Chi -town

 Spent the weekend in Chicago celebrating my baby sister's 30th birthday.  Also used this time to celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary.  Seems there is so much to celebrate.  I'm thankful for another year with my hubby and look forward to the adventures of the next year.  However after traveling by car over 11 states this summer I"m ready to stay home for bit.  However, I'm already looking ahead to how we will celebrate our 30th next year!!

 Over thirty of us converged on Chicago to celebrate my sisters birthday. People came from St Louis, Pittsburg, New York and Columbia - she is a blessed girl.   We all went to a cards vs cubs game, Cards won - woo hoo.  We all met the next night for dinner at Carson's ribs - ate wayyyyyy toooooo muuuuuch.

So good to spend time with our son and his girlfriend who are currently living in Chicago.

So glad I can say I finally got to watch a game at Wrigley field.

NOLA

 Just spent the weekend in New Orleans visiting with old friends and enjoying the culture that is New Orleans.  We enjoyed some very tasty food and enjoyed our personalized tour by our gracious hosts.  So thankful for a mother daughter weekend get away.  Now back to work for a couple days before my next road trip with the hubby.

Birthdays and Breweries

Happy #23 to our middle child

Fun day touring Budweiser and attending beer school

The Wild West

 Six people in a van hauling a u-haul trailer over the mountains to see the wild west.  We saw some amazing weather changes, a lot of wild life and beautiful countrysides.

There is a reason songs are written about riding through the badlands.

Second Collge Grad in the family

Neither my husband or myself went to college.  We really wanted all of our kids to go.  We are blessed to be seeing our 2nd of three kids graduating.  

He is definitely the comedian in our family.

So thankful for the many ways he blesses our lives. 

And excited for his future.

Baby Blessings

 So excited to be called to be the godmother of my newest niece.  My siblings are such a blessing to me.  I am thankful that I get the chance to be a part of my nieces and nephews lives.  It was a beautiful day of celebrating God, family and the love shared between us all.

Our oldest son and daughter showing some of their own sibling love.

Daddy's girl.

Parents and God-parents.

Celebratin!!

Our son and his precious girlfriend - love them both.







Me and my baby sis.

Grandpa with two of his granddaughters

We are on a roll

 This area started out as our laundry area in our kitchen then we made it a small pantry and recipe desk ....now it is about to become a large pantry. 

New front framed in - more to come later.

Mini Kitchen to Mini Bar

 I never loved having the electric box over the sink so after step one: tearing everything out.

 Step two: started to build in a broom closet around the electric box - yipee.

 Step three: build the bar frame and add some new lighting.

 Step four: add counter top, bar sink and bar appliances.

 Step five: Add the wine rack and paint.

Still have to add the front to the sink area and a cabinet up above but oh so close.  Will post before/after in the future. 

Oh What a year it has been.

 2011 started a bit rough for us.  The hubs had a tendon break in his foot which he had surgery for that took 6 weeks to recover from.  Just a couple weeks after being released from that while traveling overseas he had a sever ankle break (see picture) which required surgery.  So we spent the winter and early spring inside working on simple projects.  I can't believe how much it slowed us down - but that isn't such a bad thing. :)

 I was able to get a bunch of sewing/crafting done.  It was fun to deliver some of these "bakery boxes" to some of the new moms in our life.  They were filled with burp cloths, onsies and receiving blankets.

 The hubs got a lot done in his little shop too, since he could sit on a stool and work.

 I actually organized my "Atelier" which made getting some work done a lot easier. 

I actually still have some of this cut fabric ready to sew into burp cloths and taggies.  Not hoping for another injury but I am looking forward to slowing down a bit this winter and get some more sewing done. 

And now that it is winter again and the kitchen project is done (aside from still not being able to decide on a paint color!!) - yep it is time for another home improvement project. 

This area is at the bottom of our steps in the basement.  There was an old fridge that sat next to the cabinet.  We originally designed this space to allow for either of our moms to stay with us and have their own little mini kitchen.  Now we are transforming it into a mini bar.......

A few of my favorite things

 I had so much fun making this tree skirt from a post I found on pinterest!  It inspired me to have a theme of brown paper packages this year - I love the way it turned out. 

 Just can't beat a blooming Christmas Amarylis.

A fun outing with some of the family - TSO rocked

the newest little faces in our family - so precious