Master bedroom

I have been looking for inspiration for our master bedroom since we moved into our house. We always pushed our room aside and bought things for the other rooms of the house or for outside. It's time to make our room nice. I love these bedding ideas.

Minus that cat. Gross

I always say that I do not want all white bedding like we have now, but I am so drawn to it. It looks so clean and fresh..... until you go to sit on it and realize a 2 year old boy and golden retriever have been there.

Sweet potato casserole

We have 6 cookouts this month, yay! I love a good cookout. I always contribute deviled eggs because it is easy and I have a phobia of cooking for other people. Seriously. I am always worried they will hate it or it will turn out horrendous. So I make deviled eggs and Jonathan makes sweet potato casserole. This dish is melt in your mouth amazing.

Ingredients

• 4 cups mashed sweet potatoes
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract                    
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup chopped pecans (we use Special K cereal)

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, milk, salt, 1/3 cup butter and vanilla. Mix together and pour into a greased 13x9 inch baking dish.
2. To prepare the topping, combine in a separate bowl the brown sugar, flour, 1/3 cup melted butter and pecans. Mix together and crumble over sweet potato mixture. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 to 45 minutes.

We had our first cookout last night and had a ball.

                                               

Happy Friday

Here is to hoping your weekend is full of love

Favorite things

My sweet friend, Ashley over at  Ashley's life always list her favorite things at the end of the month. Cute idea! Here are my 5 favorite things from May

1. The Got to Be NC Festival. It made one little boy super happy.

2. Home grown vegetables

Hudson is obsessed with sweet peas. He eats them right off the vine!

3. The Bachelorette started back. I am a sucker for this every season.

4.  Weddings and date nights

5. Hudson is fully potty trained! No picture needed for that one!

Darn you, Pinterest

Pinterest is becoming the death of me and our bank account. Am I the only one who finds it overly addicting? It has the best ideas for organization, gardening, your home and clothes. Not to mention cute accesories. Darn you Pinterest

I already bought this from Charlotte's

 These are at my friend Kristin's adorable store, The Purple Polka Dot in Cary - I need

Other drool worthy things

Brain release

- We had a great weekend full of parties, friends and fun.

- I have had zero appetite lately. I am not sure if it is because it is so humid outside or if it is God's way of letting me fit in my bathing suit. Either way works for me. Hudson and I ran 12 errands this morning (totally fun with a 2 year old.... not) and the closest thing to us was a Steak & Shake. I was craving a milkshake so we went through the drive thru and I honestly said this,
"Hi, May I please get a chocolate  m-i-l-k-s-h-a-k-e ..... sorry I have a 2 year old in the backseat. "
yep, totally spelled it. I did not want Hudson to know what I was getting.

- I have had a hard time deciding what I want to hang on our front door for the summer. We always have something for holidays but I want something I can keep up there all summer. I found this today and am getting it  made.

I think it is really sweet with our married monogram.

- I am teaching Hudson's Sunday School class all summer. That should be entertaining.

- My baby boy will be 3 in 24 days. That is crazy. How did that happen?

I find myself getting so frustrated with people saying, "oh he is about to be 3, time for another one." It's such an annoying statement. Especially since I was medically told having another baby would be so life threatening for me. We are beyond, beyond blessed with our sweet Hudson and I will always be happy for my 1 sweet, precious boy! And I will be really happy when my sister stops calling me everyday begging to be our surrogate. My sister is the best!

-Together Hudson and I replanted all of the potted plants that the bunnies have ruined. We changed out all of the hanging baskets and added a few more potted plants for the backyard. It was a workout. Hudson pulled every ounce of mulch out of the bag and spread it over the driveway with his new shovel & rake, so I seriously did a lof of work getting everything together. We also made a new flower bed, planted more vegetables, planted a climbing rose bush for the shed and found a home for Charlotte, our new rooster

Thank you Dad & Lisa!!!


- My Michael Kors watch has still not shown up in a gift box somewhere. It's getting annoying.... Jonathan! Maybe my 3 year belated push gift?

School is out for summer

Somehow 9 months have come and gone and my sweet baby boy finished his first year of preschool. It is so hard to believe that he has one year of school under his belt. He learned so much. He started the year crying everyday and drop off and ended the year begging to go to school. He was truly blessed with the 2 best teachers. He made so many new friends and grew so much as a little person. I loved picking him up and hearing what he learned that day or hearing him tell stories at the dinner table. He is such a big boy now.

Last day of school pictures

I love that he makes such funny faces. I do not know when the last time was that he gave me a normal smile. He is such a ham. My big almost 3 year old, sniff, sniff, sniff.

