everyday Ann

living the ordinary seeing the extraordinary

Mom Life


Throwback picture to 2015 when we had just landed in the U.S. from Ghana. Finally with my boys, the ones who began my mom life!

1.  It is Friday, yippee!!! A four day week that turned into ten, with a few sleepless nights sprinkled in. We have all had those moments, days and weeks when our brains seem as if they turned to mush and our toddler can complete a task more successfully than us.

2.  When you sweep the entire floor and have enough food in the dust pan for a meal, but for some reason mistakenly throw it on top of a box of granola bars sitting in the pantry instead of in the garbage.

3.  After heating up the baby’s bottle you try to give it to the toddler. Her response,”Mama I am not a baby, I am a big girl. Silly mama!!”

4.  A weekend full of social events planned including Caden’s first birthday party and everything gets cancelled, because the poor little man came down with a severe case of hand, foot and mouth.

5.  You walk downstairs to get something and the moment you reach the last step you begin to wonder why you are downstairs.

6.  Reaching for the perfume you grab the hairspray instead, spraying it as if it was your body mist.

7.  Brewing a fully caffeinated extra strong cup of coffee you hand it to your seven year old instead of his hot chocolate. He doesn’t say anything until almost the entire cup is gone.

A side note…loving these cooler days of low 70s. May have to venture out and find some mums this weekend. Join Kelly for writing that is more coherent and well thought out.

The Things They Say

Future priest and future police officer and of course our incredibly silly, sweet and dramatic princess.

The first day of school yesterday was filled with mixed emotions. They were more than ready to see all of their friends and I know they will do great despite not being excited about the academic part. Summer flew by, but I am looking forward to being settled (as much as we can be) into some kind of routine. One thing is certain there are two little people who will be missing their big brothers.

Grace walking into the kitchen carrying Kolbe’s support cup for baseball and holding it up to the water dispenser on the fridge.
G: Please mama, drink of water.
Me: No, we can’t use that.
G: Yes, mama! Drink out of this cup. Drink of water from this cup!!

K: Grandma that shirt you are wearing looks like it is from the olden days, like 1989.
The next day…
E: That shirt is better, looks like it is from the new-en days.

Running out of the pew during Mass and slowly returning with a smirk on her face.
G: Hey meany mom! Hey meany mom!!

Discussing whether we would be able to make it to one of Aaron’s work functions.
E: I think you should just go Mom.
Me: Not sure we could find a babysitter that short of notice.
E: Well, you can just order one.

Telling Aaron I was thinking of chopping my hair.
K: No, don’t cut your hair! I like it long. It’s pretty long and it makes you more beautiful.

Complaining to myself that I feel like I am getting sick.
G: I will pray you feel better Mama.

Driving by the hospital.
E: Mom, stop! We need to stop!
Me: Why, what’s wrong?
E: I think you need to go to the hospital and get checked to see if you are having a baby, I have been praying for sisters every night.

Getting Grace ready for bed.
Me: I don’t think we should put your pull up on yet, because you seem to forget to tell me when you have to go to the bathroom once it is on.
G: Usually, yep.

K: Mom, can we please have a pool.
Me: We don’t want anything deep right now with Grace and Caden.
K: Well, we can just buy a Master Lock like the one I want for my bike they will never be able to get in.
Me: Good thought, but we are talking about an inflatable pool.

G: Mom, Caden is poopy.
Me: Oh really, how do you know?
G: I ‘mell him! I ‘mell him mommy, he is stinky!!

Outdoor Living

The heat and sunshine has me wanting to slow down from all the busyness this summer has brought and just enjoy the warm air, the long days and the carefree moments before they slip away. I am dreaming up some outdoor living spaces to add to my honey-do list.

I am looking to make our two tier deck a little more inviting with a relaxing space, plus some shade. Thinking a pergola for the second tier of our deck with some Edison lights strung around it would do the trick.

Last summer our fire pit was taken out when we redid some of our yard and it has left me missing campfires with my family, making smores and conversations had.

While pinteresting away for pergola plans and fire pit ideas I also came across some eye envy backyard spaces.

 

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Lake Life

Finally feeling a bit more settled after returning from a wonderful five day vacay at the lake last week. Trying to settle into normal bedtimes and routine after late nights, early mornings and constant play.

Spending time at the lake has been a family tradition every summer since I was young and now I love sharing in it with my little ones, although sometimes it isn’t quite as relaxing as years ago. We had to miss last year’s gathering because I was pregnant with Caden and my doctor didn’t want me making the seven hour trek. So this year Kolbe and Ethan were extra excited and had been counting down for at least a month. They couldn’t wait to see their cousins and be on the water.

In addition to catching fish the kids also all swam like fish! Even Caden insisted on being in the water after I dipped his legs in. Grace was brave breaking out of her comfort zone riding on the jet ski, tubing and kayaking with mom. We even survived the drive after a slow start stopping every 30 minutes for potty breaks with a newly potty-trained toddler.

Sharing a few pictures of our fun!

Dining Room Update

In our ten years of marriage we have never purchased a dining room set. During our apartment living we used a cardtable. When we bought our house we received a hand me down table that Aaron refinished. We rummaged his parents attic for some mismatched chairs to go with it that I painted.

Last year a friend had some chairs they were looking to get rid of. I wasn’t sure how they would match with our table, but once assembled loved the brightness they brought to the room. Once I saw how the chairs lightened everything up I decided to trade in the brown curtains for some off-white ones (waiting for the day they get covered with spaghetti sauce).

It’s amazing by how just changing out the chairs and curtains the room really transformed and seems a lot brighter, cheerier and bigger. I decided the room wouldn’t be complete without a new piece of art work. Absolutely love the quote from St. Teresa of Calcutta.

Before:

After:

Before:

After: