Chirps from the Tree ~ September, October & half of November

Outside the Nest...

it is SO cold I don't even know what to do with myself ; ) It has been in the 20s the past two mornings....definitely chillier weather than the Valentine family has experienced in years! We did love the sun & heat in the Sunshine State most days of the year but are excited to have cool temperatures for the holidays like we enjoyed growing up. The girls love that they can see their breath outside & attempt to escape out the back door as frequently as possible to run about in the arctic like weather (according to them). Due to all the growing, three of the Fab Four are jacket-less at the moment...poor, cold, little children! We have been layering until I can make it to the store. I just carry around my space heater to keep my tootsies warm. Inside the Nest, I am childless for about 36 hours! It is extremely quiet minus a pacing dog who's not quite sure what to do without children trying to touch her paws or take her for a ride. Bob & Jeannine offered to keep all four kiddos from 10am this morning till tomorrow afternoon. I am enjoying some time alone today, a little shopping with a friend, date night in with Rob & a day at the spa with my Aunt Deb tomorrow. What a lovely 36 hours!

I am thankful for...

the care of others. This season of life has been a reminder of God's faithfulness in providing others to serve us. This really all began when we were expecting the boys, followed by their arrival, months of sleeplessness, moving, Robby's emergency appendectomy then me not being able to drive for four months. We have been overwhelmed with friends & family who have cared for us even when it is not super convenient for them. Most recently it has been friends & family that are offering to grocery shop, take me to appointments, watch kids, help with getting us to & from school on Thursdays, the list goes on & on.  What a gift it is to be surrounded by selfless people. Jessica, a friend from long, long ago...like late elementary school brought us the most delicious Taco Soup last week & brought her adorable daughter along for a visit with my four. It was sweet to catch up with someone who I have known for many years.  Kate, a friend & neighbor texts me weekly when she is headed to the store & usually ends up picking up a couple things for me. She is also our only friend within walking distance & has invited us over to play. Just yesterday, we were all ready for school & attempting to get everyone in the Expedition when we realized the battery was dead.  Big bummer to shuffle everyone & bags back inside & explain to a very disappointed pair of girls that sometimes we deal with unexpected things that happen to change our plans for the day. I told the girls to pray that someone would be able to take us. I thought I would just text my friend Brooke to see how her morning was looking. She responded within minutes & said she would be there soon.  We still made it without missing much of our school day & were so thankful for her changing her day to meet our needs. There aren't too many friends that have vehicles large enough to cart the five of us around town. I kind of feel like that woman in the poem "There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, she had so many children she didn't know what to do..." I was mentally crossing "helpers" off the list while practicing simple addition of carseats, adults & number of children in each family.  In many ways it is hard to be at the receiving end of all this assistance but it reminds me of my needing to rely on the Lord & be blessed by the unending service of others. 

I am thinking about...
how physical rest has been a greater component of life since I wrote last.  Due to my diagnosis, I am on leave from work until I am therapeutic on my medication & seizure free so I have the opportunity to sleep every night of the week which has been wonderful. Rob has encouraged me to head to bed much earlier in the evening than I am used to. I have felt better than ever following the nights I have heeded his advice & gotten in bed by 8:30.  This is just a season of exerting much energy in the physical tasks of caring for little people & apparently I need more sleep than I was allowing for my body. 

how rest in the Lord has been a greater part of my days lately with a bit more discipline in seeking Him through reading my bible & being mindful of the music we have playing around the house. We just started a new sermon series on Exodus which is not typically the book I go to when thinking "I have a few minutes to read" but has proven to be helpful & a wonderful reminder of God's presence & plan through all of time. 

being a mommy. The girls are hooked on watching old videos of themselves & brothers (and cousins) on my computer. One particular video they love is when Issac is born. I think I have mentioned before how Charlotte wanted to keep re-watching the short clip of Jenny's face when she is pushing....still an obsession & provokes questions. This week she said "I just don't think I want to have two babies or even one baby. It will hurt too much." I reminded her to pay attention to her Aunt's face in the following picture & many of you can imagine (or personally remember) the delight in seeing a baby seconds after delivery, listening to their precious cry & thanking the Lord. My eyes filled up with tears as I told her that someday if God decided to make her a mommy that He would give her the strength she needs to endure the pain & bring her great joy in caring for that baby. She still was leaning more toward the side of avoiding it at all costs ; ) Oblivious Eloise on the other hand keeps talking about how she wants to have five babies & she will name them "Don, Caffy, ClaraAnna & Alex" which is the entire Ziel family minus Holly the puppy dog...haha! ClaraAnna is two individual people by the way. In the days following our little discussion at the kitchen table I was thinking about how much having a baby hurts (and I had epidurals) in the moment & how with time that memory fades a bit BUT in actuality, there is suffering all along the way with parenting....and we are only to 5 years of age with our oldest ; )   Caring for our little brood takes more energy & patience than I could have ever imagined. There are moments in the day where I have to put everyone in a room away from me & take a breather, ask God for help & jump back into the action.  There is much intensity in many parts of the day which I know is no different than any other family. I have never given so much of myself day in & day out but on the flipside, I have never experienced as much joy in my life as I do when reflecting on what God is doing in our family. In conclusion, what I would like to continue encouraging my little ladies in as they grow & dream about what their life may entail someday is that even though the gift of raising children brings many challenges (and pain) God makes it worth the hard work. We say to them often "God's way is the best & happiest way to live." That holds true in all life stages. My prayer is that in living this way & teaching my children to do the same, we will be more like Jesus.

