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I can't believe August is nearing the end and my kids are on week 3 of school. I have said just how many times I am glad summer is ending and fall is in the air. It feels new and it's hopefully time to slow down and soak in all the goodness. The cool weather just helps me breathe better. And hopefully my heart can relax a bit.
We have some crazy news too, that I can't wait to share on here, but I feel like I should wait until details are 100%. So that will just have to be a surprise!

Loving that daddy-o will be home within a few days- training was cut short. Can I get an AMEN! for husbands returning and solo parenting to be over at least for a little bit.

Reading this An Open Door marriage is hard work. REALLY hard work. This post makes me feel all the feels.

Drinking all.the.coffee and taking.all.the.naps. 

Wishing for a vacation, honestly by myself, My heart and my brain need to rest.

Re-making this headboard and I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Taking pictures and imprinting them on my brain.

What are you currently up to?

Project:Life

I can't even describe just how much I.LOVE. Project Life. I know I have mentioned it before, but I felt like my love affair should be shared with the blogging world. Yep, a whole post dedicated to my scrap booking. Sounds incredibly boring, but y'all, this is the easiest, fastest way to make the prettiest albums. 

I am catching up on Tevin's first year book. He's only four. Don't judge me. 

My first two kids have beautiful and crazy intricate scrapbooks documenting their first year of life and I just didn't have the strength or the time to make something like that- but I wanted the same type of beauty. Does that make any sense? 

So for Christmas I asked for my first Project Life kit. Yes, I am a huge procrastinator, With daddy-o gone though, I have been able to spend a few evenings starting on the book. 

Pick your album. I think this one is pretty yet masculine. :)

Choose your core kit- this is the part that goes with whatever theme you want your album.

Mine is baby boy obviously.

Sheet protectors! You can pick different layouts.

Seriously ALL of these pages took me 30 minutes all together, over a couple of nights. I can't be happier with how his book is turning out! 

Side note: this is not sponsored, I just love how simple and pretty these are!

Slowing down

Do you think you can miss out on everyday moments, when you are actually living them? I feel like the answer to that is definitely- yes. 

I miss so much of the special moments when I get so caught up in the everyday, shuttling from activity to activity. And not really soaking up who my kids are, or even who I am. 

I decided for this year I wanted all of that to change. I want the slow life, enjoying everyday, ordinary things that most of the time get missed when I have over scheduled my family. I want to make to time to savor all of it. 

I want all those small moments to be big memories. Like when my 9 year old is telling me his knock-knock jokes on the way to school and he thinks they are absolutely hilarious. "interrupting cow" anyone? Or when my four year old is super interested to do school work and we lie down on the floor with color flash cards together and I can imprint his little voice and mannerisms into my brain. Popsicles and messy hands on the back porch. Reading on the couch with all four of my kiddos snuggled up. 

I pray these little moments never fade, but I know that's just not possible. 

I know these little kids will one day be big and I know these little moments will be such sweet memories. I can't miss out. I don't want to miss out.

So how can I make that possible? How can I make the most out of all the everyday things going on in my life? Turning the smallest things into the biggest memories? 

The only way I think it's possible is to slow down. Stop over doing. One extra activity for the big kids, and maybe just one play date a week for the little guys. Taking time to make our own adventures like walks and scavenger hunts. Dates with each of the kids on their own. Really taking the time to know each one of them on their own. Purging the house of all the extra so that my time doesn't have to be spent cleaning up all the stuff we have filling our lives! And really good time management.

Do you think it's possible to slow down in the "go go go" world we live in? 

School Time!

For a while I had been kinda questioning the public school my kiddos got to. I think the teachers are wonderful (usually) but the school was so overcrowded. Also the testing is OUT OF CONTROL!
 I pondered homeschooling but I just don't know if I was totally ready to commit with all the changes going on right now. So with some research I applied at different charter schools. It wasn't looking promising that they would get in until the 2016-2017 school year. Until I got a call on Wednesday night that they had been accepted! And could start Thursday!
I got the call around 5 and then ran around like a crazy lady getting uniforms. eek! I still don't have enough, but they have enough for a few days until I can really go shopping.

Alijah was THRILLED. Aubree- not so much. She cried, and I felt like the worst mama ever. But I really felt like this was so much better for them and allowed them to be kids longer. The school really focuses on "whole child" education. Health, emotional and physical, and they even get to pick a cool elective to do each 9 weeks. Aubree picked recycled art and Alijah picked self defense. How fun is that?

So goodbye public school from the Osburn Family!

Things I'm loving

I've decided after the first few days of daddy-o being gone, it's time for me to rally. Life is weird when your husband leaves, even when it's for a short-ish time. You get to have a pity party the first couple days and then you have to get back to real life! Even if it does feel weird, So here are some things I'm loving.

-I'm loving that summer is almost over. Hallelujah. I can't even tell you how glad I am that it is ending. This was a hard summer for me, I think just because of all the transition, but honestly, bring on fall for me.

-Balloon Fiesta is coming! If you haven't ever seen/heard of the International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico, you definitely need to add it to your TO DO list!

-Reading this book- so good. I recommend it 100%

-Gossip Girl. Y'all. I have a problem. I can't stop watching it!

-Project Life and Shutterfly. I think they may be bff's. I am just now working on my third guy's scrap book. Terrible mom award. But seriously if you want to streamline and make the easiest, and pretty scrapbooks. Project life!

What are you loving right now?

August Life

The fact that it is August 5th is literally blowing my mind. This summer has felt so weird and now that school will be starting here in less than 2 weeks and the army has taken my husband, my life just got a clot more chaotic and busy!
Y'all I swear life is flying by! We have so much going on around the O house here lately. Deployment maybes and re-enlistment possibilities- my head may explode. I decided I should put into writing how I would like this month to go- or at least some of what I would maybe like to accomplish! August here I come!

1. healthy school lunches- I want to make super yummy and easy school lunches for school this year. I also don't want to rely on the school cafeteria for the majority of lunches.

2. No more Dr. pepper- give me an intervention PLEASE! lol

3. Finish one painting- I've been putting off being creative all summer and it's time to get those creative juices flowing!

4. Morning walks- this is for my sanity as well as my health plus soaking up the morning sunshine is the best feeling.

5.Intentional time- both with my kids and my quiet time with the Lord.

How's your August so far?!