sticking to the point.

My mind has been busy lately so I am going to stick straight to the point today, bullet points that is:

-- The countdown to Scarlett's 2nd birthday is on! T-minus 10 days. I cannot even wrap my mind around the fact that my baby is going to be two, so I will go on. I am so excited about her party plans. We are going to be at the beach (again, I know!). One of the consolations to your husband being in school forever is -- SPRING BREAK! Holla! In keeping with the beach theme, her party is all about mermaids. I will be sure to post details from our celebration, but for now I am loving these little mer-people I got off etsy that will be our cupcake toppers:

-- Before Scarlett was born I always painted my nails. I just love the look of painted nails! That fell by the wayside very quickly after the reality of motherhood kicked in. But, just recently I have gotten my nail file back out and have been painting my nails. It is just a little something I sit down and do for myself. No big deal. Well, the other day I found what I believe will be 'one of my all-time favorite colors' and wanted to share it with y'all: 

OPI -- Most Honorable Red

-- I have said this before on here, but it is really important to me to teach Scarlett that it is fun to work and cook in the kitchen. That is something that my mom taught us and I want to try to do the same. One of my tasks in the kitchen at my parents' house growing up was putting away the silverware. I actually fell in love with this task because I thought it was fun to pretend I was the cashier at the grocery sorting the cash and coins. ha! Anyway, just yesterday I taught SJ how to put away the silverware. She picked up on it like a champ! Go girl. 

But then just this morning, when the dishwasher was already unloaded, she saw it necessary to re-organize. In an effort not to stifle her imagination, I let her go to work. I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but my silverware drawer is now in utter disarray ;)

-- Scarlett has become quite the little bookworm. She totally gets that from her Daddy. I am embarrassed to say I am not a big reader. 

As you may have heard in the video, she already has a favorite author -- Jane O'Connor who has written the darling Fancy Nancy series. 

We totally recommend the Fancy Nancy series... Nancy keeps Mitch and I in stitches, most days. When we read about her fancy ways going on 253 times a day, not so much. 

-- My final point, as we prepare to celebrate Easter... the greatest day EVER... when Jesus overcame the grave for YOU and me.... I want to remind you (as I am reminding myself today): No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 

How exciting is that? Be blessed today by those words alone. 

Bringing a little outside in.

One of the many things I am going to miss so much about our house is our perennials. Every spring, without fail, they pop up and brighten our yard. Tulips, hyacinths, hydrangeas, peonies, and jonquils. I have to admit that I do love that they take no effort on my part. Is that awful or what? ;) 

  Flowers seem to be our theme this week. Scarlett and I thought we should bring a little spring inside so we selected a bouquet with various colors... 

This sweet smile is hilarious. Mitch said it almost looks like a little growl. I love it! 

Miss Callie is alive and well for all of my "doggy loving" readers. She is currently a tad too furry for my liking. That will change next week when she gets her spring trim at the "salon" :)

We enjoyed placing the flowers strategically around the house to bring a little of the outside cheer in.

We even had a special, afternoon guest to share our new arrangements with -- Aunt KT. (and tulips are her fav!)

We had to make our friend Beth's cookies while we were together. Thanks for the fun visit, KT!

"But mommy, flowers are for picking..."

SJ and I were planning on meeting Kristin and Kingston at the park this morning, but our favorite little guy was feeling under the weather so we had to postpone. The day was too pretty and our lunch was already packed to so my girl and I headed out into the beautiful sunshine! 

Obviously we are at the stage where looking directly at the camera is just not going to happen. Sigh.
Oh well I guess I will have to wait until she goes to prom before I get a "posed" photo. Well, that is if Mitch will let her go. Ha!  

 It is so hard to resist picking... it seems almost innate to pick beautiful flowers. 

I guess this will be a true test to see if Scarlett has allergies 

because her little hands were covered in pollen. 

And yes, I am the lady who lets her child walk through the flower bed. Yikes. 

And the most important part of our outing -- LUNCH. 

An empty tummy makes a girl cranky, don't you know ;)

where the green grass grows.

We are back in KY where the green grass grows! Spring has sprung and it is gorgeous. We spent most of our waking hours today playing outside. Hopefully our vitaminD count is rising ;)

I am thankful that we made it home from FL safe and sound. We really had such a wonderful trip (thank you Nonni!). SJ travelled very well which made it SO nice for the long car rides. The only time we had a problem was at Cracker Barrel (of all places!!). Scarlett decided she wanted to "rock-rock" until the cows came home. Her sweet disposition took a turn for the worst and she was beyond determined to not be moved from that porch. If I were to put a caption with this picture it would say something to the effect of...oh, I don't know... "Rocking chair death grip." 

