Show Us Your Life Fridays...Halloween Costumes

This week at Kelly's Korner, we are showing past and present Halloween costumes. Since, I haven't dressed up in years, I figured I would show you Aidan's. Besides, who wants to see me dressed up instead of this cutie!!!

This is Aidan's costume for this year. He's a monkey!!! I took this picture on Thursday before he left for school. They had a Halloween parade and all the kids got to wear their costumes.

Last year, Aidan was a dinosaur. I think that's what the costume was supposed to be anyways! Ha! He hated the hood last year so this picture depicts what he did every time I tried to get a good picture.

This is Aidan's first Halloween. He was the CUTEST penguin!!!

Another photo from his first Halloween. I dressed him up in this and he was less than excited. I can't help but laugh when I see this photo.

I am hoping to be able to go through some of the entries tomorrow and get some good ideas for next year!! I am actually going to a Halloween party tomorrow night with some girlfriends and I am going to be a cat. Maybe I will be brave and take some pictures to post!!!

Happy Halloween

A Not So Fun Post

I feel like I have been a little slack on my posts recently. I really do apologize to my readers that were used to having a post everyday or at least every other day. The truth is, when I started this blog again, I wanted it to be a fun place for our friends and family to come and to catch up on what's been going on with us. Lately, we have just been in the thick of nothing too fun. We are having a really hard time and quite frankly it sucks. I was driving in the car tonight, talking to Amanda and we were laughing as I went down the list of all things going wrong for us right now. When I think about the conversation, I really should have been crying about it. I am just trying to keep my head up so we can get out of the trenches...hopefully? eventually? I am just trying to keep supporting my awesome husband and keep a smile on (my constant tantrum throwing) sweet son's face. So, long story short, if you notice I've been slacking off, that's the reason. I promise once we've moved on to better times, I'll fill you guys in on all the great stuff! In the meantime, say a prayer for us...or twelve. We could use them!! Love you all!

Pumpkin Patch

We were a little late this year making our 3rd annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch. Usually we go to a farm about 45 minutes away called Carrigan Farms but when I called this morning they said they weren't doing anymore hay rides for the day, so I did what I always do and I googled other pumpkin patches. We ended up at a farm about 45 minutes away in the opposite direction. Honestly, Aidan had a great time. He is easily entertained. There was a cute dog that rode on the wagon with us and jumped off mid ride and ran behind it. The pumpkin patch itself was a little sad. We picked up a small pumpkin for Aidan but decided we would just get the ones to carve at the farmers market here in the city. I am still so glad we did it. It's a tradition and it was still a lot of fun to see Aidan have a good time. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure...

The boys on the ride to the pumpkin patch

Aidan with his pumpkin
The little beagle that followed us

Aidan yelling "Hey dog"

Sweetie boy

Enjoying himself

I mean they don't get much cuter than this

He loves his Daddy

Feeding the goats his afternoon snack

Sitting in the big tractor

A giant cow they have out front. Aidan kept jumping around at the base of it. Apparently he thought eventually he would get to sit on it. It was about 15 ft tall.

Happy Fall Ya'll

This week is Kelly's Korner: Show Us your Life - Fall Decorations! . I had planned on doing a post of all my fall decorations about a week ago but came down with a stomach bug. Well I should have done it then because since then , my mom has come over and cleaned me out of all my fall decorations for a dinner party she had last Saturday night. I figured what the heck, I'll let you see what's left around here. Ha!!! For me decorating for the holidays has a lot to do with seasonal smelling candles!!!

Our Halloween Garden Flag

My mums. I am not really even a fan of mums, but I really liked these.
I was super lazy this year, and didn't even transplant them into my own pots. They came in these!
The sign on our front door. I think I paid $5 for this one year at Hobby Lobby.

I bought two of these pumpkin spice candles last week and they smell so nice, I put one in our bedroom and one in the living room!

One of my Turkey dishtowels.

This poor, sad mum. It was a gift and just doesn't look like she's going make it.


This vampire was my mom's but when I bought my own house, she passed it on to me (Gee thanks mom!) Aidan is terrified of it, so it is usually by the front door but he is currently just sitting in this chair in the corner of our dining room. He talks and his eyes light up red. It is shocking when you aren't expecting it.

Another Pumpkin Spice candle. I love the "H" on them!

