May!

I'm not sure how it's possible, but we're suddenly half-way through May and the end of the school year mayhem is in full swing around here!! I thought I better do a quick update before I get too far behind on everything that's been going on! Summer is right around the corner, which means summer haircuts, smores, recitals, end of the year presentations, & swim lessons!

 

{Do you spy all of that green in the background?! ;)  All of Derek's hard work laying sod paid off!!}

 

{crazy kids in the car before school}

The picture below is of Shelby standing in front of her meteor project for the ALPHA showcase at her school. Her confidence and capability never ceases to amaze. During her last ALPHA meeting before the showcase, each student had to rehearse his/her presentation in front of their peers to prepare for the big day. In true Shelby fashion, she volunteered to go first. She is always the first to raise her hand or the first to volunteer--I admire her confidence so much!

{Usually we're already sweltering in May, but this was a rare CHILLY day! All bundled up waiting for their turn to swim} 

A terrible picture, but here it is!!! Derek's finished table & benches! I absolutely LOVE how it turned out!!! I'm sure he wishes he could relish in his success for a bit, but it seems like as soon as we get one house project crossed off our list we've already added two more! So he's already hard at work on the next task. ;)  But we're getting there! As you can tell from the picture below, this is one of the rooms we haven't touched at all since we moved in, but we can't wait to see what it will look once we're all finished up with it! Who knows when that will be, but it's been so fun to really pour into this house & make it our own. Even though we've been renting for the past several years, we've always made each house our home. But now that this really is our house and maybe our forever {or at least for a loooong time!} house, we have a lot more freedom!

We made our quick weekly run to HEB after church last Sunday, and they had a big display of chocolate covered strawberries for Mother's Day. That inspired us to make some of our own at home!! And then then the girls played with Hadley's make up, which is essentially just face paint to them. ;)

And last but not least, my Mother's Day gift was planting rose bushes & flowers! I love how they turned out!

 

 

And last but not least, a few books I've been reading lately! Several are from Reese Witherspoon's book club picks, but I really liked all six of these books!

Okay, I know I said that was the last thing...but I promise this is the last! This sweet memory popped up on my Timehop the other day, and it just really stuck with me. It's the sweet little ordinary things like this that I never want to forget. When we lived in Las Vegas & Shelby was still at school and Brady was napping, Hadley and I would often go out in the backyard together. Sometimes we'd swim together just me and her, sometimes I'd sit and read while she played in a patch of dirt, and sometimes we'd read together in the shade. If I'm being totally honest, sometimes I felt like we were trapped at home between naptime & elementary school dismissal, but looking back this is such a sweet memory. Just a reminder to myself to be more present! The good stuff is always there if you look for it!

 

 

Happy Friday! I hope you have the best weekend with your people!