Speed Racer

This little speed racer is my youngest son who has been telling us for the past 3 years that he is going to be a pediatric surgeon who owns a NASCAR team, only a mother of boys can understand such logic. Since he got his new dirt bike for Christmas all I have heard is that he wants to race motorcross, he is a really good rider but I have no intentions of letting him race any time soon.

Checkout Bienvenue today she has a fabulous giveaway and her etsy shop is open, I can't wait to order my laundry sign and I hope that I win the initial sign.

Four Generations

I didn't realize when I took this picture that there were four generations of only men in my husband's family. His grandfather had three sons, his father had two sons and we have two sons no wonder I want to adopt a little girl so badly. Tom and his grandpa bought his grandma a little Pomeranian puppy today and she is so cute, maybe I'll just get a little prissy dog!

Christmas Day Happenings

The boys had a wonderful Christmas, they received so many nice presents but their favorites were from Santa. I cooked a huge lunch for all of Tom's family and my Mom, we had roast chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn, fried apples, dressing and rolls. I didn't bake any cakes this year, I was too worn out from baking cookies so we had cookies for dessert. I hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas and I can't wait to read your blog posts.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!

Christmas Gatherings

We celebrated Christmas with my family yesterday, we had a great time! My nieces and nephews are so much fun and the boys loved being with all of their cousins. Everyone received wonderful presents and ate delicious food, thanks Mom! Next year we will have a new addition, my baby brother is expecting his third child in July. I only wish that my Dad could see all of his grandchildren, when he passed away (10 years ago) they had 3 grandchildren and I was pregnant with the forth, he would be so proud of all them. I hope that everyone had a great weekend!

Handmade Gifts

Every year at Christmas I say that I'm going to make a few gifts and I never get around to it, this year I finally took the time to make clipboards for Johnson & Jonah's teachers. I started with .97 cent clipboards from WalMart then added scrapbook paper from my stash, a little Mod Podge, a little ribbon and a few embellishments. These were so easy to make, I finished both of them in about an hour. I love how they turned out and the fact that they only cost a dollar to make is even better. Next time I think I will try spray adhesive instead of Mod Podge, I had never used this before and boy does it stink!!! Today is the boys last day of school until January 5th, YEAH!! We are going Christmas shopping this afternoon, to Grandma's house tomorrow and are going to bake all day Sunday which should be very interesting this year, wish me luck! Have a great Friday!!!

Christmas Home Tours

Hooked on Houses and BooMama are both hosting Christmas home tour parties today, I thought that I would show you a few of my favorite things. I try to put a few fun things upstairs for the boys since I have claimed downstairs as my domain, this year I fell in love with the gingerbread house from Hallmark every time one of the boys walk by the house they ring the doorbell so they can hear the cute song. I love my Willow Tree nativity, my DH bought this for me two years ago, my Mary and Joseph were a present from my MIL, I've never seen any like these they are paper mache. My Christmas tree is my most favorite thing, you can see it here, every ornament on the tree tells a story. Parties in blog land are so much fun, thank you for hosting Hooked on Houses and Boomama!

Santa Sack Fun

I gave the boys a gingerbread house in their Santa sack one day this week, we all had so much fun decorating the house, it was a great family project. It is hard to think of things to put in their sacks, sometimes I put a small piece of candy or dollar tree toys but once a week I try to give them something nicer, I think one day next week I'm going to give them a paint by number set. By the way WalMart has the Wilton gingerbread kits for $6.50.

I have a few more gifts to buy, I'm hoping to finish up this weekend. I still need to make the teacher's gifts and wrap a few more things then I will start baking. I love to bake (and eat)cookies, this year I'm making Reese's Cup cookies and sugar cookie sandwiches. Have a great weekend!!

Garland Party!!!!!

The Nester is having a garland party today. I have always wanted to do up my mantle for the holidays but have never known where to start, but alas I have been inspired. Each day I have added more and every store I go in I want to buy something. I always put up two trees, I do the traditional one in the family room and a sugared fruit tree in the dining room but this year I decided not to do the tree in the dining room so I took my bows and birds from that tree and spruced up my mantle. I think my little birds my have found a new home for the holidays.

