gift rule, but oh well! I love getting the boys matching pajamas and this year we got ours from Crystal Faye!

Other things I loved: This kids water bottle and the kid's drum-set.

DC Bucket List: Great Falls & Mt Vernon

2015-11-19T11:21:00.001-08:00

I haven't posted about our DC Bucket list in a while, but its still going strong! We crossed two more items off our list this fall since its been so unseasonably warm--yay!-- and we'll be working through some more in the upcoming months.

The first place we went was Great Falls! It was a gorgeous 70-degree day and the drive there could't have been prettier. The changing leaves in Virginia are amazing and some of the prettiest I've seen. I love living here for that reason.

When we got there we met up with a friend who has 3 little ones and strolled around and chatted. The paths were wide, the scenery was unreal--I can't believe a place like this exists so close to DC--and it was really kid-friendly too. When we got there were 3 school field trips going on and also bathrooms were close by, which is a big deal in my book.

The second place we checked out was Mt. Vernon, George Washington's home. This was a plus and minus experience for me. First it was a hike--literally and figuratively-- and it was hard to try to entertain Sawyer who was a little too young to get the historical aspect of it and also feed Rhett.

It was a beautiful day when we went, but walking up and down hills was not fun with a toddler and 7-month old. I was huffing and puffing and there wasn't a good place for me to sit down to feed Rhett. Plus, whenever I did, Sawyer would get bored and try to find something to do so it was hard. If Z was there it would've been a different story, but doing it solo with a friend was not my cup of tea.

But, if your kids are older--or you have a friend/spouse/partner there--they did have a lot of fun activities for kids to do like a candle-making station, a hay maze, and you could pet oxen which was really neat to see.

Our Little Mover Rhett

2015-11-18T06:10:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I blogged and I wish it was for a good reason, but really its because life has been busy and gotten in the way. Whenever I have a free moment, I just collapse on my bed and catch up on TV shows, books, or texts.

That being said this month has been a big one for Rhett and I don't want to forget it. He has popped 3 teeth-which has made sleeping nonexistent some nights-- and I'm pretty sure that he has 2 more that will come through any day now.

Another thing about Rhett is his personality is completely different from that of his brother's. He is very social and if he isn't around people-or if we leave the room for a second-he lets out a blood curdling scream until we scoop him back up. It's very dramatic and Z and I joke about it all the time. He might be little, but he will let his voice be known.

Also, long gone are the days of sitting still. Rhett is crawling and also loves to stand. He's now all over the place. In a split second, he'll be in the kitchen one minute and then near the laundry in another. He'll also let you know when he's done with his surroundings and wants to be moved. He gets bored within 5 minutes and then let's you know that he wants another toy, adventure, or scene. You definitely have to keep an eye on his little guy and I already know he will be the child that will constantly be keeping me on my toes.

Since Rhett is so active and on the go, I'm so glad we found and love Huggies Little Movers. What I love about them is how durable they are. They have a 12 hour leak protection, which I love because the other brand we were using there would be accidents every so often. Not with Huggies though, so we were sold.

Rhett, thank you for your fun personality, your happiness, and smiles. You make life an adventure, my friend and have really taught me that every child is different. You think you got it figured out one moment and then there's something else to conquer in the next. Thanks for giving me grace, little boy and I'm excited to see where the next 8 months take us.

By the way, If you want a chance of having your little mover featured on the Huggies website, tweet or Instagram a pic of them and use the hashtag #SetBabyFree! Huggies will be selecting photos to feature and show everyone what awesome little movers we have.

Taking Stock 2015

2015-11-03T10:22:00.000-08:00

Making: Time for margins. I haven't had a lot of playdates this Fall because I've been trying to enjoy this time with the boys and invest in things that I've been putting off like cooking more, coming up with lessons for Sawyer, and doing crafts around the house.

Cooking: A lot of chili and vegetarian meals. I've loved this chili recently and these tacos.

Drinking: Anything warm and a lot of green juice as well.

Reading: About to read The Royal We.

