Life Lately: Summertime Fun!

I had fun surprising Arnold for Father's Day this year. I had put a little money from my paycheck back and picked out a charcoal grill for him.. he had been talking about wanting one for awhile. I also picked out a few new outfits for church for him and some IPA beer. I really didn't know at all what I was looking at, so I just read reviews online to help me pick a grill. Luckily the day I went into Target they had ONE left on the shelf! It was actually pretty heavy and I probably looked very silly loading it into my cart.. but oh well. I then spent forever on the beer aisle picking something out because I know NOTHING about beer! But Arnold ended up liking it all, and I was so happy I was able to keep the surprise ;) 

Father's Day weekend we took the kids to the Lake Lure beach for the day. Lake Lure is in the NC mountains, and it is actually where I grew up vacationing every year with my parents. They had a condo up there and we went a few times a year. There is also a "beach" area there that is open for the public. The view is breathtaking, and the prices are actually very reasonable! Thanks to COVID, they were limiting the amount of people on the beach when we went, so we got there early and had to wait in a really long line to get in.. but it was worth it!! We took a cooler and had a picnic lunch.. then the kids got in the lake for awhile and went down the water slides. We stayed until we saw storm clouds, and we ended up getting back to the car JUST before the storm broke loose! We headed to a nearby place for icecream, then headed back home. It was such a fun family day, and we plan to go back soon. 

Our sweet Sheldon Petey turned 7!! We love him bunches and he has brought all of us such joy! Arnold agreed to let me get him back when Rachel started school, because I said I would be sad and lonely and needed a buddy ;) He sure was just what I needed!!! :)

My brother and Sister-in-law came into town the last weekend of June and stayed with my mom and dad. While they were there Mom and I were able to throw Christina a baby shower.. although it wasn't really a shower so much as a very very small gathering with our family.. once again, thanks to COVID! But I wasn't going to let my SIL go without some sort of celebrating for baby Roman! They were also able to go out with us for my birthday.. which made me SO HAPPY because they usually aren't in town at that time!! 

Ever since Christina told me she was pregnant I was on pinterest looking for shower ideas ;) I saw a bear theme and I thought it was adorable, so decided to roll with that. I ordered gold bear picks to go in the cupcakes, we had snacks and gummy bears of course, and we made homemade bear suckers. Brooke also helped me make this fruit shaped bear idea I saw. It turned out pretty cute! 

We also made this bear out of a cheese ball! My sweet mom went back out to the store to get a cheese ball just for this, when she saw how into this theme I was, haha! Everyone knows I am a little crazy but I get intense with planning when I have an idea in mind!! At first it looked a little creepy and not like a bear at all, but Alex helped us smoosh the eyes in further :D 

I turned 35 on July 1st! Brooke always says I am totally "extra" and that may be true.. but I love birthdays and I love celebrating. We went downtown and she took some pictures of me. 

Mom made her famous homemade lasagna for me, just like every year! And this year Alex was actually in town to have some! Usually I take pics and send them to him to pick on him! Mom and I have a pic like this every year, for the past 10-15 years I think! It has become a family tradition. Dad laughs at me every year, but he knows I have to have my picture! 

We went out to dinner at Dos amigos, one of my favorite restaurants, and had dinner. It was me, Arnie, the kids, mom and dad, Alex and Christina and a few of my friends. Sadly a few people didn't get to come due to vacations or sickness. But we still had fun! They told the waiter it was my birthday and they ended coming up behind me, put a sombrero on my head, and smashed whipped cream in my face!! Everyone got quite the kick out of it. Usually I get very embarrassed by things like that, but at least we were in the back party room at the time!! 

My sweet friend Ana from work gave me a panera gift card for my birthday. I had taken the day of my birthday off, so I went there for lunch with Arnold. I got a grilled cheese. 

Then I made Arnold go shopping with me. Bath and Body works had been closed FOREVER and finally opened back up, so I HAD to go get more soaps and wallflowers! 

On the 4th of July we went to Mom and Dad's house and had ribs. well everyone there did except ME because I DONT eat meat on the bone!!!!! But we had a good time. And then our crazy neighbors kept putting off fireworks late into the evening. 

Arnold and I are going through the process with our bank to try to refinance our house, and also to get a loan to help with some home improvements, and to pay off some debt. It was a WAY harder process than we had imagined. They did credit checks on both of us, made us fill out a HUGE stack of paperwork, turn in pay stubs, and then have a house appraisal done. Which we had to pay for by the way, and it was NOT cheap!!!! We didn't know what we were getting ourselves into, but we went crazy for 2 weeks trying to make the house look nice, and to fix up things, before the guy came out to look. Poor Arnold was so stressed and stayed up so late most nights, to get things done. The house actually does look pretty nice! We had the appraisal done Wednesday and we are now waiting to hear back from the bank!!! Wish us lots of luck and send prayers! This would be amazing for us and our future. 

Here is Arnold picking out paint at Lowe's. Actually this is totally staged, as you can tell ;) He's used to me taking pics for my blogs! We just ended up with a darker version of the blue we already had in our living room, but it looks pretty good! We were able to cover up a lot of dents, and scratches, and other things that didn't look good! 

Here is the living room after the fresh paint! Arnold did a great job! And Caleb even helped him do the trimwork! As you can see, I have my summertime pillows out ;) And that butterfly on the wall came from Hobby Lobby. It was actually an "outdoor" piece of art but I really loved it, so it works! I hope to eventually do a gallery wall in this room, and down our hallway. If anything, this whole process got me obsessed with fixing things up, and decorating. So I have a million ideas pinned on Pinterest for our next projects to accomplish. Poor Arnold!! ;) 

35 Things for 35 Years

I wanted to make a list of 35 things I'm thankful for this year. I put more details into numbers 1-20, but I knew it would take me all day to write that detailed for all of them, so the rest are just quick things I added ;)





1. My family. My family has always been there for me, and I am so grateful. I've always known it doesn't take DNA to make a family, but I really found that out this past year. I was a little disappointed in my biological mother not wanting to meet me, but then I remembered what great things and people I already have in my life. Even if she never comes around, I have more than enough love in my life.

