hi

have you missed me? i have missed you. i will be back soon with some real stuff.

for now i'll leave you with proof that i am a lucky girl.

new adventures.

Such a proud mama. These boys are amazing. I can't believe I get to experience all this with them. They have officially begun their 13 year adventure in school... maybe more, maybe not. Tonight I told Ari he could do whatever he wanted when he grew up.. he said he'd like to drive a delivery truck. I think he'd make a GREAT one!!

On Friday we had our "Interview" more like a one on one with the teacher. She told me she was so worried she wouldn't be able to tell them apart all year and they may have to wear name tags all year.. I told her that was fine but I didn't think it would take her long to recognize the differences.. after our interviews she assured me it wouldn't .. they are SO different even amidst all their similarities.

These pics were taken on that day...

Then today they went to their official first day of Kindergarten. They were so excited and happily waved and say Bye Mom as I dropped them off outside the school. They eagerly got in line. I love them and can't wait to see the who they will become.

I wanted to do something I could recreate the first day of school each year so I thought it would be fun to ask them to name three things they like right now. This is what they came up with. It's perfect!

take heart

There is a light

It burns brighter than the sun

He steals the night

And casts no shadow

There is hope

Should oceans rise and mountains fall

He never fails

So take heart

Let His love lead us through the night

Hold on to hope

And take courage again

In death by love

The fallen world was overcome

He wears the scars of our freedom

In His Name

All our fears are swept away

He never fails

All our troubles

And all our tears

God our hope

He has overcome

All our failure

And all our fear

God our love

He has overcome

All our heartache

And all our pain

God our healer

He has overcome

All our burdens

And all our shame

God our freedom

He has overcome

All our troubles

And all our tears

God our hope

He has overcome

All our failures

And all our fear

God our love

He has overcome

God our justice

God our grace

God our freedom

He has overcome

God our refuge

God our strength

God is with us

He has overcome

DIY love

It's been awhile since I added some house loving for you. We have not been big on projects this summer but we did mange to do one...

I found an old fireplace surround/mantle on PVO back in June for basically free. I can't find a pic of it... but here is a peak at the color it was before... (yes and he is so cute!)

with some paint it was transformed.. then came the question what do we do with the hole in the middle. That's where pinterest came in. I spend way too much time over there... It's just a whole lot of lovely eye candy. I saw a bunch of stuff I liked..

Source: abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

I still love the way the mantle is arranged on this one.

or this...

Source: theshabbychiccottage.net via Heather on Pinterest

originally we were going to attempt this...

Source: younghouselove.com via Heather on Pinterest

or this...

Source: jenniferleephotographeeblog.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

But then we remembered the old window we had sitting up against the shed. Insert my LOVE of maps and this is where we ended up...

We still need to put stuff in the shelves and the pictures above are going to be changed around. I'd love something more dramatic on the mantle.. Over all I am happy with how it turned out.