Happy Memorial Day!

What a perfect day! It truly was, including the weather. We started off the morning by going downtown and meeting friends to watch the parade. I love small-town parades--full of people you know, and fun, homemade floats. The kids always come home with bags full of candy, and love waving flags, sitting with their friends, and watching everything go by. It's the epitome of small-town America, and a wonderful way to celebrate.

We all met up again later that afternoon for a BBQ at the park--we grilled hamburgers, and enjoyed yummy food that everyone brought. I tried a new recipe for Picnic Potato Salad, and it's my new favorite! Baked beans, pasta salad, watermelon, chips, and delicious cookies and cakes were all on the menu. There were games of soccer, kickball, football, sand volleyball, and horseshoes, plus some kite-flying, and kids and adults alike were in heaven. We talked, laughed, played, ate, and just enjoyed the perfect day and each other.

Farm Living

Would you ever want to live on farm? I would! A big white house, with a porch that wraps all the way around the house, a red barn, fields and trees, a creek in the back, horses...

I took my kids to visit a friend yesterday that lives on such a farm. They LOVED it. They saw baby sheep, bunnies, chickens, planted a few lima beans in the garden, blew dandelions, roasted marshmallows over the firepit, saw gigantic beehives, played in the hose, watched flowers being planted, and ran around the yard after the cat, all in about an hour and a half. I actually had to make them come home with me! Ryan also went upstairs to the "Lego attic" with the young boy that lives there--yes, that's right-a whole attic dedicated to just Legos and Playmobil. This kid was in heaven! (So much so, that I have not one picture of him!)

The weather was perfect, the air smelled like a mixture of smoke from the fire, good dark soil, and flowers. I think I'm a country girl--as long as the city isn't too far away...:)

A bargain...and a HUGE first!

The worst class I ever had in my whole life was 8th grade Home Ec. I really liked the cooking and baking sections, but when it came to sewing my whole being rebelled. I wasn't good at it (the teacher also confirmed that), and I didn't like it. I attempted several projects, and in my efforts to get an A, I did give it my all. The sweatshirt I made my sister for Christmas was complete with one large arm and one tiny arm--I didn't realize that a serger would cut off the material in addition to sewing it. The pillow cover I made was far from perfect, although my sweet mother kept it in our living room (perhaps as a small reminder that there was possibly some hope for my homemaking skills). The bookmark I sewed did meet the requirements of different stitches executed, but I don't think I even kept that.

Needless to say, I haven't ever been much on the sewing front. That experience stuck with me--I have shied away from anything to do with it since, and I have done amazing things with duct tape, hot glue, and double stick tape. However, over the past few years, there have been many times that I have wished I could at least perform a simple stitch--curtains, bags, hems, Halloween costumes, and the list goes on. As a mom, I have continued to add to the list of reasons that I should at least have a basic knowledge of a sewing machine.

I had this conversation with a good friend last week, and I told her that at the beginning of the year I made a goal to learn how to sew in 2008. I really wanted to find a good, basic machine I could learn on. She also volunteered to teach me how, and I quickly took her up on that. This particular friend is also the shopping queen of America, and she finds unheard of bargains. I have had her on several occasions,call me and fill me in on a great deal or sale, and then proceed to put something on hold for me until I can get there. I totally love it. Well, the very next day, she called me from Target, and she had miraculously found a Singer, originally $100, for $22!!! It's definitely the machine for me--simple, with a few different stitches and a buttonhole function. Even if it lasts a year, it will be worth it!

If you had asked me even 5 years ago, I would have never thought this day would come. Rick has also expressed his skepticism, but that was after I told him I would be hemming all his dress pants from here on out. :) I think I will start a little simpler than that. Wish me luck everyone--I think I'm going to need it.

Our house!

Welcome to our home!

.....

Front entry and stairwell:







Great Room: (next stop, new couches :))




I had to show the armoire that Rick made for me--it turned out just how I wanted it. It makes me laugh though, because he made it to fit up to a 47 inch tv, and we just have a small one in there for now. It looks kind of funny, but it works!


Music Room:(through french doors off entry)




Dining Room and Kitchen:






Mud Room, Laundry Room, and 1/2 bath:

You'll notice that I have some baskets missing in the lockers. The original design called for 3 on one side, and 2 on the other, and that's how many I ordered. When they were making them, the measurements were such that they did 4 on one side, and 3 on the other, so I'm now waiting for more baskets. :)








UPSTAIRS

The girls' room:






Craft/Guest Room:




Ryan's room:

He chose his own paint color, and his quilt (okay, I gave him a few to choose from :)). I think he did a great job!


Kids' bath:

My favorite thing about this bathroom is the really cool blue and white tile that I found. I designed the rest of the bathroom around it, and I love how it turned out. I also love hooks instead of a towel bar--so much easier for little ones!



Playroom and Toy Closet:

Please ignore the fact that I have some major organizing and decorating to do here--





Master Bedroom:


Master Bath:

I'm so happy with the the slate in the double shower and on the floor--I really love how it turned out.


(I don't know what the weird thing is on the back wall--it really is all the same color of paint!

Set in stone!

These are on our back patio, and I love how they turned out. I had to be gone when the cement was poured, so I placed Rick in charge of making sure it got done. It totally made me nervous, because I'm so particular about how I want things done, but he did a great job!

Happy Mother's Day!

I love being a mom. As a teenager, and into my college years, I was totally focused on my education and career goals. I had every intention of heading to law school or medical school (loved them both, and couldn't decide...now I would choose medical school)after graduation, and dreamed of living in New York City. I thought of marriage as something I would do "one day", and children, while I wanted them, were even farther down the path of life. Imagine my surprise (and many that knew me) when I got engaged and married at the age of 19. Ryan came along 3 years later, and my life has never been the same. I do know that it is the life that I love, and a life I wouldn't trade for any career out there. Glamorous though it may not be; it is richly rewarding, and very, very, sweet. This path was meant for me, and true happiness has been found with my husband and children.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a mother. I struggled for many years with the idea that I may not have any more children after Ryan, and that was extremely difficult for me. I don't think I realized how much I really wanted it, until I didn't think it was a possibility. I have been blessed with three beautiful children, and I love them very much. The degrees will come, but for now, I have all that I want.

I'm also grateful today that my mom is here visiting with us, and that she can be here on Mothers' Day. She is a wonderful mother,an amazing grandmother, and we are all extremely blessed to have her. I can always count on her, and she has always been there---most recently our move. I never would have made it without her! Thanks Mom...I love you.

My gratitude also extends to my sister, my friends, and all those that are incredible examples of motherhood to me. I get so many ideas, advice, help, support, and encouragement from them, and it just reiterates to me that we are all in this together!

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!!!