5 things we're loving about fort lewis so far

Happy final Friday of June, friends! I seriously can't believe we're just days away from July. Weren't we all seriously just praying for spring? I know I was. But here we are...the final Friday of June. It feels like ages ago that we lived in New York, and we're finally starting to feel like Washington is our new normal. Even though we're only renting this house for a year, we're putting our little touches on it, and we're making it as homey as possible for that year. Beyond that though, we're diving into our new state wholeheartedly! Here are five things we're absolutely loving about Fort Lewis so far.

1 // Our boys' new school.

You guys. We seriously lucked out with this one. We started the boys somewhere else last week, but neither of us felt so good about it, so we pulled them halfway through the week and were lucky enough to snag two spots at an amazing preschool just minutes from our home. They're loving it. It's educational, they're learning Spanish, they're flexing their little brains every day, and they're making friends. It makes my heart so happy seeing them come alive in their element! OH - and they have an app and send us pictures throughout the day...like this gem:

2 // So many outdoor activities.

You might remember I talked about Point Ruston and how the boys got to "drive" fire trucks there last weekend. Seriously, that's just one of so many ways that people get outside here and actually do things. My boys are having a blast. They're biking at school, they're playing on the little playground in the backyard, they're getting dirty - just like little boys should! Next up, we're getting state park pass so we can hike and explore even more.

3 // S.L.A.M. Tacoma.

Okay, so I owe this entirely to Jen from Marathons & Dog Tags. I've been watching her Stroller Strong Moms journey for a while now, and I've been envious that there aren't any affiliates where I've lived. But guess what?! Tacoma's chapter opened this week, and I got my very first take on a track attack workout. Oh. My. Lord. Guys, I'm still sore. Even better? These ladies are welcoming, fierce, and so friendly. I can't wait to get started! 

4 // All the good foods.

But seriously. We were kind of limited in our foodie options at Fort Drum. Don't get me wrong, there were some amazing choices (I'm looking at you, Bombay), but they were limited. There is no shortage of fantastic flavors and restaurants out here, and I'm Yelping my way through the area, one restaurant at a time. Better yet, I jumped back on nutritional rebalancing so I can get whole, balanced nutrition and indulge at dinner. Best decision ever. So far, our favorite is still The Daily Catch. Stay tuned though ;)

5 // Water, water, everywhere.

This makes my swimmer heart happy like no other. There are so many bodies of water around here, and I can't wait to dive in - literally. I'm signing up for my first open water race out here soon, and since the only one I did in New York was at Lake George, it can only get better from here! Fingers crossed we find a fun one for me to do...and soon.

Like everything in the military, PCSing is hard, but a lot of it has to do with your outlook, as well as your willingness to get out and try new things. We're determined to venture out, immerse ourselves in this community, and learn to love our new neck of the woods. And don't worry...I'll obnoxiously share it all the while :)

firetrucks, freedom runs & friends

I can't believe we're beginning our third week here in Washington already - technically, of course - and we're going to really start finding our rhythm now. Ryan reports today and signs in on base. The boys start their brand-new daycare today, too. I'm working, obviously, so we're going to slowly start falling into the pace of life we can expect here. This past weekend though, we spent time savoring our new digs (yet again), and we spent time with good friends...and it was so worth it, even if I only unpacked one box!

Friday evening, we decided on a whim to head up to Point Ruston again since we'd had so much fun the first time. I'm off work at 2 PM these days because I work East coast hours, and since we'd pulled the boys from their last daycare, we headed up there as a family after nap time. We were lucky...the Tacoma Fire Department was doing a fundraiser with a Touch-a-Truck event, and my firefighter-loving little boys had their days made in a heartbeat. What a great way to support a fantastic cause, inspire future little ones, and interact with the community! We all had a blast, and it didn't hurt that the truck was gorgeous!

On Saturday morning, we decided to head over to our local Wear Blue, Run to Remember group that starts just a few miles from our home. Each Sunday, they meet at 9 AM and run a well-mapped 5k through our neighborhood and trail areas. We had a meetup at Fort Drum, too, but it rarely happened due to weather and lack of participation. About 50 people of all ages and skill levels showed up here, and at the halfway point, a handful of elderly veterans handed out bottled water. It was a beautiful day of easy running, socializing with new friends, and honoring our fallen and their families. We'll definitely be doing that again.

