ONEderful World First Birthday Party

It's hard to believe, but our sweet Addie Jo is already one! Crazy to think it has been a whole year since she joined the world- a baby girl- the sweetest surprise. Addie made it just before the pandemic started, but that didn't mean she escaped a pandemic birthday. Even though we were unable to host our usual large shebang like we did for Eli's first few birthdays, we knew we still wanted to celebrate our precious girl. If you're looking to plan a "ONEderful World" first birthday, or even just a pandemic first birthday, here are all of the details!

I knew that I wanted to do a fun little theme and play on words for the party. Eli had a "Onesie" Party, which was super fun, and you can check out all of the details here. I wanted to bring along a lot of the fun elements from his party, like the time capsule and One Second Every Day video. But I also wanted something new for Addie. Addie moved into the same nursery that we had for E, and it is travel/world themed, so I figured why not use the decor from her bedroom to plan around a theme? (This is my favorite new mom hack for bday parties. We're planning a Dino-FOUR party for E using his Dino decor, and he had a Three-Rex Party last year!) 

I have also always loved the lyrics to "Your Song" by Elton John, so I wanted to incorporate those into the birthday theme, making it "How ONEdeful Life is When You're in the World". So it was a nice mix of "one", the world, and gratefulness for our sweet girl. I was able to get a dear friend's daughter to write the lyrics so I could frame them. I went with the original lyrics for this piece so that I could keep it in Addie's room beyond her first birthday. They turned out so beautifully! 

I wanted to keep the decor pretty, but simple. I was thinking rose gold, pale greens and blues, and some gold. I found a super reasonable "one" balloon banner on Amazon that also came with six cute confetti-filled balloons that Eli and Addie loved playing with. (Just be careful, we popped them after the party and confetti went everywhere)! I also ordered a tissue banner from Amazon that honestly took way more time than it probably should have for me to put together, but I did love the final result! I may use it again for future birthdays! I also did a simple monthly photo banner and a wrote out a few of Addie's "stats".

Other than that, I gave the theme and my ideas to the ever-talented Hailey the Cake Lady, and she ran with it. She made the most beautiful and delicious smash cake for Addie, larger cake for guests, and amazing sugar cookies. If you are local to KC, you should definitely check her out for any of your baking needs! The last thing I did was tie in a bit of our theme through our meal, which was for immediate family only. Since we can't really travel the world right now, I labeled food from different countries! We did chips and salsa (Mexico), pizza (Italy), Greek Salad, and Asian Salad. It was simple but kind of fun. 

Because of the pandemic, we chose to do a FB Event and then "go live" with Addie's smash cake. It was super fun, and a way for people other than our immediate family to see Addie dive in to some sweets. That girl doesn't mess around! It was fun to see people comment on there and family from out of town were able to participate too! I also used the FB event to share a link to a "virtual" time capsule form, where people could fill out what they normally would have done in person. Then I just took the results and recorded them on the time capsule time sheets to add to Addie's time capsule for when she turns 18!

Finally, I did keep up with my One Second Every Day app, so you can watch Addie's below! I shared it in the FB event as well so people could view if they wanted. I love having a little moment from each of her first year. I did one for each of Eli's first three years, so I will probably do the same with Addie.

All in all, it was a good, simple, and fun celebration with our sweet Addie. Hopefully "pandemic birthday" pivots will end soon, but for now this was a great way to celebrate our little lady. Life truly is wonderful with her in the world! Happy Birthday, Addie Jo. You are prized and precious! 

Currently,

Kelsie

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Where You Water It

I think it is always easy to see another scenario, another situation, and compare it to ours. To wish or long for what others have, even to be jealous of elements of it. The grass must be greener over there, we tell ourselves. They must have it so much easier, so much better: "If only I had more time, more money, a better personality, the chance to be home, a better marriage, a better body, the chance to work a job I love"... insert jealous item here. But the thing is, that never really gets us anywhere. It leaves us feeling unhappy, discontent, and maybe even a little guilty. And we ultimately have changed nothing, other than suddenly feeling bad about the little plot of land we've been given, a beautiful plot with lots of potential. 

Last year, before we put 300 pounds of grass seed down at The Brim and prayed it wouldn't wash away, Aaron built and installed an irrigation system. We didn't have a building, no fancy getting ready room- heck, we didn't even have long term bathrooms yet. We definitely weren't offering everything other venues could offer at this point. But we had some poles, a dream, a story, and (hopefully) would have some nice grass. So we watered it like crazy. Each month, we pumped hundreds of dollars into keeping the ceremony space and tent area watered. And you know what? It grew. It grew, and it stayed green. We let other areas of our 16.6 acres go wild, but, where it mattered, we committed to making sure it stayed green. 

