Madelynn plays soccer!

This spring Madelynn played soccer! She did such an amazing job and really fell in love with the sport. She's so excited about playing again this spring and little sister is begging to follow in her footsteps. We had so much fun at practice and watching her play games. Here are a few photos from her time on the field. They were the Mean Green Machines and she was #6.

The Girl's Christmas Parties 2016

Today Jonathan, Noah and I got to go to the girl's schools and join them for their Christmas parties. It's the first year both girls are in public school together, so it was a pretty hectic morning/afternoon! 

Annabella's class, along with the other pre-K class and kindergarten classes had their annual sing-a-long. Annabella is usually so shy and reserved, but she ROCKED her songs!! She did all of the singing and dancing and thoroughly enjoyed herself. She also enthusiastically waved at us each time she made eye contact and it was the sweetest thing! 

After her sing-a-long, we had lunch with her in her classroom for her class party. Noah is so cute when he goes into Anna's class because the teacher is incredibly inclusive and always lets Noah join in in everything they do. He got his own chair at her table, ate with her and got to make his own reindeer food!

Once we were done with Annabella, we took a short break and got to join Madelynn's class for her party. Today was a special pajama day and they got to eat pizza, have a book exchange, and they sang 3 adorable songs for all of the parents. She wasn't feeling 100%, but she still enjoyed herself and was ecstatic about checking out and going home early!

I am so excited to start winter break with my babies and squeeze in all of the traditions (old and new) that we can before Christmas gets here on Sunday! 

More NEW ITEMS in the shop!!

I feel like all I've been doing lately is working on new items for the shop. I am feeling such a surge of creativity and I'm so thankful for this gift that God has given me. Tonight I've been able to get two more outfits ready and listed and I'd like to share them with you tonight! 

We all know how precious little girls can be, but it is no JOKE that they are just as WILD as they are precious! Introducing the 'Wild One' first birthday tutu set. The tutu is the Aztec printed tutu that I posted earlier this week and I've combined it with a custom vinyl printed shirt.

I love everything about this set and I cannot wait to make more matching accessories and banners to go with it!!

The other set I added tonight is my new twirling skirt with a "One" birthday shirt. 

This set is so dainty and feminine, it's bound to be a birthday favorite! The skirt can fall right below the knee or right above it (on most girls). The vintage inspired print is one of a kind, but I'll also be adding a different option soon. 

I hope you've liked the two new options and I appreciate any and all shares of my blog and Etsy page!! 

Thank you so much for reading!

Xoxo

Leslie

Paisley Circle Ruffle Capris!

These ruffle bottom capris have been in the works for awhile and I was finally able to finish Madelynn's last night in time for church today. The girls both wore their pants to church and they were such a hit! For the photos, I paired them with one of the NEW flower crowns in my shop and I could not be happier with the result!! So feminine and just screaming SUMMER!! 

Here's a close up of just the pants, in case you were distracted by the beautiful girls ;) 

In case you missed the flower crown debut yesterday, here are some new photos of them wearing the white flower crown. GORGEOUS!! 

Thank you so much for reading and PLEASE visit, share, and buy something awesome and unique from MADSY BELLA BOUTIQUE!!

Xoxo

Leslie

*NEW TO THE SHOP* Mint, coral, and Aztec tutu!!

I think it's been pretty clear for a while now that mint and coral are HOT colors!! They scream femininity, summer and FUN! Mint and coral are classic colors that are not going anywhere and lately Aztec prints have definitely come back in style! That's why I'm releasing my new mint, coral and Aztec printed shabby chic tutu.

I'm loving the lace bow detail I've added to the last two tutus that I've released, so I think that's going to be an ongoing addition, whether it's in lace or ribbon form. These are ready to ship in size 12 months and at this point, only THREE are available. As always, entire ensembles are available upon request. Add a flower crown or headband, barefoot sandals, custom shirt or some matching party banners! 

You can see the listing on Etsy here and contact me either here or on Etsy with any questions or requests!

Thanks for looking and keep your eyes peeled for even MORE exciting Madsy Bella Boutique items and announcements in the near future!

Xoxo
Leslie

*NEW TO THE SHOP* Flower Crowns

Spring is in the air! Or if you're in Georgia, it feels like the middle of summer already! We are in full-on summer mode here-playing in the water, summer dresses and sandals and FLOWER CROWNS! Madsy Bella Boutique has jumped on the bandwagon and we are now offering handmade flower crowns. They are too beautiful NOT to make! So far, we have two options listed in the shop, but I will definitely be adding more soon-especially PINK! 

Because they're so dreamy, I've also added a tutu and flower crown birthday set to the shop. Again, more will be coming, but for now this mint green one is GORGEOUS and sure to be a show stopper for your princess's first birthday!! The tutu is made from mint green tulle and ribbon with a gorgeous vintage inspired lace bow in the front and the flower crown has a matching lace touch in the back. We'll be more than happy to add a custom onesie-possibly white with gold lettering?

