This is my absolute favorite video of the boys. I think they were 8 months old when I took it. This was during the time when they were getting tired of just bottles and were trying to let me know it was time for some solid food. This is a must watch!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Waiting...
I took Tommy to the doc last week and decided to wait in the car with the boys. Here is a small taste of what it's like to be in a car with two toddlers...
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
30 Day Photography Challenge: Rain Delay
Rain Delay!
My camera battery is dead and the charger is at Tommy's work. I should get it back on Monday. Until then, the photo challenge is on pause. Bummer...
My camera battery is dead and the charger is at Tommy's work. I should get it back on Monday. Until then, the photo challenge is on pause. Bummer...
Thursday, September 15, 2011
30 Day Photography Challenge: Day 8
Day 8: A bad habit
I have many bad habits. My husband can contest to that fact. I chose one that he is at fault for too. Ha ha!
I have a bad habit of leaving clothes on the floor. Which is odd since I'm such a neat-freak. But when it comes to our bedroom, we are both guilty of doing this. I'll pick up all the dirty laundry, wash, dry, and put them away, and the next thing I see is more dirty clothes back on the floor. It's a vicious cycle. One that I stopped trying to fix within the first year of our marriage. If this is the worst bad habit I have then I'm not doing too bad. ;)
I have many bad habits. My husband can contest to that fact. I chose one that he is at fault for too. Ha ha!
I have a bad habit of leaving clothes on the floor. Which is odd since I'm such a neat-freak. But when it comes to our bedroom, we are both guilty of doing this. I'll pick up all the dirty laundry, wash, dry, and put them away, and the next thing I see is more dirty clothes back on the floor. It's a vicious cycle. One that I stopped trying to fix within the first year of our marriage. If this is the worst bad habit I have then I'm not doing too bad. ;)
Thursday's Project of the Week
Happy Thursday!
This week's project is our stairs. When we purchased the house the carpeting throughout was really stained. I think we are the fifth owners of this house and it had the original carpet when we moved it (and I think past owners had cats and dogs). We have so far replaced the carpet in the bonus room (aka the playroom) and replaced all the downstairs carpeting with wood flooring. Now we are working our way upstairs.
Here is a before photo of the stairs before we purchased the house:
So far we have ripped up the old carpeting on the stairs and are now working on replacing each step with new solid oak steps.
Here is a photo of what the stairs look like today:
We purchased the 13 needed oak steps months ago. We have to cut each oak step to size then sand and stain the wood to match our flooring. We also have to replace the cheap pine wood of each riser (the vertical section of each step) with wood that doesn't have the wood knots. We plan to paint the risers white.
This project is going to take awhile. Hopefully not too long because Titus is having a hard time climbing up and down these stairs. We might have to put a runner on the stairs once we finish so he has an easier time getting up and down. We'll just have to wait and see.
This week's project is our stairs. When we purchased the house the carpeting throughout was really stained. I think we are the fifth owners of this house and it had the original carpet when we moved it (and I think past owners had cats and dogs). We have so far replaced the carpet in the bonus room (aka the playroom) and replaced all the downstairs carpeting with wood flooring. Now we are working our way upstairs.
Here is a before photo of the stairs before we purchased the house:
So far we have ripped up the old carpeting on the stairs and are now working on replacing each step with new solid oak steps.
Here is a photo of what the stairs look like today:
We purchased the 13 needed oak steps months ago. We have to cut each oak step to size then sand and stain the wood to match our flooring. We also have to replace the cheap pine wood of each riser (the vertical section of each step) with wood that doesn't have the wood knots. We plan to paint the risers white.
This project is going to take awhile. Hopefully not too long because Titus is having a hard time climbing up and down these stairs. We might have to put a runner on the stairs once we finish so he has an easier time getting up and down. We'll just have to wait and see.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
30 Day Photography Challenge: Day 6
It seems that I keep picking photos of Hudson for these challenges. I think it's because he loves his photo taken and Brayden hasn't lately.