Wanting: The season to stay. The fall leaves around Falls Church this year are breathtaking.

Looking: Forward to our annual Thanksgiving Day race.

Playing: Superman with Sawyer and having my morning quiet time with Rhett.

Wasting: Time playing Sudoku

Wishing: For one more date nights

Enjoying: Life in this moment and trying not to wish time away.

Liking: Our slow pace.

Wondering: How we are going to fit in everything DC has to offer during the holiday season.

Loving: This book and how its changed my life. I was able to donate half of my wardrobe through this technique and I love the idea of living more simply.

Hoping: For a warm winter or that it goes by fast. I hate the cold. Oh, and that we aren't constantly sick.

Wearing: These loafers.

Following: Sawyer around on adventures.

Noticing: How Rhett is about to crawl any day now and how fast these last 7 months have gone by.

Knowing: That life next year will be very different, so enjoying our time now is really important to me.

Marveling: At how having a good friend over can really give you a better perspective.

Thinking: About hosting book club on next month and also making reservations for Christmas Tea at the Willard.

Feeling: Tired and achy. Still getting over this cold from last weekend.

Bookmarking: Winter coats. I really need a new winter coat for next year and they are all on sale now. I'm thinking about getting this one.

Opening: a magazine or good book.

Giggling: Over the funny things that Sawyer is saying these days.

Feeling: Thankful.

Halloween 2015

2015-11-02T03:35:00.000-08:00

Halloween was a really big deal for us this year! Sawyer had been planing this costume for weeks and had told each of us what we would be as well. I was to be a cat, Rhett a bunny, and Papa a carrot. He was very serious about it too. I took off my paws for 1 minute to type and immediately Sawyer said, "Um, Mama! Put your paws back on!" It was so fun to see him get in the holiday spirit and it made running around doing activities all weekend--and getting massive sugar highs--totally worth it.

Friday, Z's company had their annual Halloween party full of face painting, trick-or-treating, and balloon animal making. It was a lot of fun and Sawyer had a blast. He loved getting his face painted like a puppy and running around with this gigantic balloon pumpkin.

Saturday, we woke up and Z took the kiddos to a costume party, while I went to my book club's brunch. For book club, we read A Constellation of Vital Phenomena and all agreed it was less than stellar. Oh well! Hopefully next month's book, The Royal We, will be better.

After naps and grilled cheeses on Saturday, we headed to a friend's house for chili and trick-or-treating. Right when we got to the party, Sawyer started complaining of his throat hurting and Rhett was acting up, so we left early to start trick-or-treating on our own. We did about 10 houses before I called it off. It was getting cold and if Sawyer was getting sick I didn't want to risk him getting worst.

He was still up for trick-or-treating though when we got home, so we went to a few houses in our building. It made me really thankful for apartment living. It was warm inside and made the whole experience really easy. Plus, I loved knocking on doors, giggling about how scary some of the houses were, and watching him pick out the candy. (Lollipops were a true favorite this year.) It was one of my favorite memories and him at this age is just too cute. I love how excited he gets about all the holidays now. I just want to soak up every minute and make him stay this little forever.

After that sweet little memory, we all took a downturn. That night all sickness broke loose. Both boys--and myself--were up all night with sore throats, runny noses, and all around goop. Needless to say, we all stayed in on Sunday watching Disney movies, drinking a lot of OJ, and fruits and veggies.

Favorite Sawyerisms

2015-10-27T17:42:00.000-07:00

The stuff that comes out of Sawyer's mouth nowadays is so fun. Sawyer, you constantly surprise me with your wit and you also teach me so much more. Its so fun to get to know you and spend our time together. Here are a few things that you've said recently that I've loved and wanted to remember:

After talking to you about the severe flooding in Columbia, South Carolina and how we needed to pray for the families that lost their homes, Sawyer said, "Okay, well, let's go to church, pray to Jesus, and figure it out!" (If only life was that simple. Or is it?)