Christmas Came Early, YEAH!!!

My beloved husband gave me my Christmas present early this year, something that he normally wouldn't do and guess what I got? If you guessed a Canon Rebel XSI then you would be correct! I love it, even though I don't have a clue how to operate it, but I'm learning something new everyday, I have taken a million pictures and its getting to the point that when the children see me coming they start to run and they are complaining of headaches, maybe its the flash?

Christmas Cheer

I received a special delivery from Lori at Lions, Tigers, and Boys Oh My! What a nice package to receive; 2 books, a package of Kleenex, a bag of flavored coffee and a beautiful Christmas card, Thanks again Lori!!

We finally got the Christmas tree up yesterday, this is the latest that I've ever been putting up a tree, the boys and I had so much fun decorating it. Every ornament on our tree has a special meaning, the first year we were married Tom gave me a beautiful Lenox heart ornament, each year since then he has given me a new ornament, he also gives the boys each an ornament and we give him one as well. I have a red bird from my in-laws first tree and three vintage glass ornaments from my parent's first tree.

I love everything about Christmas! I hope to get all of the presents wrapped one day this week and start crafting a few small projects for the boys' teachers.

Christmas Traditions

A few years ago my Mom made each of the boys a "Santa Sack" to hang on their bedpost from December 1st through the 24th, the boys always get so excited when its time to put the sacks on their beds. Each night they lay in bed, for what seems like hours, discussing the possibilities of what may be waiting on them in the morning. It is the little things that make Christmas so meaningful and special to our children. What are some of the traditions that you share with your children?

Random Thoughts

We had a wonderful and busy Thanksgiving weekend. We started off Thursday with lunch at my Mom's, then we drove 6 hours to the other end of the state to spend the weekend with my in-laws. My MIL and I went shopping on Black Friday and found lots of great deals for Christmas and a few things for ourselves. It was a fun weekend! We came on on Sunday after stopping by Lake Cumberland, we miss the lake so much in the winter months. On Monday I was really tried and not feeling well, a horrible migraine hit me like a ton of bricks that evening. On Tuesday morning I still wasn't feeling well, I ended up in the ER from 7:30am to 2:00pm, then I had to see my family doctor, he is the best doctor in the world. I was so scared, I thought that I was having a heart attack and the worst part of it all was that the boys were home, they were terrified, my neighbor drove to the ER and took wonderful care of the boys until my family could pick them up. It is so nice to have friends and family to help us in our time of need and I'm thankful for them. I have to take better care of myself, my Dad died at 55 and two of his brothers died at 36 and 42. I decided to stop eating sugar (I know I must be crazy at this time of year) sugar is a big trigger food for me and I have also decided to go organic. I think that this was warning for me and I need to put my health first. On a lighter note, I was the runner-up winner in a contest that Lions, Tigers, and Boys Oh My was doing, I can't wait to read my new books.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Thanksgiving Came Early

Grandma and the boys

I cooked Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday, the boys wanted to have Thanksgiving at home because we are going to my Mom's house on Thursday and to my in-laws for the weekend. I cleaned out the dining room which was being used as a playroom, I'm so happy to have my dining room back. We have a contractor scheduled for January to begin work on a playroom/game room for the boys, he said that it shouldn't take over 2 weeks to finish the room but I'm not holding my breath. I'm not looking forward to the mess, but I can't wait to have the extra space. I have been looking for furniture that is sturdy enough for the boys, this is proving to be a much larger task than I had thought. The contractor is going to do several built-ins for storage and a desk. Do you have any suggestions?

Dining room before and after

1st Snow of the Season

We had a little surprise when we woke up this morning, the first snow of the season, it wasn't much but nonetheless it was snow. My children were so excited they were hoping that school had been canceled, they were so disappointed when they saw that all of the county schools were closed but our school didn't even have a one-hour delay, better luck next time boys! I was kind of glad that school wasn't canceled I have so much to do today, I 'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner for a few family members on Sunday and need to clean my house and when the boys are here that is next to impossible. I'm going to make my desserts today, checkout what A Little Loveliness did to make an ordinary cake fabulous! Have a great day and remember to keep all of our blog friends who have lost their jobs or have been laid off in your prayers.

