DEMO DAY

Last week we went shopping with the great Tara Lenney. She is wonderful and has such an EYE for design that I was not blessed with. We went to Ferguson's in Dallas and we pointed at things we liked and did not like and now we just wait for her to send us the fixtures she chooses for us. This is SO MUCH easier than our last house. Last time, I was like 43 weeks pregnant (well it felt like it), and Brian and I went to HOME DEPOT of all places and we were all "sure, that looks good" but really we didn't have A CLUE. I wish I could hire her to just follow me around every day. Can you imagine the Target shopping?? Yes, I like that buffalo check but maybe a little smaller or in a different color? AND THEN POOF, it appears. I digress.

Back to demo. They started today, and I was beyond excited. I drove by the house I think 3 times? Then after school, I piled the kids in the golf cart and we just casually popped in the doorway to take a quick peek. I didn't want the kids to get in the way or you know, step on a nail, so we just peeked in the doorway and I snapped a few pictures. SO, really that is all I've got. Nothing too excited. But worth documenting, yes? :)

On another note. Remember the epic tree in the front yard. There is one in the backyard too. And it drops about 16,000 acorns in the pool every. single. day. Poor Brian cleans it out and five minutes later, it is full again. Any advise from pool owners? Do we need a cover??

XOXO,

Lexi

Lately

We officially took ownership of our new home yesterday! We took the kids over late last night in their pjs to celebrate and they ran all over the house finding their rooms and counting the stairs. (It is a tri-level so there are a lot of stairs.) Demo is still scheduled to start on December 1. We met our designer yesterday who created a timeline for us and we discussed what our next steps are. I am SO thankful to have someone to help lead me this time around. With our last house, we actually used the same designer, however we didn't use her quite as much and I feel like we were flying by the seat of our pants the whole time. I'm feeling much more organized this time, which means I am much less stressed. I'm also not pregnant, so that helps. ;)

Meanwhile, we celebrated Harvey's birthday, Emma was a flower girl, and of course Halloween!

Harvey's birthday was spent at a local park with good family and friends. It was perfect weather, and such a good time. He hated his cake and preferred goldfish, but I'm sure he will come around. ;) The theme was "time flies" which was chosen by Emma.

Emma got to be a flower girl in my cousin Samantha's wedding. She had SO much fun and I am so grateful for that memory for her. I was a flower girl in her mom's wedding, super cool! This is Emma's second time to be a flower girl, but the last time she had just turned 2 and doesn't remember it. We had a blast. Our family is huge, but a very close knit bunch. I am so thankful for each and every crazy aunt, uncle, and over dramatic cousin. #youknowwhoyouare.


On Halloween, we went to an event at Alamo Drafthouse this year that was fun. There was a DJ, bounce house, games, prizes, etc. all over the theater. My kids had a lot of fun and wore me out. On top of that we came home and went trick or treating. This year was fun except Emma's feet hurt (her Cinderella heels were pinching her feet), Luke's bucket was so heavy that it was hard to carry (#fwp), and Harvey just wanted nothing to do with the whole event. He would not let me take him out of the stroller the entire time. To top off the evening, some scary man dressed as I don't even know what (it was seriously creepy) scared the living daylights out of Emma and she is still having nightmares. #thanks. All in all, memories were made. Dreams came true (Luke finally got to be Lightening McQueen) and lots of candy was consumed.

Up next, Thanksgiving! We love FALL.

XOXO,
Lexi

PS. I got Emma's school picture back and I melted.

Moving with 3 is NO JOKE

Before we moved, I priced a few moving companies and I was appalled at what they quoted us for a move. So Brian and I decided we could just do most of it ourselves and then leave only large furniture items for the movers. No biggie right? Ohmigah. Never. Again.

We rented a storage unit and began packing probably a month before the actual "move date." Every day I would pack 2-3 boxes and every few days Brian would take a load over to storage. This was fine and we got a TON moved this way. The hardest part was trying to decide what on earth we do not need for the next 8 months of our lives. Conclusion: Our kids have way too many toys. Fast forward to moving week. Brian took off Wednesday through Friday. We scheduled movers for Friday morning, carpet cleaners for Friday afternoon, and the housekeeper for Saturday morning. We can be out by Friday right?