Now that I am a couple of months into my sabbatical, and we are in more of our "off-season" with The Brim, I've actually had a little time to breathe and a little time to reflect. And I've realized more and more, that it's true: the grass is greener where you water it. There are things about working full-time (outside of just the home) that I miss. I miss co-workers. I (strangely) miss dressing up and getting ready and feeling a little bit put together. I miss uninterrupted time to get work done and to use my brain in another way that doesn't involve making PBJs, corraling toddler breakdowns, and constantly folding loads of laundry. 

But on the other side, I sure don't miss other things. I don't miss grading essays. I don't miss having to get a kiddo up and ready and packed and to daycare before I even made it to school to start my day. I don't miss all the extra pumping, or missing my babies during the day. I don't miss feeling like I've ran a marathon even before 8 am. 

I can completely resonate with what we "miss", what we long for as a working mom, or as a stay at home mom, because I've now had my toes in a little bit of each. Quite honestly, y'all, there is always someone who wishes they had what you do now. If you are longing for what someone else has, there is probably another out there longing for what you have. But none of us, not a single one, has it all perfect- despite what Instagram may say. 

Although my stay at home experience is a bit different because I'm running our business from home at the same time, I see the loneliness that exists there. I see the longing to find value and worth in a society that often doesn't offer that to the mom who is home, completing the daily grind and keeping the home running. Who is tired of the never-ending cycle of dishes and laundry and cleaning the same messes. In comparison, I spent more time (3 years) as a working mom, and I remember the guilt I felt handing off my baby to someone else each day, how hard it was to drive away from a crying kiddo that I didn't really want to leave. How much I felt like I was missing out. 

People say the grass is always greener on the other side, but here's the thing: the grass is greener where you water it. I can choose to sit and think about what I no longer have (even though there are things I now have that I once longed for). OR, I can choose to think about how to water where I'm at now. How to make it the greenest and best that I can, making the most of my current plot of land.

So how do I do this? I am learning that it starts with self-reflection (hello, blog post and writing things down). It starts with realizing what makes me stressed and what makes me passive aggressive or upset- finding the root of that and figuring out how to re-frame my views on it. With a pandemic, a new baby, and a new business, it hasn't just been an easy breezy year (for anyone- many have had it much much worse). When I choose to recognize what keeps me mentally and emotionally at my best in my current world, my current field of grass, I start to advocate for and rearrange my routines to make it happen. I choose to turn my eyes away from someone else's grass and get out the hose to water my own. 

For me, personally, I have (HAVE) to work out basically every day or I am stressed out and short with people. So I will fit that in, whether that's waiting for Aaron to get home, seeing if I can find a friend or family member to pop by so I can sprint over to 9Round, or just running on the treadmill for even 20 minutes while both kids are napping. And though I don't often choose to do it, even working out after they've gone to bed or before they are up is worth it to me. And each time I choose to make this a priority, I open the spigot, and the sprinklers turn on. And the grass perks up. It's not perfect. But it's better.

Another thing that I'm finding works for me is reaching out to others for a little bit of help once a week with the kids. In my scenario, my mom and my mother in law are within 15 minutes of me, along with a couple of fabulous sister in laws and some very dear friends. It may not always be long, but having a couple of hours, or even a whole day to get things done for our business, our home, and myself is keeping me sane and helping me feel like I'm not having to neglect the kids, doing everything at once but none of it well. I recognize that not everyone is lucky enough to have family so close who can watch your kids without a price tag, but I would even consider finding another mama who is home that you could alternate dropping your kiddos with and getting a little time to yourself. Or, if it is a possibility and reality for you, maybe even paying someone once a week or part of a day so you can have a little time to get things done. The to-do list gets crossed off, you have a little time away, and you're a better mama when you're back with your kids again. And so, the sprinkler turns on. 

