Blissful Bits of Life Lately Vol. 6 [{Bitter}sweet Summertime]

I have to admit, it’s been a reeeeaaaal struggle to sit down and blog lately. With zero energy and motivation to even log-in to the back-end of my site, I simply haven’t done it. Maybe it’s because the boys have been running circles around me from 6 am to 8 pm and the thought of sitting down to form complete sentences seemed far too daunting, actually pretty much impossible. But, guys! I’ve really missed you! Although my creativity tank has been running on empty, I thought I would share what we’ve been up to these last few months in another edition of A little of This + A Little Bit of Bliss! Summer is coming to an end and hopefully my streak of absenteeism is, too!

See. Look! I’m blogging right now. Maybe I can actually do this again!

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?

While the house projects haven’t come to a *complete* hault, we are definitely moving at a much slower pace around here. Summer = snail’s pace. For awhile, I was frustrated with the lack of finished projects as I looked around the house [like that master bedroom refresh project that is STILL in the works!] but then I quickly recall the lazy summer mornings with the boys without anywhere to be. No schedule….no rules…no problem! Those bum around all day in summer jammies types of days are just as memorable as the long, sunshiny, action-packed days filled with pool-time, picnics, trips to the zoo or just good ol’ fashioned backyard sprinkler fun and water balloon fights!

[*Affiliate links were used below.]

swim trunks | swim trunks [similar]

Some days felt like bedtime was never going to come and others flew by before I could even blink. I think there was something special and bittersweet about this summer that I couldn’t quite put a finger on until now, but am realizing that although it was our second summer in the house [we moved into this empty house in June of 2016], it was the first time I felt settled. We wrapped up a full year of pre-school here, hit our 1 year mark in the house, met new friends [you know…the kind you feel like you’ve known forever] celebrated the littlest’s 3rd birthday in May and just recently, the biggest’s 5th [it feels like yesterday when I wrote this post about him turning TWO!] at the end of July and are less than 2 weeks shy of sending him off to Kindergarten. I know. I can’t even. Oh and our 6 year anniversary was on July 30th! Add in a a few roadtrips to see family + more weekends with visitors than I can count and a girl’s weekend away in Atlanta for the Haven conference for the 3rd year just a few weeks ago.

We spent our 6th anniversary in Chicago. Sunday Funday at Federales, The Architecture Tour on the Chicago River, drinks at The London House and dinner at Fig & Olive with my sister and parents.

sunglasses | top | necklace

NOW WHAT?

I’ve definitely missed having my quiet me-time working on projects or sitting in front of the computer editing photos or writing, but I know that this next school year is going to bring me some of that much needed alone time back and probably a few extra bonus hours too! Like I mentioned, the biggest is going to be starting full-day Kindergarten and the littlest will be attending pre-school 5 mornings per week and getting some extra help with speech and occupational therapy. I haven’t talked about him and his ongoing speech therapy over the last 18 months with you guys, but after in-home therapy concluded just before his 3rd birthday, we discovered he qualified for additional therapy services through the school district after an evaluation was administered. He doesn’t have any severe issues and his speech has drastically improved, but with a little more help, he’ll be all the more ready to conquer Kindergarten in a couple of years. Initially, we were shocked after hearing the recommendation for him to attend full-time school to receive services, but it took no more than a conversation with T for us to determine it was the absolute best decision we could make for HIM. So, off to school he goes!! Both boys will be gone in the mornings and this mama isn’t quite sure how to feel about it! 5 years as a SAHM and it’s felt like mere months… It’s going to take a bit of time to get adjusted to our new normal, but I know it’s going to be truly amazing for all of us!

Celebrating the littlest’s 3rd birthday over Memorial Day weekend!

While I’m working to get us all ready to roll for the upcoming school year and new routine, I’m going to be taking a similar approach to the blog. I’m gearing up for a more intentional, purposeful way of doing things – methods to help me be more efficient and maximize the time I choose to spend working. More on my posting schedule, upcoming house projects to be on the lookout for, as well as a new exciting venture I’m getting started with – all to come very soon!!

This post was sort of random and all over the place, but I felt the need to sit down and put some of my thoughts out there and since I consider you guys my people, I thought it was important to share where my heart and head have been lately. Thanks for hanging in there with me these last few months even though it’s been so quiet around here.

And since it doesn’t quite feel right to not share something house-related, I’ll leave you with this…

Framed abstract art piece

Any guesses where this pink beauty abstract art piece is getting hung? And no…it’s not going in the Master Bedroom. There just might be another room already in the works. You’re probably not surprised though, as I am known to tackle a spontaneous room makeover while there are 46 other things going on around here simultaneously. Fingers crossed I can actually manage  to cross some things OFF my list once school starts instead of adding to it!

I hope you have a fabulous weekend, soaking in the last few drops of [bitter]sweet summertime, too!