No worries, Brayden will be tomorrow's "Wordless Wednesday" photo. Stay tuned for that...and day 7's photo challenge as well.
Day 6: From a low angle
And if you would like to participate in this 30 day photography challenge, here is my original post about the challenge.
No worries, Brayden will be tomorrow's "Wordless Wednesday" photo. Stay tuned for that...and day 7's photo challenge as well.
Day 6: From a low angle
And if you would like to participate in this 30 day photography challenge, here is my original post about the challenge.
Monday's House Update: The Dinning Room
I didn't have any time yesterday to write my "Monday's House Update" post. I've been taking up random jobs here and there when possible (meaning when Tommy is home so I can leave the boys with him, or if I can do the job from home). But I'll still try to find the time to keep blogging.
So, alrighty...onto the dinning room update...
The dinning room is kinda in the same state as the family room. It still needs decorating and finishing touches but at least there's furniture in the room and it's usable.
The furniture is all "family heirlooms" (which is just another name for "furniture no one else in the family wanted"). Ha ha! I'm only somewhat kidding. The dinning room table, chairs, hutch, and Victorian chair are all from Tommy's mom. She didn't want them anymore...and since we didn't have any dinning room furniture (we sold our last set when we moved into this house) we took them. The buffet table is from Tommy's late grandmother and my grandfather built the grandfather clock (hence the name). They don't all necessarily go together and aren't really our style, but I plan to make it all work. :)
The mirror above the fireplace we brought with us from our house in Knoxville (from 6 years ago) and the rug is new. That's about all that is in the room. I still need to hang stuff on the walls, get curtains, and make a runner for the table. I plan to reupholster the dinning room chairs but I haven't found the fabric I want to use yet. I also really want to reupholster the Victorian chair in some cool, modern designed fabric to update it a bit. It's way too complicated of a chair for me to do and I don't know how much someone would charge to reupholster it. Probably a lot. I'll have to look into it.
Here are two photos of what the room looked like before we purchased the house:
I should really include some photos of the in between stages during the remodel, but I don't feel like searching through dozens of albums right now. Maybe another day.
Anyways, without further ado, here are the photos of the dinning room as it looks today:
So, alrighty...onto the dinning room update...
The dinning room is kinda in the same state as the family room. It still needs decorating and finishing touches but at least there's furniture in the room and it's usable.
The furniture is all "family heirlooms" (which is just another name for "furniture no one else in the family wanted"). Ha ha! I'm only somewhat kidding. The dinning room table, chairs, hutch, and Victorian chair are all from Tommy's mom. She didn't want them anymore...and since we didn't have any dinning room furniture (we sold our last set when we moved into this house) we took them. The buffet table is from Tommy's late grandmother and my grandfather built the grandfather clock (hence the name). They don't all necessarily go together and aren't really our style, but I plan to make it all work. :)
The mirror above the fireplace we brought with us from our house in Knoxville (from 6 years ago) and the rug is new. That's about all that is in the room. I still need to hang stuff on the walls, get curtains, and make a runner for the table. I plan to reupholster the dinning room chairs but I haven't found the fabric I want to use yet. I also really want to reupholster the Victorian chair in some cool, modern designed fabric to update it a bit. It's way too complicated of a chair for me to do and I don't know how much someone would charge to reupholster it. Probably a lot. I'll have to look into it.
Here are two photos of what the room looked like before we purchased the house:
I should really include some photos of the in between stages during the remodel, but I don't feel like searching through dozens of albums right now. Maybe another day.
Anyways, without further ado, here are the photos of the dinning room as it looks today:
Did you noticed the smooth ceiling? All the remodeling was all worth it just for that!
30 Day Photography Challenge: Day 5
I'm a day late in posting this. I worked all day yesterday then had family in town. Trying to catch up. Here is day 5's photo. Stay tuned later today for day 6 and a house update on the dinning room.
Day 5: From a high angle
Day 5: From a high angle
Sunday, September 11, 2011
30 Day Photography Challenge: Day 4
Day 4: Something Green
Again, I have more than one favorite. Here are my top two. Let me know which is your fav!