I asked Sawyer a question about dinner and instead of answering that particular question, he said, "Well, I love you! That's a good answer, right?"

"Oh, Mama! There's a park! How about we go to story time then come back to it. That's a good idea." (You always have the best ideas.)

Sawyer, you are just over 3 years old and I couldn't be more proud of the little boy that you're becoming. You are so smart, so kind, and so considerate. There are days and moments when we fight--like I think it's a good idea for you to eat dinner and you would rather play with cars--but even during those hard days and tough moments there is no place or person I'd rather be with.You make me laugh, you make your brother's eyes twinkle, and you make your so Papa proud. We love you, Sawyer-man and thank God for you everyday. There's no one I love more than you and your brother.

Love you always. And always.

Sawyer's 3rd Birthday!

2015-10-13T11:22:00.002-07:00

A few weekends ago, we celebrated Sawyer's birthday at home. I was planning on having it at a nearby park, but the rain washed away those plans, so we had a cozy little party at our apartment instead.

The morning of we surprised Sawyer with balloons outside his door and made his favorite pancakes--coconut. I loved his face and how excited he was. After breakfast, Sawyer went on a walk with Z and I got to cleaning up for his party.

The overall theme--aside from Superman--was that it was to be low-key and simple. For snacks, we had juice boxes, clementines, goldfish and raisins. The cake was from the bakery downstairs and had a Superman logo on front and a hit. It was chocolate--Sawyer's request--with orange blossom icing. It was delicious and easy.

For crafts, I went to Michaels and bought two $1 foam ghosts and pumpkins for the kids to decorate with either crayons, stickers, or markers. I also had a coloring sheet that said, "Happy Birthday, Sawyer!" that they could decorate as well.

In terms of decorations, I had balloons around the apartment for the kids to play with and had a few flying high near the food as well. I then made a giant 3 out of red construction paper and hung that on the door.

I got a bright blue tablecloth and red napkins, forks, and plates at Party City to go along with the Superman theme. Then, we sent everyone home with a play-dough favor.

The next day, we kept the party going by taking Sawyer to his first movie! We bought popcorn, he gave his ticket to the ticket guy, and off we went. He had a blast and it was so fun to see his face light up and of course, the movie commentary from a 2-year old is always classic. ;)

And that's a wrap on Sawyer's 3rd birthday! I'm still not quite sure where the last 3 years went, but Sawyer has definitely become quite the little boy. He's kind, considerate, and thoughtful and I'm so excited to see what the next year has in store for him. Hopefully, its more singing, dancing, and funny Sawyerisms. Love you, little buddy and happy 3rd birthday!

Links and Products I'm Loving.

2015-09-30T11:29:00.001-07:00

Before I write this post and share with you some things/links that have been filling me up, I just have to stop and wonder how this little boy pictured above is turning 3 (?!?!) next week. Sweet babe is well on his way to becoming a boy and leaving his baby days behind. Please tell me where time rushing off to and how I can stop it?!

Okay, onto to why I wanted to write this post to begin with. Usually, I don't have strong feelings about products, books or recipes, but recently, I've just found a few really good products and articles that I want to share with you all. So, here we go..

Products:
My Adventure Journal. I know I'm late to the party on this, but my favorite thing to do with Sawyer this year is the Archer Adventure Journal. The journal is used to "fill the little hearts in your home with an excitement to start journalling their own stories, ponder what is going on in their lives, and get in God’s Word to find direction & comfort." Every week there is a Bible verse that you go over with your little guy/girl and then you write--interview style--about what was good about their day, what was hard, what they want to pray for, etc. We do this every night at dinner or before bed and it starts really good conversations with us and Sawyer.

I also love that each book has the year on the spine so I can pull them out easily on the shelf and go back over what we were doing/thinking/praying for during that time. I highly highly suggest getting this book.

This Is What I Do. My favorite book this year. Hands down. Really interesting and thought-provoking. Plus, the pictures throughout are amazing and really bring the story to life.

This Lavender All Natural Baby Wash and Shampoo, which is free of sulfates, parabens, and phosphates and helps calm down the boys after a long day.