We also explored another of the many playgrounds around here, Chief Leschi Park, and our little men were in heaven. This was more their speed. It had plenty of obstacles and slides, but it wasn't too over-the-top for a three and two-year-old. And, it doesn't hurt that the weather and scenery here has truly been perfection lately.

We capped off our Sunday with the best barbecue with friends. The Linenfelsers were stationed at Fort Drum with us, and though Ryan and Mike were in the same unit, we never got together. They have two little boys, as well, six and four, and we decided to have an afternoon of slip-and-slide, sprinklers, cornhole, and good company. I'm so glad we got together! I mentioned how important it is to find your tribe, and this is just the start of it. These are good people. They have their proverbial ish together, and they're helping us get out and explore more.

I'm so grateful for good weekends and great adventures to come. Fort Lewis has surprised me in the best possible way and, thus far, I'm loving it. I can't wait to see what else is in store for us!

I'm linking up today with B Loved Boston for Weekending.

hello, fort lewis

Well, it's been a minute, friends! We're officially in Washington as of two and a half days ago. We arrived in the early evening on Tuesday, and we've been somewhat scrambling to set things up and start life here ever since. We're so grateful because my mother has been with us since we left Fort Drum, and we truly couldn't have done this trip without her. When I say it's been a journey, I mean that both literally and figuratively.

We left Fort Drum and Black River early Saturday morning, and the next six days saw us traversing New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and, finally, Washington. We had some great days of driving, and we had some that we struggled...like, ummm 2 hours of stand-still traffic in Chicago? No thanks. But we did it, and we saw regions of the country I never knew existed every step of the way.

The boys were champions (thank God for iPads), and we averaged about 450-500 miles a day - some days more. Porter celebrated his second birthday somewhere along the way, and he deserves a post in the next few days, too!

We drove through rolling hills, steep mountain ranges, vast open plains, whiteout snow (thanks, Montana), scalding hot temps, and so much more. And, surprisingly, I think I left a piece of my heart in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is so gorgeous! We saw Mount Rushmore, we stopped in podunk little towns, and I've never been more excited to see the drizzles of Washington state.

The move-in wasn't without its hiccups, but we're here, and we're oh-so-slowly settling. If you've followed my instagram stories, you've likely seen some of our trip, but I'll be sharing more as we continue to settle down here. Today, we're viewing the boys' new daycare, and my momma (sadly) heads back to New Hampshire tomorrow. Real life is coming, and it's wonderful, scary, beautiful, and daunting. 

Cheers to Washington...we're happy to be here!

farewell, black river

I’ve  been dreading writing this post because, despite the fact that Fort Drum isn't our favorite, we've made this place our own for the past three and a half years. This is the reality of military life. We move, we settle, we put down roots, we pull up those roots, we move again. Rinse and repeat. It's normal, but normal isn't always the easiest to stomach, especially when you have to move a whole family.

We moved to our tiny village of Black River in the final days of 2014. We closed on our little home on December 31st, and we moved into a home devoid of furniture with two cats and a three-week-old baby the eve of a giant snowfall. When we woke on the first day of 2015, there were 22 inches of snow on the ground - something that these new parents fresh from Arizona were totally unprepared for.

And yet, we did it. We made a home here. We watched our little Spencer turn one, then two, then three. We welcomed our second son in 2016, and we brought him to our little Black River home. We brought a dog into the mix, and our family grew again.

We created a life here. We made friends who became family, and we weathered a deployment together. Each of this life's crazy moments was tempered by the roots we set down here. And those roots are deeper than I'd imagined they'd be. We found our tribe of people; surrogate aunts, sisters, mommas, grandparents. My boys made friends and found teachers who love them and nourish their little spirits.

I can't count the number of times we walked and ran these streets both individually and as a family. We've shoveled the driveway more times than we'd love to say. Most importantly, we grew here. Together. Individually. As a family. This has been our constant for three and a half years.

Black River village will always have a little piece of my heart.

New York might not be for us, but this little village is one of incredible people, selflessness, and beauty, and I'll miss it far more than I expected I would. Tomorrow, we hit the road, and we start afresh on our journey to our new post. This is the nature of Army life, and I get it - and sometimes I even love it.

