Christmas Greetings 2018

Here is our Christmas Letter and Card from 2018

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Well, we did it!  We welcomed our very first (and last) bio-babe to the family!  Séamus (shay-mus) Murphy joined our family in July, just 5 days past his due date.  Ashley’s easy pregnancy ended with a quick, yet challenging delivery.  Her hopes of a natural unmedicated birth were thwarted with Séamus position and despite trying all the things: natural, epidural, and vacuum he just would not budge – so an emergency c-section was in order, so much so that another epidural could not be administered and she needed to go under general anesthesia.  No matter, Séamus is here, he is healthy and that is all that matters!

We’ve kept ourselves busy yet again this year with travel: Disneyland three times (February, April, and August with a 2 week old) we fully enjoyed our year as Annual Passholders and hope to do it again in the future, many trips to Selah to visit Thomas parents in their new home, day trips to Vashon Island, and over to Spokane to visit with the girls birth families.  Ashley, Finnley and Ashley’s Dad, Craig, made a trip to the Carolina’s in January visiting Charleston and Charlotte.  They had so much fun that hopefully we can all go back as a family to visit! The girls are basically expert travelers at this point and have enjoyed every trip so far and Séamus was a champ on the plane and in Disney.  We are over the moon with making these memories with the kids and love that we are finally complete and get to focus on raising our little humans and giving them all the experiences!  Also of note: Cooper was diagnosed with Diabetes in July and needs 2x daily insulin injections, Ashley has decided to sell Rags, our chickens are still alive and clucking, and we converted the chicken coop into a playhouse for the kids!

Thomas: is still teaching and is the Building Tech Guy, which is keeping him busy.  Cycling and Fly Fishing are still his favorite hobbies and spending time playing with the kids is always at the top of his list.  He is an expert diaper changer, homework helper, and provider for our family.

Ashley: absolutely adores breastfeeding and the feeling of wholeness with carrying out a successful pregnancy.  She is still nannying twice a week and enjoys keeping things real with her blog “Life with Kids”.  She also dove head first into a new business, “Life, Kids, and Oils” with Young Living Essential Oils.  Wellness has always been a priority and now she is fully equipped to help our family and those who join her team.  If you’re interested in learning more, feel free to reach out: ashleyaparsons@comcast.net

Ellie: is a big Kindergartener this year.  She is loving school, lost her first tooth, and has taken on the role as Biggest Sister wonderfully.  She is excelling at school, loves pink and red, has a giving heart, and the best imagination.  She did ballet again this year and did an awesome job at her Ballet Recital.  She has decided to not continue with it though and wants to focus on gymnastics and drawing.

Finnley: has bigger feet than Ellie, is a mere 1 inch shorter than her and is the silliest girl we know.  She squeals with delight, has the biggest emotions, and not only moved into a big girl bed – but is sharing a room (and bunk bed) with Ellie.  She was made for her new role as Big Sister and is the best helper with Séamus, we can always count on her to find his paci or get him to laugh.  We have found a great blend of oils to support her emotions and it has given her so much freedom and joy!

Séamus: is loving life on the outside.  He has the best disposition, loves to nurse, enjoys tummy time, can almost sit on his own, and squeals with great delight.  He smiles almost all the time and drools like crazy.

With Love,

Thomas, Ashley, Ellie, Finnley and Séamus Parsons

The Farm Animals: Paladin, Ragtime, Cooper, Sakari, Annabelle, Penelope, Stella, Delilah, Ma and Solo

Our Christmas Home - 2018

One of the things I love about this blog so much is that I can look back on years past to see the transformation of our home, family, and style.  I can be reminded of where we were in each stage of our lives and fully appreciate where we are right now!!

This year for Christmas, we really paired down everything.  We put out fewer decorations, did fewer "activities", purchased less gifts, and focused on each other a whole lot more. I have to tell you that I am not complaining about any of it.  Our home still looks festive, the kids are still having a great time, and Thomas and I are experiencing much less stress (and isn't that just the best?)!!

So here we go, onto our Christmas Home!!

I love our tree, we had to get a new one last year since our original one's lights were mostly not working. I couldn't find our exact tree but this one is similar and I might like it better 😉.  Not much has really changed with the decorating our tree over the years.  The biggest difference is that when we got this tree it didn't come pre-lit so we had to get lights for it, we decided to go with colored lights and I think it's so fun for the kids...though I am 🙏 that next year we do white lights again.

Our Living Room is probably the part of the house that is the most festive.  It's where our tree is, the stockings and our pillows.  We spend the most time in here and I love that.  Also, I did a little bit of cleaning up but wanted to let y'all see our home in it's basic every day clutter.

Diffuser, the Aria

Into the girls room.  I love their shared room so much.  We have gone back and forth with their little play table in here but for now it is out in the dining room.   We have a little bit of festive going on in here with their little tree.  Ellie and Finnley both have free rein with this tree and it is in a constant state of change with them moving the ornaments around, daily.  Also after the first round of photo's I found some flannel sheets for their beds and I love the sweet holiday addition they've added to the room.

Similar Diffuser.  It works pretty good, but I am looking forward to getting them a new one in here.

 Snowflake Sheets

 Santa Sheets

Into Séamus nursery.  This silver tinsel tree has been the nursery tree since Ellie's First Christmas, then it moved into Finnley's nursery when it was her First Christmas, and here it is again now in Séamus nursery for his First Christmas.  In all honesty, we didn't switch up the ornaments in here from when it was Finnley's tree.  Now that I come to think of it, we didn't even get Séamus an ornament this year.  Good thing we still have a couple of days before Christmas so that we can rectify that...😂.  This is also his nursery debut here on the blog.  It's not done (are they ever?) but pretty much reflects what we're going for.  I just have a few photos I need to choose and hang, pick out a diffuser, and then it will basically be done.

