It's a Train Date

This weekend I promised Nathan a visit to a train park, new to us.  It had been quite a while since he and I hung out doing the train thing and since Greg had a softball tournament, the timing worked out well.
No big thing, just us doing our thing!

Was he excited?  I don't know, what do you think?








As for me. I was cold.  Therefore, it matters not how ridiculous I look, what matters is that I was trying to stay warm.


48 degrees, brrrr!! :)

Thanksgiving Table Trot!

We hosted Thanksgiving this year, our guests were the Nortons and Haniotes. We had 15 adults and 5 kids.  Everyone brought a dish which simplified the entire process and kept my to-do list very minimum.  I loved doing it this way, it gave me the time I needed to clean the house and make other preparations.

Like setting up the tables:




The little kids table was so cute!


This was the first time I used table place cards, such a great idea! I also made some napkin rings with some online Thanksgiving printables found here.




I established the arrival time for 12:30, pretty sure it would take an additional hour to pull everyone's dishes together, carve turkey, etc.  I totally called it, we sat down to eat about 1:30. We finally trotted to the table and had a great Thanksgiving meal, thanks to all of our guests!



Jim Bob looked very dapper today! :)


How cute are our little ones?  I just want to gobble them up! haha!






The Nortons plus extended family:


The Hanoites




And us :)


Great day, great food, great game (Cowboys won), great friends!



Oh yeah, great photobombs! haha!




Hope Ya'll had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Dining Room Makeover Completed!

We finished the Dining Room. We have slowly added to this room with extra paint, random pictures, whatever leftover bits and pieces we could find but the room began to resemble a scrap yard and the longer it looked this way the more it bothered me.  Here's what I was dealing with when I finally snapped and couldn't take it anymore.






We had to give this room an extreme makeover!  First, we purchased this amazing table from Craig's List, found at just the right time for just the right price!



Then we needed to deal with the brown mammoth of a wall. I decided to stencil the wall because a friend  was selling a paint stencil at her garage sale and she said stenciling was 'easy and fun to do'.
I'm still wondering why she lied to me. It wasn't easy. Nor was it fun. But it was worth it, take a look:



Then I grouped together the framed pictures (Walmart $6-12) and added drapes to the windows (Savers $8)



I traded out the darker shelves for lighter ones and used my address subway art as a focal point for the room.  (Small shelf $3, Coffee Canister $2, Clock $2 - Savers. Flower Tin $1 - Goodwill. Large shelf $12 (was black, painted it white) - Ross. Coffee Cups/Saucers - repurposed!).  I really love this little space!


I used a wooden crate as a shelf next to the large mirror to balance out the dark wood accents.  (Crate $3, Glass Lantern $6 - Garage Sales  Hat & Frames, repurposed!)


Added more elements in white to balance out the massive sea of brown. That little accent table was actually Free on Craig's List - believe it!  It was brown,  I repainted it white and replaced the drawer handles.


































The antique phone looks much better on the wall with the white stenciling and the little table below (Goodwill) received a fresh coat of paint!



So much happier with this room now and couldn't have done any of this without 'the man' Greg by my side, he rocks!

Our October 31st

This year we met up with folks in our neighborhood who are subsequently in our homegroup and whose children also go to Nathan's school.  It's like the six degrees from Kevin Bacon thing!  :)

We looked like a good size group - a force to be reckoned with!



Nathan dressed up as an Air Force Stealth Pilot (with facial hair) and once he had his costume on he asked me what was his mission was supposed to be.  'Get candy' what else?


I hadn't planned to dress up but I ran across this headband at a friends garage sale, remembered I had a shirt that matched the bow and before I knew it I was Minnie Mouse!  I even had the white gloves but I forgot them at the house, darnit.  This is Nathan's salute!


It took Nathan a while to warm up to Trick or Treating, staying close to me, but after several houses he ran ahead with his friends and classmates.

Each of these little girls are in Nathan's class at school (except the older girl in the middle).  Look at that Strawberry Shortcake, is she not the cutest little thing  you've ever seen?!! 

I hate that this picture is blurry but Nathan's penciled-in mustache and his expression makes him look like a french painter, hahaha!


"Oui Oui Mademoiselle"

 
And that was that. :)

Fun Family Vacay Day 4

Old Point Loma Lighthouse (most Southwestern point of the United States)





Cabrillo National Park cliffs and tidepools









Cabrillo National Cemetery

Fun Family Vacay Day 3 :o)

Enjoyed a Harbor Cruise just before sunset.



Ticket in hand, ready to board.











(Shenanigans!)