The TRUE most wonderful time of the year

With nice weather comes improved moods, more hiking, grilling and sunlight. I will truly never understand why they call Decemeber the "most wonderful time of the year"... clearly, April is the most wonderful time of the year.

Every day I can feel myself growing more and more anxious for our summer plans. Trips, birthdays, bon-fires… oh my. I can’t believe it’s been only 6 months since marrying my stud but at the rate this life is flying by, a year will be here before we know it!

Summer list to-do:

This weekend: Tiki Bar opening!

May: Baltimore trip for Melissa’s birthday, Hilton Head and Georgia trip with Hubby, and birthday parties

June: Wedding, our nieces Brynn and Emily’s birthdays

July: God Daughter’s birthday, Ava’s birthday, My sister’s due date, Meredith’s birthday

August: My sister’s birthday

September: Brian’s birthday

October: One year anniversary and MEXICO!

Whew… somewhere in the midst of all this we have 198,274,293,874 house projects I have decided on... yes, that is the exact number. Along with a patio and a garden. Brian has his hands full.

This past weekend we stuffed our faces with Easter goodness and spent some quality time with our families. These cuties were hunting eater eggs and having the time of their lives.

Emily

Brynn

Easter was never an incredibly special holiday to me growing up; it meant chocolate, church and new dresses. As I get older I realize the true meaning behind this day and make time for just that.

My sister and her daughter, Meredith, joined us for the 830 service on Easter Sunday... it made my day to see them enjoy the place I love so much. 

I'm hoping it will become tradition.

Springggggtimeeee and the livin's easy

This weekend was by far my favorite since we’ve been in our new house.

Picture it: windows open, grill smoking, dog running, and children laughter. It was perfect.

Friday was my best girl, Elizabeth’s, 25^th birthday. For the first time… ever… Elizabeth packed up and took herself on a trip to Florida to visit a friend of hers which meant I got to pick up my two beautiful god-babies from school after work!

Friday we took the girls to Cheeseburger and Paradise for Mac and Cheese, French Fries and a crab cake for me. Afterwards they both picked out a dessert and scarfed them down. That night, after bath time, us girls cuddled up in the King Size bed and watched Frozen. That.Movie.Is.Adorable. We danced to “Let it go” and laughed at all the parts they didn’t quite get the pun behind but knew if I was laughing it must be hysterical.



Pretty girl





Silly



An attempt at all smiles

Saturday we girls were treated to a waffle breakfast by Chef Boy-R-B and then it was off to yard sales. We gave them each $5.00 to spend and asked them what they wanted. Rylee wanted a guitar (which I just knew we’d never find for less than $5.00) and Layla wanted a stepstool so she could “see her face in the mirror at our house”… well, sure enough, Rylee landed an adorable pick guitar for $2.00 and Layla found a stepstool for $1.00. The girls actually had a hard time spending all of their money as everyone was just giving them anything they looked at. Being adorable must be nice. We stopped at Chick fila on the way home, made a pit stop at the park in our neighborhood for some swing-time and then it was to the house to prep for dinner and play with our new goodies from the Yard Sales. Jess, Matt and Ava came by and we had kabobs, s ’mores, and played a little corn hole around a bonfire. It was a perfect Saturday indeed.

Baby giggles are the best



S'more time!



Perfect

Ava fightin' the good fight

Sunday we enjoyed breakfast at IHOP and Palm Sunday at SouthPoint and the girls had a blast at the children’s church. Afterwards we took them to their grandparents and a big part of me was sad when we came home to a quiet house. Their laughter added something truly special to this weekend.

Finally, Layla witha smile. Such beautiful girls!

Brian and I took a walk before dinner and right as I am cleaning up Anchor’s bathroom break from the sidewalk our neighbor’s irrigation system kicks on and water hits Brian clean between the eyes. I have never laughed so hard and I am almost certain I talked about it for the remainder of our 30 minute walk. Just thinking about him standing there soaked with this “WTF” expression on his face still makes me smile. Thank you, house on the corner, for your perfectly timed 230 sprinkling… and Anchor for your perfectly timed potty break so that I was not upright to experience the shower that Brian did. It sealed the deal that this was the best weekend ever!

Welcome, spring!

3 apps that run my life

I don't know about you but this chicks picture is listed in Webster's under the definition of "Type A" - and with that come my obsessive need to organize and maintain lists of every sort. I have lists of lists, it's a real problem, people! 

In order to give order to the madness that is our life I have leaned on 3 (and completely free) apps to make staying organized also convenient. 

#1.) "My Days"

This app allows me to keep track of periods, intimacy, when I will ovulate... All the necessities. Now for privacy purposes I have removed any little hearts indicating intimacy as that may totally freak my husband out if it were posted on the World Wide Web. The reason this app is so important to me is to keep me aware of when I should expect to start feeling bloated, and cramped. I do plan monumental events around these times so I can really enjoy them. Also, I've never been the type to know it's been 28 days and I should be expecting it anyday, which can lead to a lot of unexpected midnight CVS visits for Brian. So, he too appreciates this app! 

#2.) "Cozi"

Brian does not keep any sort of calendar, he thinks he does, but he just doesn't. I can't count the number of messages asking if we have something planned for certain days, when his doctor appointment is, and what's for dinner. This app solves all of these problems and then some! 

Meal planning, shopping lists, calendars... Now all shareable! I make sure and keep it updated and communication has never been better. He does not have to check with me to make plans and I don't have to remind him we are having chicken for dinner! Everyone wins!!

#3.) "Pinterest"

Oh, where... Oh, where would I be without Pinterests recipe section! 

I can give credit to Pinterest for many, many, delightful meals... And two that I would like to find out who originated and make them aware their taste buds are out of wack and false yummy picture advertisement is cruel and unusual! But for the most part, all good things! 

Any time we need a "how-to" I will search Pintereat and find fool-proof tutorials... Pinterest is totally the new Google. 

Technology, how I love thee.