friends

our dear friends
one whom we love dearly
who prior to the move we shared meals with frequently
who we prayed with frequently
who laughed with frequently
who watched retarded tv shows with frequently
cause isn't that what friends do, eat, pray, watch...
they came for the first time to the new house on Sat.

It was a sweet time.
Of filling our home
with laughs
with the sounds of worship
from two fantastic men
and two chatty ladies
with some tears (it had been way too long afterall)
with my babies being so excited to see whom they love so dearly
with 24 and inappropriate comments (not by me, ever)
you know I lie, huh...

with dessert in between episodes
with just so much of whats comfortable
eating tri-tip under the stars
and lanterns
and not lighting anyone on fire... completely
and nothing I mean nothing has made this house seem
so normal to us...
so like.. yeah.. this is who we are...
just somewhere new...

it felt so right.

But gosh I miss them. A lot.

Love you both. So much.

felix

So yesterday we attended our neighborhoods fall festival.
It was adorable
and free
and all sorts of face painting, games
and fun.
We told Rylan it was a pumpkin party... she liked that.

There was a line of kids
and Rylan didn't even know what it was they were doing.
But she wanted to.
We kept watch until the line died down
and went.
It was the goldfish toss game.
Older kids everywhere wanted that fish. So bad.

Rylan just really wanted the candy
they gave you for trying.

Thats all.
In the ping pong ball went.
We came home with Felix.

(so annoyed this was my potty training bribe, a goldfish)

but he is stubborn and won't eat anything
and so we aren't sure how long we will have felix...

and overall it was a nice day. In the 90's, so weird.
But they had these polish dog sandwiches, that almost
took away all the pain of my constantly fussy daughter.
Almost. It was so good.
I think an hour by myself in walmart, did it later that night.
Glamorous I know.
But you all know, you gotta do what you gotta do for the sake of sanity.

got peace of mind?

Something Im pouring over right now, and thought you all could use it too. God is so good.

I'm leaving you with a gift: peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So, don't be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)

much to tell you all about..crafting, thrifting, babying, house-ing (thats not a word), cooking... the works....

thoughts rolling around

once again I feel like rambling..

-unpacking my craft room, getting excited to create in there
-Cades party coming up so much to do
-like copy KT's chalkboard arrows..I totally want a set and oh the amount of uses I would have for them...
-throwing a fall themed party for my moms club... I guess we are making some friends afterall... hurray for that.
-playdates, MOPS, painting outside, the week is feeling more normal... and tomorrow.. we go over the mountain to see cousins, daddy at work, and friends.
-feeling inspired but lack of energy to execute.
-when I unpacked I found some of your baby gifts.... ummmm oops. Im late. Forgive me.
-sitting on the couch last night with my hubby in our living room watching a movie, it was like.. yeah this home.. not just some place I work in. It felt so nice.
-pumpkin bread from trader joe's.... ahhhhh heaven.
-Found devotionals for toddlers on CD at Dollar Tree, Rylan likes them.
-she sings a lot, its the best sound in the world.
-the gumdrop shoppe is launching soon, keep an eye out... it will let me meet some INCREDIBLE people.
-Im obsessed with all things chalk... seriously.
-can't wait to show you my new highchairs... so so wonderful.
-I love Costco's veggie chips... they're addictive but not as healthy as the packaging suggests...
-the neighbor girls invited Rylan to ride in there barbie jeep. She died and went to heaven.. now every day we talk about not inviting ourselves over... when she drove the jeep, she picked up the cell phone, turned around and said.. be quiet Im on the phone.... then put a hand over her ear... Please Lord let her not be copying mom, please.
-My husband is a good good man, he never complains about his very long days. Im blessed.
-I watched Nie on Oprah last night, on the website. Just a clip. I sobbed, and cried my eyes out. Today every second of the day, I was greatful to be making breakfasts, wiping boogers, picking up the whiny child who says "mommy I want to carry you"... Instead of sighing, I think. Im lucky to be here. To be so healthy. When I see myself in the mirror, instead of noticing the total massive breakouts going on, I say, Im lucky to have something familiar, to look and feel like myself. Im so greatful. She is incredible, and inspiring. Her story is touching millions of people. She is being used mightily.
-we are planting trees in our backyard this weekend. EXCITING.....
-I've been thinking about people in seach of someone, special. That aching is hard. Im blessed to have found Nick so young. Its so good to do life with him. He's dreamy.

Is that random enough for you....I think it might be.

a facelift

I was driving by a garage sale, looking for an armoire. I'd been scouring craigslist, and found a couple for $50. They were always gone by the time I emailed. Well I saw this one, and as I walked up it had tape on it that said something, I assumed sold... But no $10, is what it said. I chuckled and said. Do you really want $10 for that. He said, I would take $5 if you will get it off my driveway in the hour. Done, I whipped the $5 out of my pocket before he could blink. Then I went and looked at it. Backwards I know.....