But today...today, I just want to love on this little village a little longer.

one final friday in black river

We're officially under a week until moving day. Are you tired of our countdowns yet? I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm really not. I've said at least a dozen times - military families live by countdowns. But seriously, we leave next Thursday, bright and early. Reality is hitting hard that we're down to the wire now. We've packed a few boxes since we're doing a mostly full DITY, but we are having packers come through next Wednesday since I'm not supposed to lift more than 20 lbs, and I may or may not have told Ryan that packing was a straight-up no-go for me.

Beyond that, we officially have tenants for our home here at Fort Drum. We had a couple of applications prior. One fell through, one couple was so sweet, but a little underqualified. This third couple is dual military, and they couldn't have been more qualified if they tried. We'll have to eat one month's rent, as she won't be arriving until the end of June, but we're so excited to have such great people in our little home.

Boys' Part Dino Jammies c/o Carters (available here)

I'm waxing all sorts of nostalgic lately. It's no secret that Fort Drum isn't our favorite duty station, but these last few weeks have made it clear how much of a home Fort Drum and Black River has become to us. It's hard putting down roots only to pull them up again, but I also know that this is both a blessing and a curse of military life. I love change; change with little ones is just a little bit harder.  They'll be starting a new school mid-June, get a new bedroom, a new home, a new yard, and a whole new neck of the woods. They're resilient little boys though, so I can't wait to see how they do.

This weekend, we have work to do around the house, but we're going to savor our home just a little longer, too. We're going to enjoy this little house. We're going to play in the backyard, go to the zoo one last time, enjoy the weather and wrap up our time here in style. We also have one last set of family pictures with our favorite photographer here tonight, and I can't wait to share.

Next week, we're embarking on an epic adventure across the country. We're planning to AirBnB, rather than stay in hotels each night, and I can't wait to share how that goes. Ryan will be driving the moving truck and towing the Civic - and Danny will ride with him. I'll be driving the Highlander with my mom, the boys, and the cats. We expect the trip will take about 5 full days, but we're going to play it safely above all else.

Cheers to adventure, friends, and cheers to a wonderful weekend ahead!

I'm linking up today with Momfessionals and Smidge of This.

memorial day weekend 2018

Ryan is home! He got back super late Saturday night, and we got to spend two of our three-day-weekend days with our favorite soldier, which was such a treat. The boys were so thrilled to have Daddy back - albeit a little confused. When we got them up on Sunday morning, Spencer greeted me and then said, "Oh! Hi Daddy!" After that, it was all cuddles and love for Daddy all weekend, which makes my mama heart so happy. 

We had a busy outdoorsy weekend here in Black River. The weather has been hot - so hot, in fact, that we hooked up the AC units. Fun fact...most of the old homes here still don't have central AC. It just doesn't make sense because summer doesn't last that long. Since our home was built in 1880, we obviously don't have AC, and we purchased portable units that do the trick during the few super-hot days. I digress though. We got to spend time in the sun, playing in the baby pool, doing some household maintenance, barbecuing, and just enjoying one of our final weekends here.

Yesterday, we decided to start a new family Memorial Day tradition. We bought loose flowers, and we went to our local Black River Cemetery. We sought out the graves of our fallen soldiers. Some were from World War I, some World War II, and some were much too recent. We took the time to put flowers on as many of these graves as possible. It's so important to us that we teach our little boys the true cost of freedom, and we show them how important it is to strive to be worthy of their sacrifice.

They were somewhat clueless, but they did listen, and they did their best to participate. Plus, it was our first time actually visiting this cemetery. There are so many old graves there for soldiers long-gone. It was beautiful and humbling, and I'm so glad we took the time to do it.

^^^ don't mind the fallen tree - we lost it in a windstorm, and it's being removed this week :(

After that, we stumbled upon our local Black River Memorial Day Parade. Can you believe we've lived here three and a half years and never saw the parade? Regardless, as we were driving home, we ran into it, so we decided to stop and watch. Ryan and I had to laugh because we totally forgot they throw candy at parades. The boys were already in awe of the fire trucks when lollipops came flying in their direction. Basically, it was heaven for them.

We pulled out the hammock later that afternoon, and while the boys played with the baby pool and water table, we soaked up these last lazy days at Fort Drum. We move next week, so we're down to the wire. I'll miss it, but I'm so ready to get this show on the road (literally).