This candle and little pumpkin are on our TV cabinet in the living room.

Although we have not bought our pumpkins yet, these are last years pumpkins. Every year I carve our name in to a pumpkin and then do some kind of face on the others. Adam is strictly in charge of cleaning them out and baking the pumpkin seeds for snacks! Yummy!!!

I really loved looking at every one's decorations and I've already started buying some more things to decorate for Thanksgiving dinner and next year!!! Thanks for stopping by and Happy Fall Ya'll!!!

A Fun Little Survey

Don't worry people, I am not going to start filling out surveys in every other post to bore you to death...I just thought this one was really cute. I read and really enjoy a blog by a mom Heather and she did it, so I figured what the heck, I'll follow suit. Plus it's about Adam, so I love that!!! If you guys feel like doing it, leave a comment for me so I can see yours!

Adam & April

1. What are your middle names?
Jean & Lee

2. How long have you been together?
4 years in January. Whew!!! Time flies when your having fun!!!

3. How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Days. Although Adam had seen me years before at my parents house, I didn't even know he existed.

4. Who asked who out?
It was me. Ahh!!

5. How old are you?
Adam is 28 and I am 26. He always has to listen to me tell him old man jokes.

6. Did you go to the same school?
No, he went to public school and I went to private.

7. Are you from the same home town?
Adam is from Charlotte and I am from a small town in Massachusetts.

8. Who is the smartest?
Well we are both smarter in different areas. He is pretty smart though. He knows EVERYTHING.

9. Who is the most sensitive?
Me. I cry over everything. Especially that Walmart commercial when the mom drops the daughter off at college and she runs after her to give her a hug. Ughh I am crying now! Haha!

10. Where is the furthest you have traveled together as a couple?
Massachusetts. Adam has never been anywhere. Well Vegas. Surprise. I have promised him one day I will take him to Europe so he can see what he's missing!!!

11. Who has the worst temper?
Me. That's all I have to say.

12. How many children do you want?
This week we want three. For all of you wondering, #2 will probably be a project for 2010.

13. Who does the cooking?
Adam does. I do occasionally but honestly, Adam likes his cooking better so he just offers.
Hey it's okay with me! Did I mention he cleans too! Gah, I got a good one!

14. Who is more social?
Me, but only because Adam is too busy to be social. He can talk to anyone though.

15. Who is the neat freak?
Me. I like things in their place.

16. Who is the most stubborn.
Me.

17. Who wakes up earlier?
Haha. Adam. If you know me at all, you know I love my sleep!! I am not a morning person at all and I love, love, love a good nap...daily.

18. Where was your first date?
We went to a movie.

19. Who has a bigger family?
Well immediate family is me, extended we both have pretty big families.

20. Do you get flowers often?
Yes. Randomly.

21. How do spend the holidays?
Well we try to accommodate both families. For instance, this year Adam's family is coming over for Thanksgiving on Weds. night and Thursday we go to my parents.

22. Who is more jealous?
Adam probably. Neither of us are really jealous people.

23. How long did it take to get serious?
We were pregnant six months in to our relationship...does that answer that for you?

24. Who eats more?
Sadly, me. Adam is a bird when it comes to eating.

25. What do you do for a living?
Until recently, I was 100% a SAHM, I just recently got a part time job for when Aidan is at school two mornings a week. We own a landscaping company and Adam works as a manager at a restaurant at night.

26. Who does the laundry?
We both do. I would prefer to do it exclusively because Adam doesn't take time to sort colors or make sure everything is dry coming out of the dryer. Which results in the loss of many cute articles of clothing!!!

27. Who is better with the computer?
Me, Adam didn't know how to turn a computer on when we started dating. He is getting much better!!!

28. Who drives when you are together?
Adam, but I might as well because I just tell him how to drive the entire time.

29. What is your song?
We don't really have a song. We have a ton of songs that make us think of each other that we listen to often.

100th Post and Amanda's 26th Birthday!!!

I can't believe I have reached my 100Th post!!! What better way to celebrate than to honor my BFF Amanda who is the person who motivated me to get back to blogging!!! Today, Amanda is 26 and Fabulous...so I wrote her a little letter...

