Time flies

Where has the time gone? Is it really almost August? Really?

This summer has FLOWN by in our household and I can hardly believe that my baby turns 4 next week! Where has the time gone?

Sorry for my lack of posting, time just got away from me. A LOT is going on right now. A LOT! I've been very overwhelmed. The certification course I'm taking has been a LOT more work than I expected, our household project list just seems to keep growing and growing and growing, and I can't seem to get a handle on my ever-growing to do list... at the same token, the only things I could "give up" right now are the things I want to do... girl nights, visitors, etc.

I'm off of my soap box and I'm ready to show you our appliances. I'll do an official reveal in a few days, but for now you'll just get bits and pieces.

So when they delivered the fridge, it was determined that the fridge wouldn't fit where the old fridge used to be... so out came the cabinet. It was the first thing J did when he got home for lunch. I am sad to say that it still has the unpainted, unfinished look about it. I'm hoping for progress next week.

Here's the stove and dishwasher. The microwave is also a new match to the others, but I forgot to snap a picture of it. C'est la vie!

I just keep trying to remind myself that it'll get worse before it gets better... the mess, the dust, etc! Maybe by fall our house will be more at peace!

Something's Missing!

What's missing?? Something sure is!!

Our fridge!!

In preparation for our new appliances coming this afternoon, we emptied out and moved our fridge to the garage and we got rid of our old fridge. We're looking forward to the new appliances!! Soon, soon, soon!!

And... not only do the new appliances come today but so do the Selmer's! Woohoo!

Home Office

As the temps continue to climb outside, apparently so do the temps inside my building. The AC units or chillers are maxed out so they shut down the AC to my building Tuesday morning so they could pipe our AC to the hospitals and buildings that hold animals.  I'll just say that a heat index of 110+ in a windowless office was pretty miserable.

So today I decided to work from home to save myself the misery of yet another 110+ degree heat in an un-airconditioned office.

Here was my home office today. I actually think I might've been more productive today at home than I would've been at work!

I am not looking forward to another day in the heat tomorrow, but with an event week coming up, fighting the heat I will do!

Harry Potter Week

I have been in love with the wizarding world since the summer of 2000 when I first decided on jump on the Potter bandwagon after the release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I jumped on board and haven't looked back. Not only do I love the characters, but I love the entire world that Rowling created.

In preparation of the the HP7pt2, I've been re-watching all the movies this week. It has been a really sweet journey to watch the cast grow and change with each film and for each film to get darker and darker. I am so very excited to see the culmination of a story that captivated a generation... it will be bittersweet to close this chapter.

 

I used to be able to do the midnight movie releases, but dare I say that I'm too old for that now? I just can't stay awake and it isn't worth the mixed up schedule the next day... so yea, I'm too old. We're planning on going to one of the early shows this weekend which will hopefully be a little less crowded and a little easier on our schedule. 

So, did you see HP7pt2 last night? Are you going to see it this weekend? Any special rituals you did to celebrate?

One thing is for sure: I'm going to need some kleenex to get through this emotional conclusion.

King-Sized

My dear husband has wanted a king-sized bed ever since we brought home Oliver, our first furbaby, in the summer of '07. In our old house it was an obvious no because it wouldn't have fit in our space. In the new house, a king bed would fit, but I really didn't see why we needed it. So I kept saying no, and no, and no some more. Well, after a few years, he wore me down and I finally said ok.

Well, when I said OK, he took it to mean that he needed to get it as soon as possible so that I wouldn't change my mind. He literally picked it up the next day. I just want to show you what kind of crazy my husband is...and the fact that he got his father to go along with it!!

This is how they cruised home from the store!

Are you kidding me??? And, J, so excited because everyone knows how absurd he is!

The view from the side/back... because it may be more impressive than the front view. That car was loaded down.

I will say that we really did appreciate the help. We were able to move around the beds because of my FIL and BIL's help, my MIL cleaned and vacuumed under the beds for us and I was in charge of laundering and changing all of the bedding.

J loves the new king-sized bed, all 3 of the dogs now sleep with us again, and I am still getting used to it. I miss my old bed... oh well, c'est la vie! I'll grow to love it.. right??

Baptism Gifts -- DIY

For my Aiden, nothing off-the-shelf will do. We got Aubrey a soft lamb and a baptism picture frame with 1 Samuel 1:27 "For this child I prayed" for her baptism. I wanted something along the same lines, but different and fit for a beautiful baby boy.

I decided to make him a cross to match his letters that would fit into his room. The cross was $1 at Joann Fabrics and I used existing paint that I had in my stash.

Then we decided to make him a soft, fleece blanket with his baptism date embroidered on it. It was super cheap (about $6) and super quick and easy to make!

Do you have any great, quick and easy ideas I should try?

Garden Update!

I love gardening. I can't explain it. I just love it.

When my parents visited a few weeks ago, I made sure to take my dad to see our garden (my mom had seen it awhile ago).  The garden was in FULL bloom. We harvested quite a bit.

And my favorite guys hard at work!

This past weekend, we discovered that my spinach had bolted. I guess I didn't eat it fast enough. I'm learning from my mistakes. Spinach likes cold weather so I should remember to eat it early and eat it fast. Anyway, while we were there the other day we pulled up the spinach and kale, harvested the rest of the chard and most of the romaine. I also harvested a TON of peas and about a pound of beans as well as about 10 shallots.

What a bountiful harvest!?!

God-parents, Again!

Our dear Aiden was baptized a few weeks ago. Sorry in the delay in posting!

Here are some of our favorite pictures of the baptism! He is such a cutie! I can't get enough of him.

We are so blessed by our two God-children. They bring such joy and love into our life.

Countertops!

Our countertops are done. I can't show you an official after until later because it takes almost a week before you can put anything over 5 lbs on the counter, but I wanted you to see what they look like!

 

 

What do you think??

Countertops are Coming Along!

We got our countertops started the other day. It takes a few days to complete the project because of the drying times and different applications. Maybe I'll show you what my dining room looks like during all this... or maybe I won't. It's pretty bad!

Here is our before picture. Bland and gray/blue. Beautiful.... haha!

This is minutes after the sanding, painting and chips were applied. You have to do it fast, like in 20 minutes once you start painting the base on. 

This is the result after it sat for 12 hours drying. Now comes the vacuuming and sanding. Once sanded, we put the protective top-coat on!

It already looks so much nicer. I can't wait to see the finished product. My dad is an interior and exterior professional painter and he was RAVING about the product!

My mom and dad have done so much since they've been here this week... my dad mowed the yard, painted some trim, helped with the countertops and more. My mom has cooked and kept our laundry going and been someone to talk to. We are so blessed.