A new chapter

You know the saying.....it's not official until it's Facebook official. Well I did that earlier this week and I also wanted to make sure to remember it here on our blog of family memories.
I am very excited, scared, thankful,  and nervous to be stepping into a full time school nurse position this year.
I have learned so much over the past 2 years of substitute school nursing but I know that I have barely scratched the surface. I am praying that in the current season of COVID that I can bring calm, education, and wellness to the staff and family!
Oh and for those asking, I am still able to work a bit at the college. They have offered me the ability to do the online grading portion/office hours for the CNA program.
Very thankful and so blessed for these amazing opportunities this year!

Coming next week......

We planted cucumbers, jalapenos, and tomatoes last year. Expanding this year!

Give me your best advice for raised bed and potted vegetables. 

Some of you have never had naturally curly hair.......

.....and it shows.

So for my fellow curly girls. What is your favorite method of controlling your hair when you are active?

My go to his my bandana rag.

Dance life at the Beach house

Life as we know it has been turned upside down. (Like most of the USA) Our dance studio has transitioned to online classes to keep the kids engaged. 

Part of me is grateful. Sound odd to you? Yeah I get that as it felt weird to think it and say it. Without this virus,  the girls wouldn't have the opportunity to take all the classes that they have been blessed with this past week. 

Today Kendall did lyrical, hip hop, advanced pom, and acro. So proud of the studio and the girls for being so adaptable. 

#sznofstrut 

Just me...... ???

Today we added in journaling time. Pretty sure that none of the kids like me currently  but that's ok!

Virtual learning/ homeschool/ uncharted territory

Today officially started a journey into uncharted territory. I never had the desire to homeschool and I have never felt called to homeschool. But like most of yall,  I am home with 4 children who need to learn. I am grateful for the guidance and materials from their teachers but also for the flexibility of being able to add to their education. 

Was it perfect? NO.

Did we have behavioral issues? YES.

Did we get everything done? NO.

Did they learn? YES.

I AM CALLING IT A SUCCESS. AND GETTING READY FOR TOMORROW. 

Learning how to submit assignments online ♡

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

Today is the day that we celebrate our law enforcement. I am thankful each and every day for the men and women who put on a uniform and protect us!
Please take a moment and give a hearty thank you to our men and women in blue!
Civilian Police Charm
Army MP
Military Police Badge (gold/blue)
Military Police Badge (gold/gold)
Military Police Badge (gold/red)

Making it home: master bedroom sneak peek #1

I have a few projects to make our master bedroom a space of peace and rest for us. I asked Ben to cut me down a few pallet boards to make a back drop for my centerpiece turned wall decor. I love the way that they turned out!

Stay tuned for the whole room and cleaner spaces!

Making it home : the next project

We sold our previous headboards that Ben made and found this door from early 1900's to use. I am so very excited to see what Ben comes up with to make my vision come to life. 

I love that it has 2 different sides that we can use. The character in the wood makes me wonder what stories it has to tell!

Making it home: the front porch and scratching an itch

I have a love/hate relationship with our dark front porch. It seriously hardly gets any sunlight which is depressing to me. I love planting in the summer and trying not to kill my plants until fall. Anyway I digress, I had an itch to be creative and a front porch that needed TLC. 

So on this rainy, cold day, I stopped at our local Habitat for Hummanity and found this half door for $8. I stopped at Michaels for the letters to spell welcome and the bless our nest sign. All those supplies came in at slightly underived $30. I made the hydrangea wreath about 5 years ago and have used it in so many different places! I have a ton of burlap so I used some of it for the letters. (I wanted to be able to change everything out as I wished.)

Here are the final results. More of the front porch once it is warm enough for plants!

Making it home: The breakfast nook

The breakfast nook. The kids table. Life giving table.

This area is where we eat breakfast together 5 to 6 days a week. Lunch 2 times a week. Supper 5 nights a week. 

We do our family meetings there.

Talk about the days highs and lows.

We are silly and serious here.

We do life together here.

Making it home: Mama sets the tone

I always thought that setting the mood for my family was such an unattainable goal. But I was trying to do it in my own strength and in my own way.

I am so thankful for ladies in multiple bible studies that I have been blessed to attend over the past decade. They have poured into me, encouraged me,  and held me accountable. 

While it is not perfect, I am thankful that each new day brings new chances to work towards it.

We started this study today and I cannot wait to see what it brings!

Spring in the neighborhood

My favorite season is by far autumn. I love the colors, the season, and being thankful. It is safe to say that spring is a very close second though. I love all of the growth that explodes out of nowhere. 

It is so much fun to drive through this every day to see how the blossoms change. 

Here's a piece of our spring for you.

Making it home: Ben style

So our front room serves a wide variety of purposes. It is our "guest room." The family office. The man cave since it is decorated with Ben's military memorabilia.

We have had this ready room chair for oh I don't know....11+ years? It was in rough shape and was found in the dumpster. 

Finally this Christmas,  Ben received a custom recovering of it as a gift. Now we have our very own ready room chair.

It has been fun to hear all the pretend games that the Littles have played on it. I am sure that it has plenty of other stories from all the pilots that have sat on it at one time or another! 

Making it home: cooking lessons

Now that we have a bigger kitchen to spread out in, I like having little helpers in there with me. 

There Apron Christmas gifts must have inspired them because they have been in the kitchen with me several times for "lessons. "

Although it sometimes not super optimal timing,  I am trying to embrace these opportunities and make some memories.

Making it home: a simple scene

I love how big our kitchen is here. We had such a tiny kitchen in California that this is a breath of fresh air! 

It's sometimes the simple things that catch me each day like a clean counter, a basket full of fruit, and sunshine on my pretty Valentines flowers. 

Making it home: Possible new decor?/Bedroom make-over

For those who have been in our home and know our décor style, you know that I love items with personal meaning and significance. I am contemplating making this image into a sign for our bedroom. (we are currently in the process of redoing it right now! Pictures to come when it is done!)
What do y'all think? Just curious if you like the actual picture, if you think it fits us, etc! Thanks a ton!!

Graffiti

I love having these little notes every day from Kymber. I have saved a few to show her when she's older. 

I also love that we have Ben's old desk from childhood.

So I guess that I love Kymber's graffiti on the desk......

Snow day was rough.....

Snow black eye?

Kymber has always been our bruiser and yesterday was no exception. 

During a moment of hard play, she took a boot to the face. While it makes me want to cry, Roo has taken it in stride and loves to tell the story about it!

Remembering........

Pressing pause in my ordinary day to remember these 12 and the families that they left behind. 

Gone too soon. Never forgotten.