It's December!

It is December! We have a little teeny bit of snow that I actually am sort of excited about. This same snow will have me cursing in February though. I showed Parker the snow from inside the house and she was very interested in it! I haven’t said this in a looooong time but I’m greatly anticipating the first big snowfall. Then we can all go outside and frolic around and come back inside to a toasty cup of hot chocolate. Parker hasn’t had anything chocolate yet. I’m worried that when she does have something delicious she will realize how gross all the food is that I’m feeding her, haha! Kale, edamame, tofu, sunflower seed butter--none of that can hold up to chocolate. Everything in moderation but I don’t think I’m ready for chocolate moderation for her just yet. And I’m a bit of a control freak with what she eats. And plus I eat enough chocolate on a daily basis for the both of us. Dark chocolate covered pomegranates—enough said.

Last night I started our bathroom demo. Up first, the cabinets. The 90’s wood has got to go. Sure we could buy new cabinets but I have the burning urge to DIY them. I sanded them with a sanding block last night and while it did a pretty good job I’m going to make friends with our power sander tonight and try that out. After the sanding I’m going to prime, sand some more, prime, sand some more…you see where I’m going with this. Then I’ll do the same with the paint. I may or may not put a satin top coat of Polycrilic on it and then top it off with what motivated me to even start this project:



Love love love love love this nickel hardware. I found it, bought it, then decided to use it in the bathroom.

We’ll see how I do on this project. If it isn’t perfect there’s a Lowes and Home Depot very close by! I'll post some pictures of my progress soon.

Here are some pictures of Parker. A few weeks ago she figured out how to get on her rocking horse and rock herself. She goes waaaay back and waaaay forward. It's too cute. She also figured out how to push her lawnmower around a few weeks ago and has so much fun with it now. Child labor toys? Sure, why not.

(More) Thanksgiving!

It's almost a week past Thanksgiving but I'm still wrapping up our Thanksgiving festivities posts. It was quite a surprise but during our families visit Parker actually let everyone hold her. I have pictures to prove it. After a couple hours of warming up to all the family in our house she finally opened up to being held. She even did her signature I’m-so-cute-don’t-you-love-me move—walks to her books, grabs one, says “bu” (aka book), brings it over to you and sits in your lap while you read it. Nikki does an awesome horse noise by the way. Parker loved it.




























So that’s about it for Turkey Day. Nikki, Parker and I did end up going Black Friday shopping but not until 9am. We all got a few cool things. Said things were just as cool at 9am as they would have been at 1am. Kris and I had fun at the OSU/Michigan game even though we lost. Speaking of lost, we lost each other in the stadium (long story, but just be warned that Michigan doesn’t let you bring purses into the stadium...seriously) and bad cell phone reception made it difficult to find each other be we were eventually reunited. Michigan needs to watch out next year when we have Urban Meyer leading us to victory! Sunday and Monday we spent hanging out and getting the house ready for Christmas. And by getting the house ready I mean starting a million different things and not finishing it. My house basically looks like a Christmas bomb went off on it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing since I love Christmas. Hot chocolate, Home Alone, Christmas lights, Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer, Peppermint Bark everything…ahhhh….tis the season! It’s about time to head back down to downtown Rochester to see all the LED lights. The grand lighting was Monday but after a busy week/weekend I didn’t feel like venturing out. We’ll head out this weekend though. And this year we will be able to walk the street with Parker in tow!

This week was a big week for Parker…she is now officially out of the infant room and in Toddler I! Apparently Parker “runs the room” according to the teachers, haha. Silly girl!

