One of the ways that I am trying to capture that now is by using my new front porch. Yes, the porch of my dreams! Complete with porch swings that I have always wanted!! My kids and I are learning to find time to relax on the porch for a little bit every evening. I have found it to be a place where I can catch up with the goings on with my big kids and just rock and relax with my little Bug.
Thought I would share our new little oasis. Here is the before... short little 70's ranch.
Here is the after...
Complete with little model...
A perfect backdrop for swinging away those summer nights.
Stopping to water the flowers with your sister...
Even though it was a complete disaster to live through... it is so metaphorically worth it in the end. It is a good reminder that you have to go through the hard stuff to see to the reward in the end.
Have been trying to slow down and enjoy more of the little things. After our vacation in HH this summer, I have been trying to find ways to spend more time as a family. This past week, I bought a bike trailer off C*raigslist and am now in search of a beach cruiser bike, like the ones we rode at the beach, for myself to start taking the time to slow down and enjoy the little things in life. Until I find one, Grant has been taking Bug out in it in the evenings... she LOVES it!
And just some random cuteness... my little crabby pants!! LOL!
It is the smiles like this that take my breath away.
The past year has been a tough one for our family. It is through the pain of things that make your children hurt on the inside while appearing fine on the outside that has made me slow down and try to find ways to pull them closer during the very time that they want to push away. It is a struggle to figure it all out and still find the time to get everything done that has to be done.
I hope that life never gets so busy that I can't see the joy in the every day. I would love to find out what kinds of things you and your family do to relax and reconnect with one another...
27 comments:
I love the porch. It turned out great. We have a porch too and there really is something about it. We just got a swing this weekend too. I have always wanted one!
Love the crabby pants too cute!
Have a great week!
hannah
Your house looks just beautiful! I love the porch swings and the pillows!
I have been feeling like "slowing down" too. We need more family time. I have no great ideas yet on things to do, but I have made the first step and cut out tons of commitments on our family calendar. It's been hard to say no to people, but enjoying life as a family has to come first. I like that you're in the same boat!
Your house is gorgeous!!!! And I just can't get over how beautiful Sophie is. Love the crab outfit.
Sarah,
So,so precious with her "red" bow. I LOVE,LOVE THE PORCH. Your house is beautiful! So much character and charm.It must be those southern states. My sister lives in SC and her house is similar to yours. Gosh..here the houses are so close together. The trees and the greenery make it so peaceful.
Anyway...the finished product is just awesome. You "swing" girl and keep up the good work about slowing down and enjoying the small things. You are so right..Time is just moving way to fast. We all need to slowwwwwwww done.
Love and Hugs..
Love the porch .. and your family !!
Sarah, the finished product was well worth all the construction & drama!! IT LOOKS PERFECT!!! :)
What an oasis! I love it!
Our family time is rather silly. I have a disco ball in the basement (left over from my college days) and we actually have DISCO DINNERS. We eat on the floor in the basement with the ball a whirlin' and the music a pumpin' and the girls think it is the most amazing thing evah.
(Pretty simple to impress a 5 and almost 2 year old, though!)
I agree with you - it is the SIMPLE things. :)
Love you.
Your house is just gorgeous!!!
I love bugs crab pants!!! Your family is just beautiful....
I hope that you have a nice fall together doing family things!
Wow - your house is amazing, the before and after pics don't even look like they share the same address. Awesome!!
We love to play outside - it could be swinging, jumping on the trampoline, wandering the yard, feeding the fish at the local marina - whatever it may be, it's always better outside!!!
Have a great day!
I just love the porch!!!So beautiful!!!And I love more that picture of your two precious girls...wow...so perfect...life is good when you have a dream family.
Take care.:)
Love the porch! What a great place to slow down and remember what's important.
Kerri, Medina, and Ruby
Your house looks great, I love the new porch. Sophie is such a beauty. I love her crab outfit.
That is definitely a dream front porch! Lots of good relaxing and talking to be done there! Sophie Bug is just too cute! How do you ever tell her no! :)
The house is beautiful! What a change. Something I would picture in the magazine! Are your neighbors jealous LOL??? I hope to have a house someday, but have a beautiful condo with over 1400 sf! I honestly don't know when I would take care of a yard right now so it fits for us just fine. When I see a house like yours though I simply remind myself--someday!
I agree, time does go fast and when school started it seemed to go in fast forward. I missed my first FFF in 30 weeks last Friday and just posted a blog post today- first since August 22!.
It was good to see you at the LT sale. You look great.
See you again soon,
Lisa
Your house looks beautiful!! Sitting on the porch is a way I lik to relax as well. Your children look beautiful like they always do!!
Marsha
Gorgeous, Sarah. The porch looks dynamite and it really changes the look of the house - just stunning! Where is Southern Living with a camera?!!
And those porch swings will be a precious memory to those children when they are grown. It really is the simple moments that are the most special.
Can't wait for our virtual party tonight on the phone!
What a great post! I think we all need reminders to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life. Cohen is my reminder - when I am bustling around trying to check things off my list, he will just do something so silly I have to laugh and then scoop him up for some hugs. :)
Sarah
I love your remodel; I would love to have a porch like that to just sit and swing. I probably would never do anything else.
Our family from the time our girls were little; they are now 24 and 17declared every Friday Night "Family Night" and we would have pizza and watch a family movie. It was a time to bond and we never invited friends to that time. Sure we have had to alter the day but never a week goes by we don't have that night. Our 24 year old who has a family of her own had continued that tradition it is kind of neat. Her family is coming from Arizona to see us in Washington in a few weeks and she has already asked if we could have a family night. Try it your three will really enjoy it.
Sarah, I love your new porch!! Seeing how great it looks make me want a new porch. :)
The pics of Grant and Sophie on the bike are so sweet!! I also love the crabby pants outfit--too cute!! Miss G needs a pair of those for when she's being crabby. :)
Robyn
With Steph waiting on the party call....
Pouring now!
:)
Sarah...
The porch is WONDERFUL! I know what you mean about slowing down... and wanting to hold your kids as close as you can.
I have sort of "killed" our TV...not truly... I just make it a weekly family event, and it is rarely turned on any other time.
We spend time outside playing, splashing in the "baby" pool... or playing board games.
The kids are so much fun... and I love knowing them inside and out.
Hope you have a great week...
Jennifer
Amen, Sister! The world is defintiely in a state of fast-paced ridiculousness. And I know exactly what you mean about pulling everyone close together to get through the hard times. I'm glad you've found some peace on your porch.
Peace and Hugs,
Becca
Love the porch and the cutie photos!
Sarah,
The porch is just gorgeous. I love the redo. It looks like a totally different house. The pics of the kids are just precious. Have a great weekend.
Cheryl
WOW GIRL...that is an AWESOME PORCH...I can't wait to have a PORCH like that soon...(if we move to celebration like we are planning) All the homes have porches...I have spent MANY hours on my Grandparents porch growing up and It is a WONDERFUL place to enjoy your family. So BUG is TOO CUTE in the CRABBY Pants...HUGS
Beautiful post Sarah. We had something similar happen here too this past year. I will share with you sometime. It's amazing how God works through those times.
dawnz
The porch came out great!!! It looks like a great place to relax and unwind.
You are so right about everything going too fast. We really do need to slow down and enjoy life with our amazing children.
Oh, and I love Sophie's Crabby Pants!! If John were a girl, we would have to get a pair!!
That is an incredible porch! What a perfect place to make some wonderful new memories! I understand the construction headaches as we're still dealing with them.
I'm sorry that you guys have had such a rough year and hope that the months ahead will bring happier times for everyone.
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