Easter Weekend

We happened to move into our new house over Easter weekend so to say it was chaotic is an understatement!! I knew it was going to be crazy so I bought all the kids Easter basket treasures long before the weekend arrived. We were all kind of crazy in our new house but when Easter morning hit, it was all worth it when we saw the look on their cute faces. 

The girls had multiple egg hunts in various neighborhoods so we skipped our usual house egg hunt. I found the cutest rain boots at Target for the girls. Owen got a new stuffed animal (where is that thing anyways!?) and a new book for the car.

March also was the month of sickness. Owen got sick first, then Ellie, then me, and finally Brinley rounded the sickness out over Easter weekend. Ryan ended up staying home with Brinley and I joined my parents at their ward with Ellie and Owen. I still have yet to get a pictures of all 3 kids in their Easter clothes! (mental note, make it happen!!). We found their cute dresses and Owen's dapper outfit at Gymboree. I love that store. Such classic kid clothes. 

The next weekend, General Conference weekend, my grandparents from Calgary were in town!! We had soooo much fun with them. I really felt like this trip Brinley really remembered them and solidified their relationship. Ellie had so much fun hanging out with Grandpa Great and showing him all her toys. Owen bonded with Grandma Great, no surprise there! We spent the weekend back and forth to my parents house to enjoy time together and also catch some of Conference. I always just love it when we spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Great. And this time, we got to have them over to our new house!! 

What We've Been Up To

It has been a CRAZY few weeks with the Briggs family. Holy cow, life has not settled down one bit since we made the big move to Charlotte. Everyone is happy and healthy and thriving! 

The biggest update of all is that we moved into our very own house! well, we didn't buy it, but we are renting it. But--we've never been in a house before so we are still figuring out the square footage and using all the spaces. We found an amazing little 2000 sqft house in an awesome neighborhood that is just a 15 minute walk to Brinley's elementary school. We barely have enough furniture to fill it, but we are loving all the space! 

The ground floor has a beautiful entry way and on either side has a dining room and either a den or sitting room of some sort. Currently, the sitting room has boxes and bins and the dining room has my keyboard piano and my exercise weights. Down the hallway, there is an awesome sized family room with a gorgeous fireplace. We love that room. and then the kitchen is just off to that with a big eating area. We have our table in there and it fits perfectly in the space. The kitchen has all the original cabinets and countertops so it isn't fancy by any means, but the cabinets are in great shape and there are TONS of them. And there is an island that I have loved already. The most exciting part about the downstairs is there is a pantry. We've never had a pantry!! Just off the kitchen, there is a half bath and coat closet. 

Upstairs there are 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and a linen closet. And also our washer and dryer are upstairs which has been cool! The BEST part about this house though is the bonus room over the garage. It has been so great for us. This house uses each space so well and I am happy that there isn't any wasted space. We have been so happy here and we have even talked about looking to buy in this neighborhood sometime next year. We would love to!

This is the only picture I have of the house and this is the bonus room. A room just for toys. I LOVE IT!

The next big thing for us has been Brinley going back to Kindergarten this week. It wasn't that difficult of a decision after we found the right house right next to an amazing elementary school. The first day I was very anxious to get her back and have our routine again. Of course she had an incredible first day and has been an absolute rock star ever since. Brinley is a very adaptable kid. She really isn't phased by much. The past few months we have experienced so many life changes and she has gone with the flow so easily! It is very impressive. I have to brag about her for a second though because when we were walking home from school on her first day she told me that she got to pick out of the treasure chest! 

So I asked her why and this was our conversation:

B- My teacher asked the class if they knew what it was called when animals are born from eggs.

M- ummmmm (what!?) did you know what it was?

B- Of course, Mom. It's called oviparous. So then I got a prize from the treasure chest. 

That girl!! I laughed so hard. We just are so impressed with her. She's made some friends. And even went on a field trip on her second day! She has about 8 more weeks of school and we think it is a great time for her to get to know the school, make some friends and gear up for 1st grade in the fall.

It took me all of 5 seconds to start enjoying life having 2 kids at home. Everything just seems a bit easier when I have 2 kids to entertain and drive around while running errands. Ellie was bummed the first day not having Brinley around, but she quickly told me the second day, "Mama, I not sad anymore." I have plans to get Ellie in swim lessons soon which will help break up our day and give her something to look forward to. We've been going to the children's museum and the library and just having lots of fun together! Owen has been walking up a storm and rarely ever slows down. He's in the "I can't stop walking ever and will pivot and turn and go round and round all day long" phase and it's adorable, but scary at the same time. He crawls up the stairs any chance he gets and loves finding quiet corners in the house. It is hard keeping track of him in this big house!

Ryan just started studying for the North Carolina State Bar Exam...

