rachel ashwell's prarie

This is where the Mr. and I are hanging our hats this weekend...Down time + views of the prarie + smooshy sofas + smooshy bed + a hot bath in an old clawfoot time + hot breakfast cooked by someone other than me + a pile of my favorite magazines + my favorite guy + no kids = my idea of a nice relaxing weekend.

Don't worry, I'll take plenty of pictures.

party preparations (say that 3 times fast)

I know a little girl who just turned 5, and a little boy about to turn 4. We have a party to plan. Since they are so close in age, it is easier and more cost effective to combine their birthday parties (as long as they allow it). They also have many of the same friends and in my opinion, the bigger the party, the better. I am a glutton for punishment like that. So, since we are having a gender neutral party, we decided to go with a "Candy Shoppe" theme. And what is better to kids than being surrounded by loads and loads of candy like the ginormous sucker above......or this hugemongous piece of wrapped bubble gum? Okay, so this isn't candy...just some colorful pom poms. Can't wait to share the rest!

bittersweet

Bitter...we lost our sweet fur baby of 11 years this week. Our hearts broke as we watched her fade away. Even as I write this I have to hold back sobs. She was an incredibly sweet and gentle girl. People were intimidated by her size, but they didn't realize that she was just a big ol' teddy bear that would lick them to death.We miss her terribly and still look for her when we pull up in the driveway. Up until a few weeks ago, she would meet us with that little "nub" wagging.Sweet...the puppies took to her too. We just wish she had hung on a little while longer so that maybe they would have somehow taken on her sweet disposition (although they seem pretty sweet anyway). We are just trying to enjoy our 2 new additions to the family while our hearts ache for the one that we lost.

meet duke and jake

Lab + some other giant dog = these 7 week old puppies

Jake is in the front. He is fiesty. The kids loved him immediately. Duke is in the back. He is a cuddler.

This is Duke. He was a little more timid than Jake.Jake or "Jakey", as my kids call him.

There is a reason they call it puppy love.

birthday

happy birthdayyummy cakecutest helmet everweird brother sweetest daddy (this year, they shared a special day)

blessings,

jenn

five

How did my baby girl go from this...

to this in a mere blink of an eye?

Happy birthday to my precious, spunky little ball of fire.

I love you with all my heart...forever and for always...no matter what.

summer & sprinklers

the country

Don't you love the country? I was raised in a small Texas town. I currently live in a different small Texas town, and I plan to grow old with my hubby and watch my grandchildren play in the back yard of the country home that will become our "forever home" in a small Texas town...or anywhere in North Carolina (tee hee).

In the country, your kids can "drive" down the dirt back roads...

...on their Daddy's lap, of course.

I love cows. They are simple. They just look at you and swat the flies on their backs. They give us cheese...God bless the cows. I love me some cheese...

(obligatory snaggletooth 8-year-old shot...bless that awkward age)

(obligatory gapped-tooth 3-year-old shot...bless that age too)

What is more country than a tire swing?

Have a great day y'all.

finally

No more pillows falling behind the bed. Seems like a small thing, but it's not. We got our new bed, oh, maybe 9 months ago and didn't have a headboard. We went from a queen to a king (I highly recommend it for people like me who get boiling hot, like to sleep on a diagonal, and don't want anyone to touch them because their skin feels like an incinerator...said individual shall remain nameless) and our old sleigh bed didn't work anymore. We just bought a bed frame to go with our glorious new, and extremely comfortable bed, but just couldn't make a headboard happen. You know, doctor bills, roof leaks, etc. etc. etc. Our headboard didn't seem to be a priority. Doctor visits over a headboard? Who made that rule, I say? Anyway, (cue the harps and angels singing), it is here...and it is glorious.
I bought the Camden untufted headboard in Burlap from Ballard Designs. I went back and forth between burlap and the white twill. I decided on the burlap because I was worried that the white would (1) show dirt easier and (2) would be a little over the top considering all of the other white that is going to appear in the room. I will post a mood board of the room on my next post. It is reeeeeal purdy :)
I was a little disheartened when I opened the box and it smelled like, well, a burlap sack. Then, the directions really didn't work. It didn't take too much brain power to figure it out, but it is a major pet peeve of mine when directions aren't right. I mean, they ARE directions, right? Can I get an amen? Thank you. However, the headboard went into place, and about a gallon of Fabreeze later (that stuff is heaven sent I tell ya'), all is well in the world. It hardly smells like a potato sack and it is GORGEOUS! Even if it did smell like potato sack, I might not really care considering I have a place to prop up my pillows AND they don't get lost into an abyss at night when they go careening behind the bed.
Take that rogue pillow!!!
Nighty night.

my kitchen

My kitchen is the most fun place in my home. There are quirky little touches here and there that make me smile. Like my pig that flies...and my curtains that almost didn't happen because they were too bright and colorful (I adore them now)...and my favorite little initial from my favorite little shop...and my favorite place to post little notes to my family (that use to be a giant, ugly, gold mirror)...and my little windowsill above my sink that always has fresh flowers (and a sign that reminds me of one of my sweet friends)...and where I keep my grocery list (this is acutally going to change soon. Can't wait to show you)...with letter that remind my picky-eating kids what they are supposed to be doing at the kitchen table...all while wearing my favorite funky little apron from another favorite store...and this sweet little helper is my favorite little accesory of all...Blessings,

Jenn