Kitchen Remodel Sneak Peek

We've stayed at Grammie's, we've lived among the ruins, I dug a "drywall splinter" out of  my heel and every inch of my house seems to be covered in a foot of construction dust...but....the big reveal...it's coming!  We are SO close to being done! (And by "we" I mean Kevin!)


Stay tuned!

Cousins- Exploring

 Today at my sister's Birthday and Goodbye Party, hosted at a family lake house, just 12 hours before they fly off to Puerto Rico....cousin's spent the day, exploring.

And then saying goodbye

Why I started to cry over underwear tonight

Don't call him a baby...and don't call him a little boy. "I am a big boy...right Mommy?"

I always tell him he is. He is a big boy, he goes on the potty, he goes to school, he went to Summer Camp, he's going to big school next year.  I must tell him this everyday, and on none of those days do I get sad about it. I am happy to have an independent, social, happy child as my son.  I am thrilled we go to dinner and movie, go shopping or to the beach, just the two of us and have conversation.  I love that we can "talk" now.  I love that the baby faze is over and I have a little person in my life. And I love that we sleep all night at least 8 hours :)

But my "big boy" really is a toddler.  And he is still too little to do a lot of things....until now.  How is it that kids spring up in the summer? The sun and fun must really get their little bodies growing because my toddler, likes to dive and jump in the pool now.

And the "Mommy watch me!!!!" is in full effect...all....day....long.

And he is so proud he can't stop smiling!

 And of course he can't stop jumping!

And diving

 And swimming under water

 And he also can't stop growing! Which is why I went to Target to get new underwear among a few other things because some of Cooper's clothes are getting to tight.  "The dryer must shrink these Elmo underwear" I keep thinking. No...they are 2T-3Ts.  I have an almost 4 year old...who I also discovered, has tight 4ts in his underwear drawer too!  So....size 5T-6T was purchased without a thought...until I unpacked them.  They are for big boys.  They aren't small, they aren't for toddlers, they are for big boys.  Big boys that dive and swim and go exploring and pretend they are Captain Hook when I get to be Mr. Smee.  

So here I am tonight, taking them out of the dryer before putting them in his drawers in the hopes that they would shrink and look more like "little boys".  They don't, they still look big, they are a little big so far but they fit better.  And I got a little choked up.  My baby is growing, everyday "bigger and bigger" as he likes to say, right before my eyes.

Mid June....summer is flying by!

 Things are in full swing around here as usual!  Kevin is getting all the mold out of the kitchen...so it's nice and messy around here :)

 Cooper's been playing is his "tent" in his room and dancing in the rain!

And it's SOOOO hot we have been swimming like crazy! I am going to have to get some pics of him in action...he is a little fish these days :)

Everything old is new again

For the past few weeks, I have been painting like a crazy woman. I have no idea why or how it started but I can't seem to stop.  It first began with a few bottles of spray paint in fun summer colors. ( above pic I painted the red chair, the step stool, even the candle holder in the background)  I felt like things around the house needed to be spruced up.

Or worn down...I took Phina's old gold mirror and tried to make it "shabby chic".

Then I went after my table tops for the same effect.

Then I moved outside...the terrible "do do" brown paint trim on my back porch was killin' me...so with two fresh coats of bright white the trim is shiny and new!

But then came Cooper's room....sad to say the baby blue that Pop painted was feeling old and when Kevin repaired one wall it needed painting anyway so....

Cooper even got in on the action with some light switch covers (in chalk board paint)

So....sprucing up and painting is still in full affect...not sure what I'll grab a hold of and paint next.

 Hide your kids and small pets!

Wear your Passion

Two Decades

In July my high school friends and I will gather, in a local hotel ballroom, and reunite. Just the word reunion- "the act or process of coming together again" makes me fell nostalgic.   In 20 years a lot has happened.  We have traveled, we have moved, we have married, divorced, struggled with our health, given birth and experienced death.  

We have triumphed and we have failed....and change has become a constant we have learned to accept.  

But some things have haven't changed, and that is what makes the essence of who we really are. In 20 years, I still love photography and writing and socializing (God bless the internet and facebook for allowing me to indulge in these passions!). I have to say this wasn't always the case. I think that 20 years of reflection is much much different than 10 years...time and experience can sure change perspective.  

At my 10 year reunion, I felt like I was nothing like that highschool girl. I was a working college graduate who just got back from traveling Asia for work. I was busy getting on planes, meeting people, doing, running, being "out there" in the world, and coming back to my hometown to see the "same old people" wasn't high on my priority list.  I didn't want to go, I felt out of my element and I felt that that old skin just didn't fit any more.  That reunion, I only went to one of the weekend events and in the end I begrudgingly had fun. I drank too many glasses of wine to loosen up and relax, but I had fun. 

But now 10 years after that and 20 total years of high school graduation....that old skin does fit a little better and feel more comfortable.  Maybe I was tying so hard NOT to be that same girl, that I had to lose myself enough to take the time to "find myself". Only to discover, I needed to come around to being her again. 

 I ran, I saw, I conquered, I circled back.

In no way am I done with trying on new skins, new adventures. I hope in the next 20 years I have way more travel, adventures, loves, hopes, dreams and experiences that beat the last 20 years.  But, as that change inevitably occurs, as a I embrace new life and new dreams, I know that my constant, my true self that I can see reflecting back to me not only in old high school photographs but in the eyes of my friends who really "get me", will always be there.

That uniting, that coming together....it does something to us. I think it reawakens our inner self, I think it reminds that high school kid that, " hey....you can grow, you can change and you can see that same growth and change in your fellow classmates, but reunite! Come together and take the time to stop and the celebrate the journey." 

I look forward to our day of reuniting and plan on taking time to celebrate my journey.

Do you eat food in the United States??? WOW

Wow...I am not seeming so crazy on my other post now am I? 

Check out Robin's page where she posts this list to help you start changing the way you eat and what to look for while you shop for your family:

Instead of:                                                                      Choose This!

Cheetos Fritos                                                           Natural Cheetos  (less dyes)

 Fat Free Miracle Whip                                              Original Miracle Whip (less aspartame)

M&M's                                                                       Chocolate Chips (less dyes)

Lenders Blueberry Bagels                                         Lenders Cinnamon Raisin Bagels (less dyes)

Hawaiian Punch                                                        Minute Maid Fruit Punch (less dyes)

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese mix-yellow                  Kraft Macaroni and Cheese mix – White Cheddar (less dyes)

Wal-Mart Milk                                                          Wal-Mart rbGH-free milk (less synthetic growth hormone) 

Prepackaged noodles with powder mix                  Bag of noodles with olive oil (less synthetic growth hormone/less dyes)

Prepackaged mix of rice                                          Bag of plain rice with salt/spices added (less MSG, dyes)

Lowfat Ice Cream                                                    Original Ice Cream (less aspartame)

Strawberry Ice Cream                                             Vanilla Ice Cream with your own toppings (less dyes)

Blue Yogurt                                                              White yogurt – add your own toppings (less dyes)