- HBD, Grammy! -

Happy [very belated!] birthday to youuuuu, Grammy Resa!  Even though Scarlett thought the cake/singing/celebration was for her [cheers to January birthdays!] and Harper assured you 3 times before we lit the candles that "we didn't get you trick candles!!!", it was still a birthday for the books! 

Here's to another trip around the sun and your best year yet! :)

- Grandparent's Day -

A day full of celebrating with our beloved grammies and papas?! YES, please!  Harper's preschool had their Grandparent's Day celebration a couple weeks ago, and I'm in love with the photo updates I received throughout the day. 

Thanks, all, for making the trek down and being with Harper on this special day!  She was so proud to show you her classroom and also "show you off" to her teachers and friends!  :)

- Out of the mouth of babes: VOL X -

Throwback Tuesday...is that even a thing?  ...Today it is!  

Just found these gems on a note on my phone, and they're too sweet not to share!  Rewind to summer 2019!

**********
 

[Over the summer] while looking at her Tupperware container full of lightening bugs after I accidentally closed the lid over one's head:
"Awwwwwww, that's sad, one of the bugs broke his ears off!"


As Scarlett was holding a lightening bug:
"Scarlett!  You need 'da go outside and let him go so he can fly and doesn't get scared!"

While examining a different lightening bug that she had trapped inside a Ziploc bag for a few days:
Harper:  "I think he stopped lighting up because he's scared..."
Me:  "Hunny, I think he's dead."
Harper:  "No, Mommy, he's just scared. But he said he wants to sleep with me so when I'm scared in the middle of the night in the dark he can light up for me."


Later on, in reference to same said [dead] lightening bug:
"Daddy, I think the lightening but is hungry and we need to put some food in his bag!"

While driving to school:
Me:  "Mannnn, I'm really tired. I need some coffee today!"
Harper:  "Yes, 'else you will be crabby!"
Me:  "Yes....."
Harper:  "Sometimes when I don't drink hot chocolate in the mornings, I get crabby.  Sometimes.  But not that much."


While drawing a very intricate family portrait:
"Does Scarlett have eyebrows yet?"

As Brian was laying hardwood floor at our new house:
Me:  "Let's go, we have to buy Daddy some knee pads and bring them back to the house." 
Harper:  "So if Daddy falls down he won't hurt his knees?"


Randomly:
Harper:  "Mommy, when I was in your tummy did I kick you every day?"
Me:  "Yes, EVERY day!"
Harper:  "Do you know why I did that?  It was because I was hungry and I wanted you to feed me!"
Me:  "Oh, I fed you alright..."
Harper:  "Yeah, and I was always hungry and you had to eat all the healthy food so my brain grew big!"

After letting a grasshopper out of her bug box so he could live outside:
"Well Scar, now we sadly don't have a bug!" 


While rubbing my [stubbly] legs:
"Hairs are growing in you!  Need 'da shave so they're smooth, Mom.  See, feel my legs, they're soft and smooth!"

While pulling in the driveway at Garett's:
Me:  "Actually, let's park on the street tonight so Daddy can have the driveway when he gets home really late."
Harper:  "Yep, that would be a better choice, Mom!"


Randomly:
"Mommy, I was thinking that moles aren't really cute because they're just all brown.  But that's just how God made everyone!  And in the world, we have lots of people because that's the way God made us all different!"

While driving in the car:
Harper:  "Ew! A booger!"
Me:  "Gross! Did you wipe it in the Kleenex you have back there?"
Harper:  "No, I already 'frowed it on your car seat because that seat is already dirty with mud and stuff.  Your car is so junky, Mom... You need 'da clean it!" 


When caught in a daze:
Me:  "You're looking tired..."
Harper:  "No, my eyes were just stuck on something."


Randomly:
"When I grow up, I will marry my boyfriend!"

- Houses and Homes -

A house is made of brick and stone...

...but only love can make a home!

What a whirlwind it's been! So happy to have the past 17 months behind our backs!  Full speed ahead into living and loving and really making this house our home!!! 

- Mr. & Mrs.! -

Congrats to this beautiful couple on tying the KNOT at the wedding of the century!  We had the most amazing time, and Jeanette, you were a drop-dead gorgeoussss bride!  I'm gonna miss my work pal/partner in crime/RN-2 for a week or so while you're honeymooning ;) :), but I hope you enjoy every second with your brand new husband! 

I've said it many times already, but for the sake of repetition I'll say it again:  marriage certainly looks good on you two!  Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your special day!!! <3

- Kitchen Cabbies and Counters and Appliances -

Putting a kitchen together should be no big deal, am I right? 

Meh. Nah...

HOLY PROCESS!  

...Turns out it actually takes quiiiiite a bit of work and tons of coordination and LOTS OF TIME to turn a big empty room into a *functioning* kitchen! :) 

[September 2019]

I just boasted him about 5 minutes ago in the bathroom vanities post, but here's the man himself ^^ who custom designed and created [and delivered] all of the cabinets in our home!  THANK YOU, Tony!  We adore your work and very highly recommend Eickhoff Woodworks! 


