Merry Day After Christmas

My family and I wanted

to take just a quick

moment to 

say hello

and to hope that

you and your family

had a wonderful

Christmas.

Our family has so very

much to be thankful

for 

again

this year.

We are so blessed

Sweet Adalyn.

Lovely (and lively) Lorelai

and spending time with family.

Our wish to you

this day

after

Christmas

is to keep the 

joy

and the 

wonder

of Christmas morning

fill your heart

the entire year

through.

Hugs!

The countdown is on!

I'm back home now after

a week at my

daughter's house helping a little

with the new baby and

having our "sleep over parties" with

Lorelai.

I spent a week and we had 

four out of the seven nights that were good.

None were as good as the first two nights, 

but the last two weren't bad - she

still woke up some and crawled

into my bed

(which was a twin size blow up mattress on the floor beside her bed).

Now, I'll have to admit this was not

my favorite way to sleep.  However, if it helps

the little one get used to sleeping in her own bed

I'll give up a week of good sleep for that.

The reason I was able to come home is

my oldest daughter came in last night

from Nashville for a couple of weeks - 

so, she has taken over with

the "sleep over parties".

Tomorrow I need to run into town and 

pick up a prescription (want to get it before

our insurance company changes our

pharmacy company - again!) 

and I'll also pick 

up some last minute things

for meals for this week

(French Toast Casserole for 

Christmas morning for example).

Tuesday we are having dinner at the kids 

house with all the family - Justin's 

parents and his sister's family are coming down

and my kids dad will get in during the afternoon.

 Hopefully, my mom will be feeling better

so she will be able to come over

and celebrate too.

Wednesday, Dan and I will have our

Christmas here before loading all the 

gifts into the car and

going back over to 

the kids for

our family

Christmas.

Looks like things will be a little busy

for a few more days!

In case I don't have a chance to 

post again before

Christmas -

Dan, Samantha, Jessie and I

wish you and yours

a very

Merry Christmas!

Hugs!

Carol

Just helping out

This will probably be a short and sweet post

as I have been staying over at my

daughter's since Saturday

helping out with the

new little one,

but mostly

I've been helping Lorelai

get settled into

her new room!

We have been working on getting

her to sleep in her

"Big girl" bed

all night.

Saturday and Sunday nights

were a cinch!

I rocked her

to sleep and laid

her in her bed -

and she slept ALL night

in her bed without

a single whimper.

However, last night was a different story!

First of all we (Melissa and I) took

the two girls to the doctor.

Addie had her first check-up (and her first shot!)

and Lorelai needed her eighteen month

check-up (and had to have one more shot).

Well, even though the doctor said it wouldn't

affect her, she was extremely grumpy and fussy

all afternoon and evening.

So, to make a long story short - we did not have

a really good night last night.

She kept climbing into my bed and I would put her

back into hers - finally, I climbed in bed with her until

she fell back asleep.  Anyway, I had to do that a couple of times

so it was a long night.

We all knew that it would take some time to get

her used to sleeping on her own in her own bed.

So, while we had a rough night last night,

 we'll work on it again tonight!

We'll just have to take it 

one day at a time.

Today, Melissa had to go back up to Lakeland

to get the staples from her C-section

removed (Dan is driving her and Addie up).

Lorelai and I are staying home.

I'll do a little laundry -

fix some lunch

(and see what to fix for dinner).

Yep, I'll stay busy!

So, I guess I'll go for now!

But, before I do, I'll 

leave you with a couple of pictures of

our sweet girls.

Hugs!

Nana

Adalyn Harper

Yesterday our family welcomed the newest member.

Adalyn Harper was born at

10:03 AM.

She weighed 8 pounds 1 ounce

and was

20 and 1/2 inches long.

We are so thankful that Addie

was born strong and healthy.

Lorelai meeting her 

baby sister for the first time.

(She had just given her a kiss on the head.)

 My three beautiful girls.

