What we've been up to!

Dancing...

soccer.......

the beach.....
the park....
the air show...
Basically we have just been enjoying the sunshine and family time!!

We have been quite the busy bees at the jackson house hold! It has been an adjustment to staying home full time, more than I thought it would be actually! I LOvE it, but there are days when I feel like I should be doing more...I miss working....but I know I only have a few short years with my babies and I am going to enjoy them! And just because I am not working it doesn't mean the house has to be PERFECT! That is also hard for me...while it is always picked up and clean there are moments when there is clutter and a few dishes in the sink!!! :)

We love Portsmouth and made such wonderful friendships here!! I love being able to walk to so many things, I love the local farmers market on the corner, I love the amAZing restaurants up the street, I love our neighborhood and LOVE love our neighbors! I love our local seafood delivery lady!!!

New Living room! (future....future...project!)

Couch slip cover and throw pillows

window treatments...

coffee table and side table (color... distressed ...not fabric!!)

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Side chair slip cover...cant you just see it!! So excited!

Window treatments!

possibly this material for the roman shades???

Option 1.. ticking stripes roll up..
option 2 roman shades..
So my monthly project is making custom window treatments for the house! We have huge beautiful windows, that no curtains fit! So I am going to attempt to make them (with the help of my mother!! ) but I need some input...on our kitchen bay what type?? I will post pictures of ideas and please vote on what you like best...or advise different styles!

Weekly menu

Monday-grilled pork chops, mashed potatoes, salad and veggie of some kind

Tuesday-grilled steaks, rice, salad (got a great deal on some yummy steaks at Sams this weekend)

Wednesday-Kung pao chicken with broccoli, rice and salad

Thursday-grilled panini with homemade french bread and apple walnut salad

Friday-french bread pizza & oatmeal pie (instead of popcorn!! )

Saturday-1st WVU football game and friends are coming over-brats and saurkraut buffalo chicken dip...umm

Sunday-grilled chicken sandwiches with grilled veggies

So far for my shopping Sams $106( meat, chicken, broccoli, blueberries, watermelon, and other such things)

Grocery store 67$ so I am pretty excited about that

Local produce stand $14

Pancakes and temper-tantrums

wow it is only 750am and I am ready for a nap!! So I did again get up with Chris, made the bed when I heard miss Mia...so I took a quick shower while the hubs watched Mia as she banged on the shower door, or threw herself onto the floor in absolute disgust that I didn't take her in with me...THEN Eli woke up, Mia pooped, made breakfast, cleaned up breakfast, Mia threw several more tantrums...and we are off to the grocery store!!

Mia is my challenging and dramatic child! I know that this will be an asset when she is an adult, but I worry about her teenage years!! Chris and I laugh that, thank GOD she is cute! :) I am trying to start thinking about Christmas and what we are doing for the kiddos! I am excited about it, although sad to think we will be so far from family at Christmas....I need some kind of craft project!

Eli is going to starting our preschool/homeschool curriculum in a few weeks and i still have a few things to complete, but am really excited about it. We have set up several play groups and he is in soccer and we are thinking about swimming soon.

I am loving the change in my life of just having to focus on my family and my house but at times it feels lonely or overwhelming. Being able to focus on tasks and projects helps me stay focused and feel like I am accomplishing tangible things! The Hubs was wonderful enough this weekend to take the kids to the park so I could have some alone time! It was bliss! It is amazing how much you can accomplish with a quiet house!

We are planing a trip to WV to visit family either this weekend or next. I am not sure we will be able to make it this weekend with all we have going on and that makes me sad since we will miss my bother's engagement dinner...but we will see them soon!

Weekend...over

Well we had a busy and productive, but still fun weekend! I am super tired and want to just sit down have a glass of wine and relax!! Here are some pictures of our..dance party, bread making, backyard planning, shopping, mexican eating, house cleaning...weekend!! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Weekend project

So for this weekend we are attempting to make our small outdoor side yard more usable! WE want to put in a small patio right off the kitchen, plant a few plants so when I look out the kitchen window I don't shutter! Well with Miss Mia I am not sure how much we will accomplish but I have positive thoughts! IT is going to be a beautiful weekend...

I also hope to get some bread baking done, I am attempting english muffins...of course house cleaning, laundry and Chris needs some new work clothes. We also like to try and take the kids somewhere fun...hmm I may have put too much on my weekend chore list!! Oh well...I project at a time!