Lastly, I am trying to build in social time for myself- a major extrovert who can get a little crazy when I'm with only kids ages four and under all day. On the days I "work" without my kids, I try to build community with other wedding vendors. I try to be intentional about reaching out via text to friends, and Marco Polo has been a lifesaver lately because I can see and hear people and they can get back to me when it is convenient (and I can do the same with them). Although COVID has restricted some of the in-person possibilities, my best scenario would be having a park or play date with another mama at least once a week, and leaving the house at least once a day (even if it's just for a walk, a trip to the store, or even to fill our gas tank). These little "getaways" disrupt a long day at home and give me just a little bit of sanity. And each time I go on them, the water droplets start to rain down, giving me a little life and greening things up a bit. 

So the next time you start to compare, start to peek around and see who's got the greenest grass on the block, remember this. We are all in different seasons, different scenarios with different struggles and with different joys. What we have now could look much different in the blink of an eye. So rather than sadly looking at our brown blades of grass and wishing for more somewhere else, let's choose to do the work. Let's plant the seeds; let's put in the irrigation; let's do the work to see the beauty that our own situation possesses. Myself definitely included. Let's water our own grass, and be a part of helping others do the same. The grass is greener where you water it, and I'm striving to get the hose going this year and to do the best I can with what I've been given. Because it truly is a gift. 

Currently,

Kelsie

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Eli's Big Boy Room Reveal

Well, it's been almost a year. But hey, turns out that having a baby, navigating a world-wide pandemic, teaching online, and starting/running a business can give you a run for your money! Anyways, it has been a long time coming, but I'm finally sharing Eli's Big Boy Room today on the blog. Check it out! 

Little man needed to move over to a big boy room before his little sis made her way into the world. Last Thanksgiving, we decided to have Eli vacate the crib and get used to his new room a couple of months before my due date. Turned out to be a good idea, because Addie joined us 10 days early, just like Eli did! 

We started with naps in the big bed (a full), and then transitioned to full time sleeping in there. Eli was nearly three at this point, but he had never really been a crib climber so we rode out the crib as long as we could. We had a full bed in our guest room anyways, with a reversible navy comforter, so I took that and ran with it. I did buy a "bumper" online from Amazon, which I love because it just goes underneath the fitted sheet and is soft and easy to slide in or out and take along with us if needed. Honestly, on trips, we have just put pillows underneath the fitted sheet and it has accomplished a similar effect. Here's the link to our bumper! 

Eli is a HUGE dinosaur fan (cue the THREE REX Bday Party), so I wanted to run with that, and tie in pops of navy with the bedspread. I also wanted to lighten up the walls, and change up the white trim. We redid our own bedroom a couple of years ago, so we went with the same trim color (Bistro White), along with a gray that was on the same paint strip as our master bathroom, but was a shade lighter: Valspar's Seashell Gray. I LOVE it so much and it really makes the room feel light and airy. Plus, I don't want to re-do E's room a million times when he changes his mind on what he likes. So I figured if we did a pale gray then we could change out bed sheets and other decor, but we wouldn't be constantly re-painting the room. And it's great for a guest room or future re-sale if needed! 

I wanted the decor to be simple and affordable, yet all about Eli. So we went with a few different E pieces that I found at Hobby Lobby on sale, along with some of Eli's own decor. There are canvases of bulldozers that both he and Aaron painted (can you guess whose is whose ha?). There is also a framed coloring page he made the summer I was pregnant, which is pretty crazy because he somehow always knew that he was getting a baby sister even though she was a surprise to us! (We didn't find out the gender of our babies before they were born- best surprise ever.)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

From there, I found some curtains I liked from Kohl's that weren't nuts expensive. I ended up loving the simple navy stripes, and I liked how it both a little color into the room. We also had a couple of awesome Royals paintings that we got from a Wine and Design shop one time when we were there for a Valentine's Day Date. Turns out that they often sell their sample paintings they make while teaching classes, and they were really affordable- like five bucks! 

We pulled all of our books off of the old bookshelf we already had in the room from when it was our "guest room" and found new homes for them. Then I purchased a couple of cute, simple bins from Kohl's so I would have a place to dump Eli's toys and have it look organized without spending a bunch. I love them so much and Eli can pull them out and play, then pick up after himself. It's the best. 

We finished up the decor with a few photo frames and family pictures out at The Brim with Eli. They were our fall family photos, as well as our last photos as a family of three, so they are extra special to us and I don't know that I'll replace them anytime soon. I also moved over a few of the hospital photos with E from the nursery. We don't have a door on the closet still, but I honestly don't know that we'll worry about it for a while. I keep it pretty organized, and found a couple of Dollar Store Bins that make it look decent without a door. Who knows.

