Furniture Shopping

Since we had to take everything off the walls for the painters, I figured it was a good time to update some pictures.  I took these down....... these were taken one month after Jason died.  I remember trying so hard to fake a smile that day.  My head was spinning and I was wondering how in the world I was going to go on and raise these boys all by myself.  My heart was and still is, crushed.

I decided to use some pictures from our last beach trip.  I think they turned out good.

Got some black and whites of the boys for these frames in the hall.

October has been so busy that we haven't had a chance to do our annual pumpkin painting.  We started this when Hudson was really little.

Everyone had things to do that night- tests to study for, projects to make......so it just seemed rushed this year :(

I had to represent Young Living :)

On Friday, Shawn and I ventured over to Dallas and went to Nebraska Furniture Mart for the first time.  Wow, its huge.

We were looking for a leather chair, which we found.  Unfortunately, it's out of stock (like every other thing we've bought for our house) so we have to wait a few weeks for it.  October has been the month of learning patience for us.

Next up was Ikea. Which we both hate but they have these certain organization tables that I need.  Doesn't this guy look excited?

I let sweet boy pick where we had lunch and he chose Sushi.  Definitely not my favorite but I found something I could eat.  He was in sushi heaven.

Starting to put one of the tables together.  We got 2 of them and this will hopefully be where Cooper builds his Legos and stores them when not using.  I feel like our house has been taken over!

Cooper came home from school not feeling well.  He called me twice from school but he didn't have fever and I was in Dallas.  I feel bad because he got home and looked horrible and slept most of the afternoon and evening.  I oiled him up every 20 minutes or so, diffused Thieves by his bed, had him drink lemon water, took a warm salt bath.....

......and thankfully he woke up looking like himself and showing me his new "accordion" (I keep telling him its called a recorder but he forgets) Praying he kicked that little bug!

Sky Ranch

Yesterday, Cooper's 4th grade class at school took a day field trip to Sky Ranch.  Its about 2.5 hours from here.  He was excited to ride the bus with his friends even though they had to be at school at 5:30am.

A little tense at first but he finally loosened up.

Shawn went as one of the chaperones.

They got home around 9pm last night.  He had a great day!

Our Weekend

This weekend we started putting things back on the walls.  When the painter fills in all the nail holes and paints a fresh coat of paint......it looks awesome but that means you have to remeasure every single picture and art work for your walls.  And that takes forever.  I'm pretty sure between hanging art and curtains......that will really test a marriage.  Ha!

We went to the garage to get some nails and stumbled on Jason's jar.  We had this for a long time and this note was always on it but for the life of me, I can't remember why he put it there.

Sometimes just seeing his handwriting makes me stop in my tracks.

Took the boys to see Hotel Transylvania 2 this weekend.  I LOVED the first one and was slightly disappointed with this second movie.  It was just okay for me.

I feel really bad that I have not gotten out one single Halloween decoration.  And Halloween is this Saturday.  (sigh)  In fact, I haven't gotten any fall stuff out because of the house stuff and at this point I figure its too late.  We have a very busy November so I think I'll focus on getting the house back together and shoot for being organized in time for Christmas.  

I had ordered this slime vinyl a few months ago so I decided to slap it on their toilet.  They thought it was funny!  I def do not win mom of the year as far as festivities go this year. 

Shawn's parents came over for a bit on Sunday.....so the boys go to play with cousins.  Cooper and Kenlee playing games.

And Hannah and Hudson watching silly videos on You Tube.

Its FINALLY getting a little cooler here in Texas.  It was 54 this morning when I took the boys to school.  You know you are from Texas when you step outside and its 54 degrees and your little one says he thinks it might snow today.  Ha!!  

I love, love, love soups.  I could eat them year round but they seem to taste even better when its actually cold outside.  This is on the menu for tonight.

We got a new entertainment center for the play room and we lost some shelf space for the boys Legos.  We got these floating shelves from the Container Store and hopefully this will allow them to display some of their favorite kits.

Oh my goodness.  I so need my house to get back to normal.  I mentioned that our room and Cooper's room as serving as storage right now.  We are now going through everything and trying to simplify.  I am trying to donate or trash things we don't need or use anymore.  This is taking forever.  I know I"ll be glad when its done but I'm sick of doing it.  First world problems, I know.  My goal is to have this room back to normal by Thursday.  We shall see!

House Stuff

This past week we were shopping for new area rugs.  This is hard.

We found one place that let you "check out" a few to take home and try.  What a great concept!  We loved the one on the right but quickly realized it was too small for our space.  We just ordered a sectional......never had one before- have always done the couch, love seat and chair thing.  A sectional really closes the space off so this 5X7 was going to look tiny.

We got part of our sectional the other day.  The rest is coming next week.  And don't mind our messed up fireplace.  The face lift on that is happening soon.  Here is the fabric we are using for our drapes.  We have one large wall that is all windows.

We decided on this large, 8X10, shag rug for our living room.  It has kind of a grassy texture.

The curtains in our playroom had to be taken down a couple of weeks ago (along with every other curtain, picture on the wall, etc.....for the painters)  I debated about cleaning them because I figured they were dusty from being up for a few years.  My gut was telling me to take them outside and beat them.  I read the directions tho and decided to wash them as instructed.

Yea, every single panel shrunk.  Awesome.  I don't even have the energy to deal with this right now.

The boys are loving all the room right now.....lots of wrestling.

We have had to put felt on every single thing in our house because of the floors.  I'll go ahead and just start calling Shawn the felt Nazi.  Cooper is helping him put felt on our new little stools.

On Wednesday, my sweet friend and team member hosted a Thieves Make and Take.  I came home with all these goodies that help me in my chemical free lifestyle.  Room spray, wood polish, dryer balls, everyday cleaner, dish soap, foaming hand soap, a soft scrub type cleaner and laundry detergent.  Love it all!!

Today this little guy had Fairy Tale day at school.  I took them to school on Thurs and then freaked out because I had nothing for him to wear.  Hudson was my child that NEVER wanted to participate in things like this. If they were optional, he was opting out of it.  Cooper is my child that wants to do IT ALL.  So I knew I had to figure something out.  How did any of us survive before Pinterest?

Jack and the Beanstalk.

The other day, gas was $1.86 a gallon. I used my Kroger card and got it down to $1.36.  I know its not great news for the oil industry or those that work in it but it is greatness for me!

Life Lately

You know you have a little boy sharing your hotel room when you find lizards in the sink.  This one grows in water.....and shrinks when taken out.

Kitchen tile finished and most of the floor.

What a difference!!  Love it.

When Cooper was 3 he went to Speech School.  He got a sticker every day he was good and he was always so proud of himself.  He would come home and stick it on the refrigerator.  Those have been there for years (he is 9) and I decided they needed to finally come down. This was a total beating to remove.

Yesterday, Hudson had early release from school.  He and I got to eat lunch together and then I took him to get a cupcake.  Love spending time with my oldest......doesn't happen much these days.

We are hoping that tonight is the last night for a hotel.  The painters have been here this week and the fumes are strong.  So beyond ready to get back into my own bed.