 And believe it or not, we were dumb enough to stop at Cracker Barrel again on the way home. Obviously we were gluttons for punishment because we had to do the whole "pull a screaming child from the rocking chair" charade again. Not one of my brightest moments of motherhood thus far, to say the least. 

~~~

A few more moments from our trip... 

We got to shop at one of my favorite spots -- SanRoc Cay. Scarlett loved the "wawee" aka fountain. 

SJ mastered 2 skills while at the beach...

1- Seashell collecting.

2- Bird chasing watching

And just in case Mitch wondered if his little girl was thinking about him while we were away.... She eats cheese queso dip JUST LIKE her daddy! 

Our trip with Nonni was such a treat. I do have to say that I am looking forward to getting back into our routine. I admit, I just thrive on a schedule and live by a day planner. However, I have pretty much succumb to the fact that the next 2 months (at least!) are going to be totally lacking in schedule. Mitch's graduation is OH SO near and that means a new chapter of life is beginning. Yahoo! It may take a while to work out some of the "new chapter kinks" but I am flexible and ready... more on our new chapter to come. 

'tis so sweet.

A precious friend shared the words to this song with me a couple days ago. How true and sweet they are. They mean so much to me. Hoping they will encourage you as much as they did me. 

~~~

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His Word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood;

And in simple faith to plunge me

’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease;

Just from Jesus simply taking

Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

~~~

A little jaunt.

Hello from sunny Florida! SJ and I are finishing up a fun little jaunt with my mom, Aunt Barbie and cousin Elizabeth. I think I can speak for my entire family in saying that this is our "happy place." Our family has been coming here for close to 30 years. We love it.  Do you have one of those? A happy place that is. I hope so. There is nothing like having a place where you can just let loose... no makeup, no pressing schedules, no worries! You know? The days just go by too fast though. 

Scarlett is not crazy about sand. That's exactly how she was this summer when we were here. But she has become quite the little sea-shell collector.  

 This is a picture to show Mitch that his 2 girls are doing just fine, but we are missing him BIG time!

Look at this little treasure we found on our walk this morning...

 Scarlett was so gentle with it so I could snap a picture. She handed it straight to me and of course within 20 seconds I accidentally crushed it! uh. 

This is what lunchtime looks like here...

 diaper + bib = balcony wear

And here is our lunchtime view. Lovely. 

Hoping your day was filled with sunshine in some way. xoxo.

giggles

Scarlett got very tickled at herself during breakfast last week... 

oh I love those giggles!

Back!

Almost every time Scarlett leaves the room and then returns she comes in and exclaims, "I'm back!" So, in the words of my little SJ... I'm back!

Scarlett and I have had a fun and very BUSY last couple weeks, hints why I have so neglected my blogging... Here is a little recap. 

Last week we headed in town to stay with Nonni and Boo for a couple days while my favorite children's consignment sale was in town. I worked 3 shifts (and had a ball and met some sweet mommas!) and shopped till I dropped and until Mitch's jaw dropped, ha ;)

Some of our fabulous finds included...

A kelty backpack carrier

 and a Radio-Flyer tricycle (yikes, looks a little dangerous. this will be going in the attic until Christmas)

While we were staying at Tara (that's what I call my parents' home), the craziest weather rolled through. Tornadoes on Friday, Snow on Monday and in the 70's on Wednesday. It was quite the whirlwind. It was the perfect opportunity to make Scarlett's 1st snowman... 

My little snow-bunny all bundled up. 

 We could not find gloves just right for her so my mom put a pair of toe socks on her little hands, ha! They actually worked perfectly, I would totally suggest adding them to your child's winter wardrobe ;) 

 Our little snow angel

This video is for her daddy... but I am sure he doesn't mind me sharing. 

Thanks for stopping by to check in on us! 

Winding down.

It is no secret that Mitch has been working his fanny off for the last 3.75 going on 4 years (well more than that really...). Dental school is, at it's very finest, grueling. Not to mention that it is the most expensive professional school, with vet coming in at a close second. It is grueling because you spend your day from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. physically at school and then have to find time to study, prepare for patients (i.e. lab work), and so on outside of that time. I am not trying to paint an ugly picture here. If you want to/feel called to be a dentist this is just what you do and obviously thousands upon thousands have done it. I guess what I am getting at here is that I am so proud of my husband. Sorry if you find this mushy or whatever... this is my little corner of the internet so I will proceed to lovingly "brag on" my man. He has worked tirelessly without complaining. I mean, it is SO like him to just not even mention to me how crazy his schedule is and come home and unload the dishwasher for me. He is just a precious, servant leader like that. I think I am sort of in shock. I just cannot believe that this chapter in our life is coming to a very quick end. 10 weeks is what stands between him and his official title as D.M.D. I just cannot help but think how he must be feeling. I mean, I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes with being able to check off my list of "to-do's" here at home (i.e. vacuum, mop, eat all of the girl scout cookies in order to get them out of the house!) so I can only imagine what he is feeling right now as the weeks dwindle away and his final semester is truly winding down. He still has a big clinical board exam to pass in April, but I know he can do it! 

I guess I just spend so much time on here writing about Scarlett or her and I's daily happenings that I sometimes skip over the most productive and amazing member of our family ;)  I certainly want to have posts to look back at and be able to say, "remember when" for Mitch because I know his time has not been easy and he certainly deserves whatever accolades I can give him on here --  maybe I am just a crazy wife ranting on her blog about how crazy she is about her husband. Either way, I know he will take it, humbly. He is just sweet like that. 

And as for a picture... which this is not totally unrelated. I am really thankful for our time in dental school because if we had not lived here I never would have met Kristin and Scarlett would not know Kingston!

Counting the days... thanks for reading!