RIP, World's Ugliest Kitchen...

I think I will mainly always remember 2011 as the year we laid our kitchen, aka "the world's ugliest" to rest. Haha! Just kidding...kind of. The moment I laid eyes on our house I knew we had to have it, it was ours - where we would raise our family, make memories and enjoy our little life. We did lots, and lots of work before moving in and had to safe some money's to finish up the rest :) I have pretty much been dreaming of tearing out this awful kitchen from the moment we moved into our house. I am so lucky to say that that moment came right after Thanksgiving, 2011!! I thought I would give you a little tour before getting to the fun parts :) We managed to re-do our kitchen, celebrate our baby's 3rd birthday, move back into our kitchen, host Christmas Eve and celebrate the holidays all in the month of December - it was NUTTY! But a good, fun wonderful nutty :) Without further ado, my kitchen...

I took all these pictures after I packed everything up, even without everything else out you get the picture - it was an atrocity. That left side was awful - notice how some of the cabinets aren't closed? Not a fluke, they were painted over so many times they no longer closed - my cabinets were ALWAYS OPEN. I joked that those base and upper cabinets were the original cabinets built with out 100 year old home - when we ripped them out, we found out they most likely were. Over by the microwave - those two "drawers" pulled out to the floor, they were for potatoes. Those cabinets were built right onto the wall so there were very few nails holding them in, crazy huh?

This corner I think I hated the most.See that microwave corner? It's also where the trash can/recycling were - it was just awful. It was always dirty and it was awful. I may or may not have taken a sledge hammer to that side :) That door is the original door to the basement. Knowing that we wanted to re-do the kitchen and knowing that the door there made for a terrible layout we opened up the door in the dining room and closed this one off. It looks great, I promise to do a dining room post soon! We never used this door, but were also never able to utilize this space in the kitchen, I couldn't wait to see how this played out in the new kitchen!! ie: counterspace!!

See that door? Awful - we locked ourselves out once and had to kick it open to get in - that definitely left it looking even better :)

"The Shrine" we said this spot just needed a picture of the Virgin Mary - it was just a constant crap collector - see? The dogs medicine, a paintbrush, my phone and maybe some keys. I DEFINITELY took a sledge hammer to its pretty little self :)

This corner was awful too. It served as an everything shelf/pantry. Yes, we had NO pantry of any sort in this little beat of a kitchen. I used one of the upper cabinets and we just never bought in excess.

Just an awful corner - appliances next to each other, the stairs - that is seriously where we hung things...

There she is, my sad, sad little kitchen. Do you see the microwave? It really only dried the dishes and nothing else. It was pretty funny - our fridge made HORRIBLE noises, the dishwasher only dried the dishes and the stove would only cook one thing at a time and it took about 1 hour longer than it should have. I don't miss one thing in this kitchen - and our new one looks amazing! Next up, the demo!

New Years!

I will say that I tried to get all of my 2011 posts on the blog by the end of 2011, but it didn't happen :) Oops! I am pretty proud of myself for getting everything done this first week of January though, does that count for something?! We had a lovely little kid friendly New Years with our neighbors - we have amazing neighbors and a great little neighborhood so it was so fun to hang out with them and ring in the New Year! The kiddos were so cute and really pretty good all night! We made it until 10 and them it was time to hit the road - you know that long wagon ride home to our house :)

Are these kiddos not precious?! This was after there "fake new years" complete with sparkling grape juice! Ha, C kept running around going "want some of my champagne?!" hahaha! They were all ready for bed by this point, but I still thought the picture was pretty funny :) I *had* to make C a cute little New Years shirt, I didn't get a picture of him in it, I will have to make it a point to.

They are just such sweet little kiddos, they made me chuckle - they are already such good little friends, it's so sweet to watch!

We are really looking forward to 2012! I just still can't believe that it's 2012, where has the time gone?! We some wonderful moments in 2011, some not so wonderful moments and just some fun little memories and adventures along the way. We are really looking forward to this next year and all it has in store! I can't believe this is the year I turn 30, yikes! Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2012!

Christmas, 2011!

 We had a wonderful Christmas this year! It is just so magical watching your children experience Christmas and all the wonderfulness that comes along with it. C was at such a fun age this Christmas and I think he enjoyed every bit of it. I started to feel bad that I didn't do as many fun "holiday" things with him as I would have but we were just SLAMMED this year. But, at the end of the day - on Christmas morning the look on his face just made my heart swell. He didn't care about anything we didn't do, he was happy to see what Santa brought, spend the day with us and sing Christmas music :) We hosted Christmas Eve for the first time this year and I LOVED IT! I want to do it every year, I loved having our family over and celebrating with them, it was a great evening. I am so mad at myself for not grabbing a picture or two, I just was too busy playing hostess. I borrowed my mom's christmas china, used my inherited silver and had a wonderful time! We made Chicken ala King - a tradition in Bj's family and I just love continuting traditions on, I think it will be one we continue on, it was a hit! My mom gave Connor his christmas pj's (another tradition I love!!) and after putting cookies and milk out for Santa it was off to bed he went!