Again, I have more than one favorite. Here are my top two. Let me know which is your fav!
Serenity Sundays
SEEK YOUR FATHER FIRST
My Child,
Where can you run, except to Me? You go here and there, to this one and that one. You seek answers. You try solutions, and in the end, you come to Me. When will you learn to begin with Me?
When you face a mountain, don't exhaust all human solutions and then finally turn to Me. Come to Me first! How I wish you'd give Me first consideration in all that you do! How I wish you'd consult Me first instead of last!
I am your God, your Father. I care for you, and I am ready to help you in every life situation you encounter.
Are your burdens too heavy? Are your cares too numerous? Then cast them on Me. I will carry them for you.
Are you in a state of confusion as to what to do, when to do it, and how to do it? Then come to Me. Ask Me, and I will give you peace. Ask Me, and I will give you wisdom.
Are things causing you problems? Is your car not working? I can help you. I can lead you to people who know how to fix cars, boats, houses, etc.
Are people causing you concern? I can give you favor with people.
Are you your own problem? Are you talking too much about your circumstances and not looking to Me? Are you wavering to and fro? Are you accepting defect by not even considering victory? Are you simply doing nothing and letting the winds of life toss you to and fro?
If you are under the circumstances instead of on top of them, if you're defeated instead of victorious, if you are depressed by your life, then you need to run back to the Source of light and life. You need to run to Me and not from Me.
Why do you insist on doing things on your own? Why do you let Satan tell you that you are now mature enough to solve your own problems?
Why do you feel inadequate because you have to depend on Me? Do you think you will ever outgrow your need of Me? Do you think you'll ever get to the place where you can e self-sufficient? Believe me, you never will, for I am the Source of everything you need.
Just as you cannot possibly store a lifetime of food and provisions, you can never come to Me just once and never need to come back again.
You can never store enough provisions from Me to last forever! You must keep coming to Me for fresh spiritual food, fresh joy, and fresh daily strength, for that is how I created you.
Love, God
written by Bonnie G. Schluter
Love Letters from GOD
Affirmations for Your Soul
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Friday Favorites
Welcome to another edition of my Friday Favorites! Well, really it's only my second edition (you can read the first edition here). But whatever.
Let's proceed shall we?
1. Bar Keepers Friend
This stuff works wonders on stainless steel pots and pans. Do you ever get that brownish film left over from Pam spray even after washing? Well, this stuff takes it off really easily. It's amazing! Plus it just polishes up your pots and pans making them look like new.r
2. Dove Beauty Bars
I love these bars. They are really moisturizing and they don't dry out your skin like regular soap. Plus they are pretty inexpensive. I always get the ones for sensitive skin.
3. Uggs
Yea, yea, yea...I know a lot of people despise these boots but I just don't care. They are the softest and most comfortable boots out there. They may not be the most attractive boots but I think they can look adorable with a pair of skinny jeans and an over-sized sweater or tunic. Or with a pair of pajamas as you get your mail in the middle of the afternoon. No, I've never done that before...
4. Nikon D90
I love my camera. I'm still learning a lot about it. There are so many setting it's going to take me forever to fully understand and use all of it's capabilities. I highly recommend this camera to anyone looking on the market. It's worth the price.
5. Pixiwoo.com
A friend of mine got me hooked on these YouTube makeup tutorials by two British sisters. They are expert makeup artists and they show you step-by-step how to create some really cool looks. Some are not wearable everyday and some are just for fun. Check them out here.
6. Homemade Baby Wipes
These are so much cheaper than purchasing them from a store. Plus, they clean better and are more delicate for baby's sensitive skin. You can find many recipes online but they are pretty close to this one above.
7. Hobby Lobby
I am obsessed with this store (Michaels Arts and Crafts too). I always find tons of stuff for the house and get lots of ideas for craft projects here. It's not good for my pocketbook but awesome for my creativity.
