2 years in the making...

So for anyone who ever feels the need to even check on my blog anymore, you will know it has been almost 2 years since my last post.  Allow me to explain why that is.  It mostly involves a cute 5 year old and a cup of juice.  Long story short, my computer was put out of commission...permanately.  It then took me several months to save up enough money to get a new one.  By that time, I felt so far behind, that I just couldn't muster the strength of mind needed to try and catch up.  I still don't really, but I will give it a shot and try to see if I can give a quick overview of the last 2 years in our lives.

The biggest deal in our family has been all about this little cutie.  Here are few pictures of the first 2 years of her life.

Roughly 3-4 months old

11 mos.  Roman's 1st Bday Party

Just a couple months old.  Big smiles!

3 months old

3 months old:  Blessing Dress

22 mos old

3mos old:  David's 8th Grade Grad (May, 2012)

So this one is actually Nelly when she wasn't feeling very well and fell asleep on my bed like this.  Still so very cute and sweet.

9 mos old with cousin Alana- about a year and a half

roughly 6 mod

2 1/2; With cousin Ava (4)

Picking peaches:  May, 2014 with Daddy and Nelly

May, 2014:  Playing with Grandpa

Master Bedroom and Bath

 Here are a few more picture of our house.

This is my banister going downstairs.  It may not look like much from this picture, but I have to say that I absolutely love it!  Pictures just can't do it justice.

For anyone who feels like they may want to come and visit us, this is our guest room.  We would love this room to get lots of use!!  (Hint, hint!)

Our bedroom isn't really decorated yet, but I still love it.  Hopefully in the next year, I'll be able to really get it the way I want it.

Our bathroom, on the other hand, is everything we dreamed of and more.

 I love taking my baths, and I really wanted a nice big soaking, freestanding tub.  I didn't think I would get it since those types of tubs aren't cheap.  Then, the fates aligned and I found this!  I got an amazing deal on it and it is so big and fabulous!  I love my bathtime even more these days.

This is the view from when I am soaking in that fabulous tub.

Here's the view from the other side, going into the shower.  Dave is almost as happy with his shower as I am with my shower, but before I move on to that, I have to point out the vanities.  When I bought the tub, I also found these vessel sinks that I really loved, but I couldn't find a base for them.  I finally decided that if I wanted to get what I wanted, I would have to do it myself.  So that is what I did.  I made the vanity bases.  I know this isn't a great picture.  Maybe I'll get a better picture later.   Anyway, I was 6 mos pregnant when I made these, and I ended up getting some pretty serious and regular contractions, but it all worked out!

Here is Dave's shower.  Doesn't look like much, but Dave loves all his sprays.  He has 2 standard shower heads, 4 body sprays, 1 hand held and 1 rainfall shower heads.  When I go in there and try using all the shower heads, I feel like I'm drowning!!!

Big Girl's Room

I just got done decorating L and CK's bedroom. It was great becuase I really didn't have to buy anything because I pretty much had everything I needed from the old house, just in different rooms. Still, I love how it all came together! Here are the pictures I took as soon as I got done...before the girls got home. I don't think it will ever look quite this put together again! Good thing I have the pictures.

Literacy

We got to celebrate Literacy Night at the kids school on Leap Day this year. CK's class had a little performance where they sang songs about Dr. Suess's books. She was so excited and looked forward to it for weeks. My sweet little niece Anna got her all dressed up and did her hair, which was very much appreciated since we don't live quite as close and I didn't have time to go back and forth.

Can you spot her?

(About 3rd or so from the left on the top row)

(Middle, top row)

New House, part 1

I'm finally trying to get the pictures from our new house posted. I keep thinking I will get everything cleaned up and ready to take pictures of to post. I realized that getting everything clean at the same time is never going to happen, so I'll just go room by room.kitchen/family room.

Here is our kitchen when you first walk in:

In the entry way, looking towards the kitchen table and family room (across from the island)

Family Room

I just have to brag a bit about this beautiful mantel. My extremely talented, 88 year old Grandpa made this for me. I asked him if he could, and showed him a picture of what I liked. He completely exceeded my expectations. I love this so much. It is probably the best part of my house. I love that we will always have a part of him in our home!

A little less glamorous, but still something I love! This is my pantry. You can only see a little less than half, but I love it because there is so much shelf space, room for my extra fridge, my deep freeze, and best of all... it is right off my kitchen!!! I can easily access all of this stuff!!

Again, great, but not the most gorgeous thing to look at. My Laundry Room. I love how fast I can get through the laundry, and most of all, I love that i have an actual laundry ROOM and not small laundry hallway. I can do laundry and not have piles of clothes, both unwashed, and washed waiting to be folded, all over my house!!! It's the simple things that make such a big difference.

So there is a start to our house. I'll do some more cleaning and take more pictures soon!

Cousins

We got to have my sister, Annie and her family in town for a while this winter. It was so much and all my kids just loved having their little cousins around. We are so thankful that they were able to spend so much time here! Unfortunately, I didn't get my camera out too much while they were here, but one of the last times they were here, I walked over to see sweet little Gunnar cuddling up with CK and I just couldn't resist the cute little picture.

Sweet Baby

I've just got around to taking some pictures off my camera and I wanted to post some of the fun little moments we have been enjoying with our sweet little baby. She is so wonderful and we all just adore having her with us.


3/19/12: With D, 7 weeks old. I walked into my bedroom one night and found this. I just love to see my big boys cuddling and loving on their baby sister!

3/5/12: 5 weeks old

3/17/12: 6 1/2 weeks

3/14/12: 5 1/2 weeks

It really is moments like this that make me so happy to be a parent. I walked into the family room and saw everyone lined up together on the couch watching a movie together. No one was even fighting over couch space or blankets!!

This what the baby looked like on d's lap. (6 1/2 weeks)

3/23/12: 7 1/2 weeks old

Airport Stop

One of my best friends in the world had a layover here way to and from Hawaii. It was so great to see her, even if only for a couple of minutes (about 10-15 to be exact). I was especially excited to show off my new little baby princess to her!

Marta, Tracey, H, Cheryl, KL, Lily, A

A, Lily, Tracey, H and KL

Marta and H

Tracey, KL, Cindy, Marta and H

Me and Tracey