To plant a garden or to not plant a garden...

If you have followed my blog for a while then you know that I do the occasional canning/freezing corn, tomatoes, and green beans. Year after year the idea to plant a garden arises about this time when everyone else is prepping their soil and getting ready to plant their veggies and year after year I steer clear of planting my own and yes, year after year when picking season hits and I have to go to buy my green beans and corn to put up I am kicking myself for not planting my own! So yet again here we stand mid April going back and forth with the idea. Here's the issue, I have sooo many projects around the farmhouse and the yard that it seems silly to add more work to my plate. But then there that idea that I love putting up fresh food for my little family. Oh decisions...decisions. Any helpful ideas to make my decision making easier? Send them my way peeps! I need ideas! Ahh, the struggle!

  

Cousin Love.

Having been blessed with very young parents, I never had many 1st cousins that were my age. I had one who ended up moving away around 2 years old. The next first cousin didn't come for another 9 years! Luckily for me I had a 2nd cousin that I was very close with but for the most part when at immediate family gatherings, I was a loner. Sure I got all the attention but there wasn't much kid action happening. I always longed to have other kids to play with when at Grandma's house! Luckily for my sweet babies, they aren't lacking in the cousin department! Today we had the whole family on my husbands side over for a fun day of food, birthdays, baby snuggles, and straight up cousin love! These kids are one fun loving, monkey climing, rowdy bunch! You can literally see the pure joy in their eyes when they are playing with each other. I can't tell ya'll how incredibly happy it makes me seeing these sweet little Bohall's playing and making memories that will last them a lifetime! The bond that they share is seriously the cutest thing my eyes have ever seen. And did I mention how stinking adorable they all are?!? Well here are some pictures to prove it!

Ellie belly + Jojo loving the wagon!

Bohall babies -3!

Little dare devil!

Bales + Jojo.

What a beautiful day it was here in Indiana! I sure hope you all had a wonderful day spent outdoors and making memories with your own families!☺️

Xoxo- Ashley

Not one ounce of me will ever regret it!

While spending time with my Mama today many topics came up in conversation. One topic in particular has had me reflecting on my parenting all day. Sure everyone's parenting is different but if you are a parent or are a person who plans to parent and has a specific idea about how you plan to do so then you are probably well aware that not every one will agree with your techniques. This being so in my case. I am currently laying in bed with my ever so sweet, soundly sleeping two year old beside me and my 10 month old in her crib right beside my bed, within arms reach. Many disagree, and that's ok. But you know what? This is what works for us. I'm not a "cry it out" kind of mom. Matter of fact, my children rarely cry for more than 2 minutes without me coming to the rescue. Here's my reasoning (not that I need one) as to why this works for us and I don't hold to them sleeping in their own rooms. One day, not so far away, more like in the blink of an eye, that sweet, soundly sleeping little boy is going to be all grown up and out and about with buddies when it's time to be tucked into bed. That baby within arms reach is going to be across the hall too busy on her cell phone to even realize I said goodnight and I for one don't want to be the old Mama laying down in bed with a single ounce of me regretting the time I got to lay with them in my arms when they were babies! Have you ever heard a Mom with grown children say she regretted all those times her babies climbed up in bed with her? I would about bet not. Just as I have never heard a Mom with grown children say she regretted rocking her children to sleep. I hear the argument that children will never want to leave if you let them sleep with you. My response to that is, if I have a 16 year old son that still wants to sleep with his Mama than we have a far bigger problem anyways. I don't see that being a problem for long and I about bet that they will willingly find themselves leaving my bed before jr.high lol! 

For now this is how we do. You do you. You do what works for your family. You rock those babies to sleep without an ounce of regret. Time is all we have, and not very much of it. I will snuggle my babies so long as they will let and not a single ounce of me will regret it!

Ps. Thank you to my Mama who rocked me to sleep so many years ago. I think I turned out just fine.😉😘 Love you!

Xoxo- S & E's Mama 

A baby boy is on the way!

Hi folks! So long time no read, right? Well I'm back for a minute to share with you a special occasion that I took the pleasure in hosting this past weekend, a baby shower for my amazing sister and precious soon to be nephew, Ryder! 

Ryder's Mommy + Daddy love to fish and spend time at the lake so obviously we had to throw a fishing themed baby shower of course! Here are a few pictures of the party!😊 Hope you enjoy!

Beautiful Momma to be!

 We can't wait to meet you Ryder! 

Xoxo-

Auntie Ashley