Weekend projects

We had a great Thanksgiving last week! My parents went out of town to visit some of my siblings, so those of us left here decided to have a "Pie Night" on Wednesday. We had pizza "pie" and a bunch of pies for dessert. The kids had a blast playing with their cousins, and the adults had fun catching up and doing a bit of crafting.

I had some visions of grandeur during the week.  I decided I wanted to use the flooring we took out of the kitchen to replace some of the really gross carpet in the girls room.  Lucky for me, I have a husband who can make my strange requests into reality.  It looks great and hopefully it will help with Sweetie's allergies as well.

I also had an inspiration to organize our entry.  Shoes, hats, gloves, snowpants, coats, and boots for 7 people take up a lot of room.  A lot more than I was giving them space for, so it always looked awful.  This solution opens up the front room and gives space for so much more stuff!  I love it!

I've also been playing with a super cute baby and some yarn.  :)  I have some super cute scarves to show for it.  I'm hoping to sell some at my next craft show. 

Oh yea, one more organization project.  My mom in law got me this awesome drawer organizer.  I switched around the placement of some of our stuff to use it to a better extent.  Also... LOVING IT!

So, this Thanksgiving I'm thankful for organization.  LOL!  Oh, and my amazing husband, my sweet children, our home, and sooo much more.  Life is good. 

a little funny for you

I never know if things that I find hilarious will be as funny to other people, but we're going to try this one.  We were in the car yesterday and Goose asked me if I had the gift of charm speak.  Apparently, its a concept in "The Last Hero" which he is reading right now.   

Me:  "What is charm speak?"

G:  "It is a gift that some people have that makes other people do just about anything they say".

Me:  "hmm...  I don't have that.  It sounds sort of like people speaking in the book "Goose Girl".

G:  "Yep, its just like that."

Me:  "Do you think anyone in our family has that?"

G:  "I don't know.  I don't have it."

Tank, from the backseat:  "I think I have that!"

  Maybe it wouldn't be so funny if it wasn't partially true?? 

We had a fun halloween around here.   We had a doctor, 2 ballerinas, Buzz Lightyear and a bulls cheerleader.  :)  What a bunch of cuties.  Everyone was glad to be feeling better finally.  We recently went through a round of stomach flu.  Twister brought it home and everyone took a turn feeling awful.  My turn made me super empathetic to everyone else.  I haven't been that sick in a very long time.  SO glad to be done with that.  On top of just feeling awful, I feel like a lost a full week.  My birthday snuck up on me so fast that I didn't even realize it WAS my birthday until late morning when I got on facebook and saw it posted on my wall.  Sad, I know.  It wasn't much of a celebrating type of day, but Benson made it special with flowers and the perfect card.  Cake came late in the week with the off tune singing of happy birthday from my family.  :)  I love that.  Anyway, one year older and wiser, yahoo! 

Now, you'll have to excuse me so I can get back to work...  I have another craft show coming up on Saturday.  I think a few more like this are in the works this week...

Of course, I have to fit that around my crazy week of  teacher conferences, doctor appointments and shuffling 5 kids around.  :)  I love my life.

Some new stuff from Designs in Floral

I've been getting ready for some craft shows and wanted to share some of my new designs. :)

Dainty decorated tree.

This one was created from original artwork by my grandfather. Guess art does run in the family. :)

This is supposed to be a covered bridge.  I'm not sure if it "reads" right.  What do you think?

Another one to join my Christmas card collection. 

Feel free to share any ideas you may have...  I can always use new inspiration.  :)

Hello Blue Eyes!

I think the eye color might actually stick this time.  :)  

ps  Goose wants credit for taking this gem of a picture. 

Home Sweet Home

Is official. The kitchen is done and we are moved back in. Now to organize all the STUFF we came back with. I think it multiplied. So many bags to go through. Sigh. At least the kitchen is clean. :)

so close... yet . . .

not quite done.  This is what my kitchen looks like today. 

I changed my mind about the backsplash.  I love this!!  You can also see the new window installed. 

My new chandelier.  :)  Isn't it pretty?!!

In more exciting news, Cinderelly has decided she wants to be mobile.  She's been rolling around whereever she wants to go for weeks.  This week, she officially started army crawling.  *sigh*  She's so darn cute, but growing up too fast!!

More news...  Sweetie got glasses.  Its not a very strong prescription so she isn't wearing them all the time, but I think she'd like too, just because she thinks they are cute!

Lastly, (sorry no picture yet) Goose started band this week at school.  He decided he wanted to learn the trumpet.  Ei-ya-Ey!  He's been "Plllbbtt"-ing all week.  Wish ME luck with that!  :)

Pictures of the kitchen progress

We've spent the last month enjoying the generosity of my awesome parents by staying at their house while we work on the kitchen.  Everything seems to just be taking a little longer than expected... however, we are making good progress and we're planning on getting back home really soon.  Look how much we've Benson has done!!!

My beautiful granite tile countertop.

Our current thought for the backsplash along side my "new to me" sink.  My sister kept this one in her garage for almost a year because she loved it.  They got a new one that was the same except for being undermount.  I don't know if I mentioned it before, but the beautiful granite tiles were thanks to her too.  They were going to use them in their own kitchen, then decided on something else.  I am SOOO lucky! 

The removal of the soffit.  Note the pipes that had to be moved...

..because you'd never know they were there when he got done with the drywall.

Aren't they gorgeous!!  :) 

All new storage.  This was all wasted space before.  The microwave will go straight ahead and the stove goes underneath.  We got a steal of a deal on a floor model stove, we are really excited about it, because we didn't think it would fit into the budget.

So, that's where we are at.  Yet to come are a new window, the backsplash and all the finishing/trim work.  I'm so thrilled with how it is turning out.  Benson is absolutely amazing!  I am constantly amazed at how capable he is with this stuff.  I am one lucky girl!  :)