Precious Cargo

My Hunters // Girl's Hunters

I had the day off work, so in other words I ran errands, cleaned, and played with the kids. It was supposed to rain all day so we put on our rain boots and headed to the grocery store since our fridge was getting close to empty. I usually put off grocery shopping until I absolutely have to go. Not only am I not a big fan of cooking, but I swear I take 10 minutes to find each little ingredient for my so called "easy" meals I pin.... That I hardly find the time to cook anyways! #Singlemomproblems

Our cart always consist of my purse, diaper bag and the precious cargo of course. Also known as my three little toddlers.  This leaves very limited space for groceries! Another reason I'm not a fan of grocery shopping. I've tried it all, strollers, harnesses, and the worst experiment - giving the twins freedom to walk next to me  run laps through the grocery store and parking lot!

Needless to say errands are a challenge. I decided with a donut incentive we may get in and out in one piece. We all got a donut from the bakery and I had three happy little campers in my cart. We even managed to get majority of the items off my grocery list. Whew..

Then we went home and enjoyed the rest of our donuts and played outside before nap. Now that Deacon can keep up a little better with the girls, they don't know what to think. They have taught him a few bad habits along the way and he has now mastered a toddler tantrum almost as good as they have. There was some shoving and hitting going on amongst them today which I've been trying to put a stop to. Sometimes I think that's just what siblings do though.

Then they can turn around and be so sweet and loving to one another. Deacon was throwing a tantrum and crying his little heart out on the bathroom floor. I was busy trying to get us all ready and out the door for dance class, basically ignoring his little fit. The twins were sitting down on the floor next to him so he crawled over to Livy and laid his head in her lap crying and hugging her, then proceeded to go over to Brooklyn and do the same thing. They both patted his back and consoled him, he loves his sissies. It completely melted my heart.

Honestly, chaos and all I wouldn't rather my days any other way!


xo
-Holly 

April Pics Via iPhone

April came and went so fast which means summer is that much closer so I'm okay with it! We have had a good year so far and been blessed with beautiful weather and time to enjoy it! Here are a few snapshots from my iPhone over the past few weeks! 

Brooklyn wasn't in the mood for pics! But they were dressed too cute not to take one. ^^

Seriously my favorite spot to blog and shop is in my sun room/office with the sun beaming in, it's where I can lose myself in writing and collect my thoughts in peace. I remind myself of a cat.. you know how they find a spot near the window and sunbath all day? Well that's totally me. I have done it since I was a child.

Filling her tricycle with flowers and riding around, definitely something Livy would do. ^^

Snuggles before bed, besties for life! ^^

Livy and her papa! ^^

The girls had to make a pit stop in their jeep to pick some flowers, such little girly girls! We have been enjoying the outdoors and utilizing the sunshine in every way. I can't wait to share our almost finished patio with you. It's been a work in progress but totally going to be worth it. We will soon be eating outside for every meal possible and hopefully having our own little pool party and campfires with s'mores on a regular basis. We are looking forward to the beautiful month of May! 

Hope everyone is enjoying spring as much as we are! 

xo

-Holly 

Donuts

A morning donut run is my favorite kind of morning. We only have a few local donut shops and they have some funky hours so if they're closed we head up to the grocery store and grab some from the bakery. My littles aren't exactly morning people but whenever I hand them a donut they are happy campers, as am I so it's a win-win!

Top // Jeans // Sunglasses // Shoes

I actually used to hate donuts as a kid?! Who hates donuts.....!! I've wised up since then. I recently found this online shop Ily Couture on Instagram and couldn't resist their donut tee. They have some of the cutest tee's for both mom and baby. I plan on wearing this one on repeat. Then I found matching donut tee's for the girls at Target. 

We can't  help but crave something sweet when wearing these t-shirts, looks like there will be plenty of donuts in our future. Plus I have to take advantage of being twinies with my twins before they are too cool :)

Hope your week is as sugar-filled as ours!
xo
-Holly

Recovering

I recently had surgery to repair a hernia that I've had since childhood and after having my babies it got worse. Let me start by saying I've had two C-sections, broke several different bones and had stitches all in the past. I can handle pain- but this was pretty rough!! 

