Little by little

We are moving right along with the house.   Although we had a week of "outside" work and BIG things done, like our septic, power being hooked up and water.  OH and let's not forget propane for heat and the heating and AC  is in! Just have to hook up to the units.  They have started plumbing this week and putting our fireplaces in, which I will take pictures of this week.

But I wanted to give a sneak peek of the garage door trim, the front door and our stairs that have been put in!  It's moving right along again.  Hopefully we will be doing electrical next week and then be ready for insulation! 

Anyway, thought I would share! :)

I think we are going with steel doors that look like wood.......

                                                                    The front door is in

Transom

                                                                 Still needs railing

                         This part of the upstairs hallway will be "open" with just railing

XOXO

Exciting week

We are down to the last 10 days or so of "summer" here.  My boys did a new VBS at a church that is very close to where we are moving.  And they LOVED IT!   

                                      Johnny, Kris and their cousin Jeana

Funny thing is, they were a little apprehensive to go.  I basically found it and signed them up.  Then I told them, you are going!  Ever have a good feeling about something?  This I had a good feeling about.    The boys went everyday (and their 3 1/2 yr old cousin went with them in the preschool group) from 9am-12pm.  What I really liked about how they grouped the kids was, they were different ages.  It really had a different, but oh so positive dynamic!  They were with one child their age and the others were mostly younger.  The Theme of the week was "High Seas".  They formed friendships, learned about God's word and learned some really great songs.   I saw two boys who were a little shy at the beginning of the week, get more and more excited each morning.   And everyday when I would come to pick them up at 12 noon, the most beautiful bells were playing in the steeple of the church.  Always ending with "He's got the whole world in his hands" which made me tear up daily....

It is three churches that put this on.  The Lutheran Church where it was held, The Reformed Church (directly in the lot behind it) and the Catholic Church down the street.  I think it's wonderful they all work together to give these kids a wonderful week.  Isn't that what we are supposed to do, help each other out?  And so nice to see that they are.  There is one person from each church that plans this every year, for 10 years now.  And they do a great job!

Thursday there was an "ice cream social"  after dinner and they were thrilled to go.  Today was their last day of VBS, but made sure to tell their leaders (teens who were the group leaders) they would be at tonight's closing program.   

This little Lutheran church that was built in 1901 (I think, I'm going by Johnny, I thought in the 1890's but I'm taking his word for it!)  came ALIVE tonight with these kids!  They had a slide show of pictures of the kids all week doing their projects, playing games, singing and having a great time.  They sang the songs for us.  It was just heartwarming!  And to see my two boys come out of their shells like they did, just made my heart happy!  They sang and stomped and hugged their friends and asked if they could come back next year.   I love these kids with all of my being and thank God for giving them to me!

   That is my Johnny right behind the first girl in front of the screen, Kris is in here, but can't find him!

I want to consciously live in the moment with them and enjoy every single minute with them.  Because I know, firsthand how quickly it goes by.  These babies of mine are 9, how did that happen?  I'm so not ready for them to grow up.  I need more time! 

XOXO

Sidetracked

Do you ever walk in to Target for bleach and spray'n'wash and walk out with this?

I have been eyeballin' all the vintage inspired jewerly I have been seeing in all the magazines and stores.  I don't know about you, but I can't justify a $200 costume necklace from J Crew, even if it's so dreamy.    I happened to be walking to the register when this clearance section caught my eye (near the scrapbooking stuff in case you want to check your Target!) and had to get some.  Started out with the big birdie, then I couldn't leave the other stuff there.  I figured I could make bracelets, necklaces and whatever else I wanted! I even thought embellishing a few lamps would be cute!

I was trying SO hard to be good, but couldn't pass this up!  Do you ever get sidetracked like this? I'd love to know! :)

I'm joining the Favorite things Saturday's linky party at Laurie's!  Come and join the fun :)

XOXO

Date Night!

These two......

Plus this one, went over to Mema and Papa's house

Then I  put this pretty bracelet on

And these cute earrings

And these adorable shoes (that I got for $3.99 at Salvation army, they are Kenneth Cole!)
Yes, my right big toe polish is chipped.  Such is life! :)

And took a picture with Big daddy! On our very grainy 1.6 megapixel webcam.  And you know what? I like it, smooths ALL the wrinkles and imperfections out.  That dang D90 shows EVERYTHING.  Good when your a toddler, child or teenager, not good when your 37!