We were most worried about Ryan's commute getting into the city from our new location, but it hasn't been too bad. Honestly, the city is just poorly designed so it takes a long time for anyone to go anywhere on the main interstate that goes into the city. They are creating toll roads instead of just widening it for everyone. The city is pretty mad about that decision, but I'm hoping that it will lessen the traffic at least a bit. The toll road will be very expensive to drive on, but if it helps Ryan's commute home, I'm not too concerned about it. 

And for me, I've been having a great time in the new house and getting settled in. We were sad to leave my parents house and being under their wing, but we've really enjoyed getting our life back and settling into our new life. Instead of it feeling like an extended vaycay at Casa Steele, we have schedules and plans and friends! It is pretty crazy that we have family close by and can see them any time we want. That still feels strange, but so amazing at the same time. We have loved having Ryan's sister come babysit and have Grandma Steele just drop by to say hi during the day. We are so blessed and I still feel like we are living a "too good to be true" life right now, but I think that as time passes, it will feel more and more permanent.  

Sooooo who wants to come visit!???!?

February Happenings

February was a cold month here in Charlotte. We were freezing for most of it! The weather would warm up to the 50's and we had a promise of Spring time coming, but then drop down to the 30's for a few days. It made our days very long because we couldn't play outside consistently. We went to the library a lot and also Discovery Kids Place (a fun children's museum). I really tried to keep the girls entertained, but dang, it was hard getting out the door with all the coat on and off routine that I just wouldn't leave the house. SO MUCH WORK! Put your coat on to go to the car, but then take it off to ride in the car, put coat back on to go inside, take coat off. And then of course the hooks were too high for the girls to put their own coats away so I had to do it, plus taking Owen in and out. So so exhausting. I gotta find a better way to do the coat dance by next winter. Here are some fun pictures from our last month! 

Brinley and Grandpa taking the dogs for a walk. Brinley loves taking care of the dogs. She has gotten very confident and helpful with the dogs. Her and Ellie usually feed the dogs and they to help get them suited up to go for walks. Penny has been doing so well with the kids. Remember she is the one who has a record of biting children? We've realized that Penny doesn't really like the 5 and under kids because they're so loud and spazzy. She really likes Brinley now, but she still growls when Ellie and Owen are around. Penny spends most of the day behind a baby gate in the room off of the kitchen and whenever we are out of the house or upstairs, she comes out and has her freedom to roam the house. We have all been much more careful when she is out around the kids and so far, no one has even come close to getting bit. Hope it continues! 

I have LOVED having Trader Joe's close by. It is about a 25 minute drive from my parents but it is so worth it. I took Ryan a few weeks ago for his first trip ever and he had so much fun. 

Ryan loves to spoil us on Valentine's day. He made us breakfast Valentine's day morning and got us each our own bouquet of roses. Mine lasted almost 10 days! 

There are moments when I feel like I'm pretty far down on the totem poll of coolness, so when these girls come and sit with me, it makes me feel so good. The girls have loved being so close to Grandma and Grandpa, but there are times when I'm like, HEY you never give me hugs that tight! They sure love their grandparents. 

Owen LOVES being outside! Especially when there isn't any humidity! Charlotte will definitely get hot this summer, but we are soaking in these mid 60 degree days!

We met up with my friend Greta a few weeks ago. I met Greta 8 years ago when I started nannying for her 2 daughters (2 and a baby at the time) and now we are back in Charlotte, I have 3 kids of my own and they added another to their family too! Life is crazy that way! I never thought we would get back to Charlotte and I'm so grateful that Greta and I have stayed friends throughout the years and now we will be in the same ward!

This must have been a cold day...we finished every puzzle we own haha

Our new grocery store has the same carts as our old Publix racing cars! It has helped to have some familiar things for these girls. 

We joined some of our new friends at the Library in Uptown Charlotte. It was quite an adventure! We had so much fun watching a puppet show and being in Uptown. After we were there for awhile, we decided to eat lunch in the car on the way to visit Ryan at work! 

It was so much fun to see Ryan! This is his building. I'm still pretty intimidated driving into Uptown, but I'm getting more familiar with the area around his building. 

When we got home from the library, I was immediately hit with the stomach bug. I texted Ryan and he left work to come and help with the kids. I was pretty incoherent for the next 24 hours, and at about 10:30pm that night, Brinley got hit with it. She got hit harder than I did, but thankfully the bug only got us. For the next 5 days we pretty much weren't around haha Between getting sick and recovering, it wiped us out! I hadn't been that sick in a long time and I definitely don't need to experience that again any time soon! But I did lose 2 pounds! :-)

We were all SO relieved to be feeling better by Monday. And thankfully, the weather warmed up and we were able to play a lot outside! It has been bikes, and plant watering, and chalk every day since.

We have 2 Easter Egg hunts planned and plans to move into our new house in the next 2 weeks. It should be a busy March, but we are so excited! 