Speaking of princesses...

Here are a couple of shots of my youngest princess modeling my purple and white flower crown. My favorite part is the lace detail in the back-I think it's the perfect finishing touch for your flower child!

Visit my Etsy shop for prices and remember that I ALWAYS accept custom orders, so if you're looking for something special, please reach out to me via Etsy with your requests!! 

XOXO-

Leslie

Our Growing Babies

It's been quite a while since I've given an update on the kids-or updated the blog at all. I'm busy with daily life and often forget to record our memories. It's something I'm hoping to improve going forward because these little ones are growing faster than I ever imagined and I don't want to forget a second.

     Madelynn: 5 years, 10 months

Madelynn is a month and a half away from finishing kindergarten and turning SIX. Her birthday is on the last day of school this year and she's been planning her party for months. She is thriving at school. She's doing far better than I could have ever wanted. She has tons of friends, is doing first grade work, reading like a champ and truly loves learning and playing with her new friends. She started soccer this month which has opened her up to more new friends and gives her something she can do that's just for her. She's playing at Blue Springs, where I played as a child, and I absolutely love the nostalgia. I never thought I'd be watching my little girl play on the same fields that I learned how to play soccer on. 

Madelynn is a natural leader and teacher. She comes home and teaches her sister things that she learned throughout the day and she loves teaching Noah how to do new things. Her relationship with Annabella and Noah is so sweet and unique. There is plenty of fighting and arguing, of course, but most of it is because Madelynn is trying to take control and they don't like it! She's kind, smart, funny, goofy, adventurous, fearless, helpful and loves Jesus. She accepted Jesus into her heart in October and was baptized in November. She goes to school and tells her friends all about Him and it makes my heart explode with pride. 

     Annabella: 3 years, 11.5 months

Annabella will be the big FOUR in 10 days. It blows my mind that my little girl is getting so big. She's finishing up her last month and half of preschool and is LOVING every second of it. She only goes twice a week, but she would be perfectly happy going full time. She's friends with her entire class and comes home talking about all of the fun things she did that day. She's recently learned how to write her name and she's doing really well writing all of her letters. At the end of class, her teacher lets them get a lolly pop and each day, she gets her little brother one. She has such a giving heart. 

Annabella is funny and has the silliest facial expressions of any of my kids. She's also intensely emotional and we're learning how to teach her to control her outbursts, but it's part of her personality and I love it. She's inquisitive about everything-always wanting to learn more and more, always asking question after question. We asked her if she wanted to go to pre-k at her current school or if she wanted to go to Madelynn's school and she immediately chose Madelynn's. So next year we'll have two littles at the same school. We're also putting her in gymnastics soon and I can't wait to see her individuality come out trying something new. She still LOVES little toys and creates stories with them all of the time. She's very creative, imaginative and loving. She still loves to curl up and snuggle with us and lately she's been asking for "a hug and a kiss" out of the blue. I love how affectionate she is. Three days a week, she's home with Noah while Madelynn's in school and their relationship has grown so much. They play together so well and love each other so much. She's not quite as selfless with him as she used to be and now that he's older they're fighting a lot more, haha. 

She loves to help me around the house and is finally starting to clean up after herself! She's also drawn to animals and animals seem to be drawn to her. We call her the animal whisperer. While Skillet will run from Madelynn or Noah, she lets Annabella pet and kiss her without flinching. The other cats and Dexter are the same way. She's very gentle and has a sweet, sweet spirit. We can all sense that. She talks about Jesus and asks questions about him all of the time. She's still in my Sunday school class at church and she's soaking in every last detail of our lesson each week.

     Noah: 2 years, 3 months

This little boys is still a wild card! He is fast, loud, wild, silly, cuddly and such a joy. He loves pow-pows (pretend guns), pirate swords, all things pirate and dinosaur, and BATMAN! He calls Batman, Bat-guy and it's so cute. He plays with action figures, has a Batman baseball cap and several other trinkets that he carries around regularly. He has a great appetite, but he can be pretty picky at dinner. He loves going to church and gets along with other children seamlessly. He's a lot like Madelynn socially-he jumps right into the chaos. He LOVES his sisters and has recently started calling Madleynn "Maa" and still calls Annabella "Sissy". He watches Madelynn play soccer, so he runs up to every ball and yells "kick!" He talks SO much! He pretends to work on his cars with screwdrivers, he LOVES having his hair done and will get the pomade for me to style it, he loves to help and he loves to play outside. 

Noah's rough, tough and fearless. Next year he'll be going to preschool twice a week to help get some of his energy out. :) He's a mama's boy, but man does he adore his daddy. He's very independent and has just started asking to go potty, so we're working on that right now. He is also sleeping in a toddler bed at night and rarely wakes up and comes downstairs. He's growing so much, so quickly, but it's so fun to watch!