8. L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara
I can't say enough about this mascara. It's just the best! I've tried so many kinds and I always seem to keep going back to this one. It lengthens, thickens, darkens really well and it's so affordable. You can't beat it.
9. Electric toothbrushes
Dude, I don't care what kind of electric toothbrush I use, I'll just never go back to a manual one again. I've tried when I've traveled and forgotten to bring mine so I purchased a cheap manual toothbrush at a drug store...ugh. It's just not the same. The one above is what I use (Oral-B CrossAction).
10. WeatherTech FloorLiners
And a course one for the guys. I love these floor mats! They aren't cheap but they will last a lifetime, or for at least the lifetime of your car. I have them in my Yukon XL and they are great on rainy, snowy, or muddy days. I just take them out of the car and hose them down. They make my old car look like new again!
Let's proceed shall we?
1. Bar Keepers Friend
2. Dove Beauty Bars
3. Uggs
4. Nikon D90
5. Pixiwoo.com
6. Homemade Baby Wipes
These are so much cheaper than purchasing them from a store. Plus, they clean better and are more delicate for baby's sensitive skin. You can find many recipes online but they are pretty close to this one above.
7. Hobby Lobby
8. L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara
9. Electric toothbrushes
Dude, I don't care what kind of electric toothbrush I use, I'll just never go back to a manual one again. I've tried when I've traveled and forgotten to bring mine so I purchased a cheap manual toothbrush at a drug store...ugh. It's just not the same. The one above is what I use (Oral-B CrossAction).
10. WeatherTech FloorLiners
Thursday, September 8, 2011
30 Day Photography Challenge: Day 1
Day 1: Self-portrait
These are some silly poses but I'm trying to be creative and not just stand up against a wall and smile. Plus I hate my photo taken. I'm working on it.
Here are my three favorites:
The first two and a bit grainy and blurry. I'm working on shooting in manual mode. Let me know if you have a favorite.
Day one, complete!
These are some silly poses but I'm trying to be creative and not just stand up against a wall and smile. Plus I hate my photo taken. I'm working on it.
Here are my three favorites:
The first two and a bit grainy and blurry. I'm working on shooting in manual mode. Let me know if you have a favorite.
Day one, complete!
Thursday's Project of the Week
Each Thursday I plan to blog about a project I'm working on. This week's project is our backyard deck.
Here are two before photos of what the deck looked like before we purchased the house:
It's pretty bad. Since we don't have the money to replace all the wood we are painting the wood with some special paint that gives the wood a rubbery texture. It protects the wood from getting any worse plus you would never know it looked this bad. Ha! We are going to replace the two steps because it's pretty rotten and unsafe.
Tommy and I started painting the desk a week or two ago (before all the rain). We used a paint sprayer to paint the railings white. Then we used a roller to paint the floor boards a brown color. We purchased two gallons for the floor boards...and it wasn't even close to covering the whole deck like we thought it would. We'll need at least another 4-5 gallons. It's not cheap stuff so we are waiting until payday to purchase more paint so we can finish the deck.
Here is a few photos of the deck today:
We may need more than 4-5 gallons. I think it needs a second coat. Stay tuned in the coming weeks to see how it turns out.
Here are two before photos of what the deck looked like before we purchased the house:
It's pretty bad. Since we don't have the money to replace all the wood we are painting the wood with some special paint that gives the wood a rubbery texture. It protects the wood from getting any worse plus you would never know it looked this bad. Ha! We are going to replace the two steps because it's pretty rotten and unsafe.
Tommy and I started painting the desk a week or two ago (before all the rain). We used a paint sprayer to paint the railings white. Then we used a roller to paint the floor boards a brown color. We purchased two gallons for the floor boards...and it wasn't even close to covering the whole deck like we thought it would. We'll need at least another 4-5 gallons. It's not cheap stuff so we are waiting until payday to purchase more paint so we can finish the deck.