Momma Santa was up until 2:30AM! putting together the train table Santa brought because even with days notice of the task, Daddy Santa had a little too much egg nog. I very much enjoyed watching Love Actually (and Elf) while putting it together, I couldn't wait to see the look on my C's face when he saw what Santa brought :)  

He was so excited, I don't think he could believe it! It was the big thing he asked Santa for and HE LOVED IT! It was so fun watching him play. I think my favorite Christmas memory will be (my Mom and Davey come over on Christmas morning for breakfast, I make them! :) ) him running to open the door for my mom and telling her a mile a minute, "Hi Nonny, Santa came, he brought me a train table and scissors, Merry Christmas". I mean the kid didn't take a breath, it was precious.

 Speaking of the scissors I think they were his second favorite gift. He wanted them SO bad, his teachers at school said many of his art projects don't make it home from school because he cuts them up so small :) We do actually have a few that came home in a plastic baggie. :) He proceeded to use them to open the rest of his presents, it was really funny. When we got to my Aunt's house for round two he kept going "Oh no, I forgot my scissors!".

 His Cars 2 dvd was a close second as well, he LOVES it and we have watched it about a 100 times already!

 The sun was in there eyes, but I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures. I have been collecting C's christmas outfit as it went on sale, I loved it! He looked a little too handsome for me :)

After breakfast at our house (I made a quiche this year and it was great - I think that may be another tradition!) it was off to Auntie G's for round two! We had a wonderful time, Connor was so funny he passed out everyone's presents, he loved it. He did it on Christmas Eve and at our 3 Christmas celebrations :) After that it was off to the Johnson's to celebrate Christmas and Debbie's birthday! It was a wonderful Christmas, it went by way too fast and we are already looking forward to next year!

3!

Connor, I am not quite sure how it happened, but you turned three this year! I don't know if I will ever be able to get over how fast you are growing, you just amaze me everyday. The night before your birthday we put you to bed and were talking about the day you were born, and how we didn't even know if you were a boy or a girl! You were the best Christmas I have ever had and I love you to the moon and back! We snuck into your room after you were sleeping and filled it with balloons as a fun surprise for you to wake up to! It was SO fun and something I hope to do again. You just loved playing with the balloons and you had everyone playing with them at your party later that night. We had lots more than this, you had just throw half of them down the stairs by the time I took the picture :)

(don't worry, he has a rail up, I had taken it down to put the sheets back on :) )

 We opened up your presents from us in the morning before we had breakfast. We gave you a mack (you love it) and a gas pump and trailer for your cozy coupe. To say that you love it would be an understatement - you just didn't know what to do with yourself, you had SO much fun throwing everything you own in the back and trailing it around the house. We bought you that cozy coupe on your first birthday and it is by far the best investment we have ever made. You have used that thing every single day since, for at least a few hours.

 It's party time! After breakfast, lunch and a little rest on your part it was time for all of your family to come over to celebrate you and your three years! We had the nicest little time and I had fun decorating just a little for your party - I just love doing it!

 We had your chalkboard waiting outside of your door wishing you a "happy birthday" in the morning when you woke up and you said "look momma, it says Connor!" You love that chalkboard - its the best PBK knock-off Mommy and Daddy have made! :)

 You had so much fun opening your presents - by the end of Christmas you were a pro, it was hilarious! We are so blessed with such a wonderful family who spoils you rotten!

 I decided to *attempt* the cake this year and it was kind of a bust - I think I will leave the cake decorating and baking to Auntie G next time! I was seriously sweating up a storm in the kitchen, and it took me two days. I don't know if you can tell but the dirt road is supposed to be a "3" :) It tasted good though so that is all that matters!

 Happy Birthday to you!!

 Once everyone started to leave and you had some more room it was time to haul your goodies around in the trailer - I am sorry, but is that not the cutest little thing?! He HAD to have it as soon as I saw it. He is so funny with the gas pump too - he loves to fill it up with gas :)

 Our little family - someone was not wanting to pose for a picture, I think we waited until the very end which wasn't the best idea, but that's okay :) It's just a picture of how he is at 3!

 There is a good cheese for me :)

 That's all she wrote folks, I am 3!!!! It was a great two days of celebrating and now we are on to Christmas Eve and Christmas!!

One last spin in the cozy before bed time :)

Cookie Party!

Even though I am still a little in shock, life continues to move forward and my baby turned THREE! I still just can't believe it, how did my 4lb little sugar turn into a 32lb sugar so fast?! As usual I couldn't let his big day go by without celebrating and celebrated to the max! He had a few of his little friends over on Friday the 16th for some cookie decorating, a pinata and lunch! It was SUCH a fun little day and I am so glad we did this extra little thing for our sweet boy!