My dad came over and helped on Wednesday and he and Brian spent ALL day moving stuff to storage with a U Haul. They ended up getting a second storage unit because they filled the first one. Thursday, we closed on the Little Creek house (tears!) and moved more stuff ourselves. I packed and Brian moved. Friday, the movers came and took 6 hours to move ONLY FURNITURE. What on earth?! They did wrap everything, but goodness Brian even took everything apart and "staged" it all in the living room. At this point, the remaining stuff we just started chunking in boxes. No rhyme or reason. Those boxes will be full of surprises when we open them next summer. Friday afternoon we closed on Stonebridge. On Saturday, we STILL had some things to move. It literally took us until evening to get the house completely moved and we had to be out my midnight. IT WAS EXHAUSTING. Oh, and we had to get a third storage unit. TOO MUCH STUFF.

It has been a week and we are finally settled in our rental. It is the cutest little house and we have the best landlords. ;) Emma and Harvey are sharing a room which works out really well. Harvey is still waking in the night, but Emma is really good about going right back to sleep. She just scoots over in bed so I can crawl in and nurse Harvey next to her. Sweet girl. Luke has his own room. He is my excellent sleeper- sleeps in and takes long naps… and I was worried about him not going back to sleep during the night if Harvey woke him up. It works out really well. I am most worried about sleep training Harvey because I plan to do that soon.

The kids have really acclimated nicely to everything. They love that we are staying in "Jack's house." (Jack is the son of our friends who are letting us use their home.) Jack and Luke are only 4 days apart in age so that's fun! They also love driving by our new house and talking about where their new bedrooms will be and their plans for a swing they want to hang in the front yard.

We met again with our contractor and signed off on the floor plan. Now, to the fun part, getting to choose everything! Then we wait until mid to end November when they can start the actual demo!

Our last stair picture at the Little Creek house.

Meanwhile, Luke had picture day and he is super adorable so I'll need to share that picture.

Luke's 3 year old school picture

We are getting super excited for Halloween and have decorated our new house with spiders and witches and pumpkins!

They love their matching Halloween pjs

We have a big month! Harvey turns ONE! Emma is a flower girl in my cousin Samantha's wedding, and of course we have Halloween, the State Fair, and several pumpkin patches to explore! Now if only this weather would cool off just a few degrees so I could actually wear some fall clothes…

XOXO,

Lexi

Epic Tree House

I wanted to share some pictures of the current state of our new home. It is gorgeous and unique. It has so much style. However, it was built in 1969 and needs just a few updates. We do want to maintain the style of the home, while adding in our own taste. Brian's taste is traditional. My taste is a little more modern, mixed with traditional. We typically agree on "house stuff" until I try to throw something crazy at him, like wallpaper. (I won that battle for the powder bathroom. I call that a win.) We have met with our contractor several times and have signed off on the basics of the home; the floor plan, the built ins, the windows, the FRONT PORCH #soexcited. I plan to sit on my front porch in a cute little rocking chair sipping' on lemonade wine every day when the weather is cool and the mosquitos are gone. So approximately two days a year.

A friend captioned this "epic tree house." Yes, we are keeping the tree.

These stairs lead to the game room.

The living room.

The kitchen is located in the center of the home.

This is the den, but it will soon be the master bedroom.
Notice the fireplace! SO COOL to have a fireplace in our master!

This is a downstairs guest room, but will soon be the master bath.

Beautiful backyard! The kids are so excited to have a pool.

We close on this house next Friday, but will not start the remodel until December 1. We can't wait to get started.

XOXO,
Lexi

Furlong Forever Home 2.0

Almost 4 years ago, we were in the middle of purchasing a beautiful home in my husband's dream neighborhood. The deal fell through and we were devastated. Driving around the neighborhood, we found a "Coming Soon" sign on a wonderful street called, "Little Creek." We ended up purchasing the home, selling our home in Plano, moving in with our in laws for 7 months, and doing a major reno on what we thought was our #furlongforeverhome. At the time we had one precious little girl who was about 15 months old. Fast forward a few years and we now have two more children (seriously, that's just crazy), and we are at it again. #justcalluschipandjoanna. Just kidding. I wish.

After living in the neighborhood, we have truly fell in love. The community is so wonderful, we have made some true friends who feel more like family, Brian can golf any time he wants #golfwidow, and the homes are beautiful. We knew we wanted to stay in the neighborhood, but we have sort of outgrown our home. We felt that, in the long run, the layout of our home was not quite as conducive for having 3 children. We stumbled upon a home that we could once again remodel (and re do all the things I wish I could change about ours!) while also having a little bit more ideal layout, AND a pool.