In the schoolroom...
I am loving schooling at home. It has been easier the past 6-7 weeks of being in a more "homebound state" than when I wrote last. We are in a pretty decent routine most days that includes review of Classical Conversations memory work, Geography of the USA which the girls LOVE, math & reading. A couple days a week we focus a bit of time on handwriting & occasionally add in an activity to reinforce a portion of memory work. I do say "a pretty decent routine most days" because there are just some days that we can barely make it without school whether it is someone being sick, extra whiny, irritable or just plain lazy & I am not just talking about the kids ; ) We have made it all 11 weeks to CC on Thursdays which is amazing considering the amount of people that have to be well to go! Three younger children on top of a Kindergartner has its challenges but I am getting the hang of including/entertaining others. In the morning the boys are usually present with our CC review time where we go over our current weeks' memory work. It is incredible how much they even pick up on. We have hand signs for "What are some parts of the Circulatory system " that Anson does almost as well as the girls. He gets a kick out of himself too which is pretty adorable ; ) Eloise pipes up & answers questions if Charlotte is too slow...this makes someone quite upset but I am always impressed with her memory. Owen & Anson have gotten comfortable with spending about 45 minutes in their cribs with some toys in the morning while we knock out a math lesson or complete some other school related activity that is easier without two precious distractions. Eloise is hit or miss as far as distracting goes. It really depends on her mood for the day as I decide whether to include her in certain educational activities.  She too is capable of spending some alone time with a puzzle or book (sometimes). In the afternoon, three out of the four nap while Charlotte & I do a reading lesson & a math lesson if it has not been completed yet. We have also been working on this awesome Human Body coloring book that supports our science memory work. She got it from her buddy Calvin for her birthday & is a perfect activity for the two of us to do together. She feels very loved if you color with her : ) Over all, math has been Charlotte's strong suit while reading was quite the struggle at the beginning of the school year. I shelved it for about 4-5 weeks & when we started again something clicked & she is progressing through lessons well. It's hard to be the "teacher" when your "student" is not doing well ; ) It has been a wonderful opportunity to work through things she finds difficult offering many snuggles & cups of tea along the way.  She loves learning & I am enjoying my one on one time with the oldest of our brood.

From the kitchen...
Another perk of being homebound is that during the weekdays, we are forced to eat at home & spend less money at Chick-Fil-A ; ) I think Rob likes that too. It is a challenge to shop for all that we need for the week since I can't just run to the store for things that were forgotten (or something I am craving in the moment). I have been making a few things to throw in the freezer one of which is meatballs. It worked very well the first time I used them in this amazing recipe called One Pan Spaghetti & Meatballs. Who doesn't love a meal that can be cooked in one pan? Anyway, round two did not go very well. My meatballs were all frozen together since I skipped the step of freezing them spread out on a tray & instead laid them nicely in a ziploc bag. To make a long story short, my meatballs had to be smushed into the pasta & sauce. I threw it all in a baking dish, topped it with cheese & baked it like a casserole...it was still tasty. Overall, we have been grilling more often which offers all sorts of delicious options & the best part is...Rob is the griller! I love this part of the year as far as cooking goes. Hot soups are even more yummy in the cold weather! There are lots of dishes on the list to cook in the next six weeks....I'm hungry just thinking about it : ) 

I am creating...
I actually finished fall dresses & they turned out quite cute. The girls were automatically trying to rip them off though saying they were itchy....not funny to the seamstrss at all. They will wear them on Thanksgiving Day since we still haven't made it to a pumpkin patch yet.  I pictured long sleeves but due to amount of fabric I pre-bought without a plan, they are short sleeved & happen to look adorable with a denim jacket on top. Let's just hope they will actually wear them without ripping them off during lunch. 

We are halfway through hanging leaves on our Thankful Tree. I ended up cutting them myself because my machine was driving me insane. I need to look as some "diy- fix it" tutorials & get it back in working order.

Robby has banned me from making a dollhouse or refinishing one with homemade decor. He said my brain needs to rest : ) I am following his lead & have found one to purchase instead...still thinking it would be a fun gift.

Hilarious that when I wrote last I mentioned that the fabric for recovering the dining room chairs had just arrived. Six weeks later, that project has been moved to the back burner although, Eloise dumping my entire cup of coffee on a chair this week reminded me of the great need to replace those dirty things.

I am hopeful that a few homemade gift ideas will come to fruition in the next few weeks. I want to hunt down the perfect fabric for some infinity scarves...gift for myself & others if they turn out  as pretty as imagined.

Clicking around...

I have spent nearly zero time on my computer lately....not much clicking around here. 

I am reading...
Girl Talk by Carolyn Mahaney- Robby gave this to me once we knew baby girl number two was on the way.  It is definitely information to recall years from now but brings much excitement for the years ahead regarding close relationships with my daughters. 

The boys are hooked on From Head to Toe by Eric Carle & are hilarious mimicking motions of the animals inside the book. The girls are happy reading anything. Our library visits came to a halt with my no driving status but we are making do with the books we have. 

I am praying for...

My friend Halie who is now just mere weeks (or potentially days) away from welcoming her little girls!  They are measuring a great size for gestational age & causing their mother much discomfort as can be expected in the third trimester with twins : ) I remember that pretty clearly!

The Dennis Family- I have mentioned them before but here is a recap....we share a couple mutual friends in Orlando & have followed their story for the past couple years. They welcomed their first daughter in 2013 at full term with anencephaly, a condition where the brain does not develop. She lived for 10 hours & they said goodbye. This past week they welcomed a second daughter also at full term with acrania, a condition where the skull does not develop. She lived for 12 hours & again, they said goodbye.  The 40 days leading up to Dasah's birth, Lindsey wrote a series titled "40 days in the lonely places- an invitation to discover treasures only found in the darkness" I read bits & pieces & hope to return to read the rest. Wow, what a testament to the Lord providing all we need when we call out to Him.  Please read their story & pray for this couple who are with empty arms, two daughters in heaven & a need for the Lord to draw near to their hearts.

I am hearing...

or shall I say I am looking forward to hearing Christmas Music! 

        

Plans for the rest of the week...

Robby in Tulsa for an overnight trip, last week for CC this semester, a couple doctor appointments  & surviving the frigid temperatures ; )

Life via Instagram....

Chirps from the Tree ~ rest of July & August

Outside the Nest...

I'm sitting in the backyard watching one over sized child on a trike, a three year old balancing on a large rock & two little guys collecting sticks. It is actually (for the first time in a couple months) quite pleasant outside! There is a slight breeze & about 90 degrees.  Funny that is considered pleasant ; ) We love being outside & are thankful for a fence around the Nests' outdoor wonderland. Well that was a quick trip outside...headed back in for the next paragraph following some sister on sister fighting. 