And onto a silly thing that I'm loving and recommend is this mascara. I've never found a great mascara, so I feel like this is worth mentioning. ha!

Finally, Z and I rented Philomena last weekend and wow, it's pretty spectacular. I know it came out a couple years ago, but if you haven't seen it, then its definitely one to check out.

Links:
"Wouldn't it be refreshing if we talked more openly about how much effort we exert to hold it all together?"--This quote from this article. A thousand times yes!

Loved this blurb from the blog post, Is It Out of Style to be Happy? She says, "The world tells us that it’s just not enough. I’ve been having a hard time seeing it for what it is. While I’ve been thinking it’s a lack of motivation, I think it might actually be called happiness. Only sometimes, that ugly monster called comparison pops his head up and asks if I am really happy being at home, cleaning up messes, making lunches and settling arguments instead of flying off somewhere fun or pursuing something grand. It’s really the idea of the dream that seems appealing. But, the reality of it. . . not so much."

And there are some things that have been filling me up lately! Share any that have been inspiring you and have a great rest of the week! xo

September 2015

2015-09-28T06:32:00.001-07:00

In September, we...

Went to Homestead Farms! Ever since I went to a parenting seminar that talked about the importance of weekly and yearly traditions, I've really tried to incorporate them into our daily routine and yearly celebrations.

One yearly tradition we have is going to Homestead Farms to pick apples and jump in the hay. We started going back in 2013-a month after we first moved here-and have kept up with it ever since. I remember the first time we went, Sawyer had just started walking and we couldn't really do a lot, but sit him in the pumpkin patch and take his picture. Now, he's picking apples, jumping in the hay, and helping us with the wheel barrel. My how things have changed.

Taste of Falls Church! Falls Church has a small food festival and we made sure to hit that up this year. We tried a lot of yummy foods and then went to the free kids tent where we all made door signs.

Celebrated 4 years! Wow, has time flown! On the 17th, Z and I celebrated 4 years of wedded bliss. We kept it really low-key this year and just went to a place called, SpaceBar. They serve over 15 different types of grilled cheeses and craft beers. Afterwards, we walked it off with a long walk around our neighborhood.

Had Rhett's 6-month appointment. I can't believe it's been half a year already.

Sawyer started school! He started preschool and loves it. Being in early childhood education, I know the importance of a good preschool/early education program and I love that we found one here in the area that both Sawyer and I enjoy. He had his first day a couple weeks ago and loved it. His favorite thing right now is the painting craft times. He's my little artist for sure.

Started ballet lessons! I wanted something fun and creative to do and Z encouraged me to get back into dance. I've only had one lesson so far, but I'm really enjoyed it. It's been a good break from reality and an awesome stress reliever.

It's been a busy September, but such a fun one and I'm really going to miss it. But excited for October though because Sawyer's birthday (3?!?!) is next week and then its Halloween. Sawyer's already demanded that we all be bunnies, but Papa. He'll be a carrot. Ha!

Panda Express Food Truck in Georgetown #OrangeChickenLove

2015-09-21T05:19:00.000-07:00

This weekend was full of good food and Sunday afternoon was no exception. After church, we headed down to Georgetown to check out the Panda Express' Food Truck Tour. We heard they were giving away free Orange Chicken and of course, we were there in a heartbeat. We never turn down a free lunch.

The afternoon turned out to be a lot of fun. We actually found parking right in front of the truck, which is rare in Georgetown and that really set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. I mean the sun was out, the food was free, and there was Panda who walked around giving high fives. What more was there to love?

We also made sure to get in the photo booth as well. I love a good photo booth and this one had fun props and the pictures were quickly emailed to you for free. Plus, the guys behind the booth really did their best in trying to get Sawyer and Rhett to look at the camera and smile. Anyone who helps out with getting us a good family photo is a winner in my book.

When we were leaving, we were handed free swag , which was another hit for my almost 3 year old. He got a bright orange bracelet, stickers, and a pin. There were also dancers, so we were all pretty hyped on when we left.