All in all, E is thrilled with his room and is happy to show it off to anyone who comes to visit or play. We are so grateful that he is such a great sleeper and that he loves his room and had no problems moving over before Baby Sis joined us. He was happy to let the nursery be Addie's room, and we're glad he has his own amazing space! 

Currently,

Kelsie

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Sabbatical

The school year ended May 22nd, and it didn’t even feel like it. I was at home with my kids, not on a sun-soaked football field signing yearbooks for the sweet students I spent the last year, or two, or three years with. There was a unique beauty in online teaching. Being home with Eli and Addie, not having to “go back” from maternity leave, having freedom in my days. But of course there were also struggles: balancing two kids and two teachers working from home, missing the in person interaction of students, co-workers, and friends. One of the weirdest things about it all is this: I walked out of school on January 8, 2020 not knowing that Addie would be born the next morning, that COVID-19 would force online learning, or that I would never get the chance to say goodbye to my students in person. Not knowing that I wouldn’t be back.

For the 2020-2021 school year, I will be taking a leave of absence, or "sabbatical" from teaching. I am both thrilled to be home with my babies, and also a little bit terrified. This is a decision that was not made lightly or easily. I knew that being away from Eli while teaching full-time had been more difficult for me than I anticipated, but I had done it. We had a great sitter, amazing grandmas, and a fairly good routine down. But with Addie joining us, I feel my heart calling me to my own kids for a season. Knowing that I would be teaching full time, adding another kid to the crazy morning mix, and managing a busier season with The Brim left me feeling like I would be doing everything and yet doing none of it well. I wrestled and wrestled with this decision, mainly because I recognize that I have it so good. My poor husband, family, and friends have listened to me talk about whether or not to do this a million times, and even after I finally made my decision, I second-guessed myself. I mourned all of the good things about teaching that I knew that I would be letting go of. It’s a blessing to have a job that you feel torn about stepping away from, even if it's just for a year, and a crazy year at that. 

In May of 2011, I graduated from the University of Missouri and walked the halls of Liberty High School for the first time as a teacher that August. For the last nine years, I have known nothing other than putting on LHS gear and heading across 152 to the school, home of the Blue Jays, to spend my days with pretty incredible kiddos and some really wonderful co-workers. I came in as a 22 year old, freshly out of college, and since then I've had two classrooms, got married, earned my Master's Degree, and had two babies- along with countless other big life moments. I have grown as an adult and have seen the journey of life take different roads than I would ever have anticipated. Teaching AP and Gifted ELA has meant teaching some of the most brilliant, capable, and creative students. And it is very difficult to give that up, knowing that I may never be back in the same place.  

For now, I am basically a "frozen" employee. During my leave, I can put my name in to be “reinstated” and I would be able to get the next open teaching job in my certification (9-12 ELA or Gifted K-12) within the school district. Obviously, this means I am not guaranteed to be back at LHS, which has made all of this much, much harder as I step out of a year where there was certainly no closure. I literally went into my room for one two-hour period and took nine years worth of things off the walls and out of the file cabinets. It felt strange, emotional, and anti-climactic. Surreal really. Normally I would've had weeks of packing things up, slowly navigating through files while still seeing my students and treasuring these last memories with them. My neighbor teacher would have come in with a mug of coffee and we would have laughed about a crazy kid story. I would have shared senior superlatives and read my annual Letter to My Students. Instead, I teared up, took off my mask to take one last selfie outside my room, and walked down an empty hallway by myself, carrying the weight of the fact that I may never be back as a teacher at LHS again. It was like ripping off a bandaid. I cried when I left my keys on a desk in the normally bustling, empty office. That being said, there is also a sense of freedom in knowing that I’m making the right decision for right now, even though there’s so much unknown. Even though it’s scary. 

When people ask, “What do you do?”, I normally say I'm a teacher. For this next year, I’m not really sure yet how I will respond to that question. Honestly, I know this school year will look different for all of the teachers. Not having a typical "first day of school" will feel extra strange for us all; we'll miss the normalcy of our days, the pre-COVID school climate that was better than we realized at the time. My heart goes out to all the teachers in the trenches this year (whether online or virtual), including my own husband. I’m realizing that teaching has been a really huge part of my identity, and the only job that I felt sure I would ever do: potentially at the only school I would ever teach at for 30+ years. But while I find out what the Lord has for the future, I know that I am going to cherish this year with my children, and trust that He will take me right where I should be (and it seems that this sabbatical proved to be pretty timely). He has never failed me yet. 

