G Rated

Crack me up. I am happy that it's G...I was a little afraid that with my excessive use of the word, barf, it might be PG. But apparently, barf is not at all bad...they only recorded puke as my questionable word. That's funny stuff...to me, that is :)

And now...the before and after!

Dining room ceiling fan/light before:

And super cute new pendant light from IKEA that I absolutely love:

The pics don't quite capture its cuteness...you'll just have to trust me.

Thanks so much to Dennis, Ben and Ryan for hanging it for me :)

Tonight we have a soup supper and hayride at church...so fun!

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Goodbye Fake Wood-Grain...

OK, some updates from yesterday.



For clarification purposes I think I should tell you that we just painted the paneling rather than removing it. We're pretty sure the paneling was installed way back when in order to hide cracks and wallpaper. And to remove it, would probably mean the walls crumbling...remember this project? Yeah.


Ben and I managed to get the office emptied, taped, primed, painted with 2 coats, and then reassembled all in one day.(thank you to this friend for taking Jake so we could accomplish this!)


I mentioned before that we were having some issues with the color choice. I had been dreaming of the office in a lovely shade of butter-yellow. But-tah.

Ben did not share my dream. (Sad, isn't it?) He was thinking something more manly...like green, since it's his office and all...and the fact that I've gotten the choice in every other room in the house, he won. In theory...this makes sense.

So...I submitted. And spent the day convincing myself I liked the green while at the same time grieving the loss of the but-tah dream. *little tear...still grieving*

He loves it. Which really does make me happy...and I really do think it will grow on me. And it really is his office...

Before:

Paneling. And lots and lots of shelves that house lots and lots of books.

More paneling:

And now Internet friends, meet talipot palm green.

The books: This is just half of the wall of books and shelves. For those of you married to pastors...you know they come with lots of books ;)

Go Green. Literally.

....maybe I'll paint the kitchen in creamy buttery yellow....

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Finally Breaking-Up With the Paneling...

Ben is on vacation from his "secular" job this week. YAY!

Today we're starting the project that we've both been putting off for the three years that we've lived in the parsonage.

The office. More importantly...the paneling in the office.

Not pretty. Paneling and I are not friends.

Before we actually moved in, I painted the paneling in all three bedrooms, but ran out of time for the office.

Since then...it has been driving me NUTS! The office is right off the living room...and ya'll know it's where the computer is...so I'm in here...well, you know....I won't specify the exact amount of time.

We've not been able to agree on a color...but on Saturday, we went ahead and picked one out...and then spent all of Sunday having second thoughts.

I should have some before & after picks soon!

In the mean time, we get to paint together :)

Let the prayers begin ;)

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It Was 1997...

Certain things get better with age.

My hair is one of them.

I give you: Our Engagement Picture (i.e. my hair with a perm) 1997

10 years later...

No more perms for me...no more hair for Ben...and boy, do I like it better that way *wink*

You're welcome for that my bloggy friends....you. are. welcome :)

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Melts My Heart...

My self-proclaimed "middle-est" little guy, Eli, went from this:

To these navy blue little numbers:

How cute is he!?!

He only needs to wear them while doing school work, so hopefully it's not too hard of an adjustment.

He will be starting Kindergarten in 11 days. And now I am realizing just how fast our summer has gone.

I keep debating on whether I need to take a bloggy break for a week (or so)...and decided that I can still post, and then shut the computer off...no one's forcing me to sit here and read and read and READ :) (and it's only a week...I can do it...can't I?!)

So...for the next week I'm taking a partial blog break (posting but not reading), there's lots of stuff around here that needs my full attention...three named: Noah, Eli, and Jake...oh and one named Ben...you get the idea ;)

Oh, one more thing...no posting ANYTHING good while I'm gone...I don't want to miss anything ;)

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One of THOSE Days...

I have resorted to just letting my children act like animals for right now. I am tired...so tired of having to intervene ALL the time. Literally, someone is always crying about the injustice one of the other brothers has caused. Mommy cannot take it anymore. Today, it's survival of the fittest,boys...good luck with that.