Thanks again, Panda Express for making eating out so fun.

You Can Grab Free Chicken Too!

You can grab your free lunch or snack too. Panda Express is going across the country right now. Check out if they will be hitting up your neighborhood soon. It is definitely worth it.

Ireland Adventure: Wicklow County

2015-09-11T11:57:00.001-07:00

Wicklow County was the last stop on our little Irish adventure. We spent 2 days there and loved it. It was so beautiful and the best place to end our time abroad. We stayed at the Powerscourt hotel and the surrounding mountains were actually purple due to all the flowers that grow on the mountain. Gorgeous.

The last day, we went to Powerscourt Gardens and I absolutely loved it. It was a bright sunny day, our first warm day in Ireland, and the grounds were incredible. There were different sections for different countries and it made the whole walk around really interesting. There was even a Pet Graveyard, which was funny and kinda cute to see.

After our day there, we headed back up to Dublin and flew back home. Ireland, was a really good trip for our family. It was hard in a lot of ways because Mr. Rhett never adjusted to the time change-so no one got a good night's sleep-but it was really good in a lot of ways as well. We couldn't use our cell phones, so there wasn't a distraction or care. It was time just spent with us and I loved it. Its so rare these days--or at least in our lives--to be completely disconnected and I found that I really needed it. I came back from Ireland refreshed and ready to take on the new year.

Mexico Adventure: Mexico City

2015-09-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

We just got back from spending the weekend in Mexico City with friends. We had a lot of fun. During the weekend, the boys got to splash in the pool, catch up with good friends, and Sawyer and Zach bravely rode horses that they have there on the ranch-I'm a scaredy cat, so I just stood back and just cheered them on. Plus, anytime there is good Mexican food, I'm happy. I think I could have eaten my weight in tacos and quesadillas.

It was amazing to see Mexico City as well. It was HUGE. I don't think I've ever been in a city that big. Apparently its the second largest city in the world and has an estimated 20 million people living in it. It's crazy.

The best part of our trip was that our friends have babes that are Sawyer and Rhett's ages. It was so fun to see them all play and get to know each other. Plus, we got to teach Sawyer more Spanish, which he didn't really use, but hey, at least we tried. ;)

Even though it was a wonderful trip and we made some great memories this summer, I'm so excited to be home. We've had a whirlwind of an August and walking through that door yesterday and knowing there isn't another trip until October was a relief. I'm ready for Sawyer to start preschool, my Bible study to start up again, and for us to get into more of a routine. I'm also excited for cooler weather, trips to local apple farms, and more crockpot cooking. Stews and soups for dinner are my favorite.

Fall and home, I'm ready for you.

A Special Birthday Video

2015-09-04T09:50:00.004-07:00

I don't share this with a lot of people, but Z is away a lot because of his job. This summer especially. He was put on a international case back in June and until August, we hadn't seen much of him. Most of the time, Sawyer thinks that Papa lives on an airplane or in Canada. Because of this, we have been pretty diligent about family time and its another huge reason we went to Ireland. We got away from all distractions and were able to just hang out as a family. It was bliss.

Zach will probably be gone again this Fall, so for his birthday Sawyer, Rhett, and I made a little video message for him. He'll be able to have it whenever and wherever he goes and it's fun to look back on all the memories we've made over the last 4 years. We've definitely been blessed.

Happy birthday, Z! You are such a blessing to us and thank you again for making our lives so good. xo

England Adventure--Althorp

2015-09-02T17:26:00.003-07:00

Given Princess Diana's death was 18 years ago this week, it only seems fitting to talk about my short time in England during our little European vacation.

My friend, Ben is one of my dearest friends. We met in college and instantly hit it off. He makes me laugh, he challenges me, and whenever we get together--which is just about once every 3 years--we instantly fall back into how we were. It's like time never passed.