Thankfully my mama has been staying with us, I wouldn't have been able to do it without her help.  I'm not supposed to be lifting for a couple weeks which has been torture for us all so I'm hoping all the pain and inconvenience will be worth it once I'm completely healed. 

Mee-Maw's stay-cation at our house has seriously been heaven for the kids! I'm sure she is ready to be back home but the girls would keep her here forever if they could, and I probably would too. She is a saint to us all. 

I went back and forth on if and when to have the surgery but since I'm done having babies and would like to start working out it was medically necessary.  The tear in my abdominal wall was causing some digestive problems and then some not to mention the ugly belly button that never went back in after having my children. 

I'm not real keen on diets or strict work outs. I have never owned a gym membership and probably never will. I'm not fawned of big muscles on girls or guys for that matter so that's not my goal. I will just focus on being healthy, toned and strengthening my over all core.

With an umbilical hernia it was impossible to have a flat stomach no matter what I did so I'm hoping this will help! Not making any promises to myself. Although having twins and then another good sized baby has enriched my life beyond measures- I definitely can't say the same about my body. Regardless, it was obviously worth it! 

Mee-Maw has done nothing but spoil me and the littles while she's been here with home-cooked meals, cleaning the house and playing with the kids. Her and Papa got the girls new princess dresses, their favorite thing to do at home is play dress up.  They played lots of games and been able to spend some quality time together while I got some rest. 

Personalized Crowns (On Sale!) // Princess Dress

Praying for a speedy recovery and hoping to be back to myself soon! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

xo
-Holly

Dyeing Easter Eggs

We finally got around to dyeing some Easter eggs. It was perfect timing since we will be using all the eggs in our salad for Easter brunch. I ordered a prepackaged kit that came with five different colors and a magic pen to decorate the eggs with. The girls enjoyed it, however they tend to fight over anything that's not exactly alike so that was a challenge as always. 

Deacon got to be included this year since he is a little older but it was nearing lunch time and he was confused why he wasn't able to eat the eggs. I also caught Brooklyn trying to taste the dipper like it was some kind of colorful juice she was missing out on! Ha I do have to say they could easily resemble gatorade. -Note to self, next time we won't dye eggs so close to lunch!

Coloring Kit 

After dyeing Easter eggs this poor little bunny got our downstairs door open some how then fell on the stairs and got a nice goose egg! I hate when any of the kids get hurt :( I know accidents happen but I still always feel like the worst mom ever when I have my back turned for a spilt second and one of them gets hurt!( He cried harder over the ice pack then the fall it's self.) Poor guy.

Have a wonderful weekend, God bless you all!!

xo
-Holly 

Dressed In Our Sunday Best

It's finally here, Holy Week! The best reason to get dressed up. May God bless you all!! I hope to attend at least one of the three services our church holds this week. However last Wednesday at Lent it didn't go very well, so we'll see. 

It's my longer work week, needless to say I will be super crunched for time. I didn't think that through when I decided to host Easter at our house on Sunday, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! :) 

I'm loving all the pastels, corals and florals lately. There is no better time than Easter to dress bright and cheery! If your still out looking for Easter dresses I got the girls these adorable ones from the Gap. 

Dress: sold out- Similar (warmer) version Here

It's safe to say we will be living in these dresses all spring long! Deacon got to borrow the bow tie from his Easter basket just for the pics;) Bow ties on babies are the cutest!!

Bow Tie // Shirt // Jeans // Shoes

“Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” -Martin Luther

xo
-Holly  

Weekend Pics Via iPhone

 Every now and then I'm going to give updates just through photos. Unfortunately in this day, most of us are pretty dependent on our phones. The plus side to that is capturing so many great pics and videos which I'll love reflecting back on all the memories someday (all the outtakes included!)

This weekend wasn't the best weather, still eager for it to warm up. So we jumped outside when the sun was actually out and got a little bit of fresh air. We postponed dying Easter eggs. The twins got to go to Mee-Maw and Papa's for the day, so Deacon and I went to dinner with a friend and did some shopping.

I'm constantly taking pictures, so here is life lately behind the iPhone..

Deacons Jacket: Gap // Shoes: Freshly Picked

Top: Free People

The twins with their bags already packed and eagerly waiting for Mee-Maw and Papa to arrive!

