Spring Break...All the Feels

    Our spring break didn't start off quite as we had planned it but that doesn't mean it's ruined! Monday and Tuesday have both been rainy which means Daddy had to take the car to work which left us car-less until after lunch...I don't know about any other mamas out there but if we don't get up and going in the morning, my energy level plummets and the likelihood of getting five kids out for an adventure in the late afternoon by myself is less than likely to happen. We took the babes out to lunch before dropping Kaleb back off at work. Lunch was....let's just say...woah. Everyone was fighting over the one beverage I purchased for them >mistake number one< and the whining was off the charts. I thought "Holy moly, what the crap is going on right now?!? Do we need naps? Do we need time outs? How are we going to recover from this?!" I decided to risk it...will it rain? Who cares...Will everyone whine and cry? Who cares...Will Sawer flip a lid switch because the chances of his clothes getting wet after the rain are like 100%?? Who cares.... TO THE PARK WE WENT!

    It ended up being a really fun afternoon and it was just what the babes needed! A little sunshine and fresh air goes a long way! It may have been humid and a little hot but we had the playground pretty much to ourselves and there was no bickering or whining and it was nearly two hours of Heaven.

Harps and Mama

    Before we had any kids I always imagined us with girls. Girls are what I was used to and I couldn't imagine having boys. When we found out that Oliver was a boy I was so surprised, happy, but wasn't sure what to expect. My relationship with him was so natural and he was so sweet and cuddly. When I got pregnant with Carter I just knew he was a boy from the beginning! After having two boys I was certain that our third would be a boy as well. In my mind we would be an all boy family and I was totally okay with it, excited for it actually! Kaleb was pretty set on it as well and we only had boy names picked out going into our ultrasound. The ultrasound tech looked for a minute or two and said "Hold on just a minute...I think I know what you're having but I just want to get a second opinion before I say for sure..." and she stepped out. I looked at Kaleb and said "Oh my gosh! It's totally a girl!" He replied "No way....you don't know that!". The doctor walked in and immediately said "GIRL! No doubt about it!" We looked at each other and our mouths dropped open! They sent us out to wait for our regular appointment and as we sat in the lobby Kaleb basically said "Harper...Harper Everly....that's her name! That's it!" And that's what we named her and the day we met was the most painful yet magical day ever.

    Her shirt says "I make mama's heart full" for a reason! We've always had a special relationship, but with every boy added to our family I feel like my relationship with her just grows and grows into something deeper and more special than it was before. It sounds silly but it really just makes me so grateful that God blessed me with at least one daughter. It's a different dynamic than my relationship with the boys and she's like a built in mini best friend who loves to go shopping, and paint her nails, and do her makeup, and braid her hair and I can't get enough of her.

        I am going to cry the biggest buckets of tears when she goes to Kindergarten. That's still over a year away but I know how quickly the time goes and I want to savor every second I have left. She's my little sidekick! She loves being near me, always. No matter what I'm doing she'll follow me from room to room and play on the floor by herself just to stay close. She helps me fold laundry and take care of the baby. She loves to crawl into our bed in the morning to cuddle and occasionally drift back off to sleep. I love my darling girl, her sweet little heart, and the way she wraps her skinny little arms around my neck for a squeezy hug. I pray we're always able to maintain a close relationship as she grows and becomes her own person. I'll love you forever my sweet Harper.

Outfit Details: 

>> Hat: Roolee Boutique 

>>Sweater: Forever 21 

>>Cactus Shirt: Target

>>Skirt: Target

>>Shoes: Target

A Baker Babe Easter 2017

    We had such a fun day with lots and lots of family! We started the morning with "Easter Baskets" for each of the kids, lots of candy for breakfast, and headed off for church. After church we had lunch with my family at my grandparents house along with a very fun little Easter egg hunt that my little sister put together. After a brief quadruple car nap for the babes and lots of coffee for this Mama and Daddy we headed off to celebrate with Kaleb's side of the family! We had so much fun hanging out with everyone and the kids got to enjoy another Easter egg hunt. Needless to say our day was packed full of love, laughter, and lots >>and I mean LOTS<< of sugar!

    I hope you all had an amazing Easter celebrating our risen Savior!! We are so grateful for His work and sacrifice on the cross so that we can live eternally redeemed from our sins! Happy Easter everyone!!

Sunshine, Fresh Air, and Handfuls of Fuzzy Caterpillars

    We spent part of our Friday off getting some house projects a little closer to finished but of course it couldn't be all work! So we headed out and met up with my sisters to go for a little hike and it was perfection. The weather was gorgeous and the fresh air was so good for all of us!

     The older three loved running the trail, especially the switchbacks. They took turns running as fast as they could around each bend until the boys got side aches ha! But that only temporarily slowed those wild boys down.

Those freckles are my favorite!

OF COURSE Sawy boy brought a truck to drive through the dirt, naturally.