To My Best Friend on Her 26Th Birthday,
I can hardly believe it has been 7 years since the first time I came to visit at State and we became instant friends. Since that weekend, we have been pretty inseparable. I used to look forward to you coming home for a weekend or a holiday and of course a good trip to Raleigh to visit you. We have had some really good times.
In case I don’t tell you enough, you have been an amazing friend to me. I am grateful for you every day. You have laughed with me, cried with me and laughed until we cried with me. You were the first person I called when I found out I was pregnant and luckily you were in the car behind me when I got engaged. You stood next to me on wedding day and you have done nothing but cheer me on all these years and I thank you so much for that. It’s nice to know I always have you on my side. As the years have gone on, you not only have grown as my friend but as an extension as my family. Aidan’s Aunt Amanda and Adam’s second wife. Ha ha ha!
You are an amazing, beautiful, strong, independent person and I thank you for being my friend. Thank you for at times being my savior. Thank you for keeping secrets. Thank you for being like a sister. I love you so much and I don’t know what I would do without you. I am so, so, so lucky to have you in my life. Cheers to you on your 26Th, I can’t wait to be an old lady with you!!! Happy Birthday!!!
Loves, Ape

And what's a good blog post without a little photo montage of our good times...

Atlanta and a Little Project

I am getting up at 3:30 am to head to Atlanta to buy the spring collection for the store tomorrow and it is now 11:22. I think I should probably make this short and sweet and hit the hay. I was just way too excited not to share what I have done!!!! I started on my long list of to dos and managed to come up with a project I didn't even intend on doing in the first place. I am working ever so hard on Aidan's "Big Boy" Room and I cannot seem to find anything I like. The fabric I picked out (twice) is discontinued and so drapes and duvet cover are on hold for the time being. I wanted some really cool new furniture for him and once again couldn't find anything I LOVED or could afford. Yesterday at about 4pm I googled how to make furniture look vintage. After about five minutes of reading, I threw Aidan in the car and headed to Lowe's. $19.67 and 6 hours later. We went from this... (This is not our actual dresser, just one I could find that SORT OF looked like ours because I was too focused to take a before picture. This was the shape and color of ours.)

To This...TAAAA DAAAAAA

The flash from my camera is actually making it look a little bit lighter than it actually is. Cute though huh? Adam is so proud. Especially since I was trying to convince him to buy this... (for $1900)

This is all you need...
And this is what I did...

1. Removed drawers and primed them. Then primed the dresser.

2. Put first coat of paint (Olympic Color Poolside) on drawers and then dresser.

3. Fed Aidan dinner. (Trying to go step by step here ha!)

4. Put second coat on drawers and dresser.

5. Ate dinner myself.

6. Took a piece of steel wool and started rubbing all the corners and edges of the drawers.

7. Used Min Wax stain in Dark Walnut and a foam brush. Painted the stain on and quickly wiped it off with an old tshirt. All in the same direction. I think tomorrow when I get home I will probably take a Q-tip and add some stain around the edges and let is sit longer.

8. Followed suit on the dresser.

9. Knobs were the WORST part. Use gloves!!!

10. Husband came home from work in disbelief of how well it looked. Now, I have this great piece of "vintage looking" furniture and an entire room to finish. At least I now know what color the walls are going to be (khaki).

Anyways, if your feeling brave and have some patience, try it out on a piece of furniture that needs a face lift around your house. Everyone enjoy sleeping in on your Sunday. I have to be up VERY soon!!! Thanks for checking in!

Link up your paint projects here!!!

Really Really Quick

I have promised myself (and my family) I would spend a little less time on the laptop and a little more time with them and doing projects around the house. So you may notice a little lapse in blogging for the next few weeks. My current to do list looks like this:

*Plant flowers for the fall in window boxes and around the tree at the corner of the driveway.
*Paint the dining room (Festoon Aqua from Sherwin Williams) and rearrange current photos and hang new mirror.
*Start Aidan's big boy room. A project I tried to start and got behind. First on the list...sanding the "Twinkle Twinkle" verse at the top of his walls. We are even building his bed ourselves.
*Clean out the attic and start getting ready for the Decot/Harvey yard sale that is happening the weekend of October 24. Yeah that's coming up! Add yard sale items to Craig's List in hopes of a little pre sellage (my word).
*Demo two walls between living/dining room so we have one LARGE living space. I may hire someone to do this. It sounds scary!
*Cut down all the leftover lumber from the laundry room addition and take it to the curb for trash pick up next week.