Homeschooling and Piano Lessons for Brinley

It definitely wasn't in my plans when we started Brinley's Kindergarten year that I would ever plan to homeschool. We lived in one of the best, if not the best school district of the entire state of Florida. She went to an A rated elementary school. and had a teacher that absolutely adored her. She was progressing and learning and reading and making so many new friends and loving her time at school.

When we knew we were moving to North Carolina, Ryan and I weren't too sure to throw her back into a new school, without knowing much about the district, and then what if we moved again before the end of the school year? Another school change? I just couldn't deal with the parent/mom guilt of potentially having my baby go to 3 different schools her kindergarten year.

When we told Brinley's Florida K teacher that we were moving, she was devastated! I really do think Brinley was one of her favorites. She just loved her. I could really tell when I saw them together. I knew she wanted the very best for her and really helped her learn and grow. Her teacher provided me with emails upon emails of printables to get started and to carry us through the school year. Those printables have saved me! She even gave me 2 brand new Common Core Math workbooks (that I HATE, but still try and use).

When we got to North Carolina, I knew we need a formal school set up and schedule. If it was just Brin and I, we could be more relaxed on our learning, but with Ellie still needing lots of attention and Owen's nap schedule, we needed to figure out the logistics. It took a few weeks to iron out our mornings to find the best time to do certain activities, but I think we have finally found our groove and have been doing pretty good lately!

Brinley on the left // Ellie on the right

The biggest thing for me and homeschooling is that I needed a good schedule and to have a "go and do" activity out of the house, if we can manage it. And what's nice about homeschooling is that you can be very flexible!

Out of the house activities:

Discovery Kids Place

the Library

the Park

playdates with new friends

our "schedule." Might be rigid for some, but it gives us a good outline of our days so we don't lose focus. I don't look at the schedule as much anymore because of the habit we are in at using our time wisely! But--we love shortening or lengthening certain activities if we are having a good time or needing to move on. Again, loving the flexibility! 

Brinley has been doing a great job. I know this transition has been hard on her, especially missing her friends. She always talks about them and wonders if they miss her. The social aspect is the hardest part that we are both missing from her going to a public school. She has a Primary class full of girls that she is super happy about. Ever since she was a Sunbeam, she bas been with majority boys in all her Primary classes. Now, the girls outnumber the boys. I'm excited for her to build those friendships. 

We applied to a few Charter schools in Charlotte right when we got here. Charter schools seem to be a pretty big deal here because the good school districts seem scattered throughout the city and not consistent. For the area we are looking at to eventually buy at the schools seem pretty good. One of the Charter Schools, Brin was put on #5 on the waitlist. But unfortunately, for 1st grade, it seems like the list hardly moves, but being #5!? We are crossing our fingers so tight that it DOES budge and she can go to school there. It really does benefit all of our kids because if would put Ellie and Owen priority when they apply to attend there. So, we are just kind of waiting to hear back if she gets in.

And as for me (and my sanity haha!), it has been a big transition for me too. I was used to having Brinley at school until 2pm and be able to run errands and run around town with only 2 kids. Also, I had a lot of alone time with Ellie. She craves 1 on 1 time and I just can't give her that much of it right now. Ellie's love language is definitely quality time. She loves having someone pay attention to her and play with her. Even if I play for 10 minutes at a time, our day seems to flow so much better than if I just put a quiet show on for her. She really doesn't like movies or shows (come on kid!). Brinley could watch endless shows and movies if we let her haha Kids are so different. 

I'm trying not to get too caught up on the to-do list the internet homeschooling websites have given me. And not to forget, the endless amounts of tears and stress and anxiety those dang lists have given me. There is always something kids can learn. There is ALWAYS something as parents (and now as her teacher) that I can teach her. But, with help from a few trusted friends, I have tried to take a relax approach and focus on those real-life experiences to learn from instead of hours in the "classroom." The hardest part for me to grasp was even though Brinley was at school for 6 hours everyday, she wasn't learning for 6 hours straight. A friend told me that the rough equivalent to public school time to homeschool is about 10 hours a week. I am doing my best trying to exceed that, but for the most part, we are doing it. We are using great resources like the library to aid in our reading. and great literary and math books I found on Amazon. 

We are all learning and growing together and we all still love each other, and I think that is what matters in the end. My goal was to just keep on what she was doing at her public school and to get her into a great school for her 1st grade year. Brinley is happy. and thriving. and learning. and really enjoying her time at home. We spend a lot of time playing and imagining together. We utilize every teaching moment. When we play Lego. When we cook together. When we are outside, we talk about science in nature. We have a few times during the week for arts and crafts.

So there you go! Homeschooling is a work in progress, but we are enjoying it!

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One of Brinley's favorite parts about living at Grandma's house has been taking piano lessons! She has been at it for 6 weeks now and is crusing! It has been so great for both of them to have this time together.