This is a repost from a few weeks ago. Big Sister turned 5 on Monday! Ah! So, my house is not in fall decor – it’s in birthday decor! But here is something I did a few weeks ago, and now it is nicely displayed on the dining room table:) Enjoy this easy peasy decoration!

I’m sure you’ve seen these around blogland. I’ve seen several and finally made my own!

I went to the Dollar Tree and bought 2 vases & 2 tapper candle holders

Grabbed some Super Glue (only to be used during nap time!)

Flip the vase over, and glue the candle stick on the bottom. Easy Peasy.

Flip it back over and viola! A simple & frugal way to make your own hurricane lamp.

Oh, how I CANNOT wait for fall! Not only to get away from the 100+ heat we’re having in Middle Tennessee, but to start decorating with fall stuff!

$4.00! Not too bad, huh? (Filler is from Michael’s)

Tomorrow is my first official “work day”. Y’all I haven’t “worked” in over 5 years. I’m nervous, I’m excited, I’m dreading it and I’m looking forward to it like crazy.

I’m scared. I have no idea what I am doing. I know, I know, it’s “just 18-24 month babies” – but y’all – this is when they get their first taste of formal learning. I want to do a good job – I want these children to be excited about learning, I want them to be excited about preschool. I know the first day will be mostly crying. I’m trying to prepare myself for that. Hopefully it’s not my tears(!), but I hope these little ones don’t cry either. I’m not a “cry it out” kind of person. I especially do not like for little ones who are not mine to cry.

I’ve been working on my lesson plans, what we’ll do for the week of Marvelous Me, what will we do for the grandparents for Grandparents Day? I’m trying to cram so much into short days. Our days are 8:30-2. From 8:30-9:00 we’ll have centers, or free play while we’re waiting for all our friends to get there. Then, we’ll have from 9-12 to pack in all the things we want to do, including lunch. Then rest/nap from 12-2. I hope we can do everything we want to do.

I have found some fabulous resources and wanted to share a few with you – I do know some of you are homeschoolers. So, I would LOVE to see some of the things that you guys use!

Totally Tots – ABC’s – great ideas for each letter

Totally Tots – ABC’s – CRAFTS – ’cause I’m a crafty girl at heart

Brown Bear – playdough mats

Home Grown Hearts – shape viewers

Totally Tots & Home Grown Hearts are my two faves right now. There is just so.much.I.want.to.do!

I love traceables, and anything with playdough, anything hands on with textures and colors and fun.

6 days til “Meet the Teacher Day”!

Every one I know is pregnant or just had a baby. My “little cousin” and his wife just had a precious baby boy earlier this month. A sweet blog friend just had a precious baby boy – she killed me with this video! Another sweet blog-friend (but since we’ve met in person, I guess I can just call her a sweet friend!) is due in November! With a boy!

THREE friends at church are pregnant and all due in January/February/March. Oh, AND I just found out that one friend is pregnant with TWINS! How amazingly awesome is that?!

A bunco friend is due in March.

Who else??

Oh, Kelly from KellysKornerblog.com just announced they are pregnant and due in March.

The old husband and I have not come to any conclusions on what we’ll do. You see, it’s hard. We have two beautiful, healthy, adorable, loud, almost in big-school, daughters. They are wonderful (99.9% of the time-ha!) and why wouldn’t we want to multiply that?

With that, though, comes multiplying the funds. We’re a one income family. We really believe that we’re doing what’s best for our family by my not working outside of the  home. Our income will go up with raises, but would that be enough? Some days it seems hard as is to do the things we’d like to do for our family.

Also – I do not do well with newborns. Postpartum depression is a downer. It takes me a while to get out of that fog.

Plus – did I mention our girls will be 5 & 3 over the next few months. Big Sister will be 5 at the end of this month! Little Sister,3, in October! We’re out of diapers, done with breastfeeding, done with huge diaper bags to tote around. We can buckle ourselves into our carseats! Oh, life is a little (lot!) easier than it was with little bitties.

But (oh, I hate buts), my heart’s desire is to have a large family with craziness and chaos, huge Friday Night Family Nights – HUGE Christmas get togethers when our children have their own families.

I just don’t know what we’ll do. I imagine we’ll be praying more and more about it. Don’t worry – you’ll  be in the loop after we figure things out!

And who knows? Maybe God’s plan is to cherish what we have and not to bless us with more biological children. Maybe He has other plans to multiply our brood. I’m excited to see what God’s Plan is for us. I’m in prayer over our family daily, hourly. Minute by minute some days!Whatever God has in store for us, I know I will praise Him.

The Lord has done great things for us and we will shout with JOY!

If you don’t follow This Blessed Nest - go do that now. This lady is a fabulous decorator and has bajillions of wonderful ideas. I doubt that I will have much to add to her Fall Festival – but I will be joining in and stealing ideas left & right!

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Every Wednesday in September – there will be a link-up at her site with tons of new fall ideas.

I’m trying to think of some fun things I’ve done in the past. Fall is my favorite time of year. The colors in the leaves are amazing, it’s my birthday time! And Little Sister’s!! It seems like the decorations go from festive-fall to glorious Christmas! And I.LOVE.THAT!

So join up and start thinking FALL (eventhough it’s hard to do when it’s still in the 90′s!) But my Door Bucket will be filled with Sunflowers then will slowly turn into more fall-ish goodies.

I cannot wait for a little shopping at Michael’s & Hobby Lobby!!

Feeling good! I’m still a sweaty mess when it’s all said & done – but I’m feeling good. I am certain by day 10, I’ll  be ready to move on to Level 2. But,yes, I am scared.

I can walk down the stairs painlessly. This is amazing. I can get on and off the potty without the help of the wall. Also amazing.

I think I’m right on target with where I should be. The 20 minute workout can be shoved in at any point in the day – though I prefer during the evenings or early morning time. Hopefully I can keep this up. No, I know that I will keep this up.

Til tomorrow”s shred..