Told you I was going to be busy. Anyone wanna help me??

Happy Anniversary Baby!

I should go ahead and give my blog friends some history on Adam and I before I go in to my anniversary post.

Adam and I started dating in January of 2006. June of that year, I bought my first house and after the search for a roomate was looking grim, Adam moved in. I was pregnant by early October. Not in the plan. Having grown up in a Catholic family, the fact that I was unmarried and pregnant didn't exactly go over well. It wasn't at that time I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Adam. It was so soon and I wasn't 100% sure. Aidan was born June of 2007 and the first time I saw Adam hold Aidan was when I knew. It was just meant to be. We were so happy and everything made sense. The "new plan" was falling in to place. In August, Adam convinced me to leave Aidan for the first time and took me out to dinner. I was floored when he proposed. I was even more floored to find out my dad had been holding the ring for him since June. Of course I said yes. Over and over and over. At that time, I was designing kitchens but my maternity leave was almost up and I was not looking forward to going back to work. We were planning the wedding for October 12, 2008 but when we realized that I would stay home with Aidan full time and leave my job, we had the dilemma of health insurance. I was carrying Aidan and I's health insurance at my job and wouldn't have been able to get on Adam's plan unless we were married. So, I left my job and when October 12, 2007 rolled around, we made the decision to get married at the courthouse. It was official, I was Mrs. Adam Harvey. It just didn't feel official. Luckily, my parents were on the same page as us, and thought it was only right to stand up in front of all our family and friends and really get married. We kept the same date October 12, 2008 and had the wedding of my dreams. I find myself still thanking my parents for how beautiful it was. That's the story. That's where the two year anniversary comes from. I know there are people that aren't close friends of ours that get confused when I say my two year anniversary is coming up. The not secret is out. On to my anniversary post...

I cannot describe how lucky I feel to be married to my husband every single day. He is the most amazing man I could have ever wished for. He is the biggest giver and most generous provider for Aidan and I. He is honest and loyal. His desire to make me smile everyday is enough for me to love him forever. Except forever won't ever be enough. On our wedding day, Adam really wanted us to write our own vows and say them in front of everyone. I was having terrible anxiety about that, so we decided to write our own vows and just exchange them right before the ceremony. So, on my anniversary day I thought it would be sweet to post my wedding vows to my hubby so he can read them and be reminded of how much I loved him that day and how I love him even more now. Happy Anniversary to my perfect husband. I love you so much baby!

Adam,

Today, I am going to stand before all of our family and friends and give myself to you. Life before you has no meaning. I wake up everyday and I am so thankful you are the person laying next to me. I cannot promise you our love will always be a fairytale but this is what I can promise you...

I will love you for who you are,

I will always fight for you and for us,

I will be honest,

I will be your shoulder to cry on,

I will be your strength when you don't have your own,

I will always be your biggest fan,

I will pick less fights about your boxers on the bathroom floor,

I will be the greatest mother of our child and future children,

I will take care of you when you are sick or hurt,

I won't let us go to bed mad,

I will always be your partner in crime, your best friend and lover.

I promise to love you unconditionally every day from this day forth...forever.

Love, Your Wife, April

Fall Decorating Postponed

Well I was going to take pictures of all my fun fall decorating today but instead I have been in bed sick. ALL DAY. When I jumped out of bed this morning to get Aidan ready for school, I immediately felt nauseous (I know what your thinking and no I am not pregnant). Luckily, Adam had already volunteered to take Aidan to school. Well being the crazy little lady that I am I couldn't imagine not taking Aidan to school so I decided I would at least go along for the ride. BIG MISTAKE. I have never been car sick but I am guessing this is what it feels like. I am sure Adam was ready to kill me by the time we got to school. I was sweating, complaining about bumps in the road, the radio, his speed, and my head was pounding. He parked the car and left me in it so he could run Aidan in. The little guy looked so cute in his rain coat and hat today. Adam said you could tell I was feeling under the weather because his outfit wasn't nearly as cute as they usually are. I got sick in the parking lot at school. Glamorous mom aren't I? Thankfully, it was raining so all the closer parking spots were taken and we had to park in overflow. I came home and immediately got in bed. Just to show you how wonderful my family is...someone called in to work for me, my mom came to get Aidan when Adam left for work and when I finally woke up at 6pm, my mom was here feeding Aidan dinner and had cleaned my house. I tried to eat a little dinner and it made me feel worse. I am going to catch up on some DVR and hopefully get some sleep (with the help of Tylenol PM). I am going to take pics tomorrow of our house decorated for fall and post them. I have enjoyed seeing everyone else's. Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Happy Birthday To My Hubby!!!

