Saturday, April 30, 2011

Our New Floor

When we moved into our new home, we had moved from a 1930's "filled with charm" house to a cookie cutter house.

For various reasons, two being more space and better layout, we bought this house. I have been working on this home from the get-go to give it some charm and an older home feel.

This summer alone plans include: creating new balustrades (5 of them), refinish the stairs, paint the existing staircase (w/ new balustrades) , makeover the powder room (new floor, sink, wall treatment), a new sitting area fora fire pit and adirondacks in the backyard, a swingset and a sand box.

And finally, a post about my installing our new floors. This post is long in coming. We ordered 12 inch wide southern yellow pine tongue and groove planks.
The existing floor was a mix of laminate, carpet and some old hardwood. We decided to floor the kitchen, living room, mudroom, foyer and dining room with the new hardwood. Here are some pictures of the process:



laying out the paper on the subfloor




dining room

finished kitchen floor (excuse the absent base moulding on the kitchen cabinets)


And here is a picture of the hallway leading into the living room this past February (with some valentine cuties) and the board and batten
I applied to some of the rooms (another post all together).
This process took about three to four days including two applications of a clear coat.

We love the look and feel it gives to our home.


Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone!



The big girls drew the line this year and it was WIDE. They no longer wanted to dress like the "babies". This sad mama asked if she could still color coordinate...and they said..yes! I am so lucky=:)



The "Babies".


I made a pineapple bake today. As I was cutting through the loaf, I think I noticed a bunny shape in the bread. Do you see a bunny shape?



We had several egg hunts!


And made our first annual bunny cake. This is actually the second one..truth be told the first one fell apart! I am hopeful that as our Easters progress this becomes a tradition for my girls.


We also saw real Easter eggs!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!
















Saturday, April 23, 2011

The Night Before Easter...

Twas the Night before Easter..

and as of 9pm..the minis are STILL awake!



Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Do you Dye Easter Eggs?

I was at the doctors' office this past week and my appointment happened to fall the day after our family dyed our Easter eggs. Unfortunately, I came away from the experience a little scathed and the result was one green finger. (Don't ask..it just happened).

So upon the doctor spying my one green finger, I blurted out .."oh..we were dying our Easter eggs!" She looked at me a little taken aback, then said, "I am so glad to hear that. I didn't think anyone did that anymore." Really?

I guess with the ease of plastic eggs maybe this tradition has moved to the wayside.
This has been a favorite childhood memory of Easter time. Oh.. the magic of watching the colors take shape as you dipped and re-dipped the eggs. We have dyed eggs every year since the children were born.

As the children have gotten older we have moved onto making a bigger event. This year we had the cousins over for lunch and to dye the eggs. Even my 17 year old niece joined in the fun.

So the question is does your family dye eggs for Easter?


We were crazy for adding glitter to our eggs this year.


Everyone busy.


My little one had a thing for pink this year. She dyed all of her eggs pink.

I hope you all have a great weekend!


Thursday, February 24, 2011

Double Digits


WoW. Did ten years really fly by THAT fast?
I am in shock and in awe that this little bundle pictured above is now ten years old. He came six weeks early, in the middle of a snow storm and after 48+ hours of labor. Happy Birthday, Little Man!
XOXO

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Candyland Part II

Our Father/ Daughter Dance was fabulous! (If I do say so myself *wink, wink*) Here is a few pictures of the finished decorations I had designed and created.




Princess Lolly
Queen Frostine
Up close of center pieces
Full view of center piece
Hallway
Gingerbread Plum Tree
Candy Garland
Lollipop Lane
Rainbow Trail with Gloppy (This was done by another mom but I wanted to add it for your viewing pleasure, hehe!)
Two of my best creations enjoying their evening with their dad, which is what it is all about!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Candyland

My daughters' Father/Daughter dance is soon upon us. This year the theme is Candyland.

I am helping to run the decorating committee. I have come up with a sample of the centerpieces.




This is not exact... just something I had to put together for the visually impaired. The center is hollow so we can nestle something to hold balloons in place above the centerpiece.

More photos to come after the big night as I still have to create 10 centerpieces, a life size gingerbread house, Mr. Mint's peppermint forest and corral 5th graders to make several dozen lollipops and candies!!!

Wish me luck!!