And off we went to see Eat Pray Love.  Which was very good.    In some ways I could identify with Liz.    I have been married before.  And trust me, it wasn't pretty.   So it was hard to ever think you will "love" again.  And when your NOT looking for it, you find it.   To make a long story short, John and I met about 12 weeks after I broke up with my ex.  I did not, I repeat DID NOT want to date anyone at that time.    But he was sooooo nice.  I let my guard down and went out with him.  Much against my mother's urging NOT too.  That is,  until she met him.  She fell in love as well.   We dated about 8 months before getting engaged and were married 14 months after our first date.  In August we celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary.   If I didn't let myself fall in love again, I'm not sure where I would be.

   I am blessed with a man who loves me, makes me laugh, loves his children and is a wonderful devoted father.   He is loyal and is a caring, warm and emotional guy.   Even though he's tough as nails on the outside, he's my teddy bear!  I love you honey!

I thought I'd share a little piece of our night together.  It's not often we are alone and we are both fine with that.  But it was nice to have this little bit of time alone!    Baby girl is home with us now (fast asleep) but the boys are having a fun sleep over!

Linking up with Home and Family Friday's!  Come and join the fun! :)
Happy Sunday!
XOXO

Making our mark

Our garage concrete was poured about a week ago.  We all went and put our hand prints and names.  In true scatter-brain style we forgot the year and date!  Oh well!   I haven't taken anymore pics of the house because it doesn't "look" like anything has been done, but there have been many.  This coming week is a quiet one because they are working elsewhere.  But the week after they will be doing the plumbing and electrical (shortly after).  Then the exterior will be starting to be applied!  Exciting and as always I will keep you posted! 

  I am linking up at Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge, come and join the fun! :)

Have a great weekend! :)
XOXO

Smart shopping, Thrifty Gypsy style....

During all the summer fun, we are plugging along with the house.  We are doing some BIG items at the moment.  We have power, the septic is in and we are officially hooked up to the water line.  Three VERY important things.  And to think my sweet man thinks that these are more important than picking door knobs.......
Oh and we have heat and air conditioning vents too, how could I forget that?


I have completed (kind of) my plumbing order.  My half bath, turned into a 3/4 bath.  I started getting scared because of the looks on every one's faces when I would tell them I took out a bathroom upstairs to make it a laundry room.   I figured since I am the one cleaning the toilets, I'd like to stick to 3 toilets, and not 4!    The house originally had a master and 2 hall baths upstairs.  Now it has a laundry room UPSTAIRS (YAYAYAY), a master bath and a main bath.   Just to give you the backround.      Now, the former powder room has a 36 in shower in it, just in case.   So now we have 2 and 3/4 baths.  Yes I am redundant! :)

Well this 3/4 bath (Aka powder room) was giving me fits.   It's not very big.  About 6 feet long and I'm not sure how wide.  But narrow enough where a regular depth was going to be tight on a vanity.  Which then led to driving my poor cousin, husband and mother insane with looking at console sinks.  Which are BEAUTIFUL.   But OH SO PRICEY!!  I almost ordered this beauty......

But my OH SO THRIFTY side just could NOT spend $1500 on this sink. I just can't.  Especially when there are porcelain sinks for SO much less, but this one is fire clay.  And this one was the size I needed.

That was of course until we walked into a new Lowe's they built near us recently.  I was checking out washer and dryers and looked to my right and saw the bath department.  So I strolled on over there and saw THIS beauty.....

Not only is it french, the right size and adorable.  It comes with a stone top, sink and was only $398!!!!  Now THAT I can live with!  I found a faucet for around $70.  These are the kind of things that make me SOOOO happy!  The other sink was pretty, but the thought of spending that kind of dough on a sink.  Well, it's just not me.  It better clean itself for that price! 

The Thrifty Gypsy strikes again! ;)

I'm linking up at Nifty Thrifty Tuesday's at Coastal Charm, come join the fun! :)

XOXO

Where do I begin.....

I sit here wondering where to begin.   Lori and Ali are home now.  My house has that empty nest feeling that I hate so much.   There is something to be said about having a houseful of laughter, family, love, craziness and a mess.   My house is clean now, but I'd rather have a dirty house and all the fun we had....

Ok, I think my pity party is over.   Instead of being sad, I will make myself be HAPPY for all the fun and memories we made.   Lori and Ali come to visit almost every summer (for the last 4 or 5 yrs or so) and each year it's a very special time.  And with each passing year, I appreciate our too little time together so  much more.   Lori and I are first cousins, our mothers are sisters.   We have had a close sister-like bond since we were kids.  And we never let the miles between us affect that.   I'm so thankful that I have her in my life.  She is a strong woman, who is beautiful, creative and always a ray of sunshine.  And her daughter is becoming like her, which is so beautiful to see. 