Take Care,

Michelle

Wish List

I'm not a very materialistic person, don't get me wrong I love nice things but I don't have to have them to be happy. With that said I have a confession to make, I have a secret wish list for things that I would love to have but would never spend that kind of cash on something so expensive. So, I'm dropping major hints left and right to DH about the Canon Rebel DSLR camera. I have always been interested in photography but have never really had a great camera, this one seems to be a great fit for me. Our local Arts Center has a photography course every spring, it would be fantastic to have a new camera for the class. What kind of camera do you use and are you happy with it and what is on your wish list? Have a great day!

Girls Day Out

I had the best time today, Tom kept the boys and I went shopping with my Mom! It is the first time in way too long that we have been shopping without two little boys in tow. We had lunch, shopped at Marshall's, Target and Best Buy. I have finally convinced my mother that she needs a computer, so she bought a shiny new Mac Notebook, oh how I want one! I looked at new cameras (hint, hint Tom) and bought a few little things for the boys. We are already planning another shopping day. It was so worth the 1 1/2 hour drive to see her. Tom and the boys also had a great day together, when they left this afternoon they all had on matching hats, but were in too big of a hurry to do "guy stuff" to wait for me to get my camera. Have a good week!

Redo #1 and #2

I have been working like crazy this week trying to get my house in order for a candle show on Saturday, there's nothing like inviting people over to make you clean your house. I started upstairs and am working my way down. The first thing that I did was clean the hall bathroom and add a shelf that I found in the playroom, don't ask because I don't know what it was doing there and where it was hiding. Then I added of few things to the upstairs hallway, I love the cabinet that I have there, it was one of the first pieces that I bought after we got married 12 years ago, it is made from the shelves of the original Sears & Roebucks. Also, I have been spraying painting like crazy, but you will have to wait to see the results later on in the week. I hope that everyone has a great day!

Halloween Pictures

We had a great halloween evening, it was the first year that we have made costumes instead of buying them. The boys had so much fun deciding what to wear and how to do their "makeup".

Hopefully, our lives will begin to slow down a little now that everyone is well and able to care for themselves for the most part. I have started to redo my house and will have some great redo's to share with you all this week. Also, I have started listing on ebay again will have lots of little boys clothing, my seller name is mommie!2

Have a great week

Update

I've been so busy for the past few weeks that I have neglected my blog and fellow bloggers, whom I love to visit. My classes have started back, I'm taking 12 credit hours. My son who is in the 4th grade has so much homework that we don't know what to do! Also, he started basketball conditioning practice and that is running my legs off. My youngest son is having a horrible time adjusting to the 2nd grade, he is crying every morning, he's breaking my heart. My husband's grandfather had surgery this week to remove a tumor the size of a softball and three ribs, I have been taking care of him and his wife. Needless to say I have been busy, but I hope to get things back to normal in the coming weeks. I miss reading all of your blogs and I hope to visit soon. Take care and have a great weekend.

Blissfully Domestic

The wonderful online magazine, Blissfully Domestic will soon relaunch with great new tips and ideas. Be on the lookout for the new and improved site. In the mean time checkout what Melissa at The Inspired Room is doing for fall. Check back in the coming days for a neat giveaway!

Labor Day Weekend

We had a fantastic Labor Day weekend! We spent 3 days at our little Somerset Cottage at Lake Cumberland. It seems as if everyone had the same idea that we had, to spend the holiday at the lake, it was packed, the most boaters that I've seen in twelve years of boating. The water was perfect and the boys had a great time swimming and eating ice cream. On Sunday night my in-laws came in and we spent Monday boating with them. I was sad to come home last night, but I know that we have a few more good weekends of boating before cold weather.

Have a great day!

Michelle

Hello Lover!

Would you all like to meet my new lover? Well, let me tell you a little about him, he's smooth, dependable and always on time. Are curious? Would like to know his name? His name is none other than Frigidaire, when he moved in he brought two of his best friends, their names are; Fridge and DW, Fridge is every so cool and DW is a little under the weather right now but I'm sure when his new part gets here he will be just as lovely as his friends.

