{family time with 2 under 2}

I was planning to spend a couple of days with Lindsey and Kamry before crew change - just to hang out and catch up, and paint the living room while I was there. I was happy that Kayla and Rowen wanted to come too this time!! We went over on the evening boat on Monday and they spent the first night and went back home the next day. We had the best, best time, just talking and hanging out, playing with the kids play, eating a yummy dinner {Mississippi Roast} that Lindsey had prepared for us! Kamry actually paid attention to Rowen this time and even gave him kisses! Rowen seemed right at home, and slept good in Kamry's crib!

2 under 2 is no joke! :O)

"got my SPARKLE from my Nana"....

[how cute is this shirt her Gammy found for her!]

I love it!!! :O)

Keeping an eye on her little cousin!

I'm usually the early riser so I spent the morning with Rowen!!

Mornings with my grandkids have been one of my favorite things!!

It was so nice getting to spend time with both daughter in laws at the same time! That is very rare, but hoping Kayla and Rowen will join me on my little visits more often (and hoping Lindsey and Kamry will visit us too!) They left around noon to catch the boat home, and as soon as Kamry went down for her nap I started painting the living room. Lindsey is doing a little room makeover, and the paint color is a great place to start! Most of the rooms were a dark tan when they moved in, and little by little they are lightening up the color scheme with shades of grey...this time with Grayish by Sherwin Williams.

After nap time, somebody wanted to help!!

Lindsey ordered pizza for dinner and her Mom came over to keep Kamry busy while we got more painting done. I got up early and finished all but a little section that Lindsey completed that evening. It was crew change day and Peter got there in time to spend a few hours with Kamry too!
She is the sweetest thing and loves having people around! She makes her Nana feel sooooo loved!!! I love my little visits there, I always have the best time and Lindsey always makes us feel so welcome! This visit was extra special since I got to spend time with both grandkids and DILs at the same time! <3 <3 <3

So THANKFUL for little visits.....and family time!

my year in review 2014: Jan/Feb/Mar

2014 started off a little stressful and very hectic! The carpenter started work at the house on January 13 and finished up on February 21....a week before the big wedding shower!! Don't forget to throw in a 10-day road trip to Florida, LOTS of wedding shower preparation, and a trip to the E.R. (by helicopter) for Nathan on February 24th!

Things ended on a high note though....we were thankful Nathan's problem turned out to be a (cluster) headache and nothing too serious (and he hasn't had any more problems with this since). The bedroom and living room turned out even better than we expected and was worth every minute of mess and frustration! And the shower was awesome-over 100 people attended and Lindsey & Logan were showered with lots of gifts and love. It was a great night!! :O)

{January 2014}


cold weather.....





bedroom re-do.....

before:


after:




lots of painting.....


and lots of Doc Martin....


{February 2014}

a trip to Disney!!

- we celebrated our 30th anniversary (a little late)








more painting and a living room re-do....

before:



after:



wedding shower planning.....


{March 2014}

Lindsey's Bridal Shower
3/01/14











....other than my birthday and joining Instagram, the rest of March was pretty uneventful! :O)


my first post on Instagram
(see my follow link on the sidebar)

January/February/ March started the year off less than dull....to say the least!



coming up: April/May/June

Blogmas 2014 - Day 5 Favorite Christmas Food

 

My favorite Christmas food is stollen bread.

 

I actually only discovered my obsession with it a few years ago, but it is now one of the first things I buy when the Christmas holiday rolls around. I found this box at Big Lots, and it is just so-so, compared to the yummy stollen bread I bought from World Market last year.

I have never made it myself, and probably never will since I am the only one in my family that loves it. I pinned several versions of stollen bread but it looks like a bit of trouble just for me. This cherry version looks d-e-l-i-s-h!!

Cherry, Almond, & Coconut


Nut Stollen



Orange Marmalade Date Fig Stollen

 

 

 

Maybe I'll just try one of these on Christmas morning....

 

 

 stollen scones

 

or muffins

 

 

 

 

built-in stylin'

I finally bought a few things for the built-ins. Here's what I've done so far.....

turquoise glass with jute (Marshall's)- driftwood sailboat (made by my Dad)
grey weathered wood frame (Marshall's)
wire covered clear glass cylinder (Marshall's)- brown candle holder w/ turquoise candle (already had)

white weathered wood frame (Marshall's) - monogrammed plate (Hobby Lobby)
stacked books w/ mercury glass ($5 Big Lots find) - turquoise bird (Hobby Lobby)
turquoise bowl (Marshall's)

canvas lined wire basket (Marshall's) ....can you tell I love Marshall's! :0)

I found the lanterns I wanted on clearance @ Marshall's!!! $20
I bought both the large and smaller one, but the large one was HUGE!!
I had planned to put both of them together on top of the bookcase, but it was too big.
I put the larger one under the end table....for now....

I like how everything looks, so far, but I may switch out a few things if I see something I love.

clear, tinted, or mercury glass?

I'm looking for a pretty table lamp for the living room and I've had my eye on a few glass choices. I love this one with the burlap shade from Pottery Barn.....

but I am so cheap, I refuse to pay $170 for one lamp.

I also love this one from Shades of Light....

but this one is even further over my budget @$289!

I love the tinted glass, but also really like the clear glass base......and I love this DIY version.

link

Ballard Designs has this one for $119......

cheap cheap IKEA clear glass base 16" @ $17.00

(Sadly, I don't have a store nearby, and I'm sure the shipping is ridiculous!).

Then, there is mercury glass...<3 <3

DIY link

Looking Glass Spray Paint....but could I do a neat job?

Grandin Road - $99

DIY mercury glass lamps

Pottery Barn - $179

So, now to decide.....decisions......decisions......