Boots:Hunter

Searched everywhere for this guy tonight and found him in the twin's room hanging out in their princess tent. 

Hope everyone had a great and relaxing weekend!

xo
-Holly

Easter Plans

Easter is such a special holiday and one of my absolute favorites! I love what it actually stands for, the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with Jesus. Plus God gave us a great excuse to go out and buy a new dress, spend time with family and indulge! Three things I love the most.

I literally used to "pray" to the Easter Bunny as a little girl right after my prayers to God- God only knows what I was needing from an "Easter Bunny."  I've decided to keep the tales alive with my children because it was so much fun as a kid believing in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. That being said, I will emphasize what the true meaning of the holidays are and center them around our Savior.

We hosted Easter brunch last year and I was thrilled at the chance to actually have everyone at our house for a change. It was nice letting the kids Easter egg hunt and hang out at home all morning. Since it went so well, I have decided to do it again this year.

I prefer Brunch over any other meal because there's so many options and who doesn't love having breakfast and dessert together? When ever I plan a party I usually create a board on Pinterest for inspiration and go from there. Stuffed croissants will be on the menu- they were a hit last year along with some fruit trays and hopefully a coconut bunny cake this year, Yum!

It's hard to believe it's just over a week away. In honor of Easter and throw back Thursday here are some pictures of my little bunnies!

Hope everyone is having a great week, can't wait to share our Easter Sunday style with you!

xo
-Holly

Twin-Talk

Twin language Is. A. Real. Thing. 

My twin girls were very in sync from the start, same size and all. Which hardly happens. When they were a few months old and started to "babble" they would talk back and forth all day. I thought nothing of it in the beginning. The twins are now three years old and not much has changed. 

I could tell what they were saying majority of the time. However, I've had to "translate" for people that weren't around much. They carried on full conversations that reminded me of the minions at times- if you know anything about the movie Despicable Me they are right on cue. 

I spoke with their pediatrician a few times regarding speech and they never seemed too concerned about it. Twins tend to run behind in development in one category or another. I've been working with them and encouraging them to at least try pronouncing each and every word when their talking. It's worked some, but they favor (their language) over anything else. They are constantly improving though and others can actually understand them.

I felt better after speaking with other twin moms, and realizing its something they definitely have in common with other twins their age. At this point I've decided not to have them see a speech therapist. All children develop at their own pace whether they are multiples or not.

My girls are the closest, most sympathetic loving sisters I've ever been around. They don't want the other left out. They always share- well depending on the toy. They make sure things are evenly distributed and they have each others back already at such a young age. God blessed me with such amazing twin girls. They are both so smart and beautiful.

Here is a video of the girls lost in conversation last summer which I love that I caught on camera. It captured their personalities so well. It has been so much fun watching them grow, develop and build such a unique bond with one another. They are besties even on the days they fight like cats and dogs<3

Twins are such a blessing from God and I thank him every day for choosing me to be their mommy!

xo

-Holly 

Puppy Purses

Livy Kate and Brooklyn horde everything they can find in bags, purses, pouches etc. The other day I was looking for something as always- things magically disappear on a daily basis. I started looking through one of Livy Kate's puppy purses for my In a Fix Mini Tool Kit I keep in my purse, which always comes in handy.  She yelled "mom! Don't go through my purse. You have your own purse" as she was on the verge of a complete melt down grabbing it away from me. I started laughing so hard I couldn't even explain what I was trying to find while reassuring her I wasn't going to take anything from her.

They are extremely protective of their belongings, mainly because they have to share every thing with one another so they hide, horde, and protect things like they are going out of style. The one thing that makes me crazy, can turn around on days I'm cleaning and crack me up. What I find in the bags and containers all over the house is quite comical.

This started when they were really little too. Whatever came in the box or gift bag at Christmas or birthdays didn't matter, they wanted the bag and in no time had it filled with the most random stuff. The down side is it's not limited to their things, they almost always confiscate other people's belongings. Which you never find until way after the fact! I have gotten smart enough now if something is missing I know exactly where to look! And, lone be hold.. there's my mini tool kit along with my lip gloss. Such little thieves.

