Happy Birthday, Ross!

Last week we celebrated Ross' 6th birthday, which seems absolutely hard to believe.  I'm going to be honest here -- I am not a baby person.  I love other people's babies, but I am usually quite happy to hand them back and head home sans baby.   And I really did (and do) love my babies, however it has been a relief to me as they have outgrown that stage of life.  I know that isn't a popular mindset, but it is what it is and I'm not apologizing for it.  A room full of teenagers is far less intimidating to me than a room full of toddlers.  Anyway, what I was trying to get to saying is this:  I'd like to freeze things just the way they are right now.  The kids are independent enough that I feel like I can breath again, but they are still kids -- the boys still come barreling off the school bus with a huge smile and yell "mooooommmmmyyyyy" all the way the the front door.  Lucy is quite happy to be mommy's little helper.  And heavens, Hannah is getting too close to being grown up.  Really, where is the pause button?  

So, yeah, I'm a little sniffy over Ross' birthday.  How did he get so big?

Here are a few of his birthday shots.  I am, as usual, digging the black and white. 

Of course, he had to throw a few silly pictures in, too.

To my disappointment, Ross requested angel food cake with strawberries (which is Jeremy's usual birthday request).  Not that I don't like that combo, but I will be making it again this week for Jeremy and it doesn't leave any room for decorating.  I did talk him into letting me flavor it lemon, so that it wasn't exactly like Jeremy's.  I liked the change, but Jeremy gave it a thumbs down and told me to leave the angel food cake recipe alone.

I also found it very interesting that the kids got in a conversation that night about what they all wanted for their next birthday.  And, no, they weren't discussing gifts, but what they wanted for the meal.  (Ross requested steak this year, by the way).  I'm glad they enjoy my cooking, because I sure do enjoy the process and it makes it so much more fun to have appreciative customers!

The last project...

Posting about the laundry room project reminded me that I hadn't posted about the last project we completed (and by we, I mean mostly me)...our bedroom.

Here are a few before shots:

(Note the uglier than sin brownish/yellow shades on the light.)

Beyond the fact that the walls were really nicked and dinged up (or just badly painted in the first place), I just HATED the color in our room.  It was just so yellow and dingy looking.  And, well, I'm not a yellow/dingy/warm color person.  I like light and bright spaces.

Here are a few after pictures:

I LOVE how it turned out (though there are still a few stray items to take care of).  The blue walls help our furniture not look quite so golden/yellow (I would have loved to replace them with something new -- and king sized -- but I could hardly justify it, as they are perfectly functional).  Notice that the light shades are no longer yellow, thanks to a good long soak in vinegar followed by a lot of elbow grease.  The ceiling is painted two shades lighter than the walls, which I am really quite pleased with. I think the colored ceiling helps the crown molding really pop out.  One of my favorite changes is the new curtains!  I feel like they really pull the room together.

Now, I would LOVE to replace that dingy old armchair in the corner that Jeremy staunchly refuses to part with.  It is wretched, so I will not take a close up of it.  Those were one of those "live and learn" purchases.  We should have spent twice as much and got the matching leather arm chairs for our sofa (which still looks remarkably good after 10 years of heavy use and abuse).  Someday there will be a nice chocolate brown leather armchair in that space, so please just try to envision that when you look at the pictures.

Oh, and the picture over the bed is my own artwork inspired by a Pinterest find.  I will have to take a closeup shot and give details on that project later.  I am quite happy with it, though I wish I had gone up another size or two on the canvas.

Really?

So, I took this picture ages ago, but just came across it while taking pictures off the camera (apparently I haven't transferred pictures off my cheap point and shoot since October!).  No fears...Jeremy was driving while I was snapping pictures!

REALLY?  I'm not sure what surprises me more...that this person put this on their car or that someone printed it for them.  Now, I know that I've misused the "2" words before (along with a slew of other typos), but I would thoroughly proofread something going on the back of my car (wouldn't you?). And then there is the missing apostrophe.  Ugh...this just makes me cringe!

Taking 2012 out in style...snort!

You know, Jeremy & I are a really exciting couple that likes to live on the edge.  Want to know what fabulous plans we have for this New Year's Eve?  After tucking the kids in bed this evening, we tore the laundry room apart so we could start a mini-renovation project.  For the last hour and a half, we've been working on taking the cabinets down and moving them up farther on the wall in order to make room for a shelf below the cabinets.  The cabinets were SUPPOSED to be moved all the way to the ceiling.  However, we discovered that the walls or the cabinet are not quite straight enough to do that.  So, we are calling it "good enough" with moving them up a good 10 inches.  (For the record, the cabinet has been moved and Jeremy is currently working on replacing and tightening all of the screws.)

I just do not want to start another house project right now.  At the same time, I want to get the laundry room done because of two reasons:  1.  it is the only room left on the main floor that hasn't been painted and 2.  because I really really REALLY want to get some kind of a counter installed in there.

For whatever reason, the cabinets in the laundry room (and basement bathroom, for that matter) are of a different (and very ugly) finish from the rest of the cabinets in the house.  So, as part of this project, I will be painting the cabinets (hence the reason I wasn't too scared to move them -- I can caulk and paint over any damage we might inflict).

