A Day in Our Life

Megan's Wedding (Reception)

Way back in October, Megan, one of my very dear friends from high school, got married to her man, Kris. The nuptials and reception were back in Sioux City, so we had a built in baby-sitter- SCORE! Anyway, we didn't attend the ceremony since it was during nap time, but we made it to the reception and it was so beautiful, very romantic and dramatic- just like Megan. I also got to see my other very dear friend from high school, Nicole and her high school sweetheart Casey. I can't tell you how great it was to reconnect with these two wonderful women. It's funny sometimes how so much time can elapse since you've seen a person, but you sort of pick up right where you left off.

We had a great time, and Jerod really enjoyed Casey's company- he's a pretty whacky guy, but also very genuine (which is what I love about my pal's hubby). Congratulations Megan and Kris, we wish you all the happiness in the world...which I found out is apparently supposed to end tomorrow, so enjoy it while it lasts!

Meet Casey and Nicole, they met at a block party in the cul-de-sac where their parents live and I like to say they've been together ever since. Don't they look like they're just infatuated with one another?

The happy new couple, Megan and Kris Albertson. Casey and Nicole insisted on 'photo bombing' them. I'm apparently an old geezer and had no idea what this meant. So, they showed me...you can see Casey, but where is Nicole??

Peek-a-boo!

Remember how lovey you were on your wedding day? Yeah, haha, me either.

See what I mean by whacky?! Jerod retrieved that penant for Casey from a wedding reception that was going on next door!

This was the best he would do for me, and I love it anyway.

The MOST wonderful time of the year!

So I'm not going to sugar coat it....I LOVE CHRISTMAS! Which balances out the fact that Jerod really can't stand the Christmas season, or any holiday season for that matter. I don't think it's because of the holiday itself, more so the traveling and spending of money- so I just ignore his grumblings and do my thang.

This year I was in a particularly crafty mood and added to my Christmas home decor while also re-purposing some scrap wood and an old kitchen sign (at least for two of the projects). The other two were a mix of bargains and some creativity.

We had some wood leftover from cutting drawer fronts in the kitchen and I needed a bright and cheery piece to add to our tiny powder room in the back of the house. Something that blended with the colors we already had in there. Plus, I got to use one of my favorite quotes from Buddy the Elf!

I must have seen a bajillion of these types of wreaths on Pinterest over the last couple of months. It was SO easy to make, and pretty inexpensive since I was able to get a straw wreath and the deco mesh ribbon each for 5 bucks (it took the entire giant roll of deco mesh). I already had floral wire on hand for pinning and I love it, though it looks weird here I think because the wall looks so minty instead of bamboo-ey like it's supposed to.

While I was stuck at home my mom and sisters were nice enough to nab me some more Christmas trees from the fabric store and at 50% off- which is even better! I spent $5 on a small roll of quilt batting and like $1.50 on a small string of white lights to hide in between the layers, and added a couple poinsettias and family photos as finishing touches. I love the way it glows like snow!

This was just an update with some floral picks from Hobby Lobby- I LOVE that place, for again, 50% off each pick. I purchased some cheapie battery operated lights that I wrapped around the wreath as well, but they were so cheap they died after maybe 2 hours....bummer.

This baby didn't cost me anything because I had everything on hand. This sign used to say something about the kitchen and what-not, but I had sanded the paper off a long time ago and never figured out what to do with it. Well, it's amazing what some paint, scrapbook paper, and Mod Podge will do. I even tried my hand at six pointed stars, you can get really creative with those!

I love crafting for my home, it helps me de-stress and we've had too much of that lately. Happy decorating!

Rebel Without a Cause

So the other night we were watching an ACDC concert on television- and Cailyn. Was. Loving it! I thought it was pretty cute at first until I realized we may have a tiny rebel on our hands....I guess we'll wait and see on that one- but she sure loves Daddy's rock and roll music :) Well, Jerod was able to catch a little video of her, she's even learning to keep a beat. I think this girl will be a natural with music- just what Jerod wants to hear!

