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??