2. My extra time with the kids. I know this whole corona and quarantine thing has been scary and stressful and frustrating. But I got to be home with the kids for several weeks during all of that, and I loved getting to spend more time with them. Especially since they're so much older now and don't always like to be around me ;)

3. My marriage. My husband is one of my greatest blessings. So many things have been against us from the beginning. We got married so quickly, and so young, and had kids so close together, and a lot of people probably honestly thought we wouldn't make it. Here we are almost 15 years later, and we are closer than ever. I don't take Arnold or our marriage for granted, because I know things change so quickly, and so many other couples are struggling.

4. My job. I really love being able to work with babies and little kids, which is so much fun and rewarding to me. Yes it is a stressful job. Yes I am exhausted when I get home every night. No we don't get enough pay or appreciation for what we do. But having bonds with these kids and being an early influence in their lives is so special. And all the friends I've made along the way has been an extra bonus :)

5. My new sister-in-law and nephew. I really love the woman my brother married. She is kind, fun, generous, and so good to my brother. She fits right in with our family and she accepts me for the crazy & silly person I am, and she indulges that craziness. Just like on my birthday where she made sure to take pictures for me and respected what things were so important to me :) She is also giving me my very first NEPHEW this summer, and I absolutely cannot wait to spoil that little boy!! :)

6. Our health- During all this mess, no one in our family got sick. I did get strep, but nothing serious. My parents were fine, my inlaws were fine, and my hubby and kids were fine. I am so thankful we didn't get corona, or anything else serious for that matter.

7. My friends. My friends are the best, and have been so supportive of me this year. I've gone through a lot of emotional stuff with the adoption search, and they've listened to me worry, vent, and cry. They've given me advice and reassurance. I don't care if I only have a few TRUE friends if they are the amazing, loyal friends I've got :)

8. Our upcoming vacation. We are booked and counting down for our vacation to Charleston this September!! The main point of the trip is to go visit my new nephew after he's born, but it was the perfect opportunity to have a family vacation too! We will go to the beach, eat some good seafood, visit the aquarium, and of course soak up allll the baby cuddles! I can't wait! Only 64 more days.

9. Bath & Body works. I know this is a silly one. But I am SO happy they are open again! It had been so long that I was running out of my favorite soaps and wallflowers for the house! Glade and febreeze stuff just doesn't cut it when I'm used to my Japanese Cherry Blossom and Coconut Lime scents!!

10. The mountains. I have always been a mountain girl. I grew up going to Lake Lure at least 2 times a year, every year. Now our kids go! we took them recently to the Lake Lure beach and we had a great time. Even though it started storming that afternoon.

11. My grandpa- I have one living grandparent left. He is my mom's dad, and he turned 87 this past March. I'm so glad my kids have gotten to grow up knowing a great grandparent.

12. Shorter hair. I feel So much better since having all my hair cut off! I was starting to die at work spending 2 hours outside every day with the kids! I was so hot.

13. Book of the month club. This is the latest thing I've joined. What's not great about a club that sends you a new, HARDBACK book every month, for only $15? Plus lets you add on books for $10 each if you want to?? Those prices are even cheaper than amazon! I look forward to that blue box showing up at my door every month ;)

14. Crafty friends. I am thankful I have crafty friends that have made me and the kids cute masks to wear during this corona mess! I even had a birthday mask made to wear this past week when I was out ;) Brooke calls me "extra" but I thought it was fun ;)

15. Surprises. I was able to surprise Arnold with some fun gifts this year at father's day, that he had no idea he was getting ;) He works so hard for us and is the best, and I really wanted to do something special for him.

16. Our church. We have met so many great people at our church. Arnold really enjoys playing with the praise band. I enjoy watching the babies and toddlers on sunday mornings. And even when our church had to close for awhile, we were able to watch the services online at home!

17. My parents' generosity. My parents have been AMAZING and I can't thank them enough. They have watched the kids so I could go back to work. They take care of the kids, feed them, take them swimming and on other outings, and have let them do jobs for them to earn money. I wouldn't be able to work without their help, and I am so grateful.

18. Learning new things. Even though my biological family search didn't go quite as planned, I am still happy for the news I found. I met a biological brother and LOTS of cousins. I found out some of my mother's past, and finally saw pictures of her--- still can't get over how much we look alike. It helps having answers of why things happened the way they did. I feel relief and closure on that chapter of my life.

19. This blog. I love to write, and have since I was a kid. Writing is therapeutic for me, and helps me get out all my thoughts, worries, and dreams. I have never been great at putting things into spoken word or giving speeches, but I am able to express myself through writing. I also enjoy reading other people's blogs, getting ideas, and getting to know about them.

20. My birthday. I had a wonderful birthday this past week. My brother was able to come into town and visit, which was extra special because I usually never get to see him at this time of year. My family and friends were so thoughtful with the sweetest gifts and giftcards. And of course Mom made my traditional lasagna! I just had the best time celebrating :)



21. Netflix
22. Paying down some debt
23. Memories & Traditions
24. Home updates
25. Warm weather
26. Our sweet pets
27. Amazon 2-day shipping
28. No cavities ever, so far for Caleb
29. My brother's recent visit
30. My country
31. Afternoon naps on weekends
32. Keeping up with people on facebook
33. My new dentist
34. Walmart grocery pickup
35. My kids' teachers