Carpeting the Stairs

We have had the one half of our basement semi-finished since about the time Cailyn was born or thereabouts, but the other half we have been waiting on until we can get the basement bathroom plumbing roughed in. But we have had a small project that we wanted to work on and FINALLY got around to it. And of course, as with all projects, it seemed simpler than it actually was, but it got done and that's all that matters :)

We just purchased some carpet from Menards that has the pad already installed. So much easier than having to instill pad AND carpet, whew!

This handy dandy carpet installation kit was very helpful in getting this stuff installed. I ended up adding a pair of nice seamstress scissors by the end because the carpet blade was giving me messy cuts and edges.

Here's the unfinished ugly brown steps with Kanga tape on them, ready for the carpet to go down.

Don't they look SO much more cushy and inviting?! Love it!

Can it be 16 months already?!

Well, even if we can't believe it, it's true. It's been a whole 16 months since we were graced with the presence of our precious baby girl- who, by the way, is turning out to be not such a baby anymore (tear, sniff, sniff). She is figuring things out so quickly and lately has begun to talk like a fiend. We can't understand her really, but still- she babbles on like she's having a whole conversation. Here's some photos of our gem!

Such a great helper- she loves to swiffer, especially right through a pile of dirt Mommy has just swept together....

One day after school she was all about my new boots- we could only zip them halfway because they are so tall and she's, well, so small in comparison

Little gal is becoming quite a skilled builder and very much so enjoys her mega blocks, especially putting them all away in the bag and then dumping them right back out all over the floor

Putting on random clothes is also a new interest. She's been known to be seen wearing dirty shirts, mom or dad's socks, Aunt Amanda's clothes she leaves upstairs, and even dad's boxer briefs- right around her head!

My younger siblings (who am I kidding, they're all younger), my MUCH younger siblings found this hat somewhere and thought Cailyn would enjoy it- they were so right


Straight up ornery- and yes those would be a pair of tights inside out being worn as a hat.

Happy week before Thanksgiving- diet now so you can pig out in 9 days :)

End of the October Hiatus!

So I've clearly neglected this blog for far too long. So sorry, I left my camera at my parents' house in Sioux City when we went back for my high school pal's wedding, and my camera phone just couldn't catch our quick kiddo!

I just wanted to quick post her Halloween costume- I got it for about 25 cents at a garage sale in Kansas City this past spring. The zipper is broken on it, but the snaps held just fine and I was in love with a costume that didn't cost me an arm and a leg since, let's be real, she'll only wear it once. In case you can't tell she's a ladybug. She went trick or treating with Daddy to four houses, all belonging to good friends of ours, and I was told she despised the driving between houses because of the in and out of the car seat. She made out well for only hitting four homes though, I think she got about as much candy as I bought to hand out (which wasn't too much- we literally had about 8 trick or treaters total). Anyway, we'll be posting more often now that I have my trusty camera back, Happy late Halloween!


Busted! This poor kid inherited her mother's sweet tooth...

15 months old!

Our baby turns 15 months old today- I hate that this is going by so fast.

At this point she is down to one bottle a day during the week, and two a day on weekends (because Mom's a softie and likes the cuddling before nap and bedtime). She has 11 teeth, her four uppers and lowers right in front, two molars on each side on the top, and one molar on the left side on the bottom- and by the way, she was a Mommy Biter when those were coming in- OUCH! Her favorite things to do are go to the park, stand too close to the TV, read books in the rocking chair (usually she likes to do that by herself and will crawl down if you pull her in yourself), put jumbo legos in mom and dad's mouths and laugh when we launch them across the room, and take any and everything out of all the drawers in the house whether it is books, floss, Dad's shaver, spoons, forks, sippy cups, Mom's underwear, or every comb and brush in the bathroom. She is still a very good eater, but dinner is spoiled easily if she has a snack when she comes home from the sitter's. She knows sign language for "more", "all done", and "please"- and makes them very flashy when she wants more NOW! Her words consist of: Dada, Mama, Ba, and nana (banana).

Enjoy some photos of our big girl!