Goodbye, April!

Before I get on social media tomorrow and see the onslaught of this in many variations tomorrow:

You're welcome, in advance. :p 

I know I'm not alone in my disbelief... and slight terror.. that it's already the end of April. Because yeah, yesterday it was January and I've apparently spent nearly the first half of the year now preparing for the year. 

Ok, so that's not entirely true. I've accomplished a lot so far this year and that's a big deal. There's still plenty of time to accomplish even more, and I have a feeling that the first year of my 30's will be a chapter stuffed to the gills with new experiences and reasons to be grateful.

At work, I marked the start of a new month with a little revamping of my office space. I was due in for some updated pictures, so by careful selection, there were changes made!

At home, I celebrated the end of April by hanging out with my two favorite people in my little world; Rob & Syd. It was game night here at our house, which meant dinner [cooked by Rob!], followed by a typical Mama+Syd+Rob+Stella+Sasha night in at our house...

my hammock girl! 

I'd made a purchase for Sydni when she was almost 2, I think, when the movie Soul Surfer made its big debut and we watched it: I'd found a Soul Surfer-themed Bible at a bookstore and decided then that I would get it for Sydni for the day when she'd be able to use it. Granted that day is still perhaps a few more years ahead of us, she realizes now that this is hers, and knows full well the gravity and value of this book.

sydni got her Bible out tonight! ♥

reading to us ♥♥♥♥

Devo time as a family is where it's at, folks. There is no denying that.

The dogs seemed bored with our devo time, but also seemed to know that it wasn't the time to interfere as they usually would with three people just sitting in the living room. They kept their distance until we were done, and managed to entertain themselves for that short time:

these two... hahaha.. 

Finally it was time to get the board games out. Sydni originally wanted to have a throne for the night:

really, syd? 

She was easily coerced from her perch when we told her that she would lose to us in all the games if she couldn't reach her player piece, so she hopped right on down and joined us at the table for a grueling duel of wits in...... Candyland. Dora Candyland.

Can I just say how amazing it is to have a night like this with my family? I'm in love. Seriously.

I sat back and just marveled at the simplicity of my day today, and for the millionth time in the last couple weeks it seems, just felt full of love, gratitude and peace. Life is good.

Good night!

xo | cmd

Nana & Pappy's Visit Begins!

Here's how I greeted Friday:

well then.

^ Two outta three isn't that bad.. haha.
... Of course there was Piada for lunch, so this was pretty much a wash as far as food went today. Hah.

Dinner was a bit of a different story; we left work early [because I work for incredibly generous people!] and I took that opportunity to hustle home and get moving with dinner plans. My parents had picked Sydni up already and were hanging out around Eastgate until I got home.

family fajita night!

Unfortunately for us, Rob had already committed to an outing back in Illinois for this weekend, and was on the road out while my parents were on their way in. It was a little bit of a downer to know he won't be here with us this weekend, but I'm also glad that he'll get to see his parents back home.

As for us here, it was night of board games that Nana brought with her. We gathered around the dining room table after dinner and made a night of playing some Madagascar game, with makeshift rules that probably don't reflect how you're actually supposed to play this thing. Oh well (:

syd & nana

syd & pappy, who she decorated with her key lanyard ;)

My favorite from the evening:

having a blast with grandpa & grandma, aka pappy & nana (:
♥♥♥!!

This is the first time my parents have seen our new place, too. Dad's already made a tentative schedule for the summer, which includes boating, grilling and cornhole at our house. Haha. I can't wait. For now, we're gearing up for tomorrow, which will mean a trip to the Newport Aquarium and whatever else we can get ourselves into.

So goodnight, blogbots - from us and an especially-grateful pair of meatballs who are only getting this luxury tonight because Dad's gone & Sydni's sleeping with Nana. ;)

count your blessings, s&s ♥

 See you with the fishies and the sharks tomorrow!

xo | cmd