project life. week 10.

geez, I feel like I've been all over the place with this project. paper, digital, changing up templates & trying to simplify & get it done.  I've pondered not doing it to free up time for more layouts or design time... I'm still not sure. I think I go between loving the everyday aspect of it & remembering all those "little things" & just being annoyed by the thought of having one more thing to keep up with. but I decided over the weekend to try to finish this week up.  this was the week leading up to Lydia's birthday party, so a lot of the first page is pretty focused on her & the entire second page is totally devoted to the day of her party. 

so, here we go...week 10. finally.

the week went from snowy & cold to warm & sunny. Dan started to install the flooring in our basement that we've had stored for about 3 years. {YAY!} we finally got the right kind of snow for a snowman, which lasted approximately 3 hours :(   Lydia had kindergarten roundup & collected all her stars... she was over the top excited this day.  After we went shopping for party supplies...lots of fun!  it's been a good winter/spring for practicing pitching for Evan & Dan.  Love to watch him getting better & better.  My parents were away for the winter in Texas & weren't going to make it back for Lydia's birthday, so my mom sent a whole box of goodies for her.  We called & put her on speaker phone while she unwrapped all the presents.  So fun.  Lydia also was able to bring home the preschool class monkey the weekend of her birthday!  She has been anticipating this pretty much the whole school year.  We recorded lots of fun party events with monkey.

this page is all about the party. I know I've said it before, but this girl is all about her birthday, so I love to plan a really special day for her.  plus, this was #5... my baby is growing up :(  It was a really fun day!

trying to get some things done around here today.  between Cardinals games this weekend {awesome games btw} we were weather watching here in Iowa, hoping the severe storms would stay away & thankfully they did!  Today is super windy & cooler with tons of clouds.  I'm pretty much over the rain & wind. 

we also did our first family meeting {I had notes & everything}.  As the boys are getting older, we're definitely finding parenting more challenging.  I've been in a little bit of a panic, just knowing that Collin will be a teenager in a few short months. I'm not gonna sugar coat it, we were getting fed up at how the kids were starting to disrespect us, the way they were using language, the amount of arguing & yelling that was going on & things were just feeling a little out of control.  We needed to pull in the reigns. So, the x-box has been taken away at least until the end of the school year.  We discussed our expectations of them, what they expect from us, things we can do together as a family, ideas for summer trips, etc.  I was really happy {through the tears} at how it went.  The boys were excited to give ideas & we came up with lots of things to try.  We're trying to get them more involved with how things work in the house, helping out more, giving more responsibilities & just having fun together.  This weekend was really great for us.  It went from turbulent to calm & pretty low key.  Everyone was much happier & hope we can keep it that way.  Wish us luck!

{robyn}