Five on Friday - Feb 3

..more like 3 on Friday. I always feel like I have a million things to catch up on and then when I go to type it out, I forget.

(one) My planner has been a huge help with getting me less frazzled! I have been able to delegate errands and things I have been putting off to certain days. I even carry it in the store with me because I've been writing grocery needs in it on certain days. If you have way too much to do, get a planner. You'll thank me later.


(two) We've started watching Highway Thru Hell on Netflix. It's quite stressful to watch but very interesting!

 Highway Thru Hell is a Canadian reality TV show that follows the operations of Jamie Davis Motor Trucking, a heavy vehicle rescue and recovery towing company based in Hope, British Columbia. The show focuses on the hardships of operating along the highways of the BC Interior, especially the Coquihalla Highway (Coq).

(three) ..Speaking of Canada, excited about mine and Alan's 4 day trip coming up in a couple of months. The kiddos will stay behind, go to school and have some grandparent time.  I've never been to Canada before but have always wanted to go. I am not, however, looking forward to the plane ride!

Five on Friday - House things and a busy Summer

A lot going on! This is a long read ;)

(one) I can't believe preschool starts back in right at a month. This Summer has flown by! We have had lots of play dates, library/splash pad meetups and the girls are all around getting along and playing so well together. They will go play in the playroom for bits at a time so I can get stuff done!

(two) We finished up Bloodline Season 2. It was really good and I'm so glad they decided to make a 3rd Season. If you're looking for a Netflix show, watch it. It does have cussing but the plot is great! Season 2 was so very stressful and a nail biter! When the last episode was over, we both just sat there and looked at each other like "Well, what do we do now?!" While we wait on Longmire to return for Season 5 in September, we started 24. With 197 episodes left, I think it may get us to September ;) It's pretty good and has picked up some action.

(three) We have been working hard on our yard! Adding landscaping fabric, new mulch and putting in landscaping rocks and river rocks has made a huge difference. It may be taking us forever, but we are aiming to be completely done by next week! Then we will be working on painting the back door black!

Been working on this side of the house for the last couple of weeks. You can't really see them, but there are 3 pink plants behind the Iris. I'm hoping they grow thick enough to cover all of those boxes on the house!

Going from this...

hard to believe this was less than a year and half ago!

to this is a drastic change..We just put down river rock under the a/c pipe and the gutter spout. Now to get a hose holder and this side will be complete!

The green bushes in the back are all gardenias and doing very well.  

The little ones in the front are pansy.

(four) We have started party planning for Madison. We decided that since she had so much fun on a water inflatable slide that a friend had rented(she slid for 3 hours straight!), we would go that route this year. She's been begging for another Pump it Up party but we made the decision for her. I mean, why have one 2 hour party when you can rent this for 3 days?! She mentioned it again and we finally told her and she was excited! Whew! She's also requested the theme be PJ Masks(a Disney Junior cartoon that has 3 superheros on it)

(five) I have recently fell back in love with Pinterest. I've always loved it but now I'm on it at night pinning yard/house ideas, PJ Masks party ideas and whatnot. It feels so good to pin something, do it and go back and delete it. Maybe that's just the OCD in me ;) Also found my love for Amazon wishlists again. I'm constantly adding things to our House wishlist. Easy to add when I'm thinking about it and that way I can go back when I want to buy it and it's there!

 

 

Five on Friday

 
(one) Madison went to her very first Vacation Bible School this week. She says she had fun and already misses her friends(last day was yesterday)

(two) Finally got the weed mat and mulch put down in front of the whole front of the house. Transplanted some flowers and trimmed bushes. This has been a month(or longer) long project but finally got it done. Over the next couple of months we will get the sides of the house done and a rock border added to the left/front and left sides of the house to match the front and right sides.

Our hydrangea is finally blooming after having it 7 or 8 years! It's purple!

Will add a border on the inside of the driveway at the mulch

(three) This coming week, I have big plans to finish off some things on our to-do list! There are currently 16 things on there and I've highlighted 4 of them. This list is ongoing. I am hoping to knock out another 3 or 4 by next weekend. This includes finishing the deck stain, rearranging the deck furniture and working on the girls' baby books and yearly photo books. Being productive after the girls go the bed is really hard when all I want to do is lay down and watch tv :|

(four) Looking forward to a 5 night vacation soon. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, which includes a day at Dollywood and a day at Splash Country! This area has quickly become our favorite vacation spot with the kids. So many day activities to do. We go for 8 nights later in the year!

(five) This Summer has really flown by so far! The girls have been out of school for 3 weeks already. They are finally at the ages where they will play together! Riley is starting to pretend play and her and Madison will chatter and play in their house or kitchen for a good hour or so. Potty training is going great! Riley is doing really well with it! A few accidents here and there(while she's playing or at night) but she pretty much has it down! She does refuse to sit on a 'big' potty so we have to get that worked out before vacation! We may be that parent that carries the little potty into the parks. No shame, though!

Summer Reading Program at the libary

Forced hugs..

Playing in their house

Five on Friday

(1) I'm hosting a Young Living Essential Oils 101 party at my house tomorrow!  I'm really excited to learn about this product! A friend of mine will be leading it and answering questions.

(2) I will be taking Madison to see Frozen on Ice this Summer. I bought tickets last weekend. She will have a ball, I'm sure and that one on one time will be nice since it's pretty rare.

(3) Alan is now coordinator over a volunteer event at our church. It comes 1 week per quarter and this is the week it's happening at our church. He's done a great job with it and I'm real proud of him. I went and helped a bit last night with it and it's great to see him hard at work. I know it fulfills a spot in him too. He's great at that kind of stuff.

(4) I finally got Madison's 2 year photobook ordered. I now need to work on her 3rd and 4th year and Riley's 1st year. I need to get busy! I use Mixbook and I love it! I love that I can customize everything in the book!

(5)The sun is finally out today! It's been gray all.week.long! It's amazing what the sun does for your mood, even if it's not warm out.