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It’s hard to believe that over a thousand students have filled the desks in my classroom over the last eight years. 👩🏽‍🏫 A thousand futures, a thousand smiles, a thousand precious lives that have crossed paths with my own. They are my absolute favorite part of teaching: the students. If you were one of my previous students OR YL friends (who'll forever be some of "my kids"), comment below with what you’re up to these days! In honor of all the incredible kiddos I've seen over the years (some who aren’t “kiddos” at all anymore), click @currentlykelsie and the #linkinbio to see my "letter to my students”- my most popular blog post EVER. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all the amazing educators I had, taught with, and still learn from! You make a difference! 💕#teachersofinstagram #teacherappreciationweek #teach

A post shared by Kelsie Kleinmeyer | Blogger (@currentlykelsie) on May 6, 2019 at 6:12am PDT

Whatever the next chapter looks like, I am forever grateful for what this one has been. There have been thousands of amazing kids that I've had the pleasure of teaching and have connected with through years of Liberty YoungLife, and I would not have traded a single second of that. I've worked football games and proms, coached softball, attended Senior girls lock ins and amazing musicals, judged Mr. Liberty and taken kids to national NHD competitions and even overseas to Greece. I have been a part of winning faculty basketball teams and choreographed Staffires dances, dressed crazy for spirit weeks, and made a fool of myself on numerous occasions in front of my class of chuckling kids. These high school students have made my job fun and given it purpose, and I am so grateful for all of the relationships made in the hours, days, and years we've shared. My students are forever "my kids", and I'm so excited to see all the amazing things they'll go on to do. If you're one of them reading this, know that I care about you and am so proud of you.

I may be back at LHS. I may not. Time will tell. But one thing is for sure, I am so grateful to be a Bluejay, and I will miss it this school year, COVID and all. Now it's time to go make some memories with my babies. 

Currently,

Kelsie

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A Quick Trip to Columbia, MO (with Kids)

After trying to figure out how to spend our 7th wedding anniversary, we ended up jumping in the car and going on a short trip to a place that's special to us both: Columbia, MO. With everything going on right now, and with the age of our kids, going somewhere far away or overnight alone wasn't really an option. Even though we didn't technically attend Mizzou at the same time, we both went to and graduated from MU, so a trip to Columbia means visits to our favorite restaurants and sentimental memories of our college days. If you're going to make a little road trip to Columbia, here are a few places you can't miss, as well as some tips for navigating the trip with little kids. 

The Food

1. Addison's 

This place is amazing, and if you go to Columbia and you don't stop here to try the Nachos Bianco, you're missing out! They recently added another location, but we love the downtown one. We stopped in here for a delicious dinner on our second night. 

2. Shakespeare's

This is THE pizza place you hear about when you're in Columbia. They actually just opened their "dine in" options again (with precautions of course) on the night of our anniversary, so this was our fancy anniversary dinner ha! I personally love the Darwin, and Aaron is a big fan of their meat pizza. We actually prefer the South location just because it has so much space and isn't usually quite as crowded as the recently remodeled downtown option.

3. Gumby's

Say what you will, but when it comes to late night, Gumby's Pokey Stix take the prize! We ordered them one night before heading back to our hotel to get the kids to bed. Their pepperoni rolls are also delicious. 

4. Flat Branch

This place is normally so so busy (we're talking a 90 min wait that you stood around and waited for on special weekend), but with COVID we were able to walk right in! I personally love the Hobgobbler with their delicious mashed potatoes, and they also have their own brewery if you're interested in a flight. 

5. Broadway Brewery

This is a kind of a hidden gem downtown, but it is delicious! I had the Pulled Chicken Club and Aaron enjoyed the Buffalo Chicken Wrap. My side of Mac and Cheese was amazing- and Eli gave a big thumbs up! They also have their own brewery and lots of special theme nights. 

6. Andy's

We have recently gained (and are gaining) Andy's in the KC area, but during our college days it held special memories of late night concretes and sweet YoungLife friends. 

Shockingly, Columbia isn't just about food, although I could go on with other options. But these are the ones that we were most excited to have again, especially in light of COVID and what all was open for either dine in or carry-out. Also, a small shout out to Trops, which sadly closed earlier than we expected. Until next time!

Activities

Obviously, we had a 3 year old and 5 month old with us, so we weren't going too crazy with activities. But we did find a few fun things to do together. 