Today my hubs turns the big 28! He is currently at work thinking I have nothing planned for this evening. Little does he know...I have a surprise dinner planned!! I got up early (he usually is up hours before me) and made him breakfast in bed. I think he was #1 shocked I was up so early and #2 that I was able to cook that early in the morning! Haha! I even ran to the store to get him balloons. Gah, I'm getting good. Aidan and I are sitting here waiting for his birthday cake to finish baking so that we can frost it soon. There isn't much frosting left from Aidan digging his fingers in to it but...we'll work with what we've got!!!

So...I just want to say to my hubby that rarely reads my blog unless I make him...I love you very much! Thank you for being a DREAM husband and father. When I think of you, forever is never enough. I hope you have the greatest birthday yet and I can't wait to be a part of so many more birthdays to come. Aidan and I love you! Happy Birthday Baby!!!!!
P.S. Your getting old. You didn't just read that, don't worry. HA!

Show Us Your Life Baby Gear

This week Kelly's Korner is hosting "Show Us Your Life Fridays" and the topic is Baby Gear. I haven't participated the past few weeks because it has been all about food. Let's face it, that is not my forte!!! So, I figured I would make a Top Five List of Things I could not have lived without when I had Aidan and a list of Five Things I never used.

Top Five Items I Could Not Live Without:


1. Baby Swing. I would recommend buying one that A) Plugs in if the batteries run out and B) swings from side to side and front to back. Aidan slept in his swing in the corner of our room for the first 3 months of his life. This one is the Fisher Price Aquarium one. We got it as a hand me down and I have to admit, I was not that crazy about the "fish" print but it was a lifesaver!


2. Travel System. The Chicco travel system is pretty middle of the road on the price and I don't know how people can live without a stroller that allows you to just drop the car seat in it, and go. On this note, if you have two cars, buy an extra base, they are not fun to install over and over. I chose the orange and navy because (obviously) we had a boy. I don't think if we ever have a little girl that it will be a problem...especially if she is covered in pink.

3. Baby Carrier. I honestly used to see people wearing these and think " I would never use that thing"...well let me tell you, Aidan was in that thing all the time!! If I wanted to clean my house, he was in it. If we went grocery shopping, he was in it (car seat is too much to put in the shopping cart every time). We would host dinner parties, Adam would wear it. It was great! My best friend Candace is actually the one that bought it for me and she even wore it when we went out! I had the basic black because I am pretty simple but it comes in some cute colors these days!




4. The Avent breast pump to bottle conversion kit. If I had not bought this, I would have pumped in to the bottles that came with my Medela breast pump and I would have had to transfer every bottle. Avent has a conversion kit so that you can just screw on your bottles to the breast pump and pump directly in to them. I am sure every bottle manufacturer makes one.



5. Boudreaux's Butt Paste. One word. AMAZING. Aidan has thankfully never had really bad diaper rash but whenever he had a little, this stuff would clear it up in hours.

Then there is the one million things you can live without. I will only list my top five things so you don't have to read on forever and ever and ever.

1. Wipes Warmer. I returned mine to Babies R Us before I even opened it. Your baby is not going to know whether or not it's wiped are warm or not. If you want to warm your wipes, save yourself the money and run them under warm water. 2. Diaper Genie. It only holds about 7-10 diapers before you have to change it. Newborns go through this many diapers a day. A basic trash can will do just as well and you won't have to spend the extra money on the refills.


3. Swaddler blankets. Regular baby blankets work just as well. Aidan wasn't in to being swaddled for very long.



4. Bouncy seat. I know some people LOVE bouncy seats but quite honestly we did much better with the Bobby one versus the one that just vibrates. Feeding Aidan and then trying to put him in there was a disaster because it would make him sick.

5. The Bumbo Seat. Aidan NEVER used this. By the time he was big enough to sit in it, he was sitting up on his own and wanted to get out of it! There are people out there who love to take this with them everywhere but for us it just didn't work.