After purchasing the new home, and selling ours. (Fingers crossed- we close at the end of the month.) We will be moving into a rental in the neighborhood. The stars aligned and our good friends, who own a fully furnished rental IN the neighborhood, are allowing us to move into their beloved home for the next 8 months while we reno our new home. We are using the same contractor who remodeled our Little Creek home as well as using a good friend from high school who also lives in the neighborhood and happens to be an amazing designer to help us with the design aspect. Should out to Tara. She's awesome. And so stinkin' talented. Check out her website.

So I haven't been so great at this whole blogging thing… I've missed about 42 different major events in my kids' lives including the first day of school, but I'm going to try SO hard to blog about this reno.

The drawings of the exterior on our new home. 

Emma on her first day in the Pre K 5 class. She LOVES it!

Luke on his first day in the Pre K 3 class. Sweet boy, he looks so big!

OK, I'm off to surf houzz in hopes that some of Joanna's talent seeps into my brain. Or I'll just call Tara.

XOXO,

Lexi

Emma Gets Her Ears Pierced!

I have had so many people ask what we decided to do for ear piercing and how it went that I decided to write a blog post about it. I'm already SO behind in blogging and missed about 500 events since I haven't blogged in a couple months, but I'm going to go ahead and skip to today before I forget every detail.

A few weeks ago, Emma asked me about my earrings and told me she wanted some like mine. I very bluntly told her that she could absolutely get her ears pierced when she was ready, but that they will need to poke holes in her ears using a needle. I also told her yes it would hurt for a second, just like when she gets "pokes" at the doctor. Emma responded with a horrified look on her face that maybe she would do this when she was older. A few hours later, she told me she had decided that she would get her "ears poked in July." I laughed and shrugged it off thinking that she didn't realize that July was only a week or two away. (Four year olds don't know their months right?)

Fast forward a week or two and we were at Small Pockets Story time. (I blogged about that a few months ago if you want to read more about that here.) They were doing a a little fourth of July story and craft and the sweet lady reading the story asked the children if they knew what month it was. A little girl responded "July" and Emma immediately sat up and announced to the group, "I'm getting my ears poked in July!" Now I was the one with the horrified look (well more shocked,)  I guess she DOES know her months.

At this point, Brian and I talked and I started researching (you know by posting on Facebook) where the best place to go to get your ears pierced was. I read conflicting reviews about pretty much everywhere. At first I was set on having it done both ears at the same time because my own piercing as a child was a bit traumatizing. The lady (using a gun) pierced one ear and then I was all, "nope. We are done. I'll just have one ear pierced." Of course my mom made me get the other one pierced so don't worry, I do in fact have both ears pierced. However, my research implied that needles are better to use than the gun for several reasons. Here is a little article about why that is. (For the record, a gun was used on my ears and mine have always been fine so don't stress if that's what your family used.)

We decided to go ahead with it while Emma was ready and before she chickened out. Brian had the morning off (well the day, but he golfed in the afternoon #golfwidow.) So we headed to LaLobe in Dallas. This place had mostly great reviews, they used a needle, and most importantly a numbing spray.  Emma woke up VERY excited and was giddy all morning. We walked in (without an appointment) and they were a little short with me telling me first that I needed an appointment (even though it says online walk ins welcome,) then they told me I could come back at 1:30 (it was about 11:30) and then finally 12:55 after I begged and pleaded. (It was my fault that I didn't make an appointment, but it was sort of a last minute decision to go this morning.) We took the kids to lunch and returned promptly at 12:55. We chose our earrings (several people have asked about the earring choice- they did not have a ton of options, but I feel like the ones they had were good quality. They are all listed online as well as prices. They aren't inexpensive, but as I said before I do feel like they are good quality and will hopefully be best for her sweet little ears.) The earrings have a long post in the back with the earring back being the kind that doesn't push all the way on. This way the earrings have room to move around to decrease the chance of infection. Emma sat in my lap, the lady clipped her hair back, showed me how to hold her and went ahead with the piercing. At this point Emma began complaining and whining a little. This was probably my biggest complaint- I felt as if the lady was judging me as if I were forcing it on Emma. Don't tell me she is the first child who has complained (insert eye roll.) She even said several times, "If she isn't ready, you should come back another day." OK, I understand but Emma WAS ready, she was just scared. Also, Emma can be a bit of an emotional roller coaster soooo (I don't know where she gets that.) I even asked Emma several times, "Do you really want to do this today?" Emma would respond "yes." (Lady- don't judge me, judge the lady after me who brought her infant in mmmkay?) #imjustsayin

