Lately

We've been busy here on the farm the past couple of weeks and I'm so happy with our progress!  Work outside, inside and having fun with Ellie, life is good!

If you know me then you know my passion for gardening. I'm no expert and I'm learning every year but I am just so pleased with how our front yard is turning out!!

My moms memorial peony. 

A gardeners work is never done but we can get so much gratification throughout the process!  I cannot believe the transformation that this yard has gone through in the past 7 years we've owned our home.  I'm taking a daily photo on IG you can see it with #parsonsgarden365

One of the best changes I made this last week was I finally painted our front door exterior. It was awful with flesh colored accents and I love how fresh and clean the all white door is!

Yuck!!

Ahhh!!

The trim is still flesh colored but we are planning on painting our house this summer!!! I cannot wait. I am in search of the perfect grey; not too dark and not too light with no muddy undertones or tints of blue or purple...its going to be a challenge but make the biggest difference. 

In other home news we replaced the chairs in our living room. I loved the chairs we had, a great consignment find but the upholstery has taken a beating over the years with our dogs and now Ellie. There were holes and the padding was coming out of the seats. I wanted to get the recovered but that was going to cost $700+ for EACH chair! Ain't nobody got money for that...especially when we're in the adoption process again. 

See we were in serious need of some replacements. Thankfully Target was having a furniture sale and we picked up two of these babies for about 3/4 the price of one reupholstering:

I love them. They are a bit higher (I can't reach the floor) which Thomas loves and more narrow but I their smaller frame makes our room look bigger and lighter. They were a bit stuff when we first got them but now that we've been sitting in them for a couple of weeks they are much more comfortable. And they shipped super quick!

Ellie has been living life lately too, lots of going outside and riding her pony! She has no fear!

Playing dress up for the first time

As a shark, thanks to one of my nanny families!

Going to the park and down slides. She took a tumble and got an egg on her head, cried for maybe 5 seconds and then was back to being Ellie Danger!!

Took a trip to build a bear for the first time and all she wanted was the car...we're in trouble when she turns 16!!

And then we also made a trip to Ikea. Gosh I love that place, but every time I go I want a new kitchen!!  We got some more pillows (can't beat those prices!) and frames (I don't think I can leave without at least one frame) and then we picked up some train sets for Ellie. She loves playing with them at church and one of my nanny houses - she was so excited when I busted it out earlier this week!

While we were at IKEA we also got a hammock stand. I have been on the search for one of these since or honeymoon, we picked up a hammock while we were in town in Cancun during our honeymoon and it's been sitting in a closet ever since! I'm so glad we finally get to use this thing!! It's only been 6 1/2 years!!

And then after getting this for the 60th time:

I decided to do some more research and learning and taking control of my disease.  I went to the library and picked up some books and a dvd

I'm currently reading the "Conquering Infertility" and am hoping to make a difference in my overall health.

 I also put a call into scheduling our homestudy for Adoption #2, hopefully we only have to do an update for $750 otherwise we'll have to do a whole new one that will cost over $1,500. 

And then Ellie's Nanny and Papa got her an ATV to ride around at their house and she loves it!!

It was so cute watching her learn how to push the button and ride around outside...we might need one for the farm so she can chase the goats! Ha

And finally I got more of our vegetable patch planted!!

Peas, Kale, Spinach, Radish and Fennel!!! 

What have you been up to?

♥ Ashley

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