Happy (short to me) week! This week I'm in the process of planning a complete remodel attack on the upstairs bath (I’m talking new cabinets, new paint, new décor), cooking some healthy new recipes (Sweet Potato Cakes and Broccoli and Cheese Patties, yum!), catching up on our fave shows (Parenthood, Up All Night, The Office), and hanging out with my loves! But before I leave I have to give props to our wonderful turkey that Kris prepared. Somehow I left the most important thing out of the previous post! 23lbs later and we still have some leftovers. I'm not complaining ;)

Dog Party

Not only did we have a house full of family for the holidays but we had a house full of dogs too. Four to be exact. It was a little crazy. But Parker loves dogs and had so much fun chasing them all around the house. She also had fun trying to grab the leash and take them for a walk. The dogs enjoyed themselves by running away from Parker, playing/tormenting each other, and trying to eat Parker's snacks. We had a worn out baby AND dog by the end of the week! Oh yeah, and I'm a bit tired too. Well worth it though for all the fun :)

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was a blast. We ate, drank, and generally just had an awesome time.

My normal method of cooking goes out the window on Thanksgiving. Give me all the butter, cream, and fat you got. I'm talking a cheese ball, spinach dip, and bacon wrapped jalapenos (you read that right. absolutely out of this world incredible).


































We had wine, beer, and Tequila Touchdown (score!)


































I made Parmesan Mashed Potatoes, Honey Glazed Carrots, Broccoli Bake, Gravy, Creamy Mac and Cheese (DELISH) and Stuffing. Nina brought the sweet potatoes and my mom brought Green Bean Casserole.













For dessert I made my Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake, Nikki made Pumpkin Cheesecake, and Lindsey made Oreo Dessert. Kris makes an out of this world chocolate fondue and we planned to make it but decided not to with all the other eats. I'm looking forward to it this week though!





Are you drooling at your screen yet?

I'll post more pics from the day later. All in all it was a fabulous day. It would have been more fabulous if all of our family could have been together but everyone was there in spirit!

Thankful

In the spirit of Thanksgiving am I allowed to be thankful to have a super handy husband? One who can, as we said many times to each other, “build a house under a house”? Because I am! Kris did a fabulous job on the basement. I’m glad that Kris was the one to finish the basement because we know that no corners were cut and that every single thing was constructed perfectly. From the drywall to the electricity to the plumbing…Kris did it all. I’m a proud wife!

We’ve been enjoying the space for about a month and a half now and we love it. There is so much room for all of us to relax and play. We have the main room with a big flat screen, Harvard Hoops (yes, we’re basically children), and the bar that Kris also built. I went out shopping one day with Lindsey to return to a bar completely framed out. I didn’t even know Kris was going to start on it that day! Then we have the playroom slash workout room slash freezer and extra pantry room. Most of the things we order from Amazon come in bulk so I need a place to store the 12 pack of laundry detergent and the six pack of cereal boxes I buy. Plus I have a thing with stocking up when things are on sale. See that bag on top of the pantry? It’s filled with pounds of organic squash which apparently last for months. When it went on a big sale I figured that I should grab 10 a few. I’ve made delish Butternut Squash Muffins and last weekend whipped up Penne with Butternut Squash, Bacon and Sage. It was to die for.

I got way off track, back to the basement…

We have an extra bedroom for guests and there is a bathroom right off of it that enters back into the main room. We kept the ceiling exposed since a drop and/or drywall ceiling would make the ceiling too low. I love the look! Very trendy and cool. There’s crown molding all around and the comfiest carpet your feet will ever meet. We brought our sectional from upstairs downstairs and got new furniture for upstairs. It’s like a whole new house!

As much as I miss our family and friends, I never want to leave this house. It is truly more than a house—it’s a home. I never want to leave the place that Kris and I bought when we were 24, only a few months into our engagement. The place that we came home to after our honeymoon. The place where we brought Parker when she was two days old. We’ve made so many wonderful memories in this house. We have wonderful neighbors and a safe subdivision. Living on the end of a cul-de-sac will allow Parker to play without worrying about traffic. We have amazing restaurants and shopping literally minutes away. There are a lot of parks, trails, and cider mills. I feel very blessed to be able to live in such a great house in an amazing area.

