I Really Lucked Out With This James Guy...

Not only is he smart, fun, and handsome, but he's also really really handy. The guy can build, fix, or otherwise construct anything. And he built me my very own craftsman columns. Rewind to this past summer...
me-"James, I think our house would look good with some craftsman inspired columns, you know, brick base, tapered column, wide trim...)
James-"Do you have a picture?"
me- (15 min later)"Here's a 'detailed, drawn to scale' picture of the front of our house, with my envisioned columns."
James-"Okay, I can figure this out..."

And he did. They look awesome, okay more than awesome. Every time I see them I get a little giddy and have to do a little happy dance. Seriously, the guy built me columns, with only a couple of you tube videos and a can do attitude, and I'm completely in love with them (and James too of course).

Here are some pics of my little cookie cutter ranch turned craftsman cottage...


Here's James expertly laying brick...




Putting up the tapered column...

Three coats of primer and paint later...







...a much more charming and inviting porch!

So there it is, and I couldn't be happier, and it's not just that they look awesome, or that James spent his free time working diligently on them, or that he spent 8+ hrs, for several days in the bitter cold, or even that he got up at the crack of dawn to finish them in time for Christmas, but that he believed in my vision for that little front porch and made it happen, because he loves me and my ideas (as random as they may be!) Thank you James!

And just for fun, here's a pic of our house before we moved in (I guess you could call it a before shot)


And the 'now more distinctly ours' after...

Just One of the Many Reasons Why I Love James...

He has made it possible to blog again (with pictures, because I know that is one of the main (if not the only) reason friends and family read my blog).
So here are some recent pics of the kids.


Noble is quite the charmer, and nine months old now.


Showing off his studly teeth (Noble almost has four now)

Bath buddies

Who can resist those baby blues? Definately not mommy!

A Project Just Waiting to Happen...

I don't know what it is about my personality that lends itself to change, but I am constantly wanting to fix, change, and beautify the things around us. And sometimes, the need to let my creative juices go from mere ideas to elbow grease action is overwhelming, and right now it is sooo bad. There is of course, a never ending list of the things I want to do, but unfortunately, reality (in the form of time, kids, and money constraints) comes strutting on in and puts a damper on my grand aspirations. But, with James break for the holidays just around the corner, a little glimmer of hope has sprung and I am eating, sleeping, and breathing my latest fun, fixer upper project...painting our kitchen cabinets!! So with some family help (I know they want some extended one on one time with the grand kids) and James' go-ahead (even home improvement projects done on the cheap still cost something), I am looking forward to tackling those builder grade, mapleish colored cabinets. Now to just hone in on exactly what I want (which isn't always easy, as I have a lot of ideas) and tackling it full force (is it sad that two days spent sanding, priming, and painting without the kiddos makes me giddy?) So here's hoping... oh, and just to clarify, I have not been neglecting my blogging duties, our computer is officially on the brink of permanent shut down, so it is not allowing me to download pics. So you'll have to make due with some random ramblings and pics I already have downloaded, which reminds me of a before/after pic I have of a nightstand I painted several months back.

Okay...never mind, that won't work either. You'll just have to take my word for it that it turned out great (think dusty blue distressed pottery barnish piece that has storage inside for our favorite books). Looking forward to the holidays!

Oh, and if you're anything like me and love a good room makeover, you should check out www.theletteredcottage.net
I just loved her room transformations, in fact, she described her style as cottage, contemperary country, coastal, which is so right up my alley, it's not even funny. Enjoy!

Happy Fall

Catching up on the Latest Trends

My little preppy meets bohemian fashionista.

Two Things That Don't Go Together: Baking and Naps

My sad attempt at trying to be domestic and take a little rest.
This pie had it in for me from the start, I only read two measurements wrong while preparing it (2 TBS Bourbon or (very important word) 1/2 tsp vanilla). So there's my incredible vanilla, slighty charred, nuts eaten off the top (in an attempt to determine how burned it was), pecan pie. Enjoy your 'after dinner treat' James.