I am thankful for...

brothers.  I love our brothers, I really do. Scott just came to spend about five days with us & we had a wonderful visit! He did more playing than I do on a regular day which is always entertaining to watch. The favorites this visit were "Child Catcher" where he walked around with the tunnel acting like it was a metal detector & when he would find a child he would release it to capture them....hilarious. Another was hide & seek that provoked so much squealing from two excited nieces. Uncle Scott read books, colored, fixed lunches, washed dishes & made sure I sat down here & there for a breather. He also picked up some Torchy's Tacos for lunch one afternoon...oh my goodness, it was delicious. The evenings were fun too, one night we watched a million & one funny YouTube videos, another we got a sitter for the kids & went out for a nice relaxing Sushi dinner & quite possibly my favorite evening we had Uncle Joe & Aunt Debbie over for a cheese & wine night. Not only was it cheese & wine but we got fancy with some sliced meats & baked brie with walnuts, apple & honey. I got full fast & enjoyed lots of laughing.  Spending time with one brother always makes me miss my other brother & then of course Robby's brother too. The kids & I will head down to Kingwood in October & are hopeful Uncle Kyle will sneak away to spend some time with us. Steve & his family will be arriving in the great state of Texas within the week & we have an extended weekend planned with their family for catching up.  Helping my four get along with one another is taxing but my prayer is that deep rooted friendships will grow over the years & they will experience the sweetness of siblings just as Robby & I do as adults.

One other particular person we are thankful for right now is Lydia, our new babysitter. She started about a month ago & continues to wow us every time she is here. I interviewed five women & she was the last. As I shared a bit about our hope for the person that would fill the role we needed, her eyes lit up when I told her that we were homeschooling. She along with her three brothers were home schooled & she has jumped right into finishing up lessons with Charlotte which is so helpful for me. She is a christian, has a clam & gentle way about her & interacts so sweetly with the kids. She is newly married & brought her hubby over to watch the kids the night we went out for Sushi with Scott. The girls have not ceased to talk about Jake & "Olydia" as Eloise says. It's tricky when your cousin is named Olivia : ) 

I am thinking about...

how tired I feel & how to rest in the Lord.  I have not worked full time since before Charlotte was born & at that point all I had was a self sufficient husband that did most of the cooking plus two pups that required snuggles on the couch whenever I could get there. Did I feel tired then? I am sure I did but this season I am walking through has been exhausting in comparison.  It's funny because even though we have an incredible woman watching the kids while I nap before or after work or Rob who does so well managing the kids & the house, my load feels about the same as it did when I was home six out of seven nights. My mind feels jumbled right now but writing is such a release valve for me so I will continue.  When I think back to the past couple years, I am reminded that two years ago last week it was confirmed there were two babies growing in my womb which started a wild pregnancy in every way imaginable. They were born the following March which started the four under four era in our life.  Just when things may have started to settle down at the start of 2014, Robby had some changes with his job which required me to begin working a bit more & prompted the move back to Texas. We arrived in May, I started full time work, we moved into our house at the end of June & Robby's appendix ruptured the next day followed by a month of recovery (ie no lifting over 10 pounds). August came & went with a visit to Kingwood, the start of our homeschooling year & Robby transitioning out of his old job.  At some point Robby & I have described ourselves as Lego's with a certain number of connectors on them for relationships.  When we arrived in Florida mine was gigantic with all sorts of possibilities for being filled. As children have been added, it has decreased & now I feel like I am one of those jumbo blocks that the boys use for building with only one circle available. I feel like I am doggie paddling to stay afloat while completing the necessary tasks to make it through the day (or night). As I think through this I am realizing that my "one connector" is best filled with the Lord.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.

Rest sounds so amazing right now & when I imagine "rest" I automatically think of multiple full nights of sleep in a row & ample energy to take on the day but when I consider what "rest for your soul" might mean, it seems different. Could it mean that while my body feels tired, my soul is at rest knowing that God has provided all I need through his son? Could it mean that when I am abiding in Him the burdens that usually wear on me are lighter? Learning from him, a person who is gentle & lowly in heart has the potential to transform the learner. I don't expect the yawns to go away but I am asking the Lord to help me rest in Him in this period of weariness. 

In the schoolroom...
The Valentine Nest school for little children (just kidding, I have never called it that) is in full gear! I do need a name though...any suggestions? We are on week three at home & will attend day two of Classical Conversations on Thursday.  Our days are going alright for the most part. It is a bit tricky with younger siblings but thankfully Charlotte is a (mostly) attentive learner & is able to focus even if someone is screaming. I think it will serve her well in the years ahead. I mean really, mommies have to get things done when someone is screaming....Labor & Delivery nurses must do the same : ) I will elaborate more on our curriculum choices & daily routine in another post but will say that we are enjoying what we chose thus far.
I have gone a little crazy in collecting books to support the content we are covering, especially in American History. We all loves books here at the Nest so I am certain they will be well used by the time we are done with them.  I will add that I am thankful for writing in pencil & buying a fabulous eraser to use in the planner I took four weeks to gather the courage to write in.  There has been some erasing going on & I'm okay with that. At least that is what I keep telling myself, haha. We do love our canvas map that hangs over our table. The girls are always up on their chairs telling me what is located where & which animals live on which continent. I decided against hanging a magnetic dry erase board & instead, we just pull it out when we need it & lean it onto the table.  So far, so good even with difficult moments in the mix.

From the kitchen...
This mama has finally gotten back in the swing of things in the kitchen. I think Robby is really enjoying it after I was in a slump for our first month here.  We loved all the yummy foods Bob & Jeannine cooked us while we were in their home but I COMPLETELY got out of the mindset of meal planning & preparing! Once I was responsible again I entered a grieving period before coming out on the other side with meal plans coming out of my ears & lists for the grocery store free flowing from my pen. Well, it's not always like that but it has been a vast improvement from the first week we were on our own. I have even been doubling & freezing some batches which is something I love doing for those days that cooking just doesn't fit into the schedule. I even pulled up that Pinterest board that has more than I could ever cook in a lifetime under the title "Yummy in my Tummy" & tried a few new ones. Robby bought a grill over the weekend after being without one since we left Florida. He loves to grill & I love when he takes over : ) 

Mommy by day, nurse by night...
This section was seriously long last time so short & sweet is the way I'm headed this go-round.  I switched to a night shift schedule the week following Robby's ruptured appendix & feel like I got into the rhythm of nights quickly. I love the night shift crew & general feel of the unit while most physicians are sleeping.  I have met some super sweet patients, had some memorable experiences & even took care of a woman I went to high school with & another women that I was related to...our grandfathers were cousins! So strange & funny! After a long summer, I feel settled into the charting & the way things are done for the most part which is SO nice. I'm not a big fan of being the new girl!

