Life Lately...Happy Holidays!

It was another great year hosting Thanksgiving!  

We used chafing sets to warm all of the sides and it made the day so much more enjoyable as host.  Clean up was easier as well.  

Next year I want to spend more time making a cohesive tablescape.  It's been very mish-mash style the past years but I think I want to try to pull together a "fancier" table next year.  We'll see...

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Yesterday I celebrated my birthday!  My mom came over during the baby's nap so we could enjoy brunch with the girls.

Later we decorated for Christmas.  I think this is our 4th year using Whole Foods for our tree and it is the best deal!!

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This week I am working on our Christmas cards.  We had some beautiful family photos taken at the beach last week.  Also, photo related- John's school pictures came in.  Naughty List!

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Last thing before I run... I am Room Mom in the girls' classes this year and this week is the "Keepsake Ornament" parties where all of the students make a personalized ornament.  We tested out a SUPER simple craft over the break which is the plan for my second grader's class.  I'll share a tutorial soon.

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Have a great week!

xLaura

 

Playing in my Closet

 I am so grateful that, with my son is preschool this year, I've been able to spend a little time playing in my closet.  Putting outfits together is so fun for me.  With the holidays coming up I tried on some of my more festive pieces.  90% of these outfits were thrifted...my favorite hobby.  Looking forward to wearing them soon!

Friday Highfive: Halloween 2024

Halloween 2024 was a fun one!

"Say Hello To My Little Friends" -Scarface

The girls were Red and Bridget from Descendants.  I think there were at least 2 in every class :)

And the Mr. Tootsie!!!!!  Flashback to little tootsie MB.

J had his school parade...

And I spent the day at the girls' school helping with the carnival and the class parties.

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I'll be spending the next week getting myself in gear for the Holiday Season.  

Have a great weekend! 

xLaura

Monday Misc

Happy October!!!  Here's a little catch up...

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We had an awesome time at my 20 year high school reunion last weekend.  

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Celebrating our 8 year old!!!

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Last week I made pulled pork and pineapple quesadillas.  They were delicious!  We always have pulled pork in the freezer and this was one of the best ways I've used it.  

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I thrifted these Ferragamo loafers last week.  So classic!

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Have a great week!

xLaura

THE BABY goes to school

 The Mr. Baby is off to school.  There were a few tears at drop offs this week but he has done really well.  

It has been surreal being by myself a few hours each day.  I keep checking the back seat if I'm driving, tip toeing around the house as if he's napping...It's an adjustment for both of us. 

 I'm excited for this new chapter of Mom life and so grateful for this time to figure out what's next!

Have a great weekend!

xLaura

Birthday and Back to School

Our baby boy turned TWO last Monday, August 12th.  He is so handsome, smart, funny, and sweet. 

 He's a wild man, running at full speed, sweat clinging his golden curls.

He's a boy digging in the dirt, singing his ABC's, and counting his rocks and sticks.

He's chasing balls, announcing any plane or boat in sight, leaving messes in his every wake.

He's a brother tucked between two sisters, trying to pop their bead bracelets and spill their glitter and glue.

He's chaos and joy and I truly can't imagine a world without him, surely it would be quite the boring place.

Oh, motherhood, what a trip.  Always in so many places at once.  Always trying to hold on, to let go, to get a grip.  I'm feeling like the answer, or I suppose lack of one, is to just surrender to the ride.  To do your best with the good and the hard, and to know that you just can't figure it all out.  

Oh, I always get sentimental around new beginnings...

So!

This is our first official week with the girls back to school.  Kindergarten and Second Grade, let's go!

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I'm going to have more time to write this year when J starts school in the 2's after Labor Day.

I can't even fathom the thought!!!

Have a great week,

Laura

Farewell Summer, from the Lake.

 We have had a really great Summer this year.  In fact, up until this past week I wasn't quite ready for it to end!  Hurricane Debbie kept us cooped up inside for 3 days and I can officially say I'm very excited for school to start.  Before kids, hurricane days (mild threats) meant pizza and a Lord of the Rings marathon.  Nowadays, it's 2 bickering sisters and a 2 year old boy running around us in circles.  Big difference.  Though I am so grateful it was a mild storm and we did not lose power.