Ben is turning 30 this year in Vegas and unfortunately, I won't be able to celebrate with him. But, when I was talking to Zach about that, he proposed that I go over to spend a weekend with him in England since we would be so close. I immediately threw the idea out to Ben, booked a ticket, and grew even more excited about our trip.

The night before I flew out to see him, Ben sent me a text asking if I wanted to see Princess Diana's childhood home, Althorp. Um, yes?! I've loved Princess Diana ever since I was little and this was about to make my weekend even more special.

Althrop isn't open to the public for much of the year because the Spencer's still live there, so it was really such a treat to be able to do the tour and walk the grounds. They were spectacular and so very beautiful. Because of them, I'm now obsessed with old English estates.

Here are some pictures of my super quick, but really fun 27 hours in England.

I got to meet Ben's boyfriend, Rich. Loved seeing these two together.

He made me try a cricket. I was not a fan.

Thanks for having me, Ben!

Rhett-5 Months

2015-09-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

Rhett! You are 5 months old and you love grabbing your toes, grabbing your toes and grabbing your toes. They are your favorite toy and pastime. And you're always so happy and smiley. You smile with your whole face and you have the best energy. You love tracking your brother, grabbing at whatever's around, and crying if you are in a place for longer than 5 minutes. You were born to be an adventurer, my dear.

Rhett, you are starting-and LOVING-solids. I didn't doubt that though. You've been a big eater since the beginning. So far, your favorites are carrots, prunes, sweet potatoes, and I'm going to make some avocados for you later this week. I'm sure those will be a big hit as well.

In terms of sleep, we were great before Ireland, but now that we're back you have taken a while to adjust. Last night though you woke up at 4:45, but went back to sleep 5 minutes later and slept until 7. Baby steps.

I love you, my smiley little boy and can't wait to see what the next month has in store.

Ireland Adventure-Belfast

2015-08-31T04:32:00.000-07:00

Sawyer caught a cold when we were in Belfast, so we spent 2 days staying in and taking care of him. We would venture out for a cup of coffee or a run to the local market, but other than that we just hung around the little cottage we rented on Air BnB. (And PS-There is another site like AirBnB that caters to just families and kids. We found out about it a little too late, but will be using it in the future. Its called Kid + Coe and you can check it out here.)

The third day, Sawyer was feeling better, so we booked a candy making class for him at Aunt Sandra's Factory. We did the lollipop class and it was so much fun. Sawyer was laughing along with the story, raising is hand to answer the questions, and loving that you got to try various types of hard candies, lollipops and cotton candy. If you have kids, I highly recommend this little shop.

That night, we went to The Barking Dog for dinner and it was phenomenal. I think our favorite part was how friendly they were to Sawyer. Zach and I ordered cocktails and not to leave Sawyer out, they brought a "kid-friendly" cocktail--just cucumber and water--out to Sawyer. The waiter then checked on Sawyer throughout the meal and said, "Okay, if you eat all your carrots then I'll bring out a special treat for you." Sawyer was so proud of having eaten everything that he carried his plate to the waiter afterwards to show him. The waiter then brought out a fresh fruit plate for him. It was really sweet of them to do that.

Ireland Adventure-Giants Causeway & Carrick-a-Rede Rope

2015-08-29T11:27:00.001-07:00

We took the Coastal Scenic route to Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede and it was incredible. The prettiest drive we've ever taken and reminded me a little bit of Seventeen Mile Drive in Carmel. Gorgeous and it was the perfect day too. The sun was out, the kids were napping, and Zach and I were able to just sit back and enjoy.

Our first stop was Carrick-a-Rede. Its a little under a mile to get to the rope bridge and its again, a gorgeous walk. To the left is the sea and to the right is a pasture full of cows just lazily grazing. It's a magnificent backdrop. We didn't go over the rope bridge because I thought it was too dangerous with the boys, but it was fun to see and take the walk up to that point.

After that, we grabbed some lunch then headed over to Giant's Causeway--a great natural wonder of the world. We took the boys down to the bottom and made a lot of stops along the way so Sawyer could pick up rocks and sticks and whatever else he could find.