I am creating...

Now that my craft table is set up again & mostly organized, I have some plans in the works that are actually feasible...I think.

• fall dresses or skirts for the girls
• fall centerpiece for kitchen table
• recovering seat cushions of dining chairs, just got the fabric today!
• four Halloween costumes...this is more of a brainstorming effort at the moment
• on the back burner we are kicking around the idea of making a dollhouse for a Christmas gift for the girls. The ideas I am hooked on have lots of ideas for handmaking many of the items in the rooms....let's see if we make the dollhouse first. 

Clicking around...

Oh Pinterest, I really enjoy Pinterest.

Craigslist- I am currently stalking dressers, desks & wooden train sets.

a patient I took care of a while back is fighting Inflammatory Breast Cancer & has blogged beautifully though it. It usually brings me to tears & to my knees in prayer for this sweet family. I walked into the room seconds after her baby was placed on her chest & was overcome with emotion knowing only part of the story. God is central to this couple & they are struggling well through this awful disease. Check it out here.

Living Well, Spending Less- a fun blog my mom sent me that I love to look at. It has great ideas!

I am reading...

The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer - I had skimmed the first few chapters of this book while contemplating a classical education at home for our kiddos but am really enjoying it now that it is entirely applicable. It is quite encouraging as well entering into a season (that looks really long) of homeschooling.

Her Daughter's Dream & Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers. The first fiction books I have read in YEARS!! I brought one to work & left it in my locker so I could read if I didn't have a patient. It was really fun to read without thinking much although her books really do provoke a lot of thought about God & family in this case. I found myself telling Robby stories from it like they were real people....he SO loves that ; ) I think it gave him flashbacks of when I read Marley & Me & told him stories everyday until he told me to stop talking about Marley. Then I switched to telling him about a "friends dog" but he would always catch me partway through & say "that sounds like something Marley would do...are you talking about him again?" haha! All that to say, I might keep a fiction read going just for enjoyment.

The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child, Vol. 3: Early Modern Times by Susan Wise Bauer, this is written by the same woman who wrote the first book listed. It is on most recommended reading lists that go along with our cycles for Classical Conversations. It is a narrative history of the world that is so well written. I am not reading straight through at this point but am reading the excerpts that match up with our history sentences each week. Today I read a page about Columbus aloud to the girls during their afternoon snack & they liked it. History was a class I always loved & remember barely anything from so I am excited to re-learn much of it while teaching the children.

a bit of Charlotte's Web to the little ladies & LOTS of Brown Bear Brown Bear to a certain little boy who is obsessed. Hint, we have referred to him as Chubby Bubby & he cracks us up with the way he puts it in reverse till he falls into my lap or the lap of whoever was already in mine.

We got our library card the week the arduous task of getting a Texas license was finally complete. In fact, I took my paper copy into the library...I was that excited. The girls & I went to an evening family read aloud for kids 3-7 which falls after the boys bedtime. It was perfect to give Robby a free evening & do something fun with the girls. The library has been a place we have avoided since the boys were born since one on four parenting makes it difficult to ensure quiet mouths or obedience for that matter ; ) This library is incredible. The entire first floor is Children/Juvenille sections & they have a play area with some toys the little guys enjoyed. There are lots of librarians around to help you find things & they don't seem to mind kids being kids. The girls LOVED filling up their basket & so did I! I had a list of school related books, history & science mostly & grabbed all sorts of things to go along with it. We have spent a lot of time reading or looking at books since our last trip & can't wait to go again!

I am praying for...

My friend Halie who is is about six months pregnant with twin baby girls (wahoo!) She is doing a lot of resting at the moment & we got to bring her a couple meals last week.  Two other friends I worked with at Parkland are also pregnant with twins right now, Ginny is expecting boy/girl twins and Tiffany is expecting boys.  Another friend that worked with us there also had twins early this year....as they say, there's something in the water or at least there was seven years ago ; )

That God would lead us to a body of believers near our home that we can partner in ministry with. We attended a Sunday worship service at a nearby church a couple weeks ago & felt refreshed & excited to return. The timing is a little difficult with my schedule right now but will hopefully be a good fit for us on the the weekends I am not working Saturday or Sunday nights. It is a church plant called Christ City Church. Feel free to read up...I enjoyed all the details! It felt very similar to Celebration Community Church & even had a logo that looked like theirs. We can't wait to feel connected again to other believers.

That we would develop friendships easily & quickly as we settle into a new neighborhood. It's hard to meet neighbors when we live on a busy street that we can't even let Eloise ride her scooter on let alone have the boys walking on the sidewalk without a one parent per child ratio. We have made friends with a girl that just started sixth grade & lives a couple doors down. She is adorable & is a perfect "mother's helper" for busy times of the day. She is hoping to come over one late afternoon a week & tag team kids with me. I love her company & the girls love it even more!

Ryan & Leah, our friends from Orlando that are now in New York City ministering to West African Muslims. We finally got to Skype with them over the weekend & were reminded of how much we enjoy their friendship. We were encouraged to hear of the relationships the Lord is building between them & those who need to hear the gospel. They have ministered to our children in such a special way by sending NY postcards & special notes to each of the four.  Charlotte & Eloise especially treasure their special notes. Leah & Ryan paid attention to every little seemingly insignificant thing the girls wanted to share with them on Skype making them feel important. It is a gift to be supporting this couple financially for many reasons, one being the up close & personal way to help our children understand our call to share about Jesus with the world & how it can be done even inside the US.

Steve & Jenny as they begin their two month support raising trip in preparation for their long term move to Poland next summer. They sold their home in Orlando within two days of listing which was quite incredible. They also sold many of the things inside their home & moved the rest to storage. They are headed out this week & have a long road ahead of traveling with three, four & under. We are excited to see how the Lord provides for them as they take the next steps in the process of moving over seas.

I am hearing...

Back to Ellie Holcomb & JJ Heller plus a bit of Seeds: Family Worship, a favorite way to get scripture stuck in our heads. Oh & that Timeline song for Classical Conversations....it never leaves my mind. 

        

Around the house...

