Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Monday, December 30, 2013

❤ ❤ ❤

I couldn't resist this one...

Christmas Rooms




The most exciting Christmas storage box we open each year is the one that contains the kids' Christmas bedding. It is such a simple thing to do and I have a feeling as the kids grow up it will be one of their favorite Christmas memories... sleeping in their "santa sheets". Their rooms looked so magical... I don't want them to grow up.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Christmas Morning


Santa Claus found the Schultz kids once again. I came downstairs and took these pictures just before the kids got to see their treasures. The kids each got the pillow pets they wanted so much. Summer's the Cozy Cow. Forrest's is the Snuggly Puppy. Forrest got Legos and Summer got American Girl crafts. They also got lots of books. For weeks Summer had been asking for the Sports Collection of the Rainbow Magic Fairies books. Forrest's favorite character is Dusty from the movie Planes and favorite chapter books are the Magic Tree House so Santa got him these books. Each got their own duffle bag, Summer's the horse and Forrest's the dinosaur. All the gifts were fun but I'd have to say that the gifts they loved the most were their little pillow pets. They've been carrying them around everywhere they go. They're so soft! This is one of my favorite pictures of the morning:

...the kids first realization that Santa really did make it to our home. Each of them are looking directly where their gifts were. No guessing or names on anything was needed. They each knew right where to run. A few weeks ago the kids wrote a letter to Santa asking him NOT to wrap their gifts because they "wanted to save trees". I could not agree more. As much fun as they had, I must admit, it's waaay more fun being the parent.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas House

Before we got any of our Christmas things out the kids kept begging us to "make our house a christmas house." I thought that was such a cute way to put it. I've tried my best to make it feel magical in here for them. My favorite Christmas decorations: the fresh garlands, wreaths, satin ribbons and of course my sweet Forrest peeking through the banister.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Countdown...





Wishing I still had 12 days left until Christmas. The reality is there is just TWO more days. I LOVE having small traditions we do each year. It makes for such a magical time of year with little kids. Our countdown advent calendar has been a favorite of the kids over the past few years. The kids take turns each day as to who turns over the little card. They get soo excited when it's their turn. I also found these cute little vintage Santa mugs. They're tiny and the kids have LOVED using them for everything from hot chocolate to just drinks of water during the day. I'm on the hunt for a vintage Santa cookie jar as well. I've seen lots of reproductions in stores but nothing that I've loved.
I put these wreaths together for our kitchen windows this Christmas. I had purchased fresh bay leaf wreaths which was incredibly beautiful but it dried out much more quickly than they ever have before me. It went bright orange which didn't look quite right for Christmas. I then saw the fresh white pine garlands at Trader Joe's and was so happy. I knew I could make wreaths out of garlands. I just cut one long garland in half and tied everything together with strings and then added the red satin ribbon and I think they looked pretty cute.
We have a strict rule that only Christmas music can be played (including in the car) and all TV shows and movies have to be Christmas. The kids laugh and it's actually really fun. The problem is that I've been sooo busy that I haven't had time to post any pictures. The days just FLY by for me at this stage of my life. I'm in shock (and denial) that Christmas is just 2 days away! I'm wishing desperately that I could make the clock stop... I once heard a man I admire say, "happy childhood memories = healthy adults." I think of that often. My hope is that we are creating happy memories for our kids as they grow up.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Thankful

I've been trying so hard lately to just focus on the most important things in life. The things that really matter. It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day stresses of life and to completely miss the "big picture". I have felt that I really needed to reassess lately. I've been doing just that and I can't even express how it has changed my whole heart as of late. I have much to be thankful for.
This picture was taken with my iPhone on David's 50th birthday. These little kids have been blessed with the most loving, kind, fun and devoted dad. He puts his family first and I'm thankful that his example is what they will always associate with what a husband and father should be.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Cape Fear Fair

❤ I sure love these two 
For years I've been wanting to take the kids to the fair. Last weekend we took Summer and Forrest to the fair for the first time. They were soooo excited. The fair has music playing, lots of kiddie rides, a small petting zoo and of course lots of cotton candy and caramel covered apples. I think we've started a new tradition. I wish I could bottle them up - I want to remember them just like this forever.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Halloween Pictures



These actually aren't the pictures I took of the kids on Halloween but it is pretty darn cute if I do say so myself. The talented Renee Saunders of Millie Holloman Photography took the kids' pictures thanks to a hot tip from a friend.
I love it so much. It was so much fun!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Summer the Little Mermaid Ariel



Summer and I had gone into a Halloween store over fall break. She searched and searched for the perfect halloween costume. When she found this Ariel costume the search was over instantly. She said, "other kids might say Ariel is baby but I'll say, I LOVE her". I love Summer-pie's confidence. She could NOT wait to put it on. So cute.

Forrest the Spider-Man

Spider-Man in action on Halloween


Forrest decided the day after Halloween last year that he wanted to be Spider-Man. He was very specific. He wanted the costume with the muscles. For real. I don't think I have seen a cuter Spider-Man.

Happy Halloween!

My Ariel and Spider-Man on Halloween night.
Forrest wasn't feeling well and was coming down with a cold so by the time we got home from the 1st round of trick or treating he had had enough and was ready to go bed. Summer was SO excited about Halloween that her tummy hurt. I remember doing the same thing when I was a little girl.

