First Grade Field Trip

My husband took the day off last Wednesday and we went on Landon's field trip together. We followed the bus because honestly who wants to ride with all those kids?! Just kidding (kind of). We went to Westmoreland Berry Farm where the kids learned about strawberries and how they grow. We picked strawberries and got to ride on a hay ride. It was a lot of fun but exhausting. We had to take Harper with us but she had a good time too.

It is hard to believe that the school year is coming to a close in just two weeks. I can't believe Landon will soon be a big 2nd grader. I don't know where the time went. It feels like he was just a baby and now he is 7 years old. I look at Harper sometimes and I think I just can't wait for her to be a little older so things will be easier. Then I have to kick myself because I know I will turn around and be going on her 1st grade trip too. Time flies by way too fast. I think it goes by quicker the older you get.

Here are a few photos from our day. They were all taken with my phone so they aren't great quality. We had a good time and the kids slept the whole way home.

Mother's Day

Happy Belated Mother's Day to all you moms out there. It is the toughest job in the world, but the most rewarding job.

My mother's day was great. My husband made sure to treat me like a queen. He made reservations for The Melting Pot. Want to know what hell is like? Take a toddler to a fondue restaurant. The food was delicious, but I couldn't wait to get out of there. Harper is a handful, but we thought we could handle her and take turns with taking care of her and making her happy. We are so wrong. I have never wanted to leave a restaurant so quick in my life. The moral of the story is don't take a toddler to The Melting Pot. Sorry to every single person that was there that had to listen to our Harper.

That is motherhood though. There are ups and there are downs. There are days when I want to crawl into a hole with a bottle of wine. Then there are days that are so perfect that I have to pinch myself. I love being a mom to these two beautiful, spunky, little humans. They are my reason for being.

There is nothing sweeter then when Harper crawls into her brothers lap. They love each other so much.

Current Faves

I was inspired by my friend Lisa over at Beauty and her Boys to do a faves post. I use this stuff all the time and I love all of them. They are all pretty cheap too which is important to me since we are on a budget.

1. Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal (sample sized). I got it in last month's Ipsy bag and LOVE it. It makes my hair feel soft.

2. Avalon Organics Vitamin C Renewal Cleanser. This stuff smells SOOOOO good. I love it and it makes my face feel amazing.

3. Cake Batter Chapstick. You can't go wrong with Chapstick, but cake batter Chapstick is even better.

4. St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Moisturizer. This stuff is so creamy and makes my skin soft. I even put it on my legs and arms.

5. Sonia Kashuk Brushes. I got this brush kit at Target and they are so soft and super pretty.

Everything here is under $15 bucks!!!!! These are my current can't live without beauty items. What are yours? 

Introducing

I think it's safe to say that I suck at this whole blogging thing. Who am I kidding though? I know only my family reads this so they can keep up with us. So it's whatever. I try to write when I can and I'd love to have a thriving blog like I did a couple of years ago, but that means getting out my laptop more then once a month. For some reason I can't blog from my iPad. It just crashes when I try to post. It is what it is.

After losing Ellie we knew that we wanted another dog ASAP. We had been planning to get a Labrador once we bought our house anyways. So we found a local, reputable breeder in Fredericksburg (whom we LOVE) and got a yellow lab!

Introducing Lola! Or as I like to call her Lola Cabana or Lola Bananas. We always sing that stupid Coppa Cabana song now that we have her. Let me tell you something, labs are HARD as puppies. If you don't want to put a lot of work into the puppy stage then don't get a lab. Period. She is so high maintenance. It's been crazy around here with her and the kids. It's like having two toddlers running through the house. She does know most of the commands we've taught her and she is pretty much potty trained. She just has the occasional accident here and there. I'm ready to be out of the puppy stage though! It really makes me miss Ellie because she was the most laid back, chill dog ever. I know this dog will grow on me though. There are some days when I really don't like her because she pooped and got it all over her crate or she nipped at Harper and left a hellacious scratch. I spend most of my days yelling NO LOLA or DAMN IT LOLA because she chews on every little thing. She ours though and this house once again has the pitter patter of dog feet. Oh how I missed that.

It's a good thing that she's cute.

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Changes

Wow. A lot has happened since my last blog post. We closed on our house and moved in a month ago. We are still trying to get settled and have a ton of stuff to go through and unpack. Our best friends and their children are staying with us until they find a house to rent. We have a house full of adults and children. I'm really loving Virginia and our new home. I honestly couldn't be happier, but it's been an adjustment and lots of change.

Our beloved dachshund, Ellie, had an accident at the beginning of March. What we thought may have been pancreatitis ended up being a bulging disc in her back. She couldn't feel anything from her waist down. She jumped off the bed that morning and seemed fine and then it went downhill from there. The final straw was when she jumped off the couch and her legs went out from under her. We took her to an emergency vet and were given the worst news. There was nothing we could do for her. Surgery probably wouldn't even help her because her injury was so severe. If we brought her home and medicated her she would have had the worst quality of life. We made the hard decision to have her put to sleep. We loved on her and held her as she died. It was the hardest thing I have had to do. She was like another child to us, and I miss her so much every single day. We had her cremated and just got her ashes back. We are getting her a beautiful urn and putting her up on the mantel with her collar. I know she is in a better place and no longer in pain, but it doesn't make this any easier. The house is way too quiet without her.

RIP Ellie Mae

Superbowl!

I'm sure everyone and their mother watched the Superbowl. It's only one of the most watched shows ever. We geared up for the game by wearing some Ravens gear and baking Ravens cupcakes. We went to my father in laws for the game and ate wings, cheese sticks, shrimp, buffalo chicken dip and every other awful thing you can think of. Oh so good, but so terrible for you (dieting starts now!) It was a close game and eventful. I loved Beyonce's half time show and I especially loved that it was all GIRLS! The Sandy Hook choir made me cry and the lights going off irritated me, but our boys won! Woot!! Here are some pics from the day.

 Ready!

 Looking so grown up here.

 Sporting her Ravens bow.

 WINGS!

  Ravens Cupcakes

 Father in law decorated

The ONLY Ravens thing available in the state of WV. Not even kidding. 

So happy that the Ravens won, but the 49ers played an amazing game as well! Hats off to them! I wish we could be in Baltimore to celebrate tomorrow!!

Inauguration and updates

I went to Washington DC for the inauguration with my husband, brother and future sister in law. Josh got us tickets through his work. It was so cool to be there during the inauguration. We didn't get to see much because of how crowded it was, but it is so awesome to know that we were there. We spent the weekend in Baltimore and went to DC a few days before the inauguration to walk around.

 We also got to go and see our house. Yes, our house!!! We are now proud home owners!! We are just waiting for the closing date which should be soon! I am so excited for this new chapter in our lives. We finally have roots and know we aren't moving in a year!!! It is such an amazing feeling!!!!

 Brother & husband

Inside the Treasury 

Part of the Berlin Wall at the Newseum.

 At the Newseum.

 Hubby & I

 Snipers on top of the White House

 Barney.. I don't even know.

And last but not least.. OUR NEW HOUSE!! WOO!!!