With all the screaming, fighting and general rough-housing amongst them, I cannot concentrate...I am (blaming) dedicating this boring post to my children.

It begins with this:

I have lost all control. Obviously. I did have a couple hour break though, to get my hair cut...Thank you, Jesus...and my friend Shanon for watching them.

Before: (Ignore the junk on the counter)

After:

The hair-cut did make me feel better...but eventually I had to go home.

I am normally a total home-body. I love being at home. But the past few weeks, my children seem to turn into crazies here at home...and without a break, the house is a disaster. I've made the best possible choice ;) We're now going to avoid being home as much as possible, until August 18th comes around...which means...school. Hallelujah.

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The Look...

Notice Jake's shirt before...

And a few hours later...

So goes life in the parsonage. My children are always dirty. I gave up trying to keep them clean a long, long time ago. In fact, I'm just so used to them being dirty, I hardly even notice it anymore.

Until the other day that is...I happened to take all of them to run some errands (very bad idea.) Our last stop was the grocery store. They were bugging each other and fighting over who got to ride in the "school bus cart"...I was trying to maintain my composure, and then I met her in the frozen food aisle.

She was cute, young and pregnant, probably with her first baby. She was strolling the aisles in peace and quiet (alone)...well, until she came upon us.

She gave me the look. I know this look...I too, once gave it to mothers with rowdy, dirty kids. It was the look of idealism. The look that says, "honestly, is it so hard to clean your kids up before you leave the house!?!"

I smiled and her...and I smiled all the way home...because someday, that cute little thing may have three little boys, that 5 minutes after a bath are somehow dirty again...because I know first hand, that's what happens to young ladies who give the look. *smiles*

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Last Day...

Started the trip wearing these:

Then, after four days of eating out EVERY meal, my jeans feel more like tight leggings ( I kid you not.) I'm ending the trip wearing this mu mu like dress.

Good Grief.

Here's some more pictures...

It's our 10 year anniversary today. Praise God that 10 years and 3 boys has not changed our dorkiness! Love him.

Ben and I and our adorable niece Maddy (lives in same city as conference.) She gets to come stay with us for several days in July while her parents take their church's teenagers to camp...we'll get to "play house" with a girl!

Another one, because seriously, how cute is she?!?

Me and my sister Lindsey (Maddy's mommy) she's 4 1/2 years younger than me (she's 26, I'll save ya the math :)

We so enjoyed our vacation, and are definitely ready to head home and see the boys and charge on with everyday life!

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Before and After...Again

I have to say a HUGE thanks to my friend, Shell, who made the amazing header! Doesn't it look fabulous!?! Getting it loaded was a big pain in the butt (for her...I gave up after 2 seconds.) She's super talented...and preggo right now and so stinking cute! I love her. You should probably go tell her thank you for saving you from looking at my generic header for ONE MORE DAY!

Ya'll know I LOVE a good before & after theme. It probably explains why I feel the need to watch any sort of make-over show, or buy any magazine that has before & after shots...there's just something about it...the transformation inspires me.


So, I've been talking about my first born here and here, oh yeah, and here. Today he turns 7. I will (of course) spend the day reminiscing about the day of his birth. I've already looked through the photo album, twice. I will spare you the details, except to say (again) that he was 9lbs 13 oz, I was induced, pushed for a hour and a half and had a 4th degree tear (for those of you who've had this, I can feel your empathy...for those who haven't, don't worry, I won't describe it for you.) He was perfect. He was my first. He made me a mom...and my love for him cannot be put into words.




So, my friends, you deserve before & after shots.

Before:

After:

Time really does go so, so fast. I want to remember every little detail of him...like his cute little smile with teeth missing all over the place. In seven more years he will be 14...excuse me while I go bawl....ok, really I'm fine :) I know, in my head, that Noah was not given to me so that I could keep him...he was given to me by the Lord for me to love, and train. To help him become a man of God, so that he could grow....UP...but my heart wants to keep him small....just for awhile longer...Happy Birthday precious boy.