For the most part, Emma did well. She said, "ow" when it happened, but I think it just scared her because she felt it, as opposed to it actually being painful. Afterwards, when I was trying to pay, Emma starting crying big fat tears and saying she changed her mind. #toolatesistah See what I mean about emotional? Anyway, we left and the tears disappeared just as fast as they came and she was all smiles and loves her new earrings. :)

Meanwhile, Luke started whining and saying he wanted his ears pierced. I told him he could when he was "almost 5" and he said, "ok" and that was the end of that. ;)

My recommendation for La Lobe is mediocre. I didn't love the the people working, but they did a good job and were very clear with instructions and so forth. OH, while Emma was getting her ears pierced someone came in without an appointment and they said, "No problem, it's about a 15-20 minute wait." Brian and I were both giving the lady the stink eye at this point… then they had trouble with my card but it finally worked and we jetted out quick because Brian had a tee time. #golfwidow

Emma's "before" (Clearly I am NOT forcing her to do
 something she doesn't want to.)

After

Pretty ears!

All in all a fun morning! Yay for ear piercing!!

XOXO,

Lexi

Life Lately

I realized, I haven't posted in a few weeks so I wanted to update the blog on a few things we have been up to lately.

A couple weeks ago, we went to "Mommy and Me Mondays" at the Dallas Arboretum. I can't find any info about it on their website, but every Monday they have face painting, a petting zoo, and usually some additional activity. As I was just looking at the website, I discovered they have some activities in the Children's Garden on certain days that are science related. I may need to check one of those out. I also have heard wonderful things about their summer camps, and I plan to enroll Emma in one as soon as I can figure out our summer schedule. Here are our pics from the Arboretum. The tulips are out and they are beautiful right now!

Emma getting her face painted

Butterfly Emma

I was shocked that Luke actually touched all the animals this time! 

Luke insisted on having his picture taken by the car. :)

Had to stop and smell the tulips.

Love

Harvey was there too. ;)

We also took our annual Bluebonnet picture. (Harvey was napping, but I didn't really want to lay him down in the field anyway. #becausesnakes)

Last weekend, we participated in an Easter Egg hunt at First United Methodist Richardson. We loved the egg hunt, did NOT love the human dressed as a bunny (nor would we go into the gym where the bunny was therefore we also did not bounce in the bounce houses), we did love the face painting, but mama did NOT love waiting in line for an hour. We packed our lunches and had a picnic afterwards with some friends of ours since Brian was golfing and her husband was out of town. #golfwidow

Ready to hunt!

Luke would only hunt for blue eggs. :)

Emma and her friend Collins on the firetruck.

Worth the one hour wait?

Cutest bunny foo foo I've ever seen.

On Sunday, we took the kids to the "Day Out with Thomas" event in Grapevine. We rode "Thomas," got to see some electronic trains, get our face painted (again… seriously. I even tried to bribe Emma out of the line. #nodice), and saw a pretty creepy looking Sir Topham Hat (from a distance.) Afterwards, we had lunch at Jake's on Main Street and we must be finally getting accustomed to this 3 kid thing because Brian and I both thought our lunch was actually enjoyable. (Just kidding, I'm sure it was just luck.) It made for a very fun morning, and Emma remarked, "Thomas came a long way- all the way from the island of Sodor!"

Ready to ride!

Showing us their tickets.

"Hi Thomas!"

We ran into some of our best friends! So fun!

Even Harvey liked the train ride. ;)

There he is- all the way from the island of Sodor! ;)

More face painting...

Luke, the kindest kid in the world, chose this
toy so he could give the pink one to Emma.

Emma and Cindy

Emma with Cindy and Jack (and Davis)

Whew. We have had an eventful last few weeks. Emma also started soccer so I'll have to dig up some of those pictures for a post. She enjoys it for the most part, but cries when someone takes the ball from her. (We need to work on that whole "team sport" thing.) Our life is crazy busy, sometimes it is SO fun, and sometimes it is SO stressful, but every day my heart is SO full. I can't complain. Except when I'm tired, and then there is wine. ;)

XOXO,

Lexi