We finally feel settled which is a wonderful thing. Once Robby could lift again, he tackled the garage & knocked out a bunch. He still has a bit more to do but we can actually walk through it safely now and/or find a tool we need. We have baby gated the front room at the entrance & exit to the kitchen so we have a large space to contain our little rascals. Sadly Daddy's bookshelves are in the "cage" & have been attacked by little hands. We are working on being diligent to correct but it is SO hard with two busy boys! Since it is now September I put out fall decorations & photos. I did this in Orlando too even though it never felt like fall till December but I am hopeful that Dallas will experience some fallish weather come next month.  Now that I have the fabric to cover the kitchen chairs I can hunt for some curtains for the window that opens directly into our neighbors window....awkward at night ; ) I wish I could say I am in a good cleaning routine but really I just make do & dream about the days when Maria the cleaning fairy remedied all messes old & new. The space is amazing though & we love this layout more than any other place we have lived. 

Plans for the rest of the week...

get outdoors with the kids, work a couple shifts, catch up with Grammy & Papa on Friday, send the girls to a sleepover with Auntie Deb & Uncle Joe over the weekend & start counting down for the arrival of Steve, Jenny, Karis, Isaac & Olivia!

Instagram- July & August

Chirps from the tree- May, June & a bit of July

Warning...it's a long one but really, what do you expect when you combine two & a half months into one Chirps from the Tree post?

Outside the Nest...

Nests are transient things I guess. I'm not sure how many nests a bird builds in it's lifetime but we are on a roll with rebuilding these past two months & especially this week! We arrived at the Valentine's in early May & stayed put till last weekend when we made the move (of all our stuff) into our rental home in Richardson. Robby & I spent Sunday night there together followed by two nights alone between day shifts at the nearby hospital. I was woken up by an early morning phone call from Jeannine around 4:50am saying that Bob was taking Robby to the ER. Since then, our nest has been here at Baylor University Medical Center & the kids + my mom relocated to the new nest up in Richardson this afternoon. WHIRLWIND! Outside this "nest" it is beautiful, warm & perfect for a firework show for those out enjoying the festivities. As the sun has gone down while I blog away, we are surprised by the Fair Park Firework show we can see from our hospital window!  While we have been living in the Lone Star State we have experienced some beautiful 75 degree days in May that have warmed up to the low 90's in the recent weeks along with some massive downpours with dark skies....love those. 

I am thankful for...

so very much as we are pressing on through a challenging week. Just to name a few: medical care & health coverage, parents that have assumed full custody of our kids this week while I have been by Robby's side day & night, friends & family that are relentless in texting encouraging & laughable things to help us through the day, a new home that we can settle into, a job I am truly enjoying, a continued income for Robby with co-workers who love our family, Bob & Jeannine who have cared so well for our family in the past two months, friends from Florida who have kept up with us making our transition easier, friends here that have jumped right back into spending time with us like nothing has changed, kids that just go with the flow, the way God takes care of every need that we don't even know to ask of him, the peace He gives us when much feels out of control. 

I am thinking about...

all the events that occurred this week, how good God is & how tired we feel. Also thinking about how I can't wait to have some "normal" life ; ) I am in process creating a timeline summary of the "attack of the appendix" which will be posted in the near future.

In the schoolroom...

The schoolroom is in the process of being set up at the new casa. I love our front room which has lots of windows & a perfect little nook for our table & chairs with plenty of space for a new canvas print of an adorable world map complete with animals that reside on certain continents. I could not pass it up when out & about in June.  I finally selected & purchased a math, reading & handwriting curriculum for kindergarten. It was an arduous task but I am excited about what I settled on. I will elaborate more later but I landed on Saxon 1 for Math, All About Reading for you guessed it, reading & Handwriting Without Tears.  My friend & fellow homeschooling mama in Orlando pointed me towards the MOST amazing planner that happens to have a YouTube video featuring it. I watched it & went asap to get one for myself. I found the last one at the bookstore & took approximately four weeks & two sets of new pencils/erasers to finally get the courage to write in it. Once I got started there was no turning back. I made our skeleton schedule for the entire year & finished a good amount of lesson plans for the fall semester. It was SO fun & I look forward to my next planning block.  We will start the week of August 18th at home & then our first Classical Conversations day is the following Thursday. We decided to sign up for a CC location that is in Plano, just 10 minutes from our house which will be a nice change from the 35 minutes we drove in Orlando. Our hope is in being so close that we can actually get to know the families better & spend a bit of time together outside of our regular Thursday meetings. Charlotte is getting excited & asks often if she gets to go to school tomorrow but then immediately says "I don't want to go to a new school & make new friends." It was fun to remind her that this school is new to mommy too so we get to be brave together & make new friends together. Kindergarten here we come! 

From the kitchen...
Big Bob once again wowed us on a nightly basis with home cooked meals as I started back to work during the daylight hours.  We have eaten more home cooked meals in two months than we have eaten in the past year ; ) As mentioned in the Father's Day post, we have enjoyed Goulash many a night, Steak on a weekly basis much to the delight of our carnivorous children, homemade pizzas on pita bread, Aussie Chicken, Fajitas, you name it, he has cooked it! Jeannine got me hooked on one of her staple lunches with chunks of cucumber & mozzarella cheese, cherub tomatoes, blanched & baked slivered almonds topped with a homemade dressing. I am a PB&J kind of girl due to the usual lunch crew so adding something a bit more exciting & healthy makes me excited! I will say that it will be a rude awakening to be 100% in charge of meal planning & preparation as we settle into the new nest ; ) It will be yet another transition but I will be glad to get back in the swing of things.... that is once I'm in the swing of things. 

Mommy by day, nurse by night...
yet another section with lots of updates!

"Nurse by night" can be switched to "Nurse by day" since that is the shift I have been working since mid-May & I am bursting with excitement that I get to switch to night shift next week! A little back tracking here- We made the decision for me to apply for a full time position but instead of six twelve hour shifts every two weeks I get to do five, three one week & two the next however I would like to arrange them. Since it is considered full time, I am able to enjoy the full time benefits including healthcare, PTO (something I haven't seen in 5 years) & being on the "nursing ladder." I ended up interviewing only at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas for a job in Labor & Delivery, was offered a position on the spot & gladly accepted.  I started in mid May & enjoyed two weeks of hospital orientation & computer training. I use the word "enjoy" loosely ; ) Some of it was fun, some of it was necessary & I was glad when it was over & I could avoid going to work every day from 8-5. One really fun thing about these two weeks is that Robby & I carpooled since his office is only a few exits away from the hospital. It was about a one hour trip each way & we would laugh saying it was our "date." We loved having uninterrupted conversation while sitting in traffic & occasionally made a stop for some Chicken Biscuits from Chick-a-Lay as the girls say.

