Kitchen Makeover

So I finally decided to post the pictures of my kitchen makeover. After four years and two kids, the walls were getting just the tiniest bit yucky. Let's just say that hand prints could visibly be seen on the walls. Greasy hand prints.

The seat cushions were also very disgusting! It didn't seem to make sense to buy a new table, so I thought I would try to fix it the best I could.


Here is the newly painted kitchen done in "Pebble Path". It isn't much of a change, but those greasy hand prints are certainly gone...

The recovering of the chairs proved to be a smart idea. As was spraying it with five cans of scotch guard...

I must say, a can of paint can do wonders in changing the looks of a kitchen table...

By the way, I just wanted to add an updated picture of our dining room. I added a candelabra as well as a rug...

Hmmm, what to do next???

Hanging With My Peeps

The Deschamps are back in town! I repeat, the Deschamps didn't abandon us (yet) and they made it back to good ol' Little Rock safe and sound. After being gone for a month, our entire family truly missed their entire family. So when Jen asked me if I would be willing to watch the girls while her and Dave went to a concert, of course I said "yes!" Besides, what could possibly be a better compliment than someone asking you to watch two of the most precious people in their lives?

The reunion of the girls went just as I thought it would. There were a few squeals of delight and lots of hugs! They immediately took off for the play room and seemed content to stay there the entire night, but dinner needed to be eaten first.

After dinner, Joe and I decided to take the girls for a walk. We wanted to get them outside in the fresh air, and let's face it, I was hoping a walk around the block would tire this group of girls out. Whatever energy they may have spent on the walk was revitalized when they came home and had the special treats that Jen brought over. What special treats did they have? Halloween Peeps. That's right, apparently peeps aren't only reserved for Easter anymore. Jen was kind enough to bring over two shapes, ghosts and pumpkins. Do you think these little ones could choose just one?? They did take only one...one of each...

How could you resist these sweet faces anyhow? And who was I to rain on this wonderful reunion?? Thanks for trusting me with your girls, Jen! We must do this again! Peeps and all.

Sleeping Beauty

Sophia was tired yesterday. How do I know?? Well, it wasn't one thing that gave it away, but three.

#1. She climbed on the couch and fell asleep BY HERSELF

#2. She fell asleep with her princess dress on.

#3. Apparently she was so tired that she didn't even bother getting all of the way onto the couch.

Please observe...

Poor, tired baby. Sleep tight!

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

Fall is by far my favorite time of the year. I love the cool, crisp air that greets you in the morning. I love the beauty of the changing leaves. I love that you can eat almost anything with pumpkin, like pumpkin bread and pumpkin pies. I love that even if you don't like the taste of pumpkin, you can just set one on your porch if you want.

We also really love decorating for fall...

and, of course, for the famous Fall holiday, Halloween...

What I love most about fall is that it reminds me of family. The cool air makes me want to snuggle up even closer with my girls and husband. It makes me want to run around outside and neatly pile up the fallen leaves and then show the girls how to throw them in the air and then do it all over again. It reminds me that Halloween is just around the corner and I love the thrill that the kids get when they dress-up and go trick or treating. I know that Thanksgiving will be here soon and I can give thanks for all of the wonderful things that life has brought me, like a loving family, faithful friends, and good health.

So fall, I welcome you and look forward to the many memories you are going to create!

Walk Around the Block

It was finally a night with no humidity and very few ucky buggies, so we decided to go for a walk. Everyone went, including Sasha. I usually hold the leash as we walk around the block, but Sophia was eager to do it this time around...

I was pretty sure that she wouldn't make it all the way around the block and would get bored after a few minutes, but she proved me wrong...

She even knew how to keep Sasha walking on the path. She would snap her fingers and say, "Asha, 'mon!" (Sasha, c'mon!)

Sophia was even able to keep up with Lily, who ran around the block, all the while holding on to Sasha's leash...

We made it!!

See You In Six Weeks

I am sad. Today my mom left to go back to California and I am sad. She was supposed to be here for ten days and then ended up extending her trip to make it fourteen days instead. The time that she was here was wonderful and it was time I needed to spend with her, but it still made me very sad to see her get on that airplane and head home. I know that I will see my parents in six weeks when I go to California, but I hate that I even have to wait that long.

Times like these, it makes me miss family even more and the distance between us makes it so difficult. I wish that there wasn't so much planning that has to go into preparing for a visit. I wish that instead of my mom getting on a plane, that she would have gotten into her car and just had a five mile drive home. I wish it wasn't "see you in six weeks", but rather "see you tomorrow." And I wish I didn't have to wipe the tears from my face or Lily's face as I tell her that six weeks isn't a long time and it will be here before we know it. All the while trying to convince myself as well.

I know how fortunate I am to get to see my family as often as I do, but when you are used to growing up where all of your family is within a ten-mile radius, it still isn't easy. I'm not sure it ever will be and I am not sure that some people will ever understand why it's so hard for me.

So until I can say, "See you tomorrow," I will just continue to say, "See you soon!" and make the most of the time I get to spend near them.

Grass Kickers

Lily's six-week Grass Kicker soccer program started this week and I was so happy that my mom could be there to see Lily's first practice. My mom got her camera out and was ready to take pictures. As Lily came around the corner, my mom said her heart stopped for a moment and she went back in time to when I was three-years old. I guess there was a little resemblance of me...

Once Lily spotted the fields, she took off for them.
Sophia, on the other hand, took her time getting to the field because she was quite intrigued by her shadow...

Once to the field, Lily couldn't get her cleats on fast enough...

So Joe had to help...

We were twenty minutes early, so we let Lily go out and kick her ball...

Then we asked her to sit down and rest so that she wouldn't get tired out. That made her kind of sad...

Once all of the kids were there, it was time to begin. So Lily listened intently to her coach...

and did every drill he asked her to do, like throwing the ball in the air and catching it...

and moving it around her back...

and weaving it between her legs.

Then she got a chance to use the skills she had learned...

She even learned how to do a scissor kick...

She had so much fun and that smile never left her face. I believe Lily found the sport that she was meant to play. I can't wait to watch her next week!