This is totally off the subject, BUT, this morning, I actually contemplated moving the coffee-maker to the desk in the office. I mean, really, who says the coffee-maker HAS to go in the kitchen?!? There's room on the desk...and it would save me about 17 steps each way...we're talking 34 steps each time I need a refill! (and yes, I actually had to write 17+17 on paper to add it.) I think this is genius. Pure genius.

Happy Friday, friends!!!

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For the Love of Awards and Haircuts

Ok, so it's my SECOND post about "The Award" today...I'm still obviously talking about it. I know what you're thinking....it's a tad bit pathetic...but I promise it will wear off (eventually:)

I NEED to pass on the love though...and it is HARD! So, I decided that if I know you in real life...I cannot give you the award because I ABSOLUTELY can't pick between you...plus, I think all your blogs are fabulous because I know you in person...so I know how great you are :) Instead of an award, I should give you chocolate or something...I owe you

I am going to pass it along to J @ (Always) In Development...we've never met in real life, but her writing and spiritual insights are honest, and raw, and deep...all at the same time. I now call her friend, and I always admire the depth to which she takes her posts! J- you make my day!

I had no idea awards were so much fun!?!

Anyways...on to the hair-cut.

Before: (Bleh)

After: The Straight Version!

After: The Curly Version

Oh the excitement in my life... HA!

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Good Enough

I re-learned some things about myself this weekend.

1. I get all these great project ideas in my head...and then I plunge ahead, and midway though, think to myself...."WHY!?!? Why couldn't you just leave it alone!?!?" Every. Single. Time.


2. I am NOT a perfectionist. Not even close. I sometimes like to pretend I am...but I'm not. I'm the... "Yeah, that's good enough" kinda person.


3. My husband always steps in to help with the project...without ever saying..."Why on earth, woman!?!" (that's what I would say, if I were him :)

Apparently I was inspired by the ceiling fan this weekend. Inspired enough to begin the dreaded task of taking down the wallpaper in the hallway and then painting. In my head...it sounded easy. In real life...not so much.

Old home + Old walls + Old wallpaper + Me = Big Fat Mess!

Here's the Journey...

Old wallpaper, which I'm sure in its day, was fantastic.

The beginning of scraping...seemed like fun...
The more we scraped...the more trouble we found...

This was all over the house...it's fun to track all over, I guess.

Here is Jake in front of the partially finished wall. A lovely shade of "gingerbread"

I really do love the quirkiness of old homes. And I really do love the odd texture that the uneven walls created when I painted over it. It's perfectly imperfect....and good enough!

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I Said I Would...

Here goes. I may have mentioned something in this post about sharing preggo pics. I am a woman of my word...even when my word, this time, is probably a really bad idea.

It all started when my beautiful friend, Shell, who's having her first baby, said she felt huge. HA!...Oh Shell....this ones for you, hope it makes you feel better :)

This is me 3 weeks before Noah was born (2001)...THIS is huge.

Notice the black from head to toe...who was I kidding?!? Not even black could slim that baby body down!

And here is why it was totally worth it...Absolutely Priceless!

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Before and After

Today I had somewhere to go where I actually got to put on heels, trouser pants, and my trench coat...as opposed to the usual jeans and ballet flats. As I was heading out of our tiny town, I stopped by our gas station (like I do every day) to buy some treats :) As I was paying for my coffee, bag of Starburst and Skittles, the cashier said to me, "You look like Tom Cruise's wife...what's her name again?" At that moment, I wanted to jump over the counter and give her a great big bear hug! How sweet! How kind! How lovely of her! How vain of me, I know :) But she did make my day with her kind words! We decided it was the haircut...(which I had seriously copied, by the way.)

This is Tom's wife, Katie Holmes...totally copying me :)

So, when I got home this afternoon I had to dig out my before & after pics from this summer when I cut my hair to copy Katie...because, honestly, who doesn't like some before & after shots!?!

Here goes.... Before: (I shouldn't have smiled...I should have looked miserably pathetic like they do in real before & after shots...what was I thinking!?!)
and the back...
and after

So there's been some slight changes since this summer cut...you can check here if you're not already completely bored :) If you've got some before & after shots, you better let me know!!

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