Mizzou Campus

First of all, we had to go on a nostalgic couple of walks around the Mizzou Campus. This may not mean as much to you if you didn't actually attend the University of Missouri, but it is still a gorgeous campus and worth a visit. Since there are not currently any in-person classes occurring, the campus was pretty much dead, which was weird but also kind of nice. We of course had to make some special visits to both the Quad/Columns, and also to Greek Town to see the Theta house where I lived for three years! 

The view across the street from Theta is crazy these days, as the dorm I lived in during my freshmen year no longer exists! Just trees there now, and you can see the football stadium. 

Stephen's Lake 

I remember coming to Stephen's Lake to go on runs or to study outside with friends in college. I was excited to come here with our kids, as they have a great playground, a couple of different options for walking paths, and a spray park! We were excited to have an option at the spray park, as the pool in our hotel was currently closed, and many spray parks in Kansas City are also closed right now. 

Level Up 

Located in the Columbia Mall, Level Up was our answer to finding something fun that Eli could enjoy for an hour or two. Aaron paid for the two hour pass, and then he and E could play as many games (almost like a Chuck E. Cheese) as they wanted during that time. Poor Addie was a little over-stimulated by the bright lights and loud sounds, but E had the time of his life. Level Up also had a bowling alley and a ropes course inside. 

Tips for Traveling with Kids

One of our little life hacks for traveling with kids is making sure we anticipate their need for naps, and then ensure that our room will provide for that option while also giving us a place to hang out without having to be completely silent for hours. Enter, the suite. 

Stay in a Suite 

This time around, we stayed at Staybridge Suites, a recently remodeled hotel located where 63 meets 70. They had individually packed breakfast we got for free each morning. It was quiet and comfy, and we had a huge room. The bedroom was separate and had two queen beds, and then a door shut to separate from our full kitchen, desk, barstools, couch, TV, and chairs. It was a perfect space to hang out and watch TV or get some work done while the kids napped.

Call Ahead

I called our hotel ahead and they had a crib on site, so we didn't have to bring our pack and play along for Addie. They also were able to confirm early check in for us so we didn't miss nap time.

Be Flexible

Eli sleeps in a full at home with a bumper under his bed. Since we had two queens in our hotel, I put one of his big pillows under the fitted sheet of his queen, and it created a similar bumper type feel so that he wouldn't roll out of bed. I also realized that our room didn't have a bathtub for bathing the kids, so E took a shower with Aaron and I gave Addie her bath in our room's kitchen sink! 

Have Low Expectations

Set the bar of your expectations low...and then lower it some more. I had a hard time initially transitioning from our old travel experiences to those with kids. But once I reminded myself that we would have to be back in the room for nap time, and earlier for bedtime, it got easier. This time around, I brought books and work, or went to work out during nap time so that I wouldn't feel "locked in the room". I also planned things for us in the morning and in the evening, and then saw what all we could fit in. 

At the end of the day, it's about having fun and making sweet memories together- even if that has to look a little slower or less exciting than you're used to. We were initially planing to have a kid free date day on our anniversary, but I had multiple moments where I watched our kids laugh on this trip and I felt like I couldn't have come up with a better way to celebrate seven years together. Cheers to a fun family getaway! 

Currently,

Kelsie

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Our Wildflower Family Photos

As Aaron and I have started to share more of our story and hearts behind The Brim, we've been absolutely blown away by the amazing support of those who don't even know us. From videographers jumping into make a short video at no cost, to people following along and sharing things on social media, we have truly felt so loved and blessed by those who choose to be a part of this journey with us. One such person is the amazing Kristen of Kristen Cline Photography. After seeing that we were offering free wedding ceremonies for brides affected by COVID-19, Kristen reached out with her own little thank you. She was doing photo sessions in a gorgeous wildflower field in Weston, and she offered us a complimentary session as a way of supporting us and saying thanks. For this mama, it was the perfect gift, and just in time for Mother's Day! 

Holy smokes, did Kristen ever deliver!! She was so fun and sweet to work with, and we just love her heart for brides and grooms. She was so kind, and was able to wrangle our little family of four with ease, while capturing these precious memories. And that field! All the heart eyes. 

What I love most about these photos and that they are real, and raw, and totally us. The way Addie stares up at her big brother and smiles. The clingy tendencies of E and the way in which he cheeses way too hard in many photos. The sweet, innocent, side-tilted head that is so his personality right now. A sweet kiss on the cheek for his mama, who he asks for just one more hug and one more kiss each night before bed.

