Mondays

Mondays are rarely anyone's favorite day of the week. It surely isn't mine. I hate leaving the weekend behind. Just when we get settled in to having daddy at home, we have to get ready for the work week and just a few hours of quality time all 3 of us in the evening.

We did have a rather enjoyable weekend, as fast as it went by. Friday night we had dinner with some friends of ours who live out of town. They're engaged to be married next July and I'm going to be in the wedding! I'm so thrilled! As soon as Malakai went to bed that night I started looking up dress ideas online.

Saturday Ben had seminar at church for worship team members and then a lunch for the worship leaders. He had a great time and learned a lot, especially about himself. Kai and I did get to spend time with my family out at their place for a bit. But having Ben gone until after 3pm made it feel like a regular work day for Malakai + I so we really only had a one day weekend.

Sunday after church we got a bunch of unpacking done. Well on our way to having the house ready for guests and a housewarming party in two weeks! I hope to continue some unpacking as quietly as possible this afternoon while Malakai naps. I also want to try a new variation on the muffins I made a couple weeks ago. I'll be sure to share the results!

What did you do this past weekend?

first haircut

I was so, so, so nervous about cutting Malakai's hair. For weeks now I've been contemplating it, but would back down out of fear. A big part of my apprehension was that I'd be doing the job myself. I've cut Ben's hair exclusively for almost 5 years, so I have experience, but not with super fine curly baby hair. And not with MY son's precious golden locks.

It seems silly to put such importance on this little event, but it's definitely more about what it means than the literal act.

He's growing up. I don't like it much.

I mean...look at this transformation...

From sweet baby to little boy in just twenty minutes. He now looks even more like his daddy, which I never thought could be possible. 

I literally couldn't throw any of his curls on the ground as I cut them off I set them down on the table. I felt neurotic doing it, but I just couldn't bear to not keep them all. So now they're all in a little baggie. 

A keepsake to tuck into a pocket of his baby book. A reminder, just in case those curls never come back. 

Thankful on a Thursday: blessed to be busy

I've been running around all day today, crazy busy.

but I like it.

This week I'm thankful for...

311. Refresh, the mom's group at my church. It was fun to finally get to go after a year of working during the times they meet.

312. A visit with my cousin. We chatted about life + pregnancy. It was fun to see her, she's an adorable little pregnant lady.

313. Malakai's growing personality. He's becoming really outgoing and he's hilarious.

314. motivation to get some cleaning + organizing done during Malakai's nap. It feels so good to have the mail + other paperwork filed away.

315. Being able to trust in God. Ben is up for a review at work and it's such a comfort to know that whether he gets a significant increase or not, God is our provider and we will be taken care of.

316. sunny weather. We had beautiful weather for my mom's birthday last weekend.

317. Ben's co-workers + those on the worship team that are always willing to give him a ride when he needs one {we only have 1 car}.

318. weekend dinner plans to look forward to with friends from out of town.

319. finally setting a date for our housewarming.

320. learning to enjoy cooking + baking more every day.

What are you thankful for?

creeper town

I'm not a big fan of seasonal decor {although currently, we don't have ANY decor}. I really only change the decorations for Christmas, and pretty much only for the month of December, and then it all comes down.

I think it's cute that other people put out stuff for the fall, and I may start doing more of that once we get more than two things on the walls around here, but it's really just not my thing. I especially don't care for other holiday decor. I don't put bunny rabbits up for Easter and I certainly have never and will never put fake spider webs or the like around my house for Halloween.

That being said...it looks as though my little enemies had other plans.

Spiders are THE most annoying and disgusting thing I can imagine. I hate them, always have, always will. I have been getting better at just hating them and not being as scared of them. Only in the sense that I am far more willing to smash them myself when I have to, versus calling Ben to come home on his lunch break...

Anyway, they really have a way of wrecking this time of year for me. It would be nice for Malakai to run around in our backyard, but it's currently infested with thick, black, speedy ground spiders. 

I just can't do it. 

The white spots are their webs that they jump out of. waaaah!

I'm so ridiculous, and at least I know that. Our entire neighborhood has these spiders everywhere right now. I think they were more noticeable today on my drive home due to the misty air clinging to them. 

It doesn't help that we haven't really done much all summer to get rid of them. We sprayed the home defense stuff once, but only outside. I just don't like spraying chemicals where Malakai could possibly come into contact with them at all. I've heard there are some more natural repellants, but I have no idea where to even begin to look. Any ideas? I mean, I really need them. 

On Monday a rather large spider crawled out from under Kai's turtle ballpit and I jumped + screamed, then smashed it. Malakai just laughed at me. On Tuesday, the same kind of spider seemed to just appear from nowhere in the same area of our house. Luckily Ben was here to take care of it.

So...this Halloween, my house is dressed up, whether I like it or not. 

What's something that "bugs" you?

this JUST happened

I don't usually post twice in one day, especially this close together, but about 10 minutes ago Malakai was eating his lunch. He got more + more quiet. I was across the room picking up toys when I noticed this...

I just had to share this. It's still cracking me up. He's never done this before. Needless to say, he's now snoozing comfortably in his bed.