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Monday, May 16, 2016

Knock Knock - Who's There? Barn Door!

Hey guys!  I'm here today to share with you our new barn door!  If you follow me over on IG, then you know by now that I won this amazing barn door by entering a contest hosted by A House and A Dog.  I remember showing Jon my Instagram entry and telling him about how much I wanted to win this door - something I don't normally do when entering online contests.

I wanted this thing and I wanted it baaaaaad!

A few days later, while checking out at Home Depot, of all places, I happened to glance down at my phone and saw lots of messages containing the word "congrats."

  Oh, my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!!  Had I won the door?!  

We hightailed it out of there, don't worry - we paid first ;), I checked my messages and wouldn't you know it, I won the barn door!  It felt like Christmas all over again!  Oh. EM. Geeeeeeeee!  I was pumped.  Jon was pumped...and the kids...well, I may have scared them with my over abundance of joy.

Anyhoo, thanks to Rustica Hardware and A House and A Dog, we are now proud owners of this lovely barn door!

Rustica Hardware Barn Door - www.familyandthelakehouse.com

Now I just need to figure out if I want a design in the bottom portion, an "X" or a "Z," and I need to research what kind of handle we should get.

 Hmm...decisions, decisions.

Suggestions?  What do you think?

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Winning this piece of happiness has also made me home in on our entryway.

That lonely light fixture, the blank wall, the lack of decor...  Yeah, I think we need to add a bit more pizzazz to the area.

So, stay tuned for an entryway overhaul...........it'll be done by 2025, I'm sure of it!  ;)

Rustica Hardware Barn Door - www.familyandthelakehouse.com

In the meantime, though, let's just sit here and stare and talk about how pretty that door is...mmmkay...

I'll be sitting right here...staring...just staring...

*sigh*

I'm in love...

Rustica Hardware Barn Door - www.familyandthelakehouse.com

Oh and just for fun, here's what it looked like before the install.  Check out my fun sunburst cedar shim mirror!  Guess I'll need to find a new place for that diy project!  

Sunburst Mirror - www.familyandthelakehouse.com

...aaaaaaaaaand back to the door...

;)

Rustica Hardware Barn Door - www.familyandthelakehouse.com

Thanks for stopping by today, friends!  If you need me, you'll know where to look.  ;)

Marie :)

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Henry turns 5.


This past Saturday, our little Henry turned five.

Our first born, our pride and joy, our sweet little 8 lb 6 oz bundle of joy is five...FIVE.

You guys, I have so many mixed emotions about this, but it is what it is and I tried my very best to not become the crazy/sad/happy/emotional mom last Saturday.  It was tough.

We tried for over a year to get pregnant with our little guy - lots of emotions, medication and a blighted ovum (another story for another day), but in late August of 2010, we found out we were pregnant and Jon and I were over the moon excited!

The pregnancy, labor and delivery were all a dream.  I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.

On May 7, 2011, the best thing that had ever happened to us had occurred.  Our little Henry had arrived and boy-oh-boy, he was, and still is, amazing.  Sure, becoming a mother for the first time had its challenges, but my goodness, I wouldn't trade it for anything...ANYTHING in this world.

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My Henry,

I'm so proud of you.

You're a dream of a little boy and I'm so happy I get to be your Mom.

You have the kindest heart, the best hugs and the silliest jokes - although, most jokes usually revolve around poops and toots.

I can honestly say that I know that you're going to grow up to become a phenomenal man.  You're already learning that girls go first, you hold doors open for strangers and I'm sure you'll woe somebody someday with your pancake makin' skills.

But let's not jump that far ahead, yet.  Okay?  Please take your time growing.  I'm not finished snuggling with you yet and Eliza needs her playmate to stay young and busy.

Speaking of which, you're amazing with, "Ziza" as you often call her, and you're always trying to help her.  You encourage her and she encourages you.  Daddy and I are beyond thrilled that the two of you are together in this big ol' world.  We're so happy the two of have each other day-in and day-out.  You can be the best of friends and sure, at times you bicker, but it never lasts long and the two of you are always quick to forgive and back to being the best of friends.