Doors that slide all the way in.. check...
Storage .... Check..
Clean lines.. minus the feet (those could be replaced, along with the hardware).. check.


Done. I drove home, 3 streets away, and told Nick go pick up our new armoire. He did... and sighed. Unsure of what I was envisioning.. it looked tired...

And after some primer, paint... Here it is... isn't she lovely.. :)
We finished her up last night.


this was the only before pic I got.... Already started sanding.


and for a grand total of about $20.00 we redid this peice.
I bought new legs for $22.00, they didn't fit right... returned them.
Bought new hardware... they didn't look as good as the original... returned them..

so a quarter of a can of primer... a half a can of paint... and the $5.00... there you have it....

and I really like her, a lot.

a weekend to do..

We made ourselves a decent little to do list for this weekend as we looking towards some company in November and want to get the house looking like a house..
and after all last weekend we did ditch the projects and run to the pumpkin patch and a have a sweet fall meal with friends...

So our to do list written on our new ikea chalkboard looked like this...

and I may have spent the weekend covered in paint with my new big toy (that I mentioned here)


looking at a lot of thrifted finds coated in primer....


and then glorious white paint...

and we may have gotten sidetracked seeding the yard... like this...


isn't it beautiful weather here... a little summer flaring back up, trying to not be forgotten.





and we may be working far into the night... 2 little kids, make it hard to be productive when they are awake..

Cade wants to help, he really really does....

stay tuned next week for pictures of my new $5.00 armoire.. that's right I hit the thrifting jackpot.. and you don't want to miss out.


Nick wanted me to say hi to you all.. I did not. No offense...right? Mask and googles aren't a good look for me!

Im thrifty...

So Im living out a little more in the country, and this morning I saw a lot of garage sale signs. I ventured... (thank you Lord for the DVD player in the van) after a long week with my kids, a bunch of snacks and a blues clues DVD, allowed me to hit up 3 or 4 yard sales in peace with my kids excitingly watching a toon. We were all happy.

They have gone a whole month without one toon. Isn't that awesome.

Anyways, not my point...

So I went looking for ties (I know you want to know why, but you have to wait) and found some in the trunk of a ladys car who just gave them to me... weird huh..

but then while I was out I found other fun things..

this barrel and wreath, which will make the porch look more festive... $1.00 for both.

another wood highchair (aka, more furniture to paint piling up in my garage!) for Cader boy... yeah... we can get rid of the plastic in the house... woo hoo. Total - $2.00)


a covered cake plate, some cute milk bottles, twine, and a counter bell (which will be fun on the island) all for $3.00




and a super mommy treat for .50 cents... still in the package, can you believe it...?


and I scored the cake stand full of boy baby shoes for Cade, kswiss, and converse woo hoo, and a pendant light for over my island still in box for $3.00.... your jealous I know you are... :)

I was on a thrifting high, I tell you. My $10.00 bill served me well this morning. And I felt revived to deal with the munchkins... since I got to do a little bit of what I enjoy and not just cook, clean, sweep, wipe bottoms, and then repeat. :)


That is what the days are feeling like lately. Im working on doing it more joyfully, won't you join me....

And because thrifting isn't always about the things you find, but the people you meet, the stories they tell you... I met Lucille, she said she wanted a cakestand full of baby shoes... but I beat her to it. We ran into each other at every sale... and kept snagging each others things...

she wore hot pink lipstick.
Really hot pink.
She was older and spunky.
We shared a granola bar... really.
And it was mine, don't worry, I don't eat strangers food.
But she looked parched.
She has a garage full of vintage treasures...
her garage sale is tomorrow..
you can bet I will be there..

She promised me a doughnut.. That beats my granola bar any day.

Does this count as a friend in my new town?

celebrate

yesterday was Cades day as you may have read.
His party isn't for a couple weeks.
So yesterday we did a family party.

Cade likes pizza (hes a boy)
He also loves balloons
and anything with wheels.
So we included all that.
Sissy helped decorate.
We walked the block with Amanda
waiting for daddy to get home.
Dressed in party dresses
As we walked he held onto me like a koala
in his one onesie.

He is still so much baby.
I love it.

Not quite ready to conquer the whole world.
Unlike "the girl"
who can do everything without help.
He needs me a little more
To be needed is nice.

But she makes us laugh.
She told everyone in Costco today
It was Cade's birthday, he is our sugar boy.
They didn't really understand, but I knew.
Cade knew.

And he is our sugar boy.

Images from our special Cade day....