After the cabinets were installed, my car basically set itself to auto-drive back and forth between K&D Countertops and home.  So many choices, so little time to choose!  After polling the masses on the top 3 samples [family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers], I confidently chose and ordered the slab that no one else liked...

[October 2019]

...and several weeks later, the ginormous slabs were installed...

...and I'm thrilled to report that I LOVE IT SO MUCH!  It brings brightness and warmth to the kitchen all at the same time, and it ties the colors from the stone fireplace in with the dark kitchen cabbies.  No regrets! 

The neighbors immediately came bearing wine and cake to break in the new countertops! :)

A few weeks following the countertop installation, the appliance truck showed up on the driveway... But a) it was initially delayed a few days because the concrete had recently been poured and needed to dry, then b) the second delivery truck brought ONLY a washer and dryer ...and the dryer was broken so we had 1/7 of the needed appliances to show for.  There were also some petty c), d), and e) complications that I've miraculously erased from my mind at this point, but holy whoa.  Nothing! Was! Easy!

[November 2019]

Finally one snowy day, allllll of the remaining goods were dropped in the garage.  That night, Brian and Marko trudged through the ice and slush to hoist the appliances inside...

...and besides the original stovetop being on backorder indefinitely and the replacement stovetop falling right through the hole that the countertop company cut in the quartz, everything was, seemingly, falling into place [pun intended]! 

[Side note:  The backordered stovetop issue and mismeasured countertop issue caused a huge headache for Brian and eventually, thankfully, all panned out -- but not before MANY phone calls and a couple on-site consults and lots of arguments and maybe also a few choice words!  And actually, we still have an "extra" stovetop sitting in our bedroom that we haven't made time to return yet, so if anyone is in the market and wants to save us the trip...! ;)]

A couple months later, Brian started the task of putting on cabinet handles.  His mini-helpers could always be found close behind!

[January 2020]

While we're still planning to put up crown molding and a backsplash and maybe throw in a few decorations on the island, too...

...I think it's shaping up pretty well, do youuuu?!  :D

- Vanities Va-va-VOOM -

I've been hanging on to this post for a hot minute now, because all three of the bathrooms have been coming together [extra] slowly!  Way back when, we thought that the 4-6 week wait for the Onyx vanity tops would be the final thing holding us up from passing the final living inspection, but L to the O to the L; it turns out they were delivered quickly and installed easily [thanks to the many manly muscles in the family!] and a few more moons months passed before we were actually able to move in!

[November 2019]

However!  Patience is a lovely virtue, and I'm so happy now that we took the time to special order what we really wanted instead of hurrying along to slap something together that we wouldn't really love months and years down the road.  I think these color combos are amazing and am totally digging all 3 rooms!  So much love for Tony at Eickhoff Woodworks who custom made all of our bathroom cabinets [and actually, all of the kitchen cabinets, too!]. 

Eventually, we started shopping for mirrors and decor... 

[December 2019]

...and also [finally!] some knobs, too!

[January 2020]

It's the littlest things that make the biggest difference!  I'm still chomping at the bit to put "the lipstick" on with some decorations for the walls and vanity tops, but this is what we have for now...  BIG shopping spree is scheduled for this weekend, so stay tuned! ;) :)

- SEVENNNN! -

Gosh, I'm just effortlessly sliding into February over here and it almost slipped my mind to post about how, back in Novemba, we celebrated SEVEN YEARS [!!!] in the trenches...

...but just "in the trenches" of our front yard -- literally, NOT figuratively -- of course!  Ain't no seven-year itch knockin' on our door!  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, BRIAN!  November 10, 2019 ^^ vs. November 10, 2012 boasts a few more tired eyes and fine wrinkles but a lot more love!

Ahem...  Brian!  I feel like the past seven years have flown by, but at the same time my heart barely remembers the way it beat prior to knowing and loving you!  You've celebrated with me at my highs and loved me at my lows; you're the calm to my crazy and the sweet to my sour. ;) :)  I actually really like us; we're such a fun team!  It still kindaaaa blows my mind to think we started our newlywed life sharing meals like this...

...with ZERO idea that seven years later we'd only be able to brave Mexican restaurants on our real anniversary with the offspring in tow because #helloFASTservice and #getinandgetout...

...but all the "then and nows" and side-by-side photos make my heart swell as they just prove how steadfast our love is and how truly blessed we are!  [...But also, here's to a real, kid-free anniversary dinner date in 2020...and also reigniting our tradition of lighting the unity candle that I found buried in a box in the basement last week... #ohwell #thenewnormal #thisisus]

Anywayzzz, again, happy anniversary, best friend! I loved you then and I love you now... I've loved the last seven and am looking forward to the next [seventy]seven!

Xoxox! :-* :-*