Someone should tell you ...

There should be some sort of step by step book written for people who want to build a home.
Because when you are going in blind - everything you thought you knew - iiiit's pretty much wrong.  Plus more.  Overwhelming doesn't even begin to describe the crazy.

So, as you might have guessed we are in the process of starting to build.  HOPEfully.

For the last 3 years, we have been living in a rental.  It was my Aunt's house and we moved in after she passed away.  It's a 2 bedroom ranch style home that's around 1,000 sqft.  It's basically a long rectangle with no place for anyone to escape to have their own privacy.  I realize that anytime you have children, there is no such thing as privacy, but at this point; one room has our living,dining,play area all in one, one room houses two boys in one bed, and our bedroom has us + a changing table, rocking chair, crib, nightstand, and wardrobe.  Oh, and a baby,

So, it gets a bit crowded.

And that is why we decided to build.
Where we live there is no market on houses.  Nearly all homes in the area were built between 1950 and 1970 most have 2 bedrooms with random bathroom placement, no basement and maybe a garage that would fit a MINI - although that might be too big.
And would require an arm and a leg to fix up.
We know.
We did that when we first moved here.
Never again.

Fixer Upper we are not.

This was our first house when we moved here in 2010

::Before::

::After::

Saying we hated this house was an understatement.
We hated the house, the location - the smells, everything.

Looking at the pictures it doesn't look as horrible as it felt being there.

Here our a few pictures I found of where we live now.
Not completely updated but it looks quite similar.

::House #2::

But I digress.
What were we talking about?
Right.
Building.

So starting last December (2014) we sat down with some books of plans and started to dream.  I began to reach out to builders starting with one my brother used a few years ago.
He ended up being our final choice and as of July 2015 we started meeting to make the plan for our forever home.

So, my plan is to start keeping up with the build process.
What has and hasn't worked for us.
In the meantime, this is what my table looks like at all times since we started planning!

The Interview

I saw this darling interview on Bower Power Blog earlier this week.
So I decided to ask my boys the questions.

The oldest had lovely answers,
The middle answered every question with coo-coo and foo-foo.
Maybe next year.


Rhys
4 yr 10 months

Favorite Food:  Macaroni and Doughnuts - but not mixed together.

Favorite Activity:  Building legos

Favorite Place:  Home ... and Hotels!

Dream Job:  Fly fighter jets and drive a boat

Funniest thing that has even happened to you:  Jokes

Scariest thing:  Looking at Rhylen when he fell into a hole

Best friend:  Rhylen,  
Why?  Because he's Rhylen.

Where do you live:  Here. 

What does heaven look like?  A big world where Jesus lives.

What is Mommy's job:  Tell boys what to do.

What is Daddy's job:  Tell us what to do.

What animal would you be?  A spider - so I could scare people away.

What do you want to be when you grow up?  An airplane boat pilot 

Well ...

That took a bit.

Right?

So since we last talked, I have been busy.
Three kids were so easy at first.  Adding a third was, in fact, way easier than going from 1 to 2.

And then #3 started walking.
And #2 turned 3.
And we are getting so deep into numbers here.

So ... Rowen stared walking about 3 days before his first birthday.  He had been taking some steps and then bam! took off.  And I went from actually getting a FEW things done to not getting anything done.  But it's okay because he's just so cute toddling around.

And Rhylen turned 3.  I hate the threes.  Whoever named it the terrible twos had no freaking idea what was coming.  The twos are smooth sailing compared to the threes!

And Rhys?  Rhys has gotten really into legos and playing by himself.  In the last month he has matured so much!

At the moment:

I'm trying to okay a house plan and prep for getting ready to build.
And planning a family vacation.
And keeping my sanity.

All in a days work!

Happy Living.
Here are some cute pictures.
Ya know, just because.

Just another day

Well.
Let's give this another shot.

I started blogging back in 2008.
It's been sporadic, and at times, non existent. (as in like a year+ of no posts)

Now, I'm going to give it another go.
For me.

Because, sometime I lay in bed and compose blog posts in my semi-asleep state.
Because, sometime I want to get stories down and update family.
Because, sometime I need to remember or share thoughts on motherhood.
So, I figured that I might as well get those thoughts out, right?

I started blogging as a newlywed - a blog composed of recipes, thoughts, fashion, and menu plans.

I followed up with some blogging on moving to a small town and becoming a mom.

Both of which overwhelmed me.

I hated the house we lived in.

Becoming a mom meant no more focus on me - I had to learn to live for someone else, and what a lesson it has been.

And then, brother came.

Baby boy #2 and blogging became a distant memory.

Then. Life changes.

Lost family members.

A move to the country.

Readjust. Refocus.

Re-everything.

And it was good.

Then another brother.

Baby boy #3

And now, here we are.

7 years later.

Happy Everything.