Merry Christmas 2019!!!

I know I have been a little (ok ALOT absent) from the blog this year but I still want to try and keep at it, and hopefully 2020 will bring just that!

We are just 6 days away from Christmas and I am scrambling to do ALL THE THINGS while also remembering to SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY THE MOMENT. We have had so much fun this month getting ready for the holiday - we've made cookies, drove around looking at lights drinking hot chocolate, made a gingerbread house, went to a couple holiday events, met Santa and this weekend we have tickets to see the lights at the Botanical Garden which I cannot wait for!!! This time of year is truly so special!





From our family to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

xo,

Lizzie

Wedding Weekend in LA

A couple weekends ago my best friend got married!! She moved out to LA a few years and found the love of  her life and they decided their wedding would be out there. I'm not going to lie, as soon as she told me she was engaged and the wedding would be out there, I panicked a little. I knew that meant us leaving our kids, on a plane and well, if you have anxiety you know where that leads you.

All these months, I kept not thinking about the flying part (I'm a terrible flyer and also Rick and I have never flown together without the kids - he has flown and I have flown, but not together) but then it just snuck up us! I pushed all my negative thoughts aside and we headed off to the airport right after getting the kids on the bus. It definitely felt weird and a little awesome at the same time!

We were right on the water in Redondo Beach and it was gorgeous! The first night was rehearsal and the welcome dinner - we made sure not to stay out too late because it was a long travel day



The next morning Rick and I headed out for some exploring. We rented bikes from the hotel and rode the beach path all the way to Hermosa Beach. We stopped and had breakfast at the cutest little place overlooking the ocean. The food was amazing too. We walked the pier and tried to find some stores open to get the kids something but nothing was open at 9am, just restaurants LOL.  After that, we biked back and it was time for me to get ready and join the bride & bridesmaids in the bridal sweet.





After our hair and makeup was done, it was time for pictures. I loved the photographer, she was so cute and so good at her job. After pictures we headed over the ceremony outside. They had such a gorgeous day and I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. I am SO happy my friend found her happily ever after.



 

After the ceremony we got to hit up cocktail hour since we already took our pics (they also did a first look before the ceremony) Then it was dinner time, speeches, & dancing.  It was a whirlwind of a day and we actually left the ceremony around 10:45 because we were wiped and had to get up pretty early for our flight home.

I had so much fun being away but couldn't wait to get back to our little loves!!

Testing Testing - A life lately recap

Well, I guess me coming back from a blogging break didn't stick as here we are months later😞😞 Life just seems to get busier and blogging has taken a back seat to everything else. That's just how it has to be right now, but I do want to pop in at least sometimes to keep documenting our lives - that is the reason I started this blog in the first place!

Anyway, let's see, I guess we should start with summer - the kids all ended school and we were ready to have a super fun summer! Avery would be off to Kindergarten in the fall (which of course has already happened) and I wanted to make the most of it!

Probably the biggest thing that happened this summer was we got a pool!!!!!! It was an excited/stressful/pain in the butt process but in the end, totally worth it! Our June was pretty crummy so having the pool finished in early July was perfect timing! The weather turned gorgeous and we swam so so much!! We had friends over constantly and made some fabulous summer memories!


 

Brayden's first year with travel baseball came to an end and it was such an awesome experience!! we cannot wait for next season already!



We enjoyed the 4th of July over at Ricks brothers house - it ended up being a really nice day!

Brayden turned 9 and we had a fun party at the house with his friends - they played kickball, swam, ate tons of pizza and had gaterade chugging contests, boys!!

All 3 went to vacation bible camp this summer and had alot of fun! they had a cute little performance at the end of the week

We went to tons of shows at the library and hit up the local splash pads with friends!

Avery turned 5 and I still can't believe my BABY is 5!!! She is so darn cute and spunky, I could eat her up

We went on our annual family vacation to Traverse City, MI and had the best time! some great memories were made

When we got home, Avery had her friend birthday party - Little Mermaid theme of course because she is obsessed :)

 

and before you knew it, school was starting again!! first was for the bigs (kinder starts a week later at our school) - I was so emotional with them on their first day! I always offer to drive on the first day and they said yes, so off to school it was

 

Avery was so sad to see her siblings leave her!! 

 

and then it was Miss A's turn! I asked her if she wanted me to drive her like I always do for the others and she said nope, I want to ride the bus!!! she was so excited for that bus! As soon as she got on and left, I started bawling! It didn't last too long because I had a mom date with my other friends whose babies were also starting kinder!

We went to our towns Labor Day fest and parade and it was a great way to end Summer!

 

and then it was time for Ella to turn 7!!! crazy having all their birthdays in a row but also lots of fun! We had the cutest painting party which I hope to do a separate blog post on!

I will end it there before this post becomes way too long!! Our summer was pretty low key but also so fun and memorable at the same time. I really do consider myself so lucky that I get to be home. Of course it has it's challenges but I would not trade it for anything!!

Life Lately {4.3.19}

Woohoo, look at that, I'm back again! I'm hoping this can be a reoccurring thing because I really have missed the blog world so much!!

Sooo let's take a look at what's been going on in our lives - these days are so busy but also so memorable. I'm fully aware that these are the best days and I try and remember that when my crazy Mom moments come into the picture haha

• I have been leading Ella's girl scout troop all year and I am having so much fun with it! Originally I was hesitant to be the leader because it is a lot of work, but it's been so worth it! I am making some awesome memories with Ella and our troop of girls is just the cutest!

 

• I have been volunteering at the big kids' school alot! I go to any party I can and try and help out with other events as needed (hot lunch, birthday books, fun fair) it's been a super fun year so far! I also help out whenever I can at Avery's preschool. It's so bittersweet knowing she is my last kid in preschool

 

• I am still running my FB group and having so much fun with it!! If you aren't a member, you should join here!

• Rick & Brayden have been practicing baseball on their new travel team for a couple months now. Games start at the end of this month and I'm so excited!!!

• Ella & Avery also just started softball and had their first practice this week. They are so close in age in school that they are able to be on the same team which is so nice for us since there are 3 kids and 2 parents LOL. I cannot wait to see my girls in action!!!

• we took the kid skiing for the first time in February. We were so proud of them for giving it a try because it is hard! they took a lesson then we went down the bunny hill a few times. Rick of course was going down the bigger hills, which I'm still too scared to do haha

• I fell and slipped on ice in January and ended up with a concussion - it was NOT fun

• the girls went to the Daddy/Daughter Dance and had a BLAST!

• Ella lost her first tooth a couple months ago and her second one last week! she is getting so big and seeing her with missing teeth really shows it! 

• Avery had emergency surgery last month to remove her appendix! so scary but we were so glad she was OK and all is good now!! this one will always keep us on our toes, I swear!

• I took Brayden on a Mom/Son game night and we had so much fun! I have always wanted to do this through the park district but we always have plans. We met up with friends and it was just a great night - hearing Brayden say how much fun he had only confirmed that!

• we just enjoyed a super fun Spring Break - we didn't go anywhere but I made sure to keep the kids busy each day with hunting trolls, the arcade, parks, movies, trampoline places & more! I was exhausted by the weekend! 

    

and that brings us up to speed!!


**linking up with Lindsays Sweet World