The Build: Frames

Our house is definitely in need of some personal touch. Hard to believe we have only lived here for 3 months but feels like much longer than that. We have always seen homes with a gallery of photos ascending the staircase and have been wanting to do something like that in our own home. We didn't have anything specific in plan so we just bought loads of frames from Costco in all different sizes. We picked out some pics of the kiddos in black and white and ordered from mpix.com for nice quality at a good price. I thought we would get plenty of ideas from Pinterest about how to put up the photos and in what pattern, but instead, we just started putting them on the wall and changing it up as we hung them.

We put up all the frames and are now looking forward to adding more later!

The Build: Built-in Cushions

The built-in seating in the dining room is beautiful but not as comfortable without some added cushions. It was a long search just to find the right fabric and person to make them. We were first quoted 52$/yd  for this fabric called Denison Coronet, at an interior design studio....but who wouldn't search online for something better? So we found it here, for 37$/yd. Then we searched for a place to put them together for us, unfortunately the company wanted twice what we were willing to pay. Thankfully my parents neighbor, Beverly Kuiper, from Innovative Interiors, does beautiful work from inside her home, and I couldn't be happier!

 Enjoying the view of the lake on a sunny day is even better now...

 Plenty of room so that now when we host a large dinner we can push the table into the corner to utilize bench seating

Looking forward to our next get together so I don't have to worry about where people will sit!

Butterflies Once Again

One excited toddler to visit the butterflies again....

Gackum teaching Austin all about how caterpillars turn into butterflies

Ava wanted to touch each and every one of them

What would we do without Gackum and Gamma?

My sweet peanut

so close mama!

Where did they go Gackum?

B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L

Austin did not want anything to do with actually touching the butterflies.....but Gackum kept trying....

So what are the chances that this little boy doesn't want to touch them and then....all of a sudden a butterfly lands ON his nose! I tried to snap a quick pic!

Austin picked out a few of his favorite things in the gift shop.

Until next year.......

Ava: 1 year stats

Weight: 21lbs 6 oz- 53rd percentile
Height: 2ft 5 inches- 43rd percentile

We took the kiddos on our annual trip to see the butterflies at Frederick Meijer Gardens.......Ava was in awe.......

More pics to follow...

Impatient

I know it just turned March.....but where are you Spring!? We are ready and impatiently awaiting.......

Ava: 1 year old

Hard to believe that she is already one year old. My cute little silly peanut.

She isnt close to walking just yet but Jason or I could tell you she is one good climber and boy does she pinch! She's my little cling-on...always wanting to be held. It's nice to have a change in children since Austin never once was a cuddler.

Always funny to hear her teachers at school....."she is one excellent eater!" So true. She pushes away anything similiar to baby food and reaches for whatever is on my plate. Again, nice for a change since Austin is such a picky eater!

Growing like a little weed she is just now getting out of 12 months clothes.

She devoured that cookie!

I can't believe I am done with formula forever....praise the Lord!

She has three little teeth on the bottom and that's it......dreading the teeth that are yet to come....

Happy Birthday to you!

Let the cupcake war begin.....

I'll share Mom....

Ava wins!

Austin had a good time too of course

Perfect theme for the party really.....my oh my how that first year really did FLY by! Love you more and more each day Aba.....nope not a spelling error, we are all used to calling her Aba thanks to Austin.....