The cool thing about Giants Causeway is that its a place like no other. The rocks and stones are all neatly stacked in pillars and have a hexagonal shape to them. It's really interesting because they are all nature made, but yet, so uniformed.

I was also taken aback--like I was at the Book of Kells--at how old and still intact everything is. Giants Causeway is said to be 6 million years old and looking up and around at all the rocks and pillars, its incredible to think of everyone whose been through here and how much has and hasn't changed.

The really lame thing about Giants Causeway though is how much it is to enter and then they charge you to ride back up the hill as well. Without kids, we would've walked back up no problem, but it was a long day and finding out it was more money--on top of our admissions fee--to take a 2 minute ride back up was kinda lame. Oh well.

Ireland Adventure--Killarney & Kennedy's Farm

2015-08-24T11:33:00.002-07:00

Kennedy's Pet Farm outside of Killarney was one of the coolest things we did with the kids. All the animals--goats, pigs, chickens, deer, bunnies, puppies, and cows--roam freely with visitors and you are play and pet any of them. It was such a treat and I kinda fell in love with the littlest piglet, Babe, who you can see at the bottom there.

Ireland Adventures--Cork

2015-08-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

After Waterford, we headed to Cork, which is we stayed for the next 5 days. My cousin actually lives in Cork and has two young kids, so it was fun to catch up with him and for Sawyer to play with his cousins.

During the day, my cousin had to work, so we would go on little adventures around the city center. One of the first places we went was Blarney Castle, which is 30 minutes northwest of the city. Blarney is famous because of the Blarney Stone, which you are supposed to kiss in order to gain the gift of eloquence. Well, we didn't do that. The line was too long, it was raining, and the stairs leading up to the stone were slippery and being the paranoid parent that I am, I was worried about Sawyer falling or slipping down the stairs.

Instead we roamed around the grounds, which were truly magical and to us a lot more fun. The rose gardens were in bloom when we were there and the river that went through the park were really pretty. Sawyer loved running around seeing everything, especially the random tractor that was parked beside one of the waterways. Such a boy. ;)

The big godsend of this week was our washer and dryer. Even though we lived in Spain two summers ago and I studied abroad over here, we had never rented a car in Europe before. When I was talking to my cousin about our trip, he warned us to pack light because the cars over here are so small and we wouldn't have a lot of room for our suitcases. Aside from his advice, we were going to pack simply anyways because no one likes carrying or dragging (or paying for) tons of luggage, two carseats, and stroller through the airport. So to us, packing light meant each person got 3-4 outfits. Needless to say, we were thankful and did many loads of wash throughout this week. #thankgod

Next up is my short visit across the way to visit my friend, Ben in England.

Ireland Adventures--Waterford

2015-08-17T23:57:00.000-07:00

So far this has been one of the coolest things that we've done on vacation and if you ever get the opportunity to go to Waterford, Ireland and tour the Waterford Crystal House then I absolutely would.

I really learned about Waterford crystal when I was engaged and registering for a registry and have been a fan every since. The few pieces that we did get for our wedding are so beautiful and the quality just can't be beat. When Z and I were thinking of what we wanted to do on our trip, this was a non-negotiable for me. Thankfully, the tour wasn't too girlie and both him and the boys had a great time seeing how each piece was made.

I think the best thing about the tour was how unclose and personal you get with the craftsman. They are just a few feet in front of you and you can see them blowing and molding the crystal right there in front of you. Their work is stunning and watching them create a vase out of nothing was really fascinating.

At the latter part of the tour, you get to hold the People's Choice awards that will soon be shipped to LA for the award show and also, other famous pieces that they are making like a crystal football for the Super Bowl winners or other great gifts for well-known celebrities like President Obama. That was a fun experience because each of the gifts or awards were really beautiful and intricate.

The tour ends with you at their huge factory store. We bought a nice decanter and a few other pieces and plan to have those as family heirlooms. Really really cool stuff and such a dream to be able to do the tour.