The dining room shares the Tree and has a handful of other Christmas decorations...mainly some bottle brush trees on the tea cart.

Now for our room.  I have dreams of putting a tree in here but that just hasn't happened yet. I mentioned on IG that I'm usually a white sheets kind of girl.  I like that they're neutral and easy to clean.  But, when I saw these winter berry flannel sheets I couldn't help myself and decided it was high time we brought some festive into our room.

 Winter Berry Sheets

Diffuser, Desert Mist

 and just to keep it real, we have pillow, socks, and toys piled up in our room as well.  I keep wanting to move things, get rid of things, but am having a hard time doing so.

Finally, in the girls bathroom (which has gone through multiple decor styles and paint colors) is such a sweet space now.  I guess I shouldn't refer to it as the girls bathroom since Séamus will be using it as well...so it will now be referred to as the Kids Bathroom.  I finally found the sweetest little diffuser to put in here and I am in love.  I used to have a candle in here but now that I'm not burning them anymore I wanted to have something to make it smell nice without requiring guests to have to use a room spray.  When I spotted this little beauty I couldn't grab it fast enough.  It's small but packs a big punch and who doesn't love pineapples??

 

 

I have to say that I am loving the grey and white color scheme in here.  It makes it so much lighter and brighter in here and I think it will be conducive for the girls when they get older to use the mirror (assuming we're still living here).

So that does it folks.  Our 2018 Christmas Home Tour.  Thanks for taking a look around!!

Merry Christmas to you!!

Previous Christmas Home tours:

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

♥ Ashley

The Séamus Weekly - week 21

How is it that Séamus is already another week older?  These weeks are just flying by and I have to say that I am enjoying every sleepless minute of it.  Little man is still super chill and a complete joy to have...though he does tend to get a bit unsettled in the car.  He has his hands in his mouth practically all of the time and rarely stays in one spot.

Eats:  we are still breastfeeding.  Sometimes he just snacks and other times he nurses hard.  He nurses through the day and still at night, I feel so much more full at night and that's why I think he is still nursing then.  I absolutely love the convenience of breastfeeding but I am looking forward to having him try some solid foods and to start building up his palate.

Sleeps: Séamus has been a rolling machine and an escape artist.  Not long after putting him down for bed he would get his right arm out, then fuss and fuss until he got his left arm out.  Eventually during the night I would just take him out of his sleep sack and all would be "right" at night.  So this week we started to work on getting him to fall asleep without it, it's been a bit of a trial but now I think we've gotten it down and he has even napped in his crib a couple times quite successfully.  Séamus takes about 3 naps a day, he usually falls asleep on the way to take Ellie to school, again during the day and then often times he's asleep in the car to pick Ellie up.  Around 6:30 tends to be his self appointed bed time and he is usually up for the day around 5:30.

Goes: we worked at our nanny house, to the pool, went to a friends house for cookie decorating, spent time with my dad, out to our favorite Fish House for lunch, to the post office and Target.  But mostly we've been homebodies this week and I am not complaining about it.

Does: as I mentioned above he is sucking/chewing on his hands non-stop, rolling over all the time, and wiggles himself all around on the floor.  He also has his tongue out of his mouth about 90% of the time. He isn't sitting on his own yet but making some great progress.  He loves to pull hair, smile, and grab his toes.

 

Wears:  I have officially packed up all of his 0-3 onesies, picked out a few of the larger looking 0-3 pants and pulled out the 3-6 onesies and pants for him.  He isn't quite long enough for the 3-6 jumpers so he is still wearing the 0-3 that we have.  But oh my gosh do I love the 3-6 outfits we have!! so much cuteness!!

Mama: I've been working hard in my business and just love both the creative outlet and how I get to bring wellness into peoples homes that it provides so much.  Nursing is still what I hope for it to be (though in all honesty my boobs are a bit chapped from some mislatches at nighttime).  I have been using some Rose Ointment on them and it's been really helping a lot.  I have also just been working on myself a lot lately and the confidence that I am gaining through my business and using our oils is the best thing.  I remember so vividly being a social butterfly in High School and College, then I got into the work force and found myself in a shell.  The thought of meeting new people was suffocating, going somewhere where I didn't know what to expect gave me so much anxiety.  Not anymore!!! I live for new experiences, for the unexpected, for the challenge and chance to grow myself.

Sisters: Ellie finally lost her tooth and now I don't have to be grossed out by her wiggling it anymore. She comes home from school with so many stories and is quite the conversationalist.  She is so intune to our feelings and truly loves to give.  She is so kind and caring and helpful.  She has been giving all of the loves to her siblings and plays so well with Finnley.

Finnley is still a fire cracker.  She's been having some rough days and waking up from naps a bit unhappy, we're working on the best approach for her.  She is vibrant and full of life.  She laughs hard, cries hard, and loves hard. She is all about Baby Séa and loves to help out with him.  Despite her big emotions she is the sweetest and kindest girl.  She is a great helper and so so curious about all the things.  Her vocabulary is growing and I love that I can understand more and more about what she is saying.  She loves nuggets from McDonald's and will eat us out of the house with apple sauce.

previous weeks

Séamus week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, 13 weeks, week 14, week 15, week 16, week 17, week 18, week 19, 20 weeks

Finnley at 21 weeks

Ellie at 21 weeks

♥ Ashley