Our kids are only 3 weeks apart.  When I found out I was pregnant with the boys, a few weeks later she called me to tell me she was pregnant too.  It was so nice to share that with her.  And now our kids are growing up making the bonds that we made as children!

We had two weeks of fun, laughter, good food, game playing, and SHOPPING!!!  Did I mention that Lori loves to feather her nest like I do?  If not MORE than I do?  And we are both suckers for "family day" at the thrift store.  

We took the kids and our other cousin to the lake where our grandpa had a camp in the 70's.   It brought back so many great memories.  And reminded us how time just flies by.   I remember summers there with everyone like it was yesterday.   Staying on the beach all day, no sunscreen, no constant adult supervision and running around until it was dark out.  Then the inside fun of hide and seek or playing in grandpa's workshop while the adults played cards.  My grandpa worked at GE his whole life and this was his little slice of heaven and he deserved it.   And I'm so thankful he had this place for all of us to come together as family.
While it looks very different from when we were kids.  SO SMALL compared to the huge ocean it looked like to us.  It was still familiar and "our" place.   And our kids were now swimming in this lake that we once were. 

Here we are all grown up.  And knowing that our next "generation" are forming these same bonds is what makes this so beautiful.

.

  And in true crazy style, we hit one HECK of an estate sale on the way home.  Perfect ending to a perfect day!

This is Lori trying to stuff some stuff in the back of my truck!

Is this sign cool or what?  Our kids told us we could be on American Picker's.  Then another one chimed in to say "or Hoarder's" LOL!

I thought this was so pretty and photo related to boot!

Here is our clan at my oldest nephew's graduation party.  I simply cannot believe this boy is 18 and going to college.  It just blows my mind how fast time goes by!  How blessed we all are.

And I'm ashamed to say this, but I gave this child a dum dums lollipop so she would WEAR THIS OUTFIT!   There, I said it!  That cupcake is yummy!

Here is our clan with my nephew Louie.   His mother passed away almost 3 years ago. You can read her story here.  It's hard to imagine she has been gone that long.  And she is missed and loved by us all.

Ali, just being her beautiful self.  So I took the chance to snap some pictures of her.

Thank you for reading and taking this emotional walk with me.  I love my family and feel so blessed to have these times to share with them!

I am linking up to Home and Family Friday, come and join the fun! :)

And don't worry, I'll be back to the regularly scheduled posts of "help me decide" in no time at all! ;)

XOXO

2 week Holiday!

And I am right smack in the middle of it!  My cousin Lori and her daughter came to visit us last Saturday.   We have been just REALLY having a great time!   Laughing, eating, shopping, eating, swimming, eating, playing games, eating.    You get the picture, LOL!

Oh and I learned something.  When your putting your camera card in your computer to save the pictures, double, triple and QUADRUPLE check the file!  Because POOF, all the pictures are gone! :(     All the house pictures, Madi's birthday and too many more things that is really making me sad.  However I am choosing to look at the positive and be THANKFUL that I have this blog and post pictures on here of our life.  Because now I can save the ones I posted here and still make a nice summer photo book.  How is that for making lemonade out of lemons?

Anyway, I digress.........
The kids are having  blast and I plan to post some more pictures soon.  But I had to show you some really fun things I have found at Sally's and Goodwill this week!



First is this red tole tray I got for 2.99, I was SO excited when I saw it sitting there!

 

Then I got this black one for 1.99 the next day!  In case you don't know, I LOVE red and black tole ware!

Then I picked up this pretty magazine rack for 9.99.  A little more than I usually spend, but it's in really good shape and I love this kind because it keeps the magazines straight and from curling.  Yes, I know I'm nuts!  :)

I couldn't resist this vintage Kodak camera with the case for $1.59!

Then I found this vintage 1950's Kodak Brownie movie camera with the case and all!  $12!  This will go in basement movie room in the new house.  My husband already has a collection of movie posters he is going to put down there so I have been looking for some other goodies!

I have been a little reluctant to post because two of my blog friends have been heavy on my mind.  Kristen passed away over a week ago and I was just shocked to read she had passed and my heart is aching for this beautiful family.   And then I read about my good friend Jen and was really in a state of shock.   It is such a tragedy and my heart just goes out to Jen, I wish I could drive there and comfort her.    These situations make it hard to understand why bad things happen to such good people.   I know it is all part of His plan, but still it is hard for us as humans to understand.  So please keep these families in your prayers!
XOXO