Enough with the Sex in the City innuendos and on to the real stuff, I love my new appliances!!! The stove is amazing and the fridge, oh the fridge. The dishwasher was a special purchase, it was originally $548, Lowe's had marked it down to $300 with all warranties in tack to move it because a valve was bad, I jumped on the chance to have the DW I wanted at the price I could afford, but the bad news is I have to wait another week for the part to arrive and be installed. Let me tell you a little something about myself, I HATE TO HAND WASH DISHES!!! But I know when the new DW is up and running I will appreciate how easy cleaning the kitchen will be. I was so happy when the delivery truck pulled away with my old stove in the back of it, I tipped the drivers, waved goodbye and I haven't looked back.

I hope that everyone is having a great week and thank you to all the bloggers who have stopped by, I enjoy reading the comments and get so excited when I see someone has visited.

Take Care,

Michelle

1st Day of School

This has been one of the busiest weeks that we've had in a long time, the boys started school yesterday and my classes started on Monday. We are going to be one busy family this semester my oldest son started 4th grade, which is going to be a major change from 3rd. My youngest son started 2nd grade and I'm taking 12 credit hours. I broke a tooth on Tuesday while out of town shopping for school supplies, needless to say yesterday was spent in the dentist chair and I came out with the news that I need 6 crowns and 2 fillings. Lowe's was supposed to be here this morning to deliver my new appliances but they have called to say that it will be noon before they will be here, this is a good thing because I didn't get anything done yesterday. I hope that everyone has a good day and I will post pictures of my new appliances later. Sorry for the rant, I'll be happier when my new stuff gets here, LOL, providing that I can clean my house that fast!

Take Care

Michelle

Fresh Veggies

One of my favorite things is fresh veggies from the garden and my dear neighbor & friend shared with me her recipe for freezer corn. I made a batch last night to try and it is great, I will be at the farmer's market today to get more! She is also going to teach me how to can tomatoes, yummy! I'm so thankful that we live on this little country road, we have great neighbors, peace and quiet.

Freezer Corn:

5 cups of fresh-- corn cut off the cob

1 cup of water

1/2 cup of butter

1 tsp salt

3 tsp sugar

Boil for 5 minutes, then cool completely and place in freezer bags and freeze. To reheat, thaw completely and cook on stove top.

Window Makeover #2--Playroom

I finished the window treatment for the playroom (once was my dining room, the boys have too many toys, LOL) these were harder than the kitchen for the obvious reason, there was more fabric to work with. Nevertheless, I was able to finish this project in about 8 hours that includes lining the fabric, making the window seat cushion, making the throw pillows and hanging them. Total cost was:

Drapery Fabric--$32.64

Checked Fabric--$8.48

Drapery Lining--$15.24

Buttons for seat cushion--$1.00

Hooks--$8.97

Total Cost--$66.33

Screened-In-Porch Sneak Peek

I finally have started decorating the screened-in-porch, yesterday I found this great bird cage at KMart marked down to $12.00, I found the ugly pink cushions at Goodwill for $1.00 each (there are 3 of them), I already had the fabric so I thought I would cover two of the cushions for the porch and save one for the playroom. Take a look and let me know what you think of the colors. Have a great day!

Window Makeover #1--Kitchen

I'm so excited, I have finished my first ever window treatment and I love it!! I have learned a lot today and I see several mistakes that I will avoid on the next window treatment. In the word's of the Nester, It doesn't have to perfect to be beautiful. I will post more tomorrow on the playroom treatment, I thought that I would start in the kitchen and work my way around the downstairs. The total cost of this project is $9.00 ($1.25 drapery lining, $2.75 Waverly decorator fabric, $5.00 rod). Take care and have a great evening.

Summer Days

My DH had to work all weekend so the boys and I decided to spend all day Sunday by the pool, we went out about 10:30am in the morning and stayed out all day with the exception of eating lunch and taking a little break in the early afternoon. I'm so thankful that we have a pool, it is great exercise and the it passes so much time for the children seeing as there is so little to do in our very small town. I really needed the down time, so I gathered a few of my favorite magazines, my cordless phone and tanning oil (I know, I know) and I was a very relaxed lady. I hope where ever you are that you are having a bright sunny summer day!