Here is a few photos of the deck today:
We may need more than 4-5 gallons. I think it needs a second coat. Stay tuned in the coming weeks to see how it turns out.
30 Day Photography Challenge
I saw this on Pinterest. I plan to start this AWESOME challenge today. I absolutely LOVE taking photos but have been less than inspired over the last couple months. I hope this will get me inspired again.
Stay tuned for day 1's photo. I'll post each day's photo challenge every day.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Funny "Short" Story of the Day
Hudson and I were watching cartoons in the playroom (Brayden was still napping...of course). Hudson ran over to the changing table, climbed up on it (it's three shelves tall), laid down on his back, and started to take off his shorts. Then he yelled "diaper" at me. So of course I went over to him and changed his diaper.
Like I've said before, he's always one step ahead of me.
Like I've said before, he's always one step ahead of me.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Monday's House Update: The Family Room
Lo and behold...finally a house update!
OK, so the last time I gave you all an update on the house (really the flooring) was two months ago (just scroll down two posts and you'll see it). It was about the flooring being almost done. Well, we finished the flooring on the same day I posted that update. So it's been done for 2 months and I'm just now letting you know. Ha! I've been busy.
Anyways, so with the flooring done we finally started to put furniture back into the correct rooms and started doing a bit of decorating. I have so many plans and ideas for each room...but little money to make them happen. So we are taking each idea I have and making it happen slowly (as money allows).
I hope to give you all an update on each room of the house on each Monday (yea...let's see if that really happens. Ha! I promise I'll try). So lets start with the family room!
Here are two before photos showing what the room looked like before we purchased the house:
Drum roll please....now here are pictures of the room as it looks today (I still have more decorating to do, as you will see)...
The furniture is from our last house. The curtains and pillows are all new. I'm still looking for a large rug (8X10 at least) for the center of the room. Apparently I'm really picky cause I've been looking for months and can't find the one I want.
I still need to put photos in the picture frames put I'm waiting until I have all the pictures frames hanging throughout the house before I determine which photos I want in each frame (again...I'm picky).
I need to find a painting for above the couch, although I may paint one myself if I don't find what I'm looking for. Which will be hard since I don't know what I'm looking for...
We want to get a big flat-screen TV to hang above the fireplace (hence all the power and stereo plugs Tommy installed above the fireplace). Not sure when we're going to get one though. We'll have to win the lottery first. And I don't see that happening since we don't play the lottery.
And of course I still need to hang something I haven't decided on each side of the fireplace as well as decorate the coffee and side table. However with two toddlers, I think I'll leave the coffee and side tables empty until they get past the stage of breaking stuff.
*editor's note: there usually isn't even pillows on the couch and chairs. The boys keep throwing them onto the floor and I'm tired of Titus laying on them. And toys cover the floor. The above photos were totally staged.
So in conclusion, I still have lots to do to this room. It's a good start though. I'm just thrilled the floors are done and the boys can play in the room.
Next Monday I'll give an update on the dinning room. But I hope to blog a couple more times before then (on other topics of course). Have a great day!
OK, so the last time I gave you all an update on the house (really the flooring) was two months ago (just scroll down two posts and you'll see it). It was about the flooring being almost done. Well, we finished the flooring on the same day I posted that update. So it's been done for 2 months and I'm just now letting you know. Ha! I've been busy.
Anyways, so with the flooring done we finally started to put furniture back into the correct rooms and started doing a bit of decorating. I have so many plans and ideas for each room...but little money to make them happen. So we are taking each idea I have and making it happen slowly (as money allows).
I hope to give you all an update on each room of the house on each Monday (yea...let's see if that really happens. Ha! I promise I'll try). So lets start with the family room!
Here are two before photos showing what the room looked like before we purchased the house:
Drum roll please....now here are pictures of the room as it looks today (I still have more decorating to do, as you will see)...
The furniture is from our last house. The curtains and pillows are all new. I'm still looking for a large rug (8X10 at least) for the center of the room. Apparently I'm really picky cause I've been looking for months and can't find the one I want.