Mommy's Little 'Helper'

With London's new helpfulness, maybe now I can tackle that kitchen, or not...

And The Winner is...

the kid wearing the pet costume.

Yes, Noble won the costume contest in a costume that was intended for a terrier, but doesn't he pull it off so well?









We had a great time at our church's trunk or treat, London enjoyed visiting everyone's amazingly decorated trunks and downing large quantities of sugar with her friends; it was a great Halloween!

Noble's 7 month Pics

On a side note, the moons aligned and Noble slept from 9-6 last night, his first official time to sleep through the night, and he wasn't even sick (I was sure he was when I abruptly woke up @ 4:00, realizing I hadn't held/fed him. It was very random, since he averages waking up between 3-4 times on a normal night. Oh wonderful sleep, I forgot how much I loved you.

We Couldn't Have Crammed in any More Fun if We Tried...

Our day started out in the chilly morning at Walter's Pumpkin Patch...

Where London bounced...


dutifully posed for the obligatory family pic...


hung out with friends...


and searched for the 'perfect' pumpkin.



We found ours (do you like how I'm holding the boots that I was so proud of myself for remembering so that her shoes wouldn't get muddy?). And then we very quickly packed and skittered (as Eloise would say) down to Stillwater, for a last minute, but oh so fun and exciting homecoming football game at my alma mater.


Fun times with friends!




It was such a great (and incredibly late-I feel sooo old just admitting that)day. Thanks again Sarah for letting us in on the fun! Go Pokes!!!

Per Your Request...

Pictures of Noble, who is six months old now!!!




Is he handsome or what?


Noble is doing a great job of sitting up the past few days, such a big boy!

The Goop is Gone!

After six months of a constantly teary, goopy right eye, Noble woke up with it goop free! Yeah for unblocked tear ducts! Now lets just hope it stays that way!

Way to Set the Bar High People

Yesterday we celebrated London's 3rd birthday with a 'small' family get together down in Edmond. Needless to say, the birthday festivities of '09 will be pretty tough to match, we're banking on the fact that she won't remember how incredibly spoiled she is next year. Here are some highlights of her special day...

Breakfast with Daddy. James took L to Sugar Sisters this year for their annual Daddy/Daughter Birthday breakfast.


London tried out her new scissors (present from us, she's been asking for scissors for several months now, which sounds kind of lame, but hey, if that's what the girl wants...) they're the kind that don't cut anything but paper, we'll see.


Wearing Daddy's shirt, if L' isn't undergoing a 'sugar seizure', she's cold.
After their return we all loaded up to head to Edmond for a fun party at the park, and since it was a day trip I didn't have to pack so much (only a change of clothes for the kids and myself (I get pooped on a lot), pj's (which I forgot L's) diapers, wipes, bottles, snacks, DVDs, and everything needed for a party at the park (and I only forgot a lighter for the candles and serving utensils, which, are kind of important, but still, it could have been worse, much worse.))


London had a variety of Birthday baked goods to choose from. There was the pink castle (from a mold I checked out from the library, very cool idea, if you are talented at decorating cakes, which, I have unfortunately learned is not in my skill set. Then there were the cupcakes with plastic Disney princesses on top (very commercial) and then the 'mini' cake with a castle candle on top, which actually turned out kind of cute, but totally unnecessary. I was set on baking London a cake this year and I got a little carried away.




Yeah! a picture with me in it, James took several because I am always complaining that I'm never in any pictures with my children, this was, sadly, the best one.


And since there wasn't enough sugar present, London got some ice cream with the help of her Uncle Caleb and Elizabeth to wrap things up.

So, 1500 presents later (among which were a princess bicycle, shopping cart, and princess accessories) London is officially three. We had so much fun seeing (almost) all of our family, thanks to everyone for making London's 3rd Birthday so special!