If you're a mama, there is not doubt that you are aware of just how crazy fast your kiddos grow and change. Time is flying, and although we do have Addie's newborn photos of the four of us, she is already so much different. And so is Eli! Gosh, I just can't even handle these photos of them. And that fact that we got E to hold Addie for just long enough to capture that sweet photo? You go, Kristen! 

These babies are the sweetest blessing and most precious gift. I love them so so much. Can they just stay little forever?

Of course, I had to sneak in a couple of photos with my main man. Even though COVID-19 meant neither one of us had haircuts before these photos, I love that Kristen captured a little reminder of where this whole thing started. We hadn't taken photos together just the two of us since we were the "bride and groom" in the Tuscan Villa Styled Shoot back in fall of 2018. I think this may be the only time that my vineyard-tending hubby had a deeper tan than me (it was early May and I certainly had not seen much sun ha)! I love this guy and am thankful for this special Mother's Day adventure, which we followed with some delicious Tin Kitchen. 

I will cherish these sweet photos of our family forever. No I just have to decide which one to make my new profile picture (which I rarely change). It will be a hard choice since I love them all! 

Currently,

Kelsie

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March Recap

My how life can change in a month. Last month I was worried about how much time I had left at home on maternity leave. And then in a matter of a few weeks, life changed a whole bunch. We settled into quarantine and all things COVID-19, I went "back to work" three weeks early, and we figured out how to work full time from home with a three year old and a two month old. It has been a hard, weird, but also strangely joyful time for everyone. Here's what we were up to in March, complete with Addie's updates, blogging recaps, and some fun photos!

Addie's Three Month Update

Addie Jo is growing like a weed! We didn't have an official doctor's appointment this month, but she is a little over 13 pounds according to me, our scale, and some simple subtraction. She is in the weird stage where some sleep sacks are too big for her, but her others are too small. She has really been smiley and even a little giggly most days. Though she does have her occasional fussy moments, she sure is a sweetie.

Addie is in size two diapers and just venturing into 3-6 months clothes, although she can still wear some of her 3 month stuff. This month she settled into regularly sleeping 8+ hours at night (praise the Lord), went on a million quarantine walks, and let Mama play dress up with some of her old outfits (like the one pictured). Addie loves watching her big brother play toys, kicking her feet, and sucking on her hands.  🎀 We can't imagine life without our sweet girl! (And she did get a little tired of Mama's photo shoots after a while!)

Unexpected Silver Linings

In the midst of an incredibly trying time for our world, I have been trying to focus on the sweet silver linings that have unexpectedly come my way. One of these is the fact that I would have been on unpaid maternity leave for three more works, but instead I am able to work from home and be fully paid while still getting to love on my babies. Sure, this has its challenged on a daily basis, but mainly it has been such a gift. We also got to host our first wedding at The Brim, which was pretty amazing and just kind of fell into place with the Stay at Home order going into effect. Our first Brim Bride was absolutely incredible, and I am so excited for all that is to come there.

I also have been able to be outside all the time, which is a HUGE difference from my classroom where I don't even have a window. That has made this spring pretty amazing so far. Of course there have been a million other blessings, like Aaron cooking amazing meals all of the time, technology allowing for online church and friendship connections, and being able to sleep in a bit more without having to get up and dressed and off to work with two kids.

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My new co-worker is pretty cute. Just got back from a walk and now we’re enjoying an outdoor lunch hour while our other co-worker is napping (she’s really slacking these days). I hope Aaron isn’t too jealous. 😉❤️

A post shared by Kelsie Kleinmeyer | Blogger (@currentlykelsie) on Mar 31, 2020 at 10:44am PDT

Choose Grace

The only real blog post I wrote this month was called Choose Grace. It was all about choosing alll the grace in every aspect of our lives right now, and for everyone around us. My students, their parents, my spouse, myself, my babies- there are so many ways that all of us are learning and adapting right now. No one's struggles are invalid. I'd encourage you (and myself) to continue to choose grace daily. Check out the post for more!

Otherwise, this month was all about this new normal and figuring out how to navigate things with both productive routine and joyful spontaneity. We are at home at least through April 27th, and we will see if we end up going "back to school" this school year or not. We are done for the year on May 22nd. Lots of other things are going on that I will be able to recap a bit more at the end of the month! Happy April!

Currently,
Kelsie

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