Kitchen Cupboard Chaos to Calm

Last weekend we wrapped up the kitchen cupboard project (insert BIG sigh of relief!). The weekend prior, Justin prepped the kitchen to allow the sanding to begin. While he sanded, I took Kale and ran errands! When we returned, he had the plastic down the had begun the cleanup! After a week of painting in the kitchen and wrapping up the painting of the door and drawer fronts in the basement (which had been going for a few weeks...), followed by attaching the new hardware and reattaching to the drawers and cupboards, our kitchen is back together! Before...
After...

Just Something

There is just something
about

bath

night...

Pie and Life

This is my dear friend, Heather. When I was still working, she was my running partner over the lunch hour. We'd have a good 40-50 minutes daily to talk about anything and everything, except maybe on hill workout days when there was too much perspiration and "out-of-breathness" to communicate but with grunts.Heather is that friend who walks by my side while I try to figure out many things in my life as she knows my decision making process can be quite slow and downright poor. She has the courage to tell me things that others probably don't. She speaks with honesty and love.

I only see Heather on a semi-regular basis now that I'm a stay at home mom. In many ways, I feel like a piece of me is missing when we go long stretches without communicating/seeing one another.

Last night we met at a Village Inn in town at 7:30 to catch up. We each ordered a piece of pie and talked about life. We laughed. We cried. We reconnected. The first time we looked at the time, it was 10PM. We finally made it out to our cars at 10:30 and hugged goodbye.

Heather is more than a friend, she's family. I thank God that our paths have crossed and I have such an amazing woman in my life.

We Have an 8 Month Old!

Kale is 8 months old today. We can hardly believe that 8 months have gone by already. He's sitting well on his own, eating relatively well, can put weight on his legs, but shows no signs of wanting to crawl yet. We think we're okay with that. It will come all too quickly, just as this 8 month mark has. We love you peanut!

Cupboard Rework

Justin is tackling the project of sanding and painting the kitchen cupboards that are not original to the house. The ones facing the kitchen windows, in particular, have significant sun damage that no Murphy's Oil can help. We decided that rather than replace, we'd paint them a deep chocolate brown. So, thankfully Kale is not mobile yet as everything inside the cupboards is currently accessible! Looking forward to posting more pics when the project is DONE!

It is Well

A song that continues to resonate with me and comes to mind if I start to get anxious about things or look at Kale in amazement as he learns something new. It IS well.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh the bliss, of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh my soul!

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, it is well
through the storm, I am held.
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well, it is well
Christ has won, Christ prevailed.
It is well, it is well with my soul.

I've Seen Better Days

Our sweet little Kale has been under the weather. He was first diagnosed with a sinus infection. When his ten days of antibiotics were nearly over, he developed a nasty cough and red splotches started showing up all over his body. We trucked back to the doctor and he was then diagnosed with bronchiolitis. He's been doing breathing treatments every 4 hours plus taking 2 other meds. It's been a rough few weeks in our home!

The doctor indicated that the red spots were simply part of the virus associated with the bronchiolitis. The picture below is Kale doing his breathing treatments while sucking his thumb for comfort. He is not a fan of the nebulizer...

Cedar at 2 years

Happy 2nd Birthday to our pup, Cedar! Justin (aka "the softie") requested I pick up something special for Cedar's special day. When asked what he had in mind, he said "one of those moist treats in the little cans!" We'll give Cedar his birthday present later tonight. He remains a much loved dog at our home!

Kale at 7 months

Our little peanut ready for hunting adventures with Gramps, Uncle Darin and Uncle Todd! As D's brother would say "Don't smile, it's not the prom!"
Kale and his favorite pasttime: the jumper. Like father, like son? That's all folks!

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 was joyful, full of lots of surprises,
special moments, cousins,

great grandmas,

being home,

relaxing,

playing,

goofing around,

Christmas sweaters,
and lots of love.

Christmas Card Outtakes

Half of the fun of taking a family Christmas card photo... is trying lots of poses...
with flash or no flash... with an ansy dog brought inside just for the photo... to bring smiles to your family and friends' faces. Merry Christmas everyone!

Grandma Emily

My grandma passed away in early October at the age of 96. She would have turned 97 on New Year's Day. Her husband, Max, my grandpa, had passed away in 1997. With both of them gone now, our family gathered at their home after our Thanksgiving meal and we were each able to pick out a few of their things to take as our own. A butter churner from the farm now sits on our dining room table, adorned with Christmas ornaments.
A plate from Germany where my grandpa grew up hangs on our dining room wall.

A cake plate of my grandma's...

A favorite of many of the grandchildren were our grandparent's famous red handled silverware. So many memories of meals eaten at their home with those silverware. I placed them in a vase on our kitchen windowsill.

The goose that welcomed us to their home as it hung in the kitchen. "Velkomen" in German.

And a plate that held many a Christmas goodie, baked by my grandma herself. Though they are no longer here, I will cherish them always and be thankful for the family they built. I love you Grandpa and Grandma.