We were trying to remember what the kids were each year for Halloween. I linked all of the Halloween photos that I had on this blog. It was so much fun to look back at old photos. They're growing up waaaaaay too fast.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Halloween Playroom


Forrest and Summer each have their own room however they share the playroom. That's where most of their toys are. When figuring out where to place the Halloween Tree the kids got so excited when I suggested we put it on the playroom table. As soon as the box of Halloween decorations came out of the closet the two of them grabbed the tree and ornaments and ran up to the playroom to decorate it. It's something so small and simple but to little kids it's a BIG deal. The little ornaments on their tree were moved about 1,000 times over the past few weeks. There's even a chip on top of the pot because of it tipping over so many times but I don't care a bit. That was the whole purpose of this little tree. It's theirs and they can play with it as much as they like.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Extra Halloweeny


This little girl is very excited for Halloween. Summer chose the orange bow this morning so she could look "extra halloweeny". We have had her costume and Forrest's costume ready for the last two months. Needless to say, there have been a few dress rehearsals around here getting ready for the big day. I think she looks adorable.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Girl Scout

Here's my #1 Girl Scout
I signed up Summer for Girl Scout this year. She was so excited. Last week the girls had their bridging ceremony. The brown vest was the only thing she talked about the week leading up to it. She could not wait to put it on. I helped the troop leader, Ms. Karen, sew all the badges and the troop numbers on each vest for 12 sweet girls. I remember growing up being a brownie and then a junior. I remember selling cookies and going camping however the one thing I remember most was serving others. That is something I hope to pass on to my Summer-pie.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Blessed

Taken with my iPhone this morning. I love this, grainy and all. I went in to wake up Forrest for school and walked into this. I melted. The other day Summer looked right into my eyes and with a big smile on her face she said, "Mom, Forrest may be getting taller than me, but I am, and will always be, his big sister". I couldn't have explained the change in dynamics in our family better myself. I love that they will always have each other. Friends come and go but siblings are forever.

Monday, September 9, 2013

All Mine





As soon as we got out of the car from church yesterday I made the kids let me take their picture before going inside. They are the cutest ages right now. Both of them are still just little kids. I love that they're mine. I still can't believe I got a girl and a boy. That's always what I really wanted. I always tell them that the two of them are my wish that came true.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Summertime

After a long day on the lake I caught my Summer and Forrest jumping off the sailboat. 
They are the most care free and hilarious people I know.
They got this whole LIFE thing figured out.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

French Provincial Dresser

I have decided lots and lots of things for our home even though I know some of them won't happen for a while. It's just my creative outlet to decorate our home, even if it is, at times, just in my head. I have always been drawn towards french, belgian and swedish design. I love neutral, light-filled rooms that are not overly designed. With two active ones running around, I've found that a clean, well-ordered space makes life much simpler. Of course, I have a soft spot for antique furniture. I don't take myself too seriously but it's important for me to create a haven for my family.
Summer and I went on a hunt to find a dresser for her room. We found this yellow/cream-ish french provincial dresser badly in need of some love and attention. I decided to paint it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, and Summer picked the color, Paris Grey.
As for how everything turned out, Summer LOVES it. It's so much more, "her". The way her bedroom layout was before was nice and I think, fine, but it really didn't reflect the "look" that she loves, I feel like the whole room flows a bit more smoothly now. If she's happy, I'm happy.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Dear Summer

Dear Summer,
When I was about your age I loved to swing on the tire swing. So much that at one point the rope gave up, snapped and I fell. I hurt my back but that didn't stop me from getting on the tire swing after Grandaddy put it back up. The swing was hung on the tree in front of your grandparents' house. Sadly they had to cut the tree down when I left for college. Grandaddy found another tree not too far away from the old tree. It is the perfect spot. You love to swing as high as you can. Just like your mama when she was a little girl. It is one of your favorite things to do when we visit Grandaddy and Grams in the mountains.
Summer, you were so cute swinging on the tire swing and as you were looking over the hills you said, "Mama, I love it here because this is where you were a little girl." I couldn't have said it better myself. 

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Sweet Forrest

Here is my Forrest right after he got home from school. The minute Forrest walks through the garage door he puts his backpack in the kitchen, changes into his play clothes and then goes straight to his baskets of Legos. If it's raining outside, that's what he does. If it's sunny out, he's outside riding on his bike or scooting on his scooter. After he builds something with his Legos, he hops on the sofa to play with it for a bit. Then he goes back to his "Legos station" to build something different. He repeats this over and over. If you give him a bag of Legos, he will be happy as a clam all day long.
One of my favorite moments with Forrest is when I turn out the lights and tuck Forrest into bed each night, he always wraps his tiny arms around my neck, squeezing tightly. And then he holds my face with his hands and kisses my left cheek.
Forrest is my sweet boy. I am one lucky mama.
And, my heart is full.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Baking & Sleep Over Party








Summer had her 8th birthday party last Friday. She was so excited. The party was the only thing she talked about the week leading up to it. Her birthday is actually on the 22nd but had the party a few days early since school started on the 23rd. It was so sweet to see Summer with two of her besties, Bree and Sarah. These three girls were inseparable during 2nd grade. Luckily for math and recess in 3rd grade, they will see each other at some point during the school day. Each girl was given her own baking apron and cake to decorate, with lots of candies and toppings on hand. After pizza and the movie "Saige", the girls stayed up way too late. My friend Faith came over to help with the party and I could not have done it without her. It was a fun night for sure.
Happy Birthday, sweet Summer.

Friday, July 26, 2013

First Day, Hooray!



My 2 kids on their first day of school.
1st grade for Forrest and 3rd grade for Summer.
Both of them are loving their teachers and are happy. That's all you really want as a mom... your kids to be happy.
Forrest wanted me to walk him to class and would have let me sit right at his desk with him for the day if his teacher allowed it. He's always been like that. A total mama's boy.
Summer on the other hand let me come the first day for a parent meeting but on the second day, Summer said, "Mom. You can just pull up and drop me off. I'm good". I told her I wanted to walk in with her and she again gave me a sympathetic look and said, "Really, mama. Just drop me off". She was beyond ready for this day and is so excited to be in 3rd grade.