Life Lately In Photos & Target Winner

I can't tell you how enjoyable it has been this past week being on spring break with my Daughters. I am one of those parents who have their kids on a perfect set schedule during the school year, so this week we took advantage of a somewhat no set schedule. My-oh-my has it felt wonderful and refreshing to say the least. The first night I had this not so great idea of letting the girls stay up late in hopes they we could all sleep in on our first morning. Ha ha...nope. Who am I to kid myself. Seriously I should of known better. Instead I was stuck with two crabby girls all day long.

I can say the weather has been decent here in Michigan for a stay-cation.It might even hit 60 degrees today, can we say no coats?!  No beach bumming for this family. But a trip to Target was a must. While I was there I found they now have easy access gluten free foods. I am beyond excited. Now they truly are a one-stop-shop for me. One happy Mama right here. 

My husband and I were challenged these past two weeks how to work as a team all over again. Literally as a team, to coach a team. Our oldest daughter starts playing her first year soccer this Friday and he is her teams coach. I, pretty much somehow have become his assistant coach. I'm okay with that and it had taught us how to work together how a whole different level. Le's just say introverts and extroverts don't work together at first very well, ha. 

Betsey has finished her Beauty and the Best training class. She did a great job and I am one proud fur Mom. I keep telling my husband I want to build an agility course for her in our backyard. He thinks I am a little our of my mind once again. 

Again I am excited to play in my garden. I love being able to get out doors with the girls. This spring break has been relaxing yet still fun. The girls have been busy riding their bikes and playing with friends. 

Something new I have started with a friend of of mine on Instagram! We have put together a weekly IG link up! It is called #keepcalmlinkup Make sure you always use the hashtag. Head over to my Instagram to see the rules and join us. Instagram account

It goes all week long. Every Monday we issues a new photo prompt. 

$20 Target Gift Card WINNER

Congratulations Lizzie Lau, 

you are the winner of the Target gift card giveaway.

You have 24 hours to respond at kaitlynhoff3@gmail.com

                    

What We have Been Up To...

I almost feel like I fell off the face of blogging lately. Basically since summer has officially started. Thats okay though...right? It just means we have been busy having a good summer thus far.

Busy I feel like is an understatement. I thought once school was out for summer I would be able to relax as a mother. Wrong. I feel even busier than I did during the school year. I'm sure many of you can relate with me on this one.

One of our projects we have been busy lately working on is our backyard. When we first bought our home, we mainly focused on beautifying our front yard. Finally 5 years later we are working on beautifying our backyard. We came across an annoyance with our backyard; it barley will grow grass. We tried and tried and finally gave up. Now our mission is to cover up the annoying dirt. The dirt and I have a "hate hate" relationship. Therefore our backyard transition also involves trying to cover up the dirt and planting flowers that will grow in shade.

BEFORE 

Part of our backyard project involved a new and greater swing set. The kind that I had no idea said it would take 9 hours, lots of wood, drilling and cutting. Once it was complete we spent maybe about 4 hours laying wood chips around the swing set, turning it into the kids play area. We still need to put wood around to hold the wood chips in place and add the slide. All in working time right? I should add I did not help build the swing set. All props go to my husband, my dad and father in law.

AFTER

Our other backyard project involved my new patio. We don't have a kitchen off the back of our home for a deck therefore I asked my husband to build me a patio. Once again a bigger project than I anticipated...for my husband. I absolutely love my patio now.

The third project involved building 2 more vegetable gardens. We now have 3 and they sure take a lot of my time. Right now I am trying to figure out an organic way to keep the insects from eating my plants. I'm also praying they produce us lots of veggies for me to can.

And of course Our most amazing project of all that God has blessed us with; our 3 daughters. They have been keeping me busier than ever this summer. I sure wish I had all the energy they seem to have. I just look at it as they are keeping me young.