I still need to put photos in the picture frames put I'm waiting until I have all the pictures frames hanging throughout the house before I determine which photos I want in each frame (again...I'm picky).
I need to find a painting for above the couch, although I may paint one myself if I don't find what I'm looking for. Which will be hard since I don't know what I'm looking for...
We want to get a big flat-screen TV to hang above the fireplace (hence all the power and stereo plugs Tommy installed above the fireplace). Not sure when we're going to get one though. We'll have to win the lottery first. And I don't see that happening since we don't play the lottery.
And of course I still need to hang something I haven't decided on each side of the fireplace as well as decorate the coffee and side table. However with two toddlers, I think I'll leave the coffee and side tables empty until they get past the stage of breaking stuff.
*editor's note: there usually isn't even pillows on the couch and chairs. The boys keep throwing them onto the floor and I'm tired of Titus laying on them. And toys cover the floor. The above photos were totally staged.
So in conclusion, I still have lots to do to this room. It's a good start though. I'm just thrilled the floors are done and the boys can play in the room.
Next Monday I'll give an update on the dinning room. But I hope to blog a couple more times before then (on other topics of course). Have a great day!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Dear Hudson and Brayden,
You are both almost 22 months old.
Time is flying by so fast that I sometimes feel I can't keep up with you boys. But I'll never stop trying.
Hudson, you seize to amaze me everyday with the things you do and figure out on your own. You are so intelligent and independent I think you are almost smarter than me already. You love to study and figure out how things work. You're mind is always going...just like your legs (is it wrong that I'm jealous you have long, lean legs?). You are always one step ahead of me...but I love it cause you know it and find it hilarious when I find you doing something you shouldn't. You have a wonderful smile that lights up a room. And that giggle! I hope you never lose that high-pitched giggle! You are incredibly outgoing especially when you wave and say "hi" to strangers. I think it's adorable right now but in a couple years I'll be telling you not to talk to strangers. ;) You are extremely sympathetic to your brother when he cries. I love seeing you pat him on his back and give him a huge. It makes my heart melt. You are always the first one up in the morning ready to start the day and you always greet me with a smile and "hi". You love to build towers with blocks and Legos and luckily you don't get too upset when your brother knocks them down. And you love to climb anything and everything. You've given your daddy and I many heart attacks. Lately you have loved to cuddle more, especially during your favorite cartoons. It's sometimes hard to get your attention when you are watching them. I'm starting to think you have an addiction. You still love books, which I'm very happy about. I hope you develop a love of reading at a young age (since I didn't until after college). I hope and pray you continue to grow up as sweet and loving as you are now.
Brayden, you make me laugh every single day...multiple times a day. You have an infectious smile and laugh that makes anyone around you smile and laugh. When you smile your whole mouth opens and your eyes just light up. You always smile (and flirt) with strangers (mostly girls) and that makes me think you're going to be a ladies man when you are older. You love to give hugs and kisses to everyone. You have a way of always getting what you want. I think it's because you are just to darn cute and you know it. You are still attached to me but are getting better with me leaving you at times. During VBS at church you had a better time than Hudson. You were always so happy to be there and never wanted to leave. You still love balls and are getting really good at throwing a basketball into the hoop. You're also really good at throwing footballs and kicking soccer balls. I think you're going to be really athletic...but only if you want to. You are an awesome sleeper and I usually have to wake you up during your naps. I mean I don't want you to sleep all day then be up all night. However I still think you would sleep at night too. You love watching Blue's Clues and I just love seeing you mimic the paw-prints with your hands. You love to color and are very good at it. I just wish you would stop trying to eat the crayons sometimes. You love to run up to me and mumble something I don't understand then smile and run away. It's so adorable I just say "yea, that's right" and smile back. I get you. You love to have your daddy's attention and approval when you play. I think it's because you like to show-off. I hope and pray you continue to be as precious and loving now as you will be when you're an adult.
These past 22 months have been the happiest times of my life. God has truly blessed me.
Love,
Momma
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