Puppy Purse

We have spent majority of the day snuggled in bed, with subzero temperatures and snow on the ground not much motivates us to leave the house. Hope everyone is staying warm out there!

xo
-Holly

Style For Spring

Not much is happening over the next few days, which is a nice change of pace. Sometimes having no plans is a breath of fresh air- which I can't wait for, literally!! It's finally March and spring can't come any faster. However, I do enjoy living where the seasons are constantly changing. It's a great excuse to refresh your wardrobe!

Spring is such a fabulous change of scenery, with fashion, flowers and patio furniture being top on my list! This year I plan on an entire patio makeover when the weather finally warms up. For now here are some fashion favorites I'm loving for the kids and myself!

Chic Woven Fedora: I love hats, and especially cute ones like this Vitamin A Fedora that's perfect for keeping the sun off my face this summer while still being stylish!

Rose Print Pullover: Absolutely loving all the floral patterns for spring! This one is no exception and perfect for any casual day, not to mention the softest material you have ever felt.
Converse Slip-Ons: These are my favorite shoes just to slip on in a hurry and be comfortable. They have many different color options as well, bonus!

Denim Mini Skirt: There is nothing cuter than a mini skirt on a toddler!

Lace Trim Tank:  These are the sweetest tank tops to keep the littles cool and perfect to layer with a jean jacket on colder spring days.

Graphic Onesie: I always hashtag "my little man" on instagram, so this was a must have. I love onesies on babies and the light weight material is great for warmer weather.

Cargo Shorts: Cargo shorts are so cute and they pretty much go with anything.

Best part is almost everything is in stock and on sale! Have a fabulous week friends !! 

xo
-Holly 

The Heart-Filled Weekend

Hope everyone had a happy, blessed weekend! This was the kids weekend with their dad, so it was pretty quiet and lonely around here, until the moment I pick them back up. I did have a chance to meet my sister for dinner which rarely happens, so it was nice catching up with her! 

On Saturday when I got the babes back I surprised them with a date night. We all dressed up and went to a local spot for our special Valentine's dinner. I had a few little gifts for them, including their new outfits, and told them afterwards we were going to Mee-maw's for a party!

I'm not exactly sure why I thought we wouldn't need a reservation for such an early dinner. But after every restaurant having an hour plus wait, we settled for Old Chicago. Not the fanciest place but the girls could have cared less. Of course Livy said, "I don't want to eat here. I want to eat at Mee-maws!"

Going out for dinner, on Valentine's Day, single, and with three small children was a wonderful idea in theory. However, seeing the couples surrounding us while my three little ones screamed and demanded things, wasn't exactly what I had in mind. Most of the time I am rather content being a single mom, but certain things tend to remind me of how much I miss having our whole family together. 

A few people at the restaurant referred to me as "Super Mom." It was not the first time I've heard it, but this time I actually felt like it. I always go into situations like this fully prepared - or at least think so. I wind up looking crazy jumping up every second to get the ten thousand different things Deacon has chucked across the room. Pushing the girls chairs back in after they repeatedly bumped into the poor people sitting behind them, seemed to be another common task. Feeling completely disorganized and speeding through dinner, we wound up taking most of the food to go!

We then ventured out to Mee-maw and Papa's for a little Valentine's Day bash of our own. The girls had a blast tearing through their gifts and playing with all heart shaped things. Their favorite part of course was eating their cookies - go figure. Overall it was a perfect Valentine's Day! 

Sunday, after Valentine's Day, was pretty lazy as usual. Between winter and Deacon's morning naps, we sadly haven't made it to church. Once Deacon transitions into one nap per day we will be able to attend regularly again. It is not easy attending church and actually hearing the service with three little ones, but it's still worth the effort! 

Our home church held their first annual Chili Cook-off this weekend. Despite the whole nine degrees it was outside, we bundled up and made our way there for dinner and some good company. As nice as it can be to get out of the house, sometimes it's not worth it! As the day progresses - generally the worse it gets. After a full day, all kids are tired, cranky, and ready for bed, including me! 

Time for a much needed glass of wine, then off to bed! Despite all the chaos, my heart truly is so full. Have a wonderful week:)

xo
-Holly