Livingroom Makeover and Growing Girls

I've been working on making my livingroom a place that I love to be. I randomly decided one day that it needed more of a "home" feeling. And I can successfully say that it's almost there.

I (and when I say "I", I mean Matt), started by painting one wall a dark red color that we found in the "Oops" paint section at Lowe's. Not only was it the perfect color, it was clearanced, too. :)

I added the sheer white curtains that I also found in the clearance section at Lowe's.

The end panels have pretty floral details on them.

For the window by my papsan chair, I added the same floral detailed panels.

I was surprised at how much it added. I love them!

The next step in making over my livingroom was to add some of my most cherished treasures: photos.

I found this idea from Kelle, a fellow blogger who's blog I read.

This just happens to be my most favorite spot in my house.

I love staring at these pictures, that happen to be some of my most favorite.

All I have left is to move around some furniture, add some accessories, and complete some finishing touches to the end table, coffee table, and trunk that I happen to be re-doing specifically for my livingroom.

You're welcome, Shelbey, for posting my progress on my livingroom...

I know you have been dying to see it! :)

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And here's a few pictures of my growing girls. Enjoy!

Xoxo,

Tanna

Summer Art

August is here and I cannot believe it. Summer is flying by! Matt and I will soon be back to school, but not until we accomplish many more summer activities.
Activities such as taking the girls to art museums and letting them explore their creative side. :)

My friend, Amanda, informed me of a free art museum here where kids can draw, paint, build, explore, and create art. We took the girls last Sunday and it was a lot of fun...especially for free!

There are so many cool activities there that I can't wait to go back!

See-through walls that you can write on and big cardboard walls to draw on with chalk!

It was the perfect activitiy for our family on a Sunday afternoon.

There were so many fun things to explore. Here is just a fun example.

 A globe type object that made everything about you seem weird.

Jaelyn and I

Our Family

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The girls and I randomly decided to take a trip to visit my grandparents and family. I forgot how good it feels to be in a place where there is so much love. The place that made me. There is no place like Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Be looking out for a post on our random livingroom re-do! I can't wait to share how our house is taking shape, room by room!

Xoxo,

Tanna

Pretty, Pretty Princesses: Photo Shoot

Since life has slowed down to the point where it has been relaxing, I've been enjoying some of my favorite hobbies that I had to set down for a bit to conquer my summer plans.

Hobbies such as sewing, painting, traveling, photography, and many more.

One of my most favorite hobbies, photography, has been a real joy to jump back into.

This week, I had a photo shoot with my most favorite subjects of all time: my princesses.

They are so fun to dress up, all pretty in their matching pink tutu's with maching pink bows. I love it.

I have the best jobs in the world.

First and foremost, being their mommy.

And next comes their personal photographer, their chef, their chauffer, their stylist, and more.

I can't wait until they're older when I can show them all of the memories that I've created for them.

To show them where they came from and their life. Their story.

Their story of how they were born, how they became sisters, and how they made two young parents the luckiest parents in the world and how much we love them.

We did create two of the most beautiful princesses in the world, you know.

Oh, Jaelyn. You keep me on my toes. You never quit learning and you never quit loving. You are so smart and you blow me away with every new word that you say. And how you make us laugh is truly a gift from God, you are a gift from God. I love being your mommy. And I love how you love your daddy, you're a pretty lucky little girl to have the daddy that you do because he loves you more than life itself. I love how at the little age of 3, it seems like you already have the world figured out. I love watching you with your little sister-what a great big sister you are-making sure that she is okay and doing what she is suppose to. And I love that you have a little sister. I love that you will always have a bestfriend to be with, no matter what, I envy you. I love watching you grow and I love the thought of the bright future that lays ahead of you. I pray for you everyday-that you will someday find someone who loves as much as you do, my beautiful girl. You were my first princess and I know that you know you will always be my princess.

And my sweet, sweet Finlee. You are just that: sweet. You, too, know that you are a princess. You are independent but love to snuggle. And you are growing too fast. For some reason, I never want you to grow up, my sweet baby, but I love watching you discover all of the new things around you. I love how onery you are and how you can get away with almost anything because you are so sweet. I love watching you with your big sister. You think she is great. And I think it's great that she protects you and will always be there for you. And I love how you scream and giggle with pride when your daddy walks in the door and I love watching daddy's face because he loves you, too. And I love when you call me "mama" because I love being your mommy. You have a way of melting my heart when you smile so sweetly...everytime. I love thinking about who you will become and where the road of life will take you, my independent one. I thank God, everyday, for placing you in our lives. You bring a joy to our home that only you or your sister could bring. And I look foward to the future with you. How fun it will be.

Thank you, pretty princesses, for giving me the best job in the world. I love you.

And thank you God, for sharing your most precious blessings with me.

Xoxo,

Tanna

Life is Good.

Finally. Life seems to be back to normal.

We've sucessfully married off all of our bestfriends. We've built a fence. We've slowed down for the time being and have been enjoying life at home.

I can honestly say, I love the days that I get to spend with my girls just hanging out at home or in the backyard. What makes these type of days the most enjoyable is that there is nothing that I have to do. There's no stressing over upcoming events. And I can just be their mom; their baking cookies, swimming, sand-cake building, playful, loving mom.

Summer is going by too quickly.

We've been coming up with so many relaxing activities where the girls enjoy themselves as much as we do.

Finlee enjoying steak fries the night we celebrated our 4th anniversary as a family at Red Robin.
Thanks, Mom!

Swinging on a rainy 4th of July.

Grocery shopping on her own with a cart just her size.

Playing outside in the hot summer sun.

Cooling off with some water play.

Riding her tricycle with Daddy.

I thought my family might get a kick out of this picture...

does it look like anyone you might have known when they were little? :)

There's nothing better than a poolside drink on a hot day.

A favorite toy to share.

Makeover for Daddy. :)

A family, who has quickly became great friends of ours, asked us to join them at the Fiesta here in town last Friday. We had never been since we moved here so we agreed to go and ended up having a great time with them. Authentic food, music, rides, games, shops, and decorations.

The girls dressed for the occasion. Don't they look festive for a Fiesta?

Jaelyn, Finlee, and I heading out to the Fiesta!

Nicholas and Jaelyn: Best Buds

The kids and their Daddy's. :)

This dress was bought for Jaelyn when she was little and I thought it was perfect for the Fiesta

 so I put it on Finlee and it fit her perfectly. She looked so cute!

Ava was there too! I love that our kids are right around the same ages.

I hope they all grow up to be bestfriends!

Scenes from the night. Such a neat experience!

Matt and I.

Finlee. I wanted to share this picture because I think she looks

so much like Jaelyn. Do you think so?

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I think that life is good when there are no real plans that you have to follow. When you can just go with the flow and do what makes you happy. My family makes me happy and so do my friends. Spending time with the people I love makes me happy. No worries just relaxation and fun. Sure, there are things that may get in the way but they are just things. It will pass and life will move on. On to better, more important things. If you're making the best of life and looking for the good in it, it will be just that.

Good. Life is good.

Xoxo,

Tanna