Once that two week orientation ended I started 12 hour day shifts on the unit paired with a combination of nurses to ease me into the way they do their jobs. It has been wonderful.  I have been super impressed with the nursing practice & interaction with patients I have observed. The women who have come alongside me over the course of five weeks have been so welcoming & encouraging as I struggle to figure out the computer charting system they use.....thorn in my side ; ) These women have been texting me the past three days while we are in the hospital to check on us & offer help in any way. I feel very cared for already by the staff. The patients have been a lovely mix of insured & uninsured, educated & not educated, multiple nationalities, high risk & low risk but all with a baby or two that needed to exit the premises.  It is frustrating to know I can take care of a patient well & so easily but then I struggle with the charting & knowing who is who & who prefers what in the physician category. I am definitely feeling more comfortable though & know I can ask questions any time I need to.  Both prior places of employment have been large enough that L&D Triage is a separate unit but here it is staffed by L&D. I have really enjoyed my days in there & look forward to having something to break up the monotony of laboring patients. I will also be circulating & recovering cesarean sections which is something I have been out of for the past 2-3 years.  It should be fun to break out all those cute scrub caps I sewed back in the day! All that to say, I am settling in well & will feel even better once I am back to the vampire shift ; )

As far as being Mommy by day, I am really missing the kids & looking forward to being away while they are asleep.  Working full time is not a long term solution for our family but for now it is offering the financial coverage we need plus benefits as Robby goes through some transition with his job. We are grateful that God has allowed for me to continue working once a week for the past five years so I was able to easily jump back into full time when the recent circumstances arose. It's not only a "job" for me, it is something I truly enjoy doing.

Thankfully Bob & Jeannine have been loving on our four while I have been away for day shifts. They are AMAZING & the kids have done well. Once settled into our new house & night shift routine, they plan to watch the kids for about two days per month & we will have someone else cover two full days a month & morning or afternoon naps here & there if Robby is unable to fill in as needed. 

I am creating...

my brain is on overdrive creating some new decor for the house including a magnetic chalkboard framed & on the wall in the school room, headboards for the girls twin beds & various other things. The first creative project that must be completed this week is a lemonade stand for a sweet girl's 5th birthday party next weekend.  We will see how the week goes but it is a MUST to knock that out! I have a couple pallets I am planning to rip apart & need to pick up some paint but I have a simple design in mind & a Gaga in town to help so I should be able to get it done. 

Clicking around...

I've been on Pinterest a bit this week while the hubby is recovering. Lots of pins for school planning : )

I caught up on the blog of Kevin & Lindsey Dennis & their journey through the loss of a daughter with anencephaly last year followed by baby girl number two who has been diagnosed with acrania & is due to be born later this year. I am heartbroken by their loss yet greatly encouraged by their hope in the Lord. Please take time to read & watch the video clips they have posted. They will leave you with much to ponder in light of a good & loving God.

I am reading...

not alotta although I did manage to make it through one entire book in the span of a week.  The Core, by Leigh A. Bortins who founded Classical Conversations was such a helpful book to read as we embark on our own road of classical education at home. Robby has read portions of it too & plans to finish it at some point.  It gave not only a broad overview of why educate in this way but went through each individual subject & explained how to facilitate learning in this manner. It left me feeling really excited & using my eraser a bit to change our lesson plans for the fall ; )

I am praying for...

My recovering husband & our kiddos as they adjust to a Daddy who is a little out of commission in the playing department for the next week or two.

That God would lead us to a body of believers near our home that we can partner in ministry with.

That we would develop friendships easily & quickly as we settle into a new neighborhood.

I am hearing...

Ellie Holcomb is my new found favorite artist with a few songs that settle my heart including: As Sure as the Sun Will Rise, Love Never Fails & Anchor of Hope. Her voice is just beautiful!

        

Around the house...

Oh my goodness, what a week to have an emergency appendectomy?! We were partway moved into our new home in Richardson when we made a beeline for the ER so the house is partway put together, missing all living room furniture & a bed for poor little Eloise. All in due time we will be settled. I will say, even in disarray, I prefer to be there with the Valentine Six than in the hospital! I will have to do another post on the house God provided for us to rent at just the right time. It is a great story & we are looking forward to life there!

Plans for the rest of the week...

Get Robby feeling good again, unpack some boxes & build a lemonade stand!

Life in Instagram:

Chirps from the Tree~ February

Outside the Nest...

This week our "nest" has been relocated to the Livable Forest which is a great place for a "nest" to be. It is sunny, about 60 degrees, lovely if you ask me. 

I am thankful for...

my parents & brothers. We are blessed by great relationships with each of them, they love & serve us by their hospitality & kindness, they make us laugh & they seem to not get sick of us.

I am thinking about...
how to correct back talk from little mouths.  A friend recently texted me for my advice on handling the same common offense & I laughed (at my feeling so inadequate to give advice) & said I am asking friends the same question. We have been trying to turn the girls back to what God says about the way they should interact with us referencing the verse "Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord God is giving you" Exodus 20:11-13 It has been helpful to ask, "did what you say honor mommy or dishonor mommy?" Even Eloise at two and a half can evaluate what she said & place in one of the categories. When we address not doing what God asks when choosing to dishonor mommy or daddy, we talk about how that dishonors God also. My friend said a verse they are working on with their children is "Let the words of my mouth & the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in your sight O Lord." Psalm 19:14. That is an excellent verse for me as the mama to run my thoughts & words by as I interact with others during the day. It is still hard for me at times to explain the gospel in the midst of these common occurrences but so necessary to apply over & over & over as we raise our children to know & understand God's love for them.

Another piece of this I have been thinking about is the fact that my children at this point in their life have not made the decision to follow Christ. With this in mind, what should I require or expect of them? I came across this article which provided great insight.... Why Require Unregenerate Children to Act Like They're Good?

a bit of takeaway from the article on ways to lead them to to Jesus...