There’s a lot more to be thankful for this season too.

We have a perfectly wonderful, healthy baby girl who makes life worth living. There are many sick children out there and their suffering breaks my heart into a million pieces. We are so lucky to have a baby with no health problems.

Both Kris and I have our health. In the past month I’ve had a few follow up appointments with my dentist and yesterday had to see an oral surgeon for a mark under my tongue that was abnormal. Thankfully it turned out to be nothing, but having a scare like that really makes you appreciate your health.

We both have great jobs that we enjoy. I’m thankful that we’re able to provide for our daughter; to put food on the table, a roof over her head, fund her college, and buy her what she needs. I’m thankful that we’re both able to be good role models for Parker in our roles both outside and inside the home.

I’m thankful that we have a wonderful support system at daycare. I’ve said it before but to have people who are not family care so deeply about your child is a rarity. She gets buckets of love poured on her when Kris and I are at home and also when we’re not.

I’m thankful to have the best husband. Seriously, he’s the best. He has the patience that I lack (I’m working on it!), is caring, and funny. We’re both equals in our relationship. There’s no I do all the cooking, you do all the cleaning sort of thing. We both cook, clean, love on Parker, work, etc. It’s a wonderful balance.

Enough with the sappy stuff. We’re having Thanksgiving on Friday this year because I’m working today and I’m not about to pull together a feast overnight. Well actually I’m probably able to since I’m crazy like that but Friday will be easier. Plus my sister and her fiancée will be able to come if it’s Friday so it works. Even though our Thanksgiving is on Friday I’m sort of tempted to hit up Target at midnight. They are having some awesome sales on toys. I always check prices against Amazon and these are legit deals. Legit I say! I have my eye on the Cabbage Patch dolls and a princess make-up table. And for me, I must get another pair of these:



I already have a pair in gray and I am in love. I wear these every single day. They are so comfy. They are supportive like shoe so I have walked out of the house many times not realizing that I have my moc's on and not acutal shoes. If only the corporate world was okay with slippers!! It’s only a matter of time before the moc's wear out or get destroyed so I need a back up pair. I’m sure there will be lots of other cute clothes, jewelry, and shoes on sale for this girl! I haven’t went Black Friday shopping in years so if I go I don’t know what I’m getting myself into!

Happy Thanksgiving and Black Friday Shopping y’all! I'll be updating with pictures of Turkey Day--including pictures of the eats and the menu!

Don't mind the pom poms in the basement. They are from Parker's party and are too fun to take down. And also don't mind all the toys scattered about. I pick up at the end of the day and that's it!

Finally Friday!

It’s FRIDAY!

I am looking forward to a very short work week next week. It’s only Monday through Wednesday for this girl before I check out until the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. I am so ready for the time off!

I’m also ready to gain approximately 14lbs from my Thanksgiving feast. This year we’re having Kris’ parents, his sister, my parents, and my sister and her fiance up for Thanksgiving. I’m so excited to have Thanksgiving here again. I absolutely love cooking and baking and I’ve got my recipes down to a science. Kris and I often make Thanksgiving feasts throughout the year for the three of us (make that four since Parker likes to feed Sydney) so we're pros by now.

I have my two page grocery shopping list (seriously, it's two pages), all of my recipes printed out, and a timeline. Is it weird that I have a timeline? Probably, but I find it easier to have a plan so that I'm not slaving away at the last minute.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving Kris and I will be going to the OSU/Michigan game and my parents will be watching Parker. I really don't like to leave Parker. Actually, this is only the second time that we've left her. Kris was really excited about the game though and it's nice to get some one on one time so off to Ann Arbor we'll go! It's supposed to be 44 degrees. I'm hoping that it doesn't get much colder than that!

As for this weekend I'm not sure of what we have going on. We might go to the cider mill for some yummy donuts and cider and/or head to a really fun play place with miss Parker. Whatever we do it will be a lot of fun!

Happy weekend!