He was modeling the aprons we made as the party favor - he actually loved it and all of the kiddos (except the youngest) put on their aprons and had the best time decorating cookies - it was way too sweet!! I love that the apron can double as an art smock and anything else after the cookie decorating, the girlies got pink and green cars :)

 I found via Williams Sonoma on ebay this set of CARS 2 cookie cutters, they were precious! We had Finn, Lighting, Mater and Franceso cookies to decorate - the kiddos loved them! Bj and I made them the night before and the kiddos were all set to go to town with the sprinkles! They were just adorable, they decorated and then went upstairs to play and the Momma's chatted :)

 R and C having fun decorating! After this we had a little lunch and the "binyata" as Connor calls it!

 Look at all those sprinkles - I seriously went through 6 containers of sprinkles, it was hilarious!

They were just precious with the pinata - they pulled the strings and screamed in delight at the fruit snacks that fell out (C's pick!). It was just such a wonderful little day and Connor had the best time. The smile on his face was SOOO SWEET and just made my day - I don't think I stopped smiling all day. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friend, family and neighbors who come over and celebrate our sweet little Christmas baby!

O' Christmas Tree!

 We went the Saturday after Thanksgiving to pick out our perfect little Christmas tree for 2011! We went back to the same place we went last year and loved it. It was just as fun this year too! We got there nice and early so we had our pick of the best Christmas tree out there :)

 Connor loved being pulled all over the place in the sled, he was cracking us up! He kept screaming at us to go faster, faster, haha! After searching we found the best tree on the lot!

 Connor and Daddy cut down the tree and did a great job. They cut off the stem for our mantle and we were good to go.

 He is such a cheese ball and was actually being really cooperative when it came to getting his picture taken - I was a little on the surprised side :)

After getting the tree on the car it was time to head home and get it decorated! I took a picture of it up, I just haven't loaded it up yet, oops! 

Catch Up!

 Is anyone tired of looking at my pumpkin patch pictures?! Hehe, I am! Life has just been, life lately - we have been super busy and enjoying every minute of it! I have been SO busy this holiday season with my little monogramming business and I am so thankful but I was really overwhelmed for a few weeks there :) So, I thought I would do a little bullet list to get everyone up to date - I wanted to make sure I got all of our Christmas/Birthday pictures up in 2011, haha!

1. We started buying lots of goodies for a REAALLYY fun project we started around the house after Thanksgiving. This one loved picking out our new tile :) He has been a huge helper throughout the remodel! Pictures to come! Can anyone guess what was remodeled?! :)

2. We baked Christmas cookies with Nonny - we had a whole day set aside and only got one batch actually in the oven, haha! Our cookie baking day was a huge fail, but that's okay we will try again next year!

3. We spent lots, and lots, and lots of time at Nonny's house while I sewed holiday goodies! I am SO blessed and my business was a booming this year! I counted it up and I did somewhere between 275 and 300 things this holiday season - it was crazy, madness, busy! I was proud of myself because I only had two breakdowns in there, and everything got done :) Thanks to the help of my wonderful momma and this sleeping lumberjack :) I was so fortunate for a busy holiday season, especially when you see bullet number 4...

4. The second week of December (I was already on my holiday break) I got a call to come into work for a mandatory meeting - and I knew that could only mean one thing. I cried the whole way in, but knew things would work out the way they are supposed to. I, along with 599 of my fellow friends at McGraw-Hill were let go. I was really sad, but looking forward to whatever life has in store in the next few months in terms of a new job. I am loving being at home with my Connor though and hope to drag it out as long as possible, just don't tell Bj :)

5. After being antibiotic and mostly sick-free for nearly three years it finally caught up with this boy. In the span of two weeks (after getting the stomach flu in the beginning of November) Connor was up ALL night one night coughing, I called the doctor and they said whooping cough was going around so in we went. He thankfully didn't have whooping cough, but he had double ear infections! My poor little guy, we were given amoxicillan and sent home. Over the weekend (about 2 days on the antibiotics) I cheked on Connor about 10:00 and he was on fire. I mean, red as could be, 103.3 degree fever, talking gibberish. He had told me earlier that day that his neck hurt so I was SOBBING on the phone to my mom afraid he had meningitis. I called the urgent care line and they calmed me down, telling me he was most likely okay. His fever broke Sunday night and he was fine until Tuesday morning when I noticed a rash all over his body. A call to the doctor said roseola. Well, his rash continued to get WORSE and WORSE for the next two days until another call revealed he was most likely REALLY allergic to penicillan - just like his momma. This rash was 2 full days after we stopped the medecine, I am not kidding you when this looks great, he was seriously covered from head to toe - it was rash upon rash upon rash. He totally cleared up about 3 days later and is never allowed near penicillan again :)

Whew! I think that about catches us up, I can't think of anything else terrible exciting! Up next, getting our Christmas tree :)