 Finding caterpillars was definitely the highlight for the babes.

The boys were so excited to bring them home and they've been taking very good care of them.

Harper was all about it until it pooped on her. Can't say I blame her!

You can find this baby sling HERE. This print is no longer available but there are plenty of amazing fabrics to choose from!!

We had so much fun and spring break is just getting started! So many more adventures to come in the next week!

Lancome Matte Shaker Liquid Lipstick

    I'm not going to lie...I was not super excited about trying this lipstick. I just got addicted to Lipsense and thought there's NO WAY I'm going to like this lipstick after trying lipsense >don't worry I still love it< but this one surprised me! I actually really love it!

    Here's what I love about it! It is SUPER easy to apply, it goes on smooth and evenly, the color is so rich and pigmented, it lasted ALL DAY. I only reapplied once after wearing it for seven hours! And in those seven hours I drank coffee, kissed my babies a million times, ate lunch...it does transfer a bit the first couple of hours but I was surprised that you couldn't even really tell and I think that's because the color is just so rich. It almost forms a base layer that just stays put and keeps your lips looking pretty and pink all day long. My only complaint at first was the bit of transfer it left behind but as the day went on I could kiss my babies without leaving pink marks all over their faces so now I really have zero complaints about it....ok maybe just one....I NEED MORE COLORS! I have my eye on a couple more. No shame in my lipstick game.

    Harper had to get in on the pink lip action, because she is the girliest of them all and she loved it. I really can't say enough how much I love this lipstick. I give it two lips puckered up....okay that was weird and cheesy but you get the point.

    I received this lipstick as part of a complimentary vox box from Influenster. Can't wait to share more on what else we got! Let us know if you try out this wonderful lipstick and what you think of it!!

Bits Plus Pieces of April Part One

    Woah, woah, woah! We are HALFWAY through April already! What the what?!?! We're less than two months away from being halfway through the year! I'm just not okay with that. Time, please slow down. Thanks.

    April has been a whirlwind so far but here's the highlight reel...

    This bundle of rolly polly love turned four months old at the beginning of the month! There's a post all about him and he's changed a bit even since I wrote that two weeks ago!! He's so much more chatty, particularly when it's just me and him before or after I feed him. I lay him down and he stares at me and just lets it all out. It's probably my current favorite thing. Also, Harper was singing to him and he was "singing" back. Oh my heart.

 

    Carter Lee-skees turned six back in February which I will be going back to highlight here soon >I'm a little behind< but the one thing he wanted was this Star Wars Lego set. It was rather pricey but he was blessed with a couple of Target gift cards and a Nana who offered to take him to buy it and pay the difference! He was SO EXCITED. He dedicated lots of time after school and on weekends putting this baby together and he had just a little help from his Daddy to accomplish it! Guys, this thing was complicated. Like hundreds of little pieces in seven different bags with a book of instructions to follow but he did it! I was seriously so proud of him and so was he!

    If you follow us on instagram at all you probably know about Sawy boy's obsession with trucks. Well no truck goes unnoticed by this boy and he gets all kindsa excited.He was star stuck when the driver of the tow truck he was admiring walked out of Mcdonalds. The guy waved and smiled and said hi to him and he couldn't utter a word. He just stood there with his hands together and his mouth wide open. It was hilarious.

    Harper has been my little buddy while the boys are at school and Sawyer takes his naps. She loves to be near Porter and I no matter what we're doing. If I'm cleaning she'll just play somewhere near me and tell me whatever comes to her little mind. I love it and I've been thinking a lot lately about how she'll be going to school in a year and a half and I want to cherish every day I get with her at home!

    These faces accurately depict how April has left us feeling. It has been a whirlwind like I said before and two weeks in we are feeeeling it! We've been working on a project in our kitchen and I can't wait to share once it's done!

    We made our first strawberry stand stop of the season and oh you better believe it won't be our last. One day into have a full flat and it's no joke, halfway gone! They are the biggest, juiciest, sweetest strawberries! 

    Would you believe me if I told you that two minutes before this picture was taken, this boy woke up from his nap very groggy and sad? Well he did and nothing else other than a jar of nutella could make this boy smile this big given the situation. He perked right up. Boy after my own heart.

    I mean, really. I let him go to town on that thing and he could not have been any happier about it. I love that kid.

    Wednesdays are normally our day to go over to my parents house after school since the boys don't have homework. We hang out with my sister and she normally makes us special treats >this week was espresso filled eclairs...yes, you read that right. We are spoiled!<. Our Wednesday got a little thrown off since all three of my youngest babes fell asleep so late in the afternoon that my Dad ended up picking up the boys from school. It really cut into our hang out time but it's ok, we still got this uber cheesy picture together. 

    I hope your April is treating you well! May your cups of coffee be large, your hugs be long, and your memory books be overflowing!