• Let there be much spontaneous celebration verbally of every hopeful sign of life and goodness in our children.
• Let us forgive them often and be longsuffering.
• Let us serve them and not use them.
• Let us lavish them with joyful participation in their interests.
• Let us model for them the joy of knowing and submitting to the Lord Jesus.
• Let us apologize often when we fall short of our own Father’s requirements.
• Let us pray for them without ceasing.
• Let us saturate them with the word of God from the moment they are in the womb (the uterus is not sound proof).
• Let us involve them in happy ministry experiences and show them it is more blessed to give than to receive.
• Let them see us sing to the King.
• Let us teach them relentlessly the meaning of the gospel in the hope that God will open their eyes and make them alive. It happens through the gospel (1 Peter 1:22–25).

In the schoolroom...

we started on our new reading curriculum & Charlotte really took to it well. She is excited to work on it each afternoon while the three other kiddos are snoozing. Her favorite portion is matching pictures together of words that rhyme & filling in the blank when I am reading a book to her that has rhyming words. Sadly, I was in a major hurry packing up to leave & didn't bring it with us so we will pick back up upon our arrival home. We spent a portion of last Friday with the wife & kids of one of Rob's co-workers who does CC in Dallas. She shared some oh her Kindergarten math & reading curriculum that got me excited to make some plans for next year. I really need to find some productive things for Eloise to do while I need to focus on Charlotte. She is slightly destructive/distracting which is probably the biggest challenge in the homeschooling realm right now.  I have a feeling that by the time Eloise is capable of not being destructive, I will have destruction times TWO ; ) 

From the kitchen...

home cooked meals by my mom are always enjoyed when staying in her home. This morning it was biscuits that just about melted in our mouths. It is helpful to have another mama to tag team with while doing meal prep for the kids as it decreases the screaming by leaps & bounds. I will be honest in saying that returning home & getting back into the swing of things in being the main chef is a little difficult. I am feeling the need to branch out & try a few new easy dishes. Any suggestions?

Mommy by day, nurse by night...

due to our trip, I didn't work too many shifts this month but was able to attend a class the week we were leaving. I love the nursing field because there is always something to learn more about or some refreshing to be done. This class was about position changes in labor to help labor progress & in turn decrease our primary cesarean rate which I (along with many others) are ALL about! We were also filled in on what is being taught in community birthing classes so we can be more in sync with what patients are coming in expecting. We had some good laughs as us labor nurses took turns on a birthing ball while sticking our hand in a bag of ice to simulate contractions while another nurse coached us through breathing. It helped to have some tunes to jam out to while bouncing away but even with that, it was seriously painful!  Over all, our educators provided some fabulous reminders about how to do our job well & made me excited to get back to work once we return home.   

I am creating...

a "Just Married" banner for a childhood friend who is getting married this weekend. These cute banners are all over Pinterest! My original plan was to use my Silhouette Cameo to cut out paper letters but it pushed me over the edge the night before heading out of town when it would not work right. So, plan B was to go wonder around Hobby Lobby & see what came to mind. I ended up choosing burlap, sheets of sticky back felt, bias tape, pearls & adhesive spray. I attempted to print out the font I wanted to cut out & trace but I guess electronics were not on my side this week so ended up doing it the old fashioned way of my own writing (while looking at a font) on the backside of the felt in reverse, hand cutting & sticking it to the burlap.

I am working on...

plans for a mini buckaroo party for two little guys FIRST birthday this coming weekend, two blankies for the birthday boys & multiple other things surrounding the celebrating of Owen & Anson : ) 

Clicking around...

A few blogs I have frequented as of lately are:

jones design company- beautiful printables or prints to be ordered, ideas for home decor

Lil' Light O' Mine- written by a creative mama that lives in the Orlando area who seeks "to empower moms and change little lives through innovation in the home...for families to grow closer to Christ and for those around us to see the light of God." to take the words right off her blog : ) 

I am reading...

The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's example in reaching the hearts of our children

Curious George Goes to the Hospital- a favorite of two little girls 

I am praying for...

the Wallace family- Kate is the older sister of my friend Jocelyn & overlapped our time at Texas Tech for a year. Our kids are stair stepped & we enjoy keeping up via blog & email.  Her husband Dustin was in an accident that caused major damage to his pancreas a number of years ago & is undergoing a major surgery next Monday the 3rd to have his pancreas removed. 

the Dullmeyer Family- Jamie Rae is a precious little girl in Charlotte's CC class. Her family is made up of three biological kids, one adopted & one in the process of being adopted. Her parents are in China right now to bring home Jamie Rae's baby brother Jonah who is about 18 months old. Laurie, the mama has been such a big help with helping me juggle the twins on Thursday mornings at school along with offering plenty words of encouragement along the way.

Lisa & Euan- Lisa is that sweet childhood friend I made the Just Married banner for.  She & Euan are starting their life together as husband & wife this week which prompted the trip to Texas : ) Great reason to come!

I am hearing...

a bit more country since we have been in the great state of Texas for nearly two weeks! There is more coming our way as we head to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo next week. 

Something that has made me laugh...

how Eloise says "pods-tid-dal" for popsicle & "hods-tid-dal" for hospital

Around the house...

meaning my mom's house, it has provided extra fun/heart attacks with the wooden staircase & two speedy crawlers ; ) a fireplace which just makes me happy when lit & a cozy place to sleep every night where we play musical beds. 

One of my favorite things...

watching the girls make the boys laugh. I cannot get enough of all the giggles going on right now. It is frequently at mealtime when the girls start laughing or making funny sounds & the boys just get going with their cute little laughs. Lots of noise, lots of smiles.

Plans for the rest of the week...

Lisa & Euan's wedding, catching up with a couple friends, walks on the Kingwood trails, Rodeo & celebrating the Buckaroo's turning one!

Life via Instagram...

Chirps from the Tree~ January

"Chirps from the Tree" is a new addition to the blog this year & to give credit where credit is due, thank you Rob for titling it for me : ) When looking back at a month I want to have a snapshot of lots of little things occurring in our nest. The majority of life is in the day to day happenings & "Chirps from the Tree" will be a way to document those. So, here we go! 

Outside the Nest...

It's rainy & cold which is fine by me because it should be 70 again tomorrow. I do love Florida for that!

I am thankful for...

Precious friends that spoiled me this week with two days to myself.  The girls spent a day & night with their buddies Hannah, Lawson & Lilah then headed over to play with Quincy, Asa, Camp & Everett. The boys were cared for at home one afternoon while I was out & about, slept at home then spent the day with their doting older friends Anna, Clara & Alex. Everyone got dropped off at dinnertime just as another couple was arriving to send us out on a date. It was delightful to be quiet in our home, have some alone with with the hubby & reunite with my little brood.  Those other mama birds who took care of my little ones: Krinki, Cathy, Annie, Ileana, Christa & Jen (&Erik but he is no mama bird). 