Hudson's favorite things

Hudson has an overwhelming obsession with trucks. In the car he tells me what every single form of transportation is that passes us. We read truck & firetruck books 10 times a day. We crawl around the house pretending we are ambulance, firetrucks, diggers &dumpers and we sit on the floor for hours doing this...

He is also VERY into building things! Last week I bought 5 new puzzles and he figured out how to do them by himself so fast.

And Lincoln Logs are a big hit too

Now if I can just figure out what can distract him for longer than a minute by himself so I can shower in peace or even use the bathroom without him standing infront of me asking what I am doing.

Catching up

Wow, what a week!

I had a wonderful 30th birthday. My family and friends made it so special. Hudson loved it. He thought it was hilarious to tell me I am old and to sing "happy birthday" for 24 hours. I was so spoiled and loved all the family time. Jonathan and I escaped on a date and I am now completely obsessed with Mura. It is the yummiest place ever! I got some amazing jewelry. I had to laugh becuase the watch I have begged for the past 3 years on every holiday has still not found its way to my arm. I think it is now a running joke because Jonathan laughs too about it. But I LOVE my new jewelry and I am so proud of the boys for picking it out themselves.

Friday we had a gigantic black snake in our carport. I was walking out to grab something from the storage closet and let out a blood curling scream. It must have scared the anaconda because he wrapped himself around a bush beside the colums and then crept off. I ran in to get my phone and call Jonathan to come kill it.

I can honestly say that for the rest of the day I was on edge. I made Jonathan come home from work to look for it. I had goosebumps all day, I did not let Hudson or Sissy play outside. I did not even check my mail or go running. I sat inside all day freaking out. We now have a shovel by the side door and I am always prepared to go get my new red gun and shoot him!  Hudson & I live outside so this has really put a damper on our daily activities. Hopefully there will come a day when I am not constantly looking over my shoulder.

Saturday we went to the Got To Be NC Festival. Or as Hudson called it, "Mommy's birthday tractor party." It was a gorgeous day and we had so, so, so much fun.

The free sample food section was Hudson and Daddy's favorite... what a life....

Hudson also made me ride the worm ride. It looked fun until I realized it went in 80 circles and bounced up and down.

We finished the weekend by reading books. It is my favorite time of the day.....

Peek at Mother's Day weekend

Saturday was a beautiful day filled with wonderful friends. We met Woobs & Uncle Forgwarts (Matt) for lunch at "the chocolate milk store" and then came home to play.
 We love when they visit from Tennessee.

Hudson did not want any "paparoooozi."

Hudson loved playing t ball with Matt

The highlight for me was when Woobs attempted to kick a ball but totally fell on her behind!

After nap, Katie & Kyle came!! We miss them so much since they live in Maine. How did I not take a picture?!?! Katie & Kyle met at our wedding and are getting married next month, so fun! We loved catching up and laughing with our friends that we do not get to see often. I have to say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, my favorite thing about our friends is how they play with Hudson and love him so much. They are the best.

Sunday the boys served me breakfast in bed

Before I could even take a bite, someone else dove in

Just look at the butter dripping off his face.

Then we went on a long walk and I took a nap. I so badly wanted to go to church but it was so nice to actually relax and not be rushed.

For lunch we went to Jonathan's grandparents and grilled out with Jonathan's mom. We came home for Hudson to nap and then had dinner at our house with my mom. It was a wonderful Mother's day and so special that we could be with all the moms.

My entire life, the only thing I knew for sure I wanted to do was to be a wife and mommy. Jonathan and Hudson have completed my life and made me the luckiest person on the planet. Everyday is Mother's Day when I get to be with those 2. And we are so lucky that we have moms that love us so much!

Mother's Day Tea

Hudson's wonderful teachers hosted a Mother's Day Tea yesterday. Each mom waited outside of the classroom for our precious child to bring us inside and find our seat. We ate cookies, fruit, ham biscuits, doughnuts, goldfish and lemonade. Each child painted an adorable ladybug pot that had a flower in it and they made us handprints with poems and did a little survey.

Hudson's teacher read each survey outloud and you had to guess when you thought it was yours. Mine was a dead giveaway with "chocolate milk store"

The chocolate milk store is Which Wich at North Hills. Obviously we eat there too much, but Hudson loves their homemade chocolate milk. The funny parts are that I do not cook hot dogs and Hudson only eats McDonalds for breakfast. I do not remember the last time I wore a jacket, but maybe I should wear more since he thinks I look pretty in them. And yes, I love greeen beans! I love this survey! What a special day!