Our 4th of July at the Lake!

It is official. Fourth of July is now one of my favorite holidays.

I feel like I have neglected it my whole life. Possibly not realized how fun and memorable this holiday can be.

We made plans to spend the long weekend at our family condo on the lake with no real agenda. It was four full days of family time, boat rides, patio time and good eats.

Both of our children are fish but Clara is beyond brave! It makes me a tad nervous but in the same sense very excited to have a water baby. She hates being in the raft we bought her. She wants to float, kick her legs, put her face in the water and even be dunked. She l-o-v-e-s the water y'all. I think it is time for swim lessons for both babies!

We spent a great deal of time at the pool. Pool time looks so different these days. We take turns chasing Clara and swimming with Skip. Skip is such a strong independent player. You don't have to do much to entertain him. I absolutely love seeing his imagination come to life. While I adore this time in life, don't think I don't reminisce on the days when we sat by the pool reading, taking naps and having lighthearted conversations.

These two had the best time in the pool together! A few times during our stay, I would take Toots back to the condo for nap time and Daddy + Skip stayed to swim. It makes me happy. Putting this picture on the official it is time to print out new pictures list.

This is a picture of Clara telling me that I am smothering her and that I am no longer a cool mom. Totally kidding but she wasn't happy. Again, she wants to swim and not be held.

One to make you smile. We are really into picking our nose these days. :)

We have a few weekends at home and we are looking forward to this! This is such a memorable time of year friends! Let's enjoy it.

Oh, and happy weekend!

Easter in Pictures

This was Skip's second Easter but the first that he was able to participate. I have a secret. I am not a mom full of traditions. Dying eggs? Eh. A basket full of goodies? I guess. Matching outfits? Nope. I don't know why I am that way because I love seeing others traditions plus my mom and grandmothers are both really into traditions. My mom stays up all hours of the night Christmas Eve to wrap gifts with the perfect paper, set out goodies, eat the Santa cookies and so on. This is for every holiday really. Even my mother-in-law is really, really good at it but I just can't get into it. Maybe when Skip is older and really excited for Easter and other holidays.

Since I knew I wasn't into the whole get eggs, fill them, put together a basket thing I started preparing early. I made R go with me to the store to get stuff a few weekends ago and the second we got home I stuffed the eggs because I knew I wouldn't do it if I didn't right then. Yesterday morning I was happy to get his basket out though so that is a good step. We put in cars, rice krispie treats, bubbles and sidewalk chalk. And before you go all crazy like what do you mean holiday spirit and shout things like Katie, he has a monogrammed basket. That is more than me! What Easter/holiday spirit? My mom bought it. See what I mean? ;)

This Easter we decided to go spend the day with my grandfather in Magnolia. We made plans to attend his church, go see my grandmother in the Alzheimer's wing, make + eat lunch plus celebrate my grandfather's birthday. He is turning 88 this Tuesday! AND he will be doing taxes as a volunteer for fun on his birthday. The man is a saint. Really, ask anyone.

It was a great day! My little family is the best and slowly but surely we are making new traditions.

Skip was not into finding and collecting his eggs. He really didn't get into the hunt until that first egg that had a Reese cup in it. Then we couldn't stop him. He would run to a new egg, crack it open, if filled then he asked to eat it, if empty it was quickly tossed. We couldn't stop laughing.

Also the picture below shows you how much creativity goes into hiding eggs at the Farrin house.

Skip's outfit is the same one he wore last year. That just shows you how much my baby was a chunky chunk and now is thinning out. He is such a big boy!

And look! Mommy got in a picture :)

How was your Easter weekend? What are some of your favorite traditions?

Also to me it goes without saying what this holiday means. Truly, I get so emotional (partial pregnancy symptoms) over a father who would go to battle for me. Not only on Easter or the day he rose but every day. See what I mean? Weepy and grateful and blessed.

Wishing you all a perfect start to your week. And perfect by your standards. That matters most.

Christmas Morning

Here it is!

Our family Christmas almost a month after Christmas. My timing is impeccable.

While I will be back later this week with life updates, goals, happy times, I wanted to share our morning in photos. I am a stickler for it just being us on Christmas morning. I know it may not always be possible to do but I truly love waking up in our home with my fur babies and Skip. And R too!

We didn't do too much for Skip minus a few books, a kitchen, a giant Mickey and some puzzles we still had back from his birthday. The best tip someone gave me at Skip's first birthday party was your child doesn't need all of this so put it up in a closet somewhere and give it when he does. About two months ago we had a rainy day and Skip just didn't understand why he couldn't go out in the cold rain. I thought of our birthday stash of toys and we pulled out a little drum set. He loved it! Again, best piece of advice.