I am thinking about...

how I am hopeful that Jesus would continue to change my heart to be more patient & loving, abounding in grace when I respond to my children throughout the day. I am often disappointed with my snappy responses & way I escalate to being super irritated in a matter of minutes. The process of become more Christ like is life long & I hope to struggle well especially in this area. 

In the schoolroom...

We are back in gear with CC this year & are pretty consistent with reviewing for about 30 minutes each afternoon. I am starting a new reading curriculum with Charlotte next Monday & I am really excited. As we are exploring homeschooling as a whole I am realizing there are some subjects that I need some MAJOR direction & reading is one of them. When I say major direction I mean a script & checklist ; ) This curriculum is almost that & I am hopeful it will get us off to a good start in the reading world. For the first time ever Charlotte opened a book this week & said "Mommy, I really want to read these words!" in a frustrated tone so I am also hopeful I will have an attentive student ; )  

From the kitchen...

We are big fans of Chicken Tacos in this house & have made them the same way for years until we recently tried them with ground chicken instead of chicken breast. We are hooked & are making them again tonight! Maybe we will mix up a Valentine Margarita to top off the yumminess!

Another change at the Valentine Nest is we are now doing our meal planning as a team then shopping as a family. It has helped us to stay on track & eat what we planned for & provides for a fun family outing. It has also helped to keep within budget which is something I struggle with when doing it on my own.

Mommy by day, nurse by night...

This month in Labor & Delivery we have been almost as busy as we are at the end of the summer. Not sure what is up with that but it is wild every time I'm there! It is nice though that I never get cancelled & I don't have enough time to get sleepy while I'm there since I'm on the move all night long ; ) I am done with ordering out following a run in with some food poisoning & have switched over to milk & cereal on my break....that is safe & delicious. One fun thing about having twins is that I frequently get assigned to patients having twins. I love it! It is great to connect with a twin mommy having had similar experiences & be able to accurately answer questions about caring for twins after going home from the hospital. I am always happy to walk in the door after a shift & be greeted by two girls running, one boy crawling & one boy squawking while stuck on a round belly ; ) Oh, and I get to take a long nap...always amazing.  

I am creating...

some Valentine decor. For quite some time all we have had is a metal bin with three wooden hearts on the kitchen table but heck, we have a holiday named after us & should be a bit more festive ; ) I pulled out a burlap banner I made for Eloise's first birthday party. At the time I taped bunnies onto each pennant on the banner & they fell off one by one. It was funny & annoying. This time around I used the Silhouette Cameo to cut red & brown hearts then attached them with velcro dots that way I can change out the shapes on the banner to match whatever seasonal decor we have out. So far so good, they have been up for 24 hours & nothing has fallen off yet! On my two days free I looked though my Pinterest boards for a project that would be cheap & simple. I am so relaxed when I am crafting & found great joy in leaving paint & mod podge all over the kid craft table during the day without little hands to get ahold of it & make a mess ; ) Here is the finished product....

and the banner...

I am working on...

a plan to manage the household duties around the Nest. Last January we hired Maria, a wonderful woman that served our family weekly for a few months then every other week for the remainder of the year. It was worth every penny we paid to have help with that prior to & following the birth of the twins. We made the decision to trim down our budget for 2014 & that was something we were willing to let go of. I told Maria that not only will I miss her amazing cleaning skills but I would miss the sweet way she has interacted with my family over the past year. She got to see the good, bad & the ugly if you know what I mean ; ) thankfully she lives just minutes away & I think we will still get to see her every now & then. I know we can get back in the swing of taking care of all those tasks ourselves but I imagine it will take some time. 

Clicking around...

A few blogs I have frequented as of lately are:

Love is Waiting- an adoption blog of a cousin & his wife of a good friend of mine. They have adopted one son from Africa & have come alongside other families to help them raise the funds needed for adoption by selling these adorable shirts & giving 20% of proceeds to a different family each week.  

Under the Sycamore- a creative mama with five kids, great photography & crafty tutorials. 

Wisdom & Righteousness- another family (I do not personally know) that does CC & has this great series on making a family schedule. I want to look more into this in February.

I am reading...

Desperate, Hope for the Mom that needs to breathe

The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's example in reaching the hearts of our children

I am praying for...

my precious friend Jocelyn.  She suffered the loss of her baby Sam at 12 weeks gestation last July. The due date for Sam is just over a week away & she continues to struggle well as she & her husband grieve the loss of a child. Her transparency in sharing her heart throughout this entire experience has encouraged me to trust God more & I would venture to say it has done the same for others. 

Erik & Jen, good friends of ours who are waiting to adopt their son Edison from Colombia. They are in the waiting stages at the current time & are hopeful they will receive notification within a couple months to book their flights to bring him home. 

I am hearing...

or shall I say we are jamming out to Seeds of Faith Family Worship daily in the car, in the house, at bedtime for the kids...pretty much all the time! 

I am also hooked on the Frozen Soundtrack this week but only listen to it on You Tube for free.

Yes, I'm a mom. 

Something that has made me laugh...

Charlotte was on Facetime with Grammy the other morning & Grammy was showing us the dryer which was broken & had been taken apart & all the boxes of flooring that are waiting to be put in following a leak in their home. Grammy said "we are busy little beavers!" to which Charlotte replied "do you have tails?" with the most adorable look on her face. She also calls "yogurt" "yogret" right now...love that girl. 

Around the house...

we are in the constant cycle of preparing food, feeding, cleaning up over and over....and over....and over. and laundry, oh laundry, you are everywhere ALL THE TIME! Someday I will conquer you ; ) 

One of my favorite things...

I became a coffee drinker during my pregnancy with the boys & have never looked back. I have cut out soft drinks all together & am really enjoying my coffee beverage each morning or afternoon.  My favorite new addition to my coffee is Bolthouse Farms Mocha Cappuccino which I use in place of a creamer. I still like to add a little sugary taste via Stevia or sugar. So maybe in all honesty I like sugary tasting drinks with a little bit of coffee ; ) 

Plans for the rest of the week...

Fun play date tomorrow then working two out of the three weekend nights which means naps for four days straight wahoo!

Life via Instagram...