I hope you all had wonderful weekends! Cheers to a short week :)

real life vs. #reallife

photo c/o kindred hearts photography

As we gear up for this upcoming PCS, I feel like this space is becoming more of this sort of biographical journey of our military life. I've thought a lot about what I put into this space and what I want it to be, and the truth is very simple. This blog is my life. It's our life. These moments, these things - they're real, they happen, and we live through them every single day. I never want anything posted here to be anything less than authentic, and that's why I think it's so important for me to be honest about life's realities.

The truth is that this season is hard. It's trying. I shared a little about this on my instagram, but I think it's important to acknowledge something. As bloggers, mamas, influencers, and more, we share what we want to share. Some of it is hard-hitting and raw. Some of it is fun and fluff. Neither is wrong. In fact, both are right. However, I think that, in all things, it's absolutely essential that what we share is authentic and real. 

photo c/o kindred hearts photography

The reality here is that, though I love to say that we roll with every change thrown our way, this season of life is really hard right now.

We move in 15 days. We're doing a (mostly full) DITY move, and Ryan's not home yet. I've yet to pack a single thing into a box, and I'm pretty much in denial that my boys' time at their preschool, which we love, is coming to an end. Though it's no secret that Fort Drum is far from my favorite duty station, we've built a life here, and that little life is growing legs and moving across the country - again. I love a lot of things about Army life, but this season is not one of them.

The thing is, it's okay to have crappy days, and it's okay to not be one hundred percent okay with it.

That's reality. That's real, raw, honest, and true. And, frankly, I know we're embarking on a great adventure, and under all this stress is a tangible excitement, as well. We have so many exciting things ahead, and we're going to make this roadtrip fun. However, I think that it's in these moments of vulnerability that we see what makes a person strong and resilient. And the bottom line is this...I want to share the good, the bad, the ugly, the hilarious, and everything in between.

Military life isn't easy. It is, however, completely worth it.

So, all that goes to say that I appreciate you bearing with my angst and crazy streams of consciousness lately. I appreciate all your sweet comments, your uplifting advice, your patience as I vent about the fact that we've yet to find a renter for our house. Most of all, I appreciate your authenticity and your voices, as well. Real life is so much more relatable than #reallife.

I'm linking up today with Jersey Girl Texan World & Oh Hey Girl.

20 days and counting

We officially have less than three weeks until we move to Washington, and you want to know how much I've packed and prepped? Nada. Nothing. Zilch. I mean, I did some clean out for the village-wide cleanup two weeks ago, but beyond that, I've just been in denial. I think every single MILSPO out there can attest to the fact that it's often a hurry-up-and-wait scenario, and right now I'm just in denial. Here's the thing - summer is the most beautiful time of year here at Fort Drum. The trees are finally green, the birds are chirping, the skies are the most incredible Canadian blue...we survived winter, and now we have to pack it all away and move.

Don't get me wrong - I'm excited to move. I actually like moving and seeing new places. I do not, however, enjoy the process of moving. We made a home here, and now we have to start all over again.

So, as I revel in my lovely state of denial, my mom is coming up this weekend to see Black River one last time prior to our move. We're planning to head to Kingston again (assuming they let me cross the border with the boys without Ryan) and, hopefully, pack a few things away. We'll see how much packing actually gets done, but I know my boys are thrilled that Oma is going to come stay a couple days again. And no, they have no idea right now...we're surprising them!

I know I totally vaguebooked you guys the other day with my post about my passion project, and I apologize for all the cryptic talk! The truth is, I'm writing a book, and I'm excited - and nervous - to begin this project. I've started getting the pieces in motion, and I'm really looking forward to jumping in with both feet. So, fingers crossed this starts moving in the right direction. Also, re: blog changes. I'm transitioning my blog to Wordpress in the next couple weeks. I've thought about it for a while now, and as I transition this to more of my happy, positive, writing space, I'm looking forward to the functionality of it, as a whole.

So, revel in this little bitty baby blog while you can, folks, because changes are coming, and I couldn't be more ready for them!

the making of a passion project

You guys.

It's no secret that I've kind of been on this sort of introspective journey of sorts for a few months now. I've been working hard on self-care, taking the time to build up a better self-image identity, and finding my own voice - or brand. These things are hard for anybody in all walks of life. I feel like, at 32 years old, my biggest fear remains being ordinary, and part of being an Army wife or MILSPO brings this sort of conflict of interests if you will. Ever since I found out that I was passed over for a promotion, searched for a new job to no avail, and went through knee surgery, I've been kind of on this tumultuous little ride that I've been worried I'm going to fall off at any given moment.