Gosh you love her.

We call you our little, "Project Manager."  You're always telling us to build something.  Most times you're involved, but there are times when you watch over our shoulder and tell us, "good job" or "NO!  You're not doing it right!"  We try our best, baby boy...we try our best...

It seems as though your most common question is, "How?"  You're so intrigued with how things work and we must always provide an answer.  You always try your darndest to work out a problem in your head.

Your solution?  "Mom, I know!  We need scissors, cardboard and some tape!"

Whenever I go to the grocery store I always try to buy tape.  You looooove tape.  We've built so many things out of tape and cardboard.  We've built a huge cardboard RV equipped with a table, windshield wipers, a window, headlights and a steering wheel.  Still, you wanted more.  We've built cardboard slides, cardboard marble runs, a huge hardboard mailbox (including one that involved the shop vac), and even a cardboard car wash.  Cardboard for days!  Never in a million years would I have thought that I'd be building so many things out of cardboard, but Henry, you make it so fun!

You love playing with your sister, building forts out of the couch cushions, Legos, Paw Patrol, PJ Masks, driving the Barbie Car, funny jokes, a good magic trick, putting underwear on your head and socks on your hands and dancing naked while your little sister does the same.  You guys are nuts and Daddy and I LOVE it!  You love pancakes, bacon, sausage, the crunchy tips of asparagus.  You love chocolate milk shakes, chocolate doughnuts, chocolate steamers, chocolate candy...anything and everything chocolate.  You'll do anything for chocolate!

My hunny bunny, you're full of love.  So much love.  You love your sister, Mom and Dad, both sets of grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends...you love them all so very much.  You get along with everyone so well.  You're gentle and soft.  You always have been and I know, I know you always will be.

You're the best little boy.  You're the sweetest little boy.  You're my favorite little boy.

You're my beating heart.

Oh, how are you five already?  Gone are the infant and toddler days.  You are ending your pre-schooler days, and while I'm not ready...at all...I must say that I'm anxiously excited for our next chapter together.  The chapter you'll be entering as a school-aged boy.  Oh my Henry, you have so much to offer and I can't wait for the the world to see it.  You'll move mountains...I know you will.

I love you so much it hurts.

To the moon and back, hunny...to the moon and back.

Forever and always,

Mom

Sunday, May 1, 2016

The Monthly Meet Up

Happy first day of May, everyone!  I'm back from a week long blogging hiatus and I must say it feels good to be back on the ol' blog again.  :)

As many of my fellow bloggers may know by now about two weeks ago one of our favorite bloggers had some issues regarding her blog content and privacy being comprised.

It pretty much freaked me out and I've since been very quiet on this bloggity blog of mine as well as over on Instagram.

So, here I am with a few new plans for my blog on this month's edition of The Monthly Meet Up.



This month...

...my blog will likely see more diy/home decor posts and less of the kiddos.  I'm still hoping to provide updates on our daily lives somehow on here.  I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate our day-to-day into this little space of mine without jeopardizing my comfort level.

After all, this Saturday will be Henry's fifth birthday and how do I not blog about that - right?  It's a milestone!  I've already not blogged about his Kindergarten registration and my blog feels a little sad because I didn't post anything about it.

Does anyone want to start a weekly, "Real Life" type of link up?

Perhaps once a week would work perfectly?

Thoughts?

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... I'll be starting a weekly home tour in the next couple of weeks similar to that of the amazing, Lindsay over at Lindsay's Sweet World.  Seriously, check out her house, it's amazing!  

I figured this would be a great opportunity to show all ya'll more of my home as well as get some new content up on my "Home Tour" page.

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...I'm going to attempt to blog 2-3 times a week in hopes to place myself on an intentional schedule.

We'll see how that'll go - but by golly, I'm going to try!

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Have you changed the way you're blogging these last couple weeks?  Please, do tell.  :)

Thanks for stopping by, guys!

Marie :)