Happy Birthday Choo-Choo

Happy Birthday to my Nephew Ryan!!

Sugar cookie decorated with MMF Fondant. It is a large cookie, will just fit in the 9x13 for transport.

ChooChoo!

Amazing!

Wowsa! Can you believe we got this many people looking at the camera at the same time??

From Left to Right - Jacob, James, Jon, Suzanne, Beth, Kim, Kyle, Scott, Ryan

Hair Bows!

Houston, we have hair!



Little Miss Suzanne has been working hard on her hair -- 3 years! We finally have enough hair that it's getting into her eyes more often so at the Hearts at Home conference I ran across some cute hairbows. Did I buy them?? Oh no! Why buy it if you can make it!!! So, I got a package of alligator clips at Sally's and some ribbon from the $1 bin at Michaels and set to work. This is the first creation which she has agreed to wear and it actually goes quite well with the dress she has on today! Enjoy :-)

...and the painting goes on.

Master Bath


Before:

After:

The first pictures were taken before we moved in. About 2 weeks after we moved in, Suzanne sprayed hairspray on the walls :-0 Well, let's just say that hairspray eats contractor paint! Between that and the light repair that still looked patched this room was ready for it's color! The color is Mystical Rome from the Kilz Color Collection. I have some more decorating to do and some things I want to hang on the wall above the tub and replace the hand towels and such.

So there ya go... this weeks project. Next week, Suzanne's room -- a wonderful color called "bubble bath"

What's For Dinner?

Grilled Ham and Apples

This is good mom!

Voila!

Recipe compliments of the Southern Home Easy Weeknight Favorites Cookbook
LOVE this cookbook!

Happy Birthday Little Brother

Happy Birthday!

My brother Scott turned 30 this week! Here he is with his son Kyle blowing the candle out on his cookie bouquet.

Here's the cookie bouquet, all assembled before we left the house.

Close up! I made a hammer and saw, footballs, stars, and chocolate 30.

From the party, I wonder where Suzanne gets her gorgeous curls?? (That's Aunt Kim!)

Kitchen Backsplash

Tada!!

It is done! With the assistance of my fabulous neighbors I was able to make my kitchen backsplash ideas a reality! I selected some tiles from Lowes in 5 different colors and then got busy arranging. Eric and Stacy were patient and got me through my first experience with a wet saw without a hitch! Last night we grouted so today I could do the final wipe down and put everything back. I might get addicted to these ubber-cleared off counters! I just love the way the colors pull everything together! One matches the appliances, another the counter... the gold (which Jacob selected) pulls the wheat colored paint you can see in the bay on the left together.

Enjoy!

Suzanne's Birthday Cake

Just finished Suzy's cake for her 3rd party which is tomorrow. From the '08 wilton year book -- the castle for my little princess.

Decorating the New Place

Time to hang up some stuff!!

This is a gallery series of our Monarch caterpillars we had this summer. I got this frame at Michaels and had prints made at AdoramaPix I was very happy with the speed of service, selection, quality of print, and the price.

Mantel

I also did the Mantel. The prints are 8x10s that I took, made into Black and White and had printed at AdoramaPix. Simple frames from walmart and some decorative items from Target make for a nice display!

So, what do you think?

Red HOT and Clean!!!

Painting Part Two --

You may think it odd to continue our painting adventure in, of all places, the laundry room! Once you realize this is a mudroom that all five of us trapse through every day, you'll understand why it was next! The walls in this room were getting so messed up and my efforts to clean them removed more paint than dirt. I don't like doing laundry -- in fact, I'd say I pretty much abhore it so I wanted to make the laundry room someplace fun and inviting.

What is a girl to do then, but paint it her favorite color!!

RED

This is a color by Kilz called Red Ginseng. I love the slight brown undertone that makes it seem less glaring and more grown up!

Camping

We camped out in the backyard!


Here Jacob enjoys a toasted marshmellow.

Our friend Ben was able to spend the night with us too. He started Kindergarten this week!

Some of James marsh got a little toasty haha

Miss Suzy shows off her Smores Face!

Bye Bye Builder Beige!

Bye Bye Builder Beige!!



We moved in at the end of May and one thing became clear very quickly -- Builder Beige had two problems!

A) It's Beige -- everywhere
B) It is NOT kid friendly. We quickly saw that painting was something that would have to happen sooner than later.

Here is phase 1 -- The hallway and half bath

Miss Suzanne was hanging out in the half bath during picture time :-)

Kids and Cake

Daddy made a last minute trip to China for business and brought back some goodies for the kiddos.

A cake to celebrate a 40th anniversary. Congrats!

Suzanne and her buddy Noah

Does this work?