But here's the thing; in the throes of yet another night of insomnia, stress, and restlessness, I felt myself being prompted to write something down. Now, some of you who've followed my blog (or my old book blog) for some time know that I'm a writer by trade. My singular lifelong career goal has been to write a book, but I've always been at a loss for what to write about.

Last night though, it was made extremely clear to me what to write, and I finally feel like I have some clarity in all of it. I feel like the Lord works in mysterious ways. He doesn't always tell us what he's doing or why He is doing it, but every. single. thing happens for a reason - of that I have no doubt.

I finally understand why I was passed over for a promotion and why this job hunt hasn't been working so well. I have bigger things on my mind. I have bigger goals. The company I work for is great - truly - because they're going to enable me to follow this passion project, and I absolutely cannot wait to share it with you sooner, hopefully, than later.

If there's one thing I'm learning through all of this, it's to listen and acknowledge the little things. Sometimes we don't figure out what we're supposed to be doing all at once. Sometimes it's a series of little events, moments, and sparks of inspiration that all join together to send an overriding message, and with that message, you find your purpose and your meaning.

I'm a big believer that everything happens for a reason, and I truly cannot wait to share more of this super exciting passion project with you going forward. To start though, get ready for some big blog changes in the coming weeks!

I'm linking up today with Jessi's Design for WHW.

pawleys island, south carolina

I'd say that I'm sorry about the sudden radio silence last week, but I'm really not! The boys and I were in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, soaking up some sun, sand, and sea with family. It was a fantastic time that was spent decompressing, connecting with family, and really enjoying the here and now. I was working from South Carolina, so the last thing I wanted to do was add another thing to my plate and force out a blog, as well. Plus, I think there's something to be said about being really intentional and just staying in the present, all of which we did.

You might remember that the boys and I went last year, as well, while Ryan was deployed. Sadly, Ryan missed our trip again this year since he's TDY right now, but we enjoyed being able to have the rest of the family there (minus Uncle Josh) at least for a little while. Last year, Porter was too little to really appreciate or enjoy our time there. This time, he was the happiest little boy in the land! We spent our days alternating between the pools (there are two), the hot tub, and the beach. Though I can't get in the ocean yet because of my knee, I was able to swim a little in the pool and hot tubs with my boys, and it was a blast.

We've been going to Pawleys Island since I was little - probably around three years old. We stopped when we all went to college, but we started up again last year, and I'm so glad we did. Things have changed a little around there - it's busier, the Piggly Wiggly is gone (sad face) and replaced with a Bi-Lo, and there are more visitors. At the same time though, so much of it is the same and familiar. It's still the opposite of Myrtle Beach. It has a down-home country vibe, and it has a heart of locals, which is so much better than the average tourist trap. We rent a condo each year at Shipyard Village at Litchfield by the Sea, and it's worth it by every stretch of the imagination.

I actually even managed to see a good friend from college while we were there! Lisa and I swam at the University of Utah together, and now she and her husband are stationed in South Carolina. She brought her three little boys (and her one on the way!), and they spent the day with us in the sun. It was too fun.

If you're ever in the area (and you totally should go), here are some things you need to check out:

Quigley's Pint & Plate - grab a burger and brew...you won't regret it

The Hammocks Shops - an eclectic mix of country decor and boutique clothing...great for a rainy day

Rustic Table - their cheesy grits and fried pickles are out of this world

The Local Grid - it's about an 8-mile drive from Pawleys Island, but the coffees are divine

Was flying with two boys solo the easiest? No. Was it worth it? Heck yes. I'm officially out of my knee brace (!!!), and we enjoyed the journey together, yet again. Here's the thing; these little trips are challenging, but I wouldn't trade them for the world. We see places, we meet people, we experience things, and we grow together. This trip back to South Carolina was so. damn. worth it.

I'm linking up today with B Loved Boston for Weekending.

we'll be seeing you

Goodbyes are the worst - even if you know they're not for that long.

Ryan left today for six weeks of training at another stateside Army post, and I'll be totally, truthfully honest. It sucks. I know this is the reality of Army life, and I get it. I can live with that...but explaining to our little boys why Daddy is gone again is the worst. They don't understand. I chose this, but they didn't, and that's hard.