I feel like this year has been the year with the most noticeable growth. The girls matured so much once they started school and Noah is gaining so much independence. Raising them is so much fun and it's such an honor to be able to watch them flourish. I'm so blessed to be their mommy. 











  

Life Lately

When you have three kids, there are lots of surprises. LOTS. They're good and bad. I find myself constantly learning and lately, I'm learning that life without being pregnant or having a small baby is so easy. I was pregnant and/or had a small baby from 2009-2014 and while those moments are precious, I'm so glad that the kids are getting a little older. I've also learned that siblings are the BEST, which I already knew but everyday it gets better and better. Their bond gets stronger and the little ones are growing and maturing, able to do things they couldn't just a few months ago. Here's an update on each of the kids this summer. 

Madelynn
Age: 5 years, 2 months

Words cannot describe how quickly Madelynn is growing. To me, raising her is the toughest because every stage that she's in is a stage that I've never experienced as a parent. She keeps me on my toes, but it's such a magnificent experience. Madelynn has a HUGE imagination and is constantly displaying that with her stories, plays, concerts, and how she plays with her siblings. She has never met a stranger, so she makes friends instantly with whoever she sees. She's fearless, stubborn, loving, cuddly, smart, wild and super fun. Kindergarten starts in less than a month and she is thrilled. She has also asked to start playing soccer, so we're looking into getting her registered for fall. She has a passion for Jesus and is always asking so many questions about him and she learns so much at church. On Saturdays, we go to the Farmers Market together and she's my salesman for Madsy Bella Boutique. She has a gift, seriously. I hate that she's getting older, because that means that she's getting a year closer to being grown up, but I love that she's getting older. Our conversations are deeper, she's learning so much, we're seeing her personality develop and a little lady take over. It's a privilege to raise her. It really is. 

Annabella 
Age: 3 years, 3 months

Annabella is one of a kind. She's easily the loudest person we've ever met! We constantly laugh at how loud she gets when she's excited. She is slightly timid, but she'll try just about anything after a little convincing. Once she's tried it, she decides immediately whether she likes or dislikes it and if she dislikes it, she's done for life! But that's good, because she's decisive and knows what she likes. Her relationship with Madelynn has always been special, but her relationship with Noah is growing. As he gets older, he's able to play with her and they are spending more time together as Madelynn goes off and does big girl things. We're seeing huge changes with Annabella as she gets older. She's becoming more confident in social situations and is completely comfortable playing with other kids, even when her sister isn't there. Which is great because she'll be starting preschool part time in the fall. Her imagination is huge also and we love listening to her stories and imaginative play. She loves tiny little toys and we always laugh at her love for her plastic jungle animals. So far, she hates sports! She's the sweetest, cuddliest little one of all. She loves nothing more than one on one snuggles and will curl up like a baby right in our arms. She'll fight tooth and nail over a toy with her sister, but if she has something her brother wants, she'll give it right to him with no argument. She's a caretaker, a lover, cuddly and amazingly sweet. Raising her is an honor. 

Noah

Age: 17 months

Noah. Where do I start with this one? He is so curious, wild, stubborn, funny, smart, sweet, independent, and challenging. Raising a boy is so different than raising girls. Now that he's able to do so many things on his own, he is adamant about doing almost everything on his own. He's determined to be a big boy. He climbs, jumps, grabs, and helps. Something sweet that he does is take the girls juice to them. When he sees their cups sitting down, he grabs them and takes them to his sisters and it's so sweet. He plays, runs, chases and squeals right along with them. He has no idea he's as young as he is. He rarely wants to be held or cuddled anymore unless it's night time. Jonathan and I put him to bed in his crib every night and we hold him for a few minutes and sing to him before putting him down. He hugs and squeezes us while we sing to him in the dark. It is by far my most favorite part of the day. I think that Jonathan and I secretly try to be the one who gets to hold him before bed because of how precious that moment is right before bed. He will break out in a dance in no time and he loves doing anything that makes us laugh or smile. As challenging as raising him can be, it's so incredibly amazing. 

As my kids are getting older, I'm seeing that I'm starting to gain some of my independence back. They're happy playing in their playroom in the basement or upstairs in their rooms without me. They dress up, have tea parties, build, draw, run, squeal and have a blast together. I'm somewhat dreading how the dynamic will change once the girls go to school. Life will be very different and I don't like when my schedule changes, but life does that. Life is full of moments-periods that you think will never end-but they do end. And before you know it, your babies aren't tiny babies anymore. I know that sounds crazy because Noah literally is still a baby, but because he has older sisters, he's more mature and independent than other kids his age. When the girls were 17 months old, I was 4 months pregnant with their newest sibling. Not this time. I think we've decided that we're done having children and we're comfortable watching our precious babies grow and flourish, just the three of them. God has truly blessed me and I could not be more grateful.

