Stepping Stones

Each summer the lovely Donna Jo hosts a stepping stone party at her home.

It is a blast!

Here are the photos from this year's get-together:

April

John being John.

I really love this little orange stool!

My momma

Leighbert

I LOVE this photo of my mom.

She thought she was hilarious or something and I clicked at just the right time.

Mom again.

Some of the stones laid out before the concrete was poured.

John sitting pretty.

My stone from this year...I love the mirrors.

This is such a fun, creative activity!

I am so grateful that Donna is willing to host and feed us all on these mornings.

I can't wait to see what I come up with next year!

Laters,

Mrs. B

Vacation Photo Dump

So, I think I've pretty well established that when my mind and body begin summer vacation...so does my blog.

I had every intention of still blogging 5 days a week and keeping things updated.

Welp, we all know how that turned out.

I just didn't feel like I was doing anything "blog worthy".

Plus, this growing a human thing takes it right outta me.

Here are some of the pictures from my camera taken on our vacation...

Lake Michigan

Niagara Falls

In Maine with the family...

Johnathon

Riley

Mom and Riley

Reece

This kid was BORN with muscles...

A gorgeous picture of my mom.

Handsome Husband doing some light reading while cooling off...

and listing to one side. :)

Visiting the veterans cemetery where my Memere and Pepere are buried.

(Grandma and Grandpa on my mom's side.)

If we have a little girl her middle name will be Josephine after Pepere.

Some pictures taken in mom's friend Sandy's garden

So, even though I was blog-absent I was definitely life-present.

The month of June was filled with visiting Michigan, South Carolina, Michigan again, Canada and Maine.

Whew!

What did you do this summer?

Laters!

Mrs. B

P.S.  I can't stinking believe that I am starting school TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY!

I'M NOT READY!!

WAHHHHH!

Living Room Re-do

Handsome Husband has owned the house we currently live in for 11 years or so.

This means that after many years of having a dudes-only living situation I had my work cut out for me when I moved in.

Back when we first started dating I decided that I wanted to paint SOMETHING so I decided to paint his living room.

I wanted to pick dude colors that he could live with in case the living room color lasted longer than we did.

Therefore, we ended up with this color combo...

It's not all in all a bad combo, but it wasn't working for a few reasons.

1.  The light you see is majorly enhanced by the camera flash.

The room has one window that is an outside window.

2.  I didn't know anything about paint finishes and picked a flat base instead of a satin.

The flat paint sucked all of the light from the room making it even darker.

So, I decided that it was time for a change.

I've had a few paint chips taped to the wall for a while, but just knew they weren't right.

So, I called on my mom's friend Julie of Red Door Design.  

She came to the house and helped me take what I could see in my head and put it into a paint color.

(We picked out colors for a few different things, but more on that at a later date.)

We decided on Sherwin Williams Believable Buff for the living room.

Here are the after shots:

It brightens up the room sooooo much!

I love seeing how much lighter the room is when I walk by.

Now...to replace those antiquated couches!

Have you done any projects this summer?

I'm off to paint another room!

Laters,

Mrs. B

Anniversary!

Two years ago I married my Mr. Right (promoting him from "Bald Beauty" (used in my phone, not on here) to "Handsome Husband").

The days have been interesting and wonderful and filled with learning about ourselves and each other.

It still gives me little tummy-tickles to call him my husband.

We have such fond memories of our day and loved that it was truly one big party.

It rained (downright POURED) during the early parts of the day and people were worried that our outdoor, Japanese garden wedding was going to become an inside-the-reception-venue affair.

I wasn't worried one bit.

It had been a SCORCHER of a July and I "told" the weather to rain for a bit to cool the day off and stop around 3:30...guess what??

It totally did.

I'm just that good I guess. :)

I love this man more and more each day.

I love seeing his face light up when he talks about our coming addition.

I love that he does the dishes after I cook.

I love that when I ask his opinion on a decoration or change for the house he says, 

"Whatever you want , babe," and means it.

I love that he lets me eat in bed even though he DESPISES it.

I love that we can be in the same room together and feel such comfort in each other's presence that we don't need to talk.

I love that we are slowly figuring out each other's strengths and weaknesses and building on them.

I love that he will eat almost anything I cook for him and give me honest feedback.

I love that he deals with bits of yarn and half-finished projects that are found all over the house.

To quote the musical Show Boat "Can't help lovin' that man of mine."

(This picture was taken right after I licked cake frosting off his beautiful bald head.  It's one of my faves!)

Laters!

Mrs. B

Bump Watch: Week 13

Well, hello there!!

Did you think I forgot about you?

I didn't...I swear...

I just haven't been up to anything superbly interesting lately (other than all of June where I traveled all but, like, 8 days...I'll post pics...promise.)

In fact, I've barely been functioning at above a wake-breathe-eat-crochet-sleep level.

Due Date?  January 17th.  Handsome Husband thinks he/she will be born on the 9th, though.

How far along?  13 weeks on Friday.

Size of baby?  He/she is the size of a lemon.

Weight gain?  5 lbs.  I've only had a twinge of nausea here and there, so I am trying to eat as normally as possible.  

Since returning from our multiple jaunts around the eastern US I've also gotten back into the gym.  

I REALLY missed cycling class.

Right before I got pregnant I got a Polar FT7 heart monitor...best investment EVER.

I am able to know exactly how hard I can push myself to get the best workout possible.

Maternity clothes?  Oh, totally!  My jeans still fit in the legs and all, but I couldn't button them.  Plus, it was a great time to stock up on the sale items for school clothes!

Movement?  Not yet.  He/she is still too little.

Food cravings?  In the beginning it was McDonald's french fries, but I was able to get over that thankfully!  

Now, all I can think about is ice water...lots of ice water.

I go through at least a gallon of water a day and have emptied the ice maker a few times this week.

Gender?  We aren't finding out.

We think it will be more exciting!

Believe me you, thought...the anticipation is killing me already!

Don't worry, though...I'll stay strong.

Labor?  None.

Bellybutton in or out?  In.

What I miss?  Really pushing myself to my limit in a workout.

Diet Coke.

Medium cheeseburgers.

Brie.

Looking forward to...?  When I actually start to show a bump, not just residual out-of-shape-gut pooch.

All in all, I am feeling truly awesome.

I was blessed with a wicked easy first trimester (don't hate me) and other than needing a daily 2-hour nap I feel almost normal.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. B