Onto the gifts: The books Skip loves are the Biscuit series. He got Biscuit Meets the Baby, Biscuit Goes Camping and Biscuit Goes to School. This child loves Biscuit. I cannot adequately pin/type the words to convey his obsession with Biscuit. Needless to say he was thrilled to unwrap those books at Christmas. As for the kitchen, I will share my reasoning behind that purchase in a later post. ;) But in case you want it, I got it on amazon here. It was less than this by about $30 so not sure if a holiday deal or what? The giant Mickey Mouse was a Walmart Black Friday purchase for a few bucks. It stays in his reading tent with his blankets and pillows.

I was really impressed with Skip and the interaction between him and the Christmas tree. He did really good not messing with ornaments. He would pet the tree or just sit and stare at the lights. He didn't really like unwrapping gifts like we thought he would. Overall, we had the best Christmas with family and friends. We hosted people for over a week and I cooked a ton of goodies. It felt so good especially in my new kitchen (which I hope to update you on soon)!

I hope your new year is off to a good start. Hugs to you!

Being Thankful and all of that

I say all of that because goodness has November come and gone. I don't even remember most of it. I don't know if it is having Skip who is constantly changing or the weather and its tendencies to be up and down. Regardless, is it really December? Really?

I write this post with big band Christmas tunes playing and my regular blog reading circuit opened in different tabs. I love the idea of December. Heck, I welcomed the Christmas trees (yeah, plural) mid November using a friends baby shower that I hosted as an excuse. But I totally kept the pumpkins on the porch. One of my friends joked her house was having an identity crisis too. Why did I have Christmas inside and fall out? I can't commit to Christmas decor for our porch. But you better believe I am making Rusty string lights outside this weekend. Hey, I am a good wife. I am odd (for obvious reasons) but the fact that I cannot find the Christmas porch things I want. We have two front doors. That means two wreaths. With most wreaths being $40-50 a pop that means double the price so in other words I need to love the wreaths. And this is just the start of the porch debacle. I embrace it though. It will get there. And then Rusty will probably move me. He likes to do that and I like to love him.

Still following me with this post? Yeah, not even to the meat yet. I am getting there. Relax.

There is a debate. A debate over when it is okay to celebrate Christmas. When it okay to put up the tree. When you decorate for fall. When you mix the two holidays. Respect the turkey. Put up the tree if you want. It is a all over social media. Respect the turkey again. People get really hostile about it. No Christmas tunes until the day after Thanksgiving. RESPECT THE TURKEY. Isn't that a weird saying if you think about it? Respect a dead bird on a platter. Maybe they mean respect the holiday of giving thanks and reflection and gratitude and bliss. I think that is what they mean.

Here is the solution. Wait, are you ready for it? You sure?

Do what you want and celebrate both.

Earth shattering. Right? I knew you would think that.

Skip is getting to where he is really starting to understand things. We haven't really had to make a holiday of any sort too big of a deal or explain what it means. We just aren't to that stage yet. But it is coming. And more importantly than following guidelines for when to decorate or when to be thankful or when to do any of it... the big question is what am I teaching him? Having a tree up before Thanksgiving has nothing to do with our Thanksgiving traditions and the pure meaning I will teach him for being grateful for this life. The same goes for putting the tree up after Thanksgiving. What am I teaching him for advent? Does he see why we celebrate Christmas? So let the battle rest and of all things evaluate the meaning of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Advent, Lent...

I want to shield Skip from all of it minus the really, really good things but I know I can't forever. Until then I am learning what each holiday means to me and how I want to celebrate. I am saying my thanks (more than just Thanksgiving day). I am decking the halls. I am learning how to parent. Who would have thought this day would be here? But it is. So what will I do with it?

Favorite Black Friday Deal Like Ever! {Cardstore}

Don't get me wrong in that I love designing Christmas cards but this deal is too good to pass up (and not share). Every year I use Cardstore for our Christmas card printing. You can create your own design and upload it or you can use one of their designs on the site.

Cardstore is offering 50% (!!!) off all Christmas cards! Do you hear the angels singing? I do. This offer last from today through Sunday. You can use coupon code: DDCCN5525 to receive the offer. I highly recommend it. The cards are durable, matte print and perfect. You can order them now and get them in plenty of time for Christmas. Also if your order is over $30 you get free shipping to you. Also you can get them for pick up at Target. Also they will address them and mail them for you. Also they put your return address on the envelope if you like (for free). Also I could go on and on about Cardstore. Use them, love them, use them again.

And just to show you some favorites:

*Cardstore paid me zilch to write this post. I just love them that much y'all. All opinions are my own.

Christmas Shenanigans 2014

I cannot believe that Christmas is over. I feel like I am mourning the loss of Christmas. I don't know if it is because Skip's first Christmas is in the books or what it is?

I just hate that it is over but know that next year will be so fun!

Thus ensues the photo overload of Christmas this year and our adorable boy.

We traveled this Christmas to Rusty's sisters and Skipper did so good. I am so thankful for the time with friends and family. We are very blessed and the poor boy didn't get any gifts. ;)

Christmas, you were wonderful. Now who wants to come pack up my Christmas decor?