Yes, I'm a Roadside Picker...

In my last post where I showed you guys our kids' art space in our new basement, I mentioned that I picked up the cabinet on the side of the road. I admit it, I'm a roadside picker. If I see something clean and awesome on the side of the road, it's probably going to come home with me. In this case, renters in our old neighborhood had moved and left a ton of stuff behind. The owners of the property threw it all to the curb and I mosied on down and drug it back up to my house! I definitely have rules when I'm roadside picking:

1. It can't be in a pile of actual trash-it has to be clean enough to put in the car with my kids
2. No fabric of any kind. Hard surfaces ONLY.
3. It has to be something that I'm going to use right away. We don't have the space to store roadside junk that may or may not ever get used.

With that being said, I knew immediately what I would use that cabinet for. Which was to store art supplies for the babies. 

This is what it looked like before I painted it. (I had already taken the drawers out and sprayed them before I remembered to take photos)

The main issue with it is that it was dirty. I cleaned it up and then I used a green brillo-type sponge to rough it up and prep it for painting. I don't like to sand and I use every means possible to avoid it. Luckily, with spray paint, there's really not much need for sanding. 

The top was the worst part and yes, you can see the texture through the new paint. BUT since it was just a cabinet for the kids and I knew I'd end up putting something on top of it, I moved ahead. Another option if you were too concerned would be to Modpodge fabric on top, or even spray glue decorative paper. 

This is the spray paint I used. Rust-oleum's 2x Ultra Cover in Ocean Mist.

I applied two light coats to the entire cabinet and then I went through and touched everything up before letting it dry for several hours.

After it was dry, I put it all back together and moved it on downstairs. Down the road, I may paint the sides of the drawers a fun color and maybe put some drawer liners in, but for now, it's serving it's purpose just fine. 

Please don't tell me I'm the only one who picks up perfectly good furniture off of the side of the road?! I saved it from going to a landfill, so I basically saved the planet, saved money in my pocket AND provided a beautiful and functional piece of furniture for my children. Win, win, win! 

You can click here to see the full art space tour with before and after photos.

The Kids Art Space REVEAL!

I've already mentioned that the kitchen was #1 on our list to renovate when we bought our house, but the runner up was the basement. The previous owner had partially completed some of the drywall, but there was still a TON to finish. He had even taped dirty carpet to the floor! His decorating style definitely did NOT match mine! 

It was essential that we finish the basement quickly because we wanted to create a fun family space in the basement that we can all enjoy. Our new house is slightly smaller than our old house, so we needed the extra square feet. So far the room is finished, painted and floored. I'm slowly decorating it and dividing it into three zones: an art zone for the kids, a family room space with a TV and the kids toys, and a space for Jonathan's guitars, amps, etc. The family space is in progress, but the art zone is COMPLETE! This is what the basement looked like when we moved in:

And this is what this sad, dark, partially finished corner looks like now!

There are no windows in the basement, so it's necessary to decorate with light colors. The walls turned out darker than I wanted them to be, but the room is huge and I didn't realize it until I was finished, so I wasn't about to repaint. I'm sure I will later. The ceiling is also painted a pretty light blue, which is the same blue as in our kitchen. Jonathan installed the floors himself and we are in LOVE. We bought them from Lowes and they were insanely easy to install. Even though they're not real wood, it's next to impossible to tell.

For the kids' space, I used items that we already had. I bought NOTHING new. It is a HUGE boost of confidence for kids to see their art and their photos displayed. Their framed art work is from their old playroom. As they create new masterpieces, we'll swap them out with the old. The kids LOVE seeing their art decorate the room. 

I also displayed some photos of the kids next to the bright art on the other wall. There's a photo from each of their birthdays this year and a silly Madsy and Anna superhero photo. The cabinet was a find off the side of the road! It was sturdy and the drawers looked great, so after spray painting it (and a good scrub down!) it was the perfect addition to this corner. The drawers are wide and deep, so they easily house all of the coloring books, construction paper, paint, Playdoh, etc. 

We bought the easel and hanging storage from Ikea. Their coloring pencils, crayons and chalk are stored in the buckets.

(Disregard the change of art over the storage cabinet. I changed my mind after hanging these photos, they just weren't taking up enough of the wall)

We bought this Alex art table from Learning Express 4 years ago. It had obnoxious bright circles painted all over the tops of the table and stools, so earlier this year I repainted the surfaces with chalkboard paint. They love drawing on the table and it's even something Noah can do without worrying about the mess. 

I can't wait to finish the rest of the basement and show y'all very soon! For fun, here's a before and after! 

Have a great weekend!!!