Backing up to happier times, we spent last weekend on Lake Hartwell which was this perfect Summer send-off.

Pontoon girlies.

We loved cruising the lake and exploring some islands.  Can't wait until they are old enough for some water sports.

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Took the kids to see the waterfalls at Chau Ram Park, which was an easy activity with our age range.  The "hike" to the waterfall was so short and there were natural swimming pools all around.

And to wrap up a great trip, upon exiting I26 at Columbiana Mall, I realized we could stop at Fazoli's for lunch.  Oh my gosh, the memories, the breadsticks.  It was so good!

I miss it so much I might have just googled Fazolis Franchise info ;)

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Speaking of food...I've got some good meals on deck for this weekend:

Lowcountry Boil and Rodney Scott BBQ.

We're ready to savor the last few Summer days...

Friday Highfive

 Super quick highfive coming at ya today!

TGIF!

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{1}

Baby J had his first overnight at my parents' this past weekend.  And the girls were with Oma and Opa...so we got a date night AND a lazy morning.  Woo Woooo!!!

We had the best time at Hometeam and then a pit stop by Genes before heading to an empty house!

 

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{2}

Peach picking at Shuler Farms.  We discovered this place a few years ago and have loved picking peaches for homemade ice cream on the Fourth of July!

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{3}

Red, white, and blue crew!

We had hotdogs, bbq chips, watermelon, and the most delicious homemade ice cream.  We finished the day off at my in laws' pool.

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{4}

Speaking of the pool, we had a fun playdate where my friend took this precious picture of me and my baby boy!  It captures his Summer energy perfectly...life is good.

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{5}

I had a girls night over at the new Santi's last week.  I'd love to know who designed this place because it is very eclectic and visually exciting.  The taco salad and margs were great, too.

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Have a great weekend!

xLaura

Tybee Island 2024

 I'd say I'm about 90% recovered from our family vacation last week and I have a chance to sit at the computer this morning.  So, I'm going to share all about it.

This is our second trip to this beach house on Tybee.  With our son being so young and wild, we had to keep things as easy as possible this Summer, and so we decided a repeat was in order.  We did explore a few new things this year, I'll share those first!

I was looking into thrift shops in the area and found the *cutest* church thrift located just a couple blocks away from us.  I think due to it's limited hours, this place was very busy, which didn't make for the most enjoyable thrift experience.  But I still loved it.

I found these clips for the girls bathroom:

This year we also ventured into Savannah.  We hit Forsyth Park where J could just run and run.

And then we also found this adventure zone called Exhilarate.  It was a really awesome spot for all the kids.  Think Sky Zone + Outslide In x 10.  It was massive and the kids had fun and were able to burn some energy.   I wanted to note that this is absolutely NOT my idea of a good time on vacation, but children can only take so much pool and beach before they begin to whine.  It's the reality of traveling with kids and I feel like I need to acknowledge that there are some really hard moments while making the memories.

We also did the Tybee Island Marine Center.  This place was really neat.  My only complaint is how small it was.  From the exterior it appeared very large but upon entering you realize that it isn't 2 levels and it takes no time to see everything there is to see.  We still enjoyed the trip and the air conditioning.

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Ok so, from here I'll just share some pics of the things that we enjoyed on our last trip and decided to revisit.

The Sugar Shack!

If you have an early riser like us (little bro is up with the sun) then you can appreciate an ice cream shop that opens at 10 am.....

This was the girls' favorite part of the trip and where they spent their souvenir money.

Other places we returned: 

Seaweed Snowballs

The Deck Beach Kitchen and Bar ...favorite spot.  GET THE PRETZEL!

Another favorite where K took the girls: Pier 16. Get the blackened chicken sandwich.

*Note:  The Mr. Baby can not go to restaraunts these days so we had to split up and take the girls solo.

The Pier

The Arcade

Otherwise we just enjoyed all that the house had to offer, the pool, and the beach!

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Looking back on the pictures is honestly one of my favorite parts of a trip.  With 3 kids it's so busy you almost can't really soak it in until afterwards, if that makes sense... 

I'm sad vacation is over but love our routine too.

 We both agreed that this would be our last trip to Tybee, at least for a while.

Thinking perhaps a lake trip next year?

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We've got a super busy July with camps for the girls.

Here we goooooo....

xLaura