The worst part about this project is that we can't just tear it apart and leave it that way until it is finished.  I have laundry to do...lots of it.  So, the washing machine will need hooked back up tonight.  And then it will need pulled out again to put the shelf in, and when we put the counter in and when we paint...it is just a vicious cycle.

I'm betting this project will take a good 8 weeks to finish, as I can't see having enough time to finish it all at once (either because I just don't have time to work on the project or because I have to clean up the project to do laundry).

Here is to hoping that 2013 has a more exciting end than 2012.  Happy New Year's everyone...may 2013 be a blessed year for you and the ones you love!

A little pearl from Ross...

We had the B. side of the family in to celebrate Christmas this week.  This morning Ross asked Grandpa for a glass of milk.  Grandpa asked Ross if was supposed to drink out of the little glass cups.  Ross responded, "Yes, except when they are all dirty and then we use the big ones or on holidays when we get to use the Chinese ones."  I think he got the "good china" mixed up with "made in China".

Eh...it has been a while!

I was reminded this weekend that there are actually a handful of people out there who read my blog and are wondering why I haven't been posting.  Sigh...I mean to do it.  I just haven't had time.  Since school has started, I've been helping Jeremy in his office and volunteering at the school, which leaves little time for much else.

Truthfully, I wish I could find the time to keep this updated for me as much as for anyone else.  This is a good safe place for me to record all those things the kids do that you think you won't forget but never seem to remember (you know, when I look at Jeremy at the end of the day and say, "Shoot, what was it that Ross said that was so funny?).

So, for today, I'll leave you with our most recent family photos (taken in November, of course).  This particular photo shoot was a bit trying.  The wind was blowing like crazy and I discovered that, while I had packed my tripod, I had left the widget (for lack of a better word) that actually attaches the camera to the tripod at home in the drawer (and we were in Ohio).  The solution was to set Jeremy's iPhone on top of the tripod and then set the camera on top of the iPhone and then pray like mad that the wind wouldn't blow the entire set-up over.  It worked out pretty well as the cover on Jeremy's iPhone was a kind of grippy and kept the camera from slipping off.  We ended up breaking the tripod however, so no more family photo shoots until I splurge for a new one.  And typing this has just now reminded me of that fact, so I guess we will be missing our obligatory family-in-front-of-the-mantel picture that we take every year on Christmas Eve.  

If you are wondering, the background for the picture is the old barn at my parents house (though come to think of it, why would you be wondering about it?).  I quite like the effect and might have to use it again...

(And just because he makes the best faces, one of Ross!)

Are you happy now, Uncle Thomas?  ;-)

Good gracious, has it been busy!

Has it really been that long since I posted?  I swear I have been writing daily blog posts in my head, though I'm not sure what good that does me.

Last weekend Jeremy & I headed off to NYC.  Many many thanks to my fabulous mother-in-law for watching our kids (who seemed to have just as good of a time as we did).  It was a great weekend, with the exception of a lot of rain on Friday.  We were soaked by the time we got to the hotel on Friday (Jeremy insisted we take the subway, instead of a taxi).

After dumping our luggage, we wander around a bit.  In spite of the rain, it was nice because foot traffic was light.  We took a long walk to check out the Laduree store for some macarons.  We were supposed to do this when we were in Paris a few years ago, but it just didn't happen.  I was in HEAVEN!  It is beautiful with all the rows of brightly colored cookies!  And I must say, my macarons hold up pretty well compared to theirs (and they don't cost $4 a cookie!).

Look at those (slightly melted because they got too warm) beauties!  

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Fortunately, the weather cleared in the afternoon before we took a round trip ride on the Staten Island Ferry.  It was great (both because of the views and the price -- it is free)!  

 We also did the "Top of the Rock" (Rockefeller Center) tour.  The views were great (that is Central Park behind us).  I'm getting better at snapping self portraits!

I hit the Metropolitan Museum of Art by myself on Saturday, which I enjoyed.  I must say, though, after touring the Louvre, Musee D'Orsay and Versailles, it wasn't very exciting.   I also squeezed in a fabulous run in Central Park.  I usually don't run outside, so I was a bit worried, but there was so much to look at (and so much to dodge), that I did really well.  I'm getting better at monitoring my own pace and I'm guessing I averaged a good 8 minute mile.  It felt like running in a Super Mario game -- so many things to dodge and look at.  I'd like to think I got some bonus coins for making the run without hitting anyone, stepping on any feet or getting lost!

Of course, we also had to do some shopping.  Jeremy loved the Macy's at Harold Square (see dorky photo below).  I, honestly, don't like shopping in those kind of crowds.  Thank you, but I'll stick to smaller markets like Charlotte and Columbus.  I did, however, HAVE to make a trip to Tiffany's and just couldn't leave without a little (actually, kind of big) blue box.  I recently broke one of champagne flutes, so I indulged in a very nice replacement set.

The last night we were there we saw "Rock of  Ages" which was FABULOUS!  I had soooo much fun (in spite of the fact that they charged $8 for a can of beer -- really?).  The music was so much fun (all 80's rock hits) and made me want to dig out some Bon Jovi for my next run!

I also did a lot of knitting (Bryant Park was a great place to sit), eating (the cheesecake was good, but I fell in love with black & whites) and people watching!  I was ready to come home to my babies on Monday, but would go again in a heartbeat (or, maybe in two or three years when Jeremy wants to hit the same conference again)!