Six weeks is easy though, all things considered. It's nothing compared to the nine months we did while Ryan was in Kuwait and Iraq last year. We're going to stay busy, and we're going to live by the endless countdowns that military families know all too well.

• Tomorrow, the boys and I are leaving for New Hampshire for a few days.
• On Monday, I'm heading somewhere solo, and though I'm not going to share why just yet, please keep your fingers crossed and send allllll the positive vibes
• On the 22nd, the boys and I are flying to South Carolina for a week in the sun with Oma & Opa
  
  

Our time here at Fort Drum is truly limited now. We're under two months from leaving our home here in Black River to make a new one out at Fort Lewis in Washington. Once the boys and I return from South Carolina, there's less than a month until Ryan comes home to use, so we're going to soak up this time, get things done, and count the days till Daddy's return.

It never gets easier, but we do grow to accept it and appreciate our time together more than ever before. We'll see you soon, honey.

embracing more with less

I've mentioned a few times before that the concept of minimalism is such an appealing thing to Ryan and myself. Perhaps it's because I blog in a lifestyle community, or perhaps it's simply because society is so inundated with things lately, but I've been feeling almost smothered lately. With our upcoming move to Washington, it's become so apparent just how much stuff we have. We don't have a huge house, but we have so many things. And here's the thing, I can tell you how most of these items in our house came about.

The random assortment of toys is, of course, for the boys, but so many of them were the result of stress. I like buying things. I'm not going to lie. I read Rachel Cruz's book, Love Your Life, Not Theirs, and she mentioned that she's a spender, as well. I don't have a problem spending money. I enjoy it. In the throes of postpartum depression with Spencer, buying baby things was my go-to. I'd buy clothes, baby toys, books - anything to distract me from the issue at hand. Here's the thing though...none of it helped. None of those purchases made me happier.

I look at our house sometimes, and I have a hard time looking at it through my own eyes. So much of what we see in the lifestyle blogging community is Instagram-perfect. We have the perfect white-on-white kitchens. There are flawless living rooms with not a speck of clutter in sight. There are the walk-in closets hung perfectly in order by color and sleeve length - just because. There's nothing wrong with that.

What is wrong, however, is looking at my home through the lens of another and comparing what we have to theirs.

We have a beautiful home. We have two great incomes, a comfortable lifestyle, a debt that's quickly disappearing, and we're happy. One of the biggest realizations that Ryan and I had this past weekend is how little all these material things matter to us. They don't offer happiness. My boys aren't going to remember their childhood and say "oh, remember that coloring book?" No. They're going to remember the memories. They're going to remember the zebras they saw while swimming out on the porch in Zebula. They're going to remember the pillow forts they played in when it was too cold to go outside. They'll remember the ice cream dates on sticky summer nights.

Those are the things that matter. Only, they're moments - not things.

Ryan and I have such big goals for the future, and I have so much that I want to teach my boys and show them about the world. I want them to know how big the world is out there. I want them to understand that having the biggest house on the block won't make them the happy. I want to show them that the best moments in life are shared together. It's about spontaneity and imperfection.

I don't have the most perfect photos, but I have the most perfect memories, and that's what matters.

Ryan has ten years (give or take) left on his military contract, and then we're set to be nomads. We have a dream of embracing a tinier lifestyle - one on the go. A life that shows my boys how big, how vast, and how beautiful the life can be when you ditch the excess. How, exactly, that will pan out is yet to be set in stone, but we have so many dreams that are bigger than a great house and fancy car.

Minimalism is more than a trend. Truly. It's about finding more in less. Less belongings, more freedom. Less debt, more living. Less flawless, far more beautiful. I know that I have a long way to go with this, but I wanted to share something that was so freeing and so liberating, little though it was. I've been collecting (read: hoarding) toys for the boys. I found a Lego table at a yard sale while Ryan was deployed, and I bought it. The boys rarely used it though, and if they did, it was just to climb on it. I kept saying that one day, maybe they'll use it.

This weekend, as Ryan and I were talking, I felt prompted to get rid of it. It's a silly little thing, but I posted it on an online marketplace for just $10 - and an hour later, it was gone. Remember that rush I said I get from purchasing? I felt it while getting rid of something, too, and I think that speaks volumes. While, yes, I want my boys to have everything, I don't want them to have all the things.

I want them to have the world.