My youngest daughter, Melissa, and my two

amazing grand daughters,

Lorelai and Adalyn.

What an amazing Christmas present.

We are so thankful and blessed!

Even though this picture is a little

blurry (okay, a lot blurry) I think

you can see the joy on

my daughter's 

face!

Thank you Lord for another

perfect little one

for us to love!

Nana

(times 2)

Still busy - but can't tell you what I'm doing!

I sure hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

We had a nice family dinner (my mom, daughter, son-in-law, grand daughter, and Dan).  Justin brought a Honey Baked Ham and I fixed all the sides.  My mom brought a pie so everyone contributed to our "feast".  I had planned on eating at 2 and we were actually sitting down at the table at 1:30!  Not too shabby!

Friday we (meaning me) packed up all of the fall decorations and Dan went to the storage unit to pick up the Christmas decorations.  Dan's "job" is to put the tree up and then put the lights on the tree.  Well, he got the tree out of the box (yes, we use an artificial tree) but he looked high and low and couldn't find any of our lights.  We even made another trip back to the storage unit looking for the lights and could NOT find them.  So, Saturday we ended up going into town and buying a new tree - this time one that is pre-lit.

I spent the rest of Saturday decorating the house - and the tree.  We decided  not to put a tree on the outside, screened in porch this year and so I only did two - the main tree in the family room and a small tree in Lorelai's room (with all rocking horse ornaments).  Now, we just have to find room in the storage unit for all the crates so I can get my car back into the garage.  (Seems like you take stuff out and can never find space for the stuff to go back in - LOL!)

If you are wondering what we did with the tree that we have that isn't pre-lit, well, we contacted the pastor at our church to see if he knew of anyone that could use it (along with a few extra ornaments that we had).  We have a young couple at our church that are expecting their first baby any time now - and they don't have a lot - so the tree is going to go to them.  It is in really good shape - but Dan just wanted one that he didn't have to worry about putting lights on.  Guess we are getting lazy in our old age.  I'm also including an extra baby crib bumper pad that I had in the closet.  I think this couple could use it.

We have been eating on Thanksgiving left-overs for the last five days - but tonight should finish them up - I'm making some 15 bean soup using the ham hock and the rest of the ham - then will make some cornbread.  Yummy!  Last night I used the rest of the mashed potatoes in a Shepherd's Pie.  I try really hard to use everything so it doesn't go to waste.

Also,  a couple of weeks ago (while our oldest daughter was here from Nashville) we had a surprise 'dipe and wipe' shower for Melissa and Justin.  We had a cookout here and her friends here in Lake Placid along with Justin's parents and sister with her family came.  I think that Melissa was really surprised.  Justin had to know about it so he could make sure to get Melissa here on time.  We had a nice turn out and I think everyone had a good time.

I'll be going to the doctor with Melissa this Friday - and if things go as planned we will have a new baby next Thursday!  I really think that Melissa is ready to have the baby - those of us who have been pregnant know what it is like the last couple of weeks - we are all anxious to not be pregnant anymore.  We are all looking forward to welcoming Adalyn to the world!

Well, I think I have you all caught up with the going's on around here.

I'll talk to you soon.

Busy, busy, busy

I know that it has been over a week since I last posted - 

I haven't been sitting around on my hands though.

Actually, we have been very busy!

We have rearranged furniture in the family room and living room.

I am FINALLY getting a sofa for the living room.

I have been trying to talk the hubs into

buying a sofa every since we 

moved into the house.

It's being delivered on Thursday and I will be 

sure to post pictures.

Of course, I have a little project for the hubs to complete

BEFORE it comes - so he is at Lowe's this morning

buying the wood to get it done.

We (once again, I really mean the hubs) painted our

tiny master bathroom Sunday.  Yesterday was

spent putting everything back together

and getting things cleaned up.

I am working on a curtain

for the window.

I have come up with a 

temporary solution

that will work

through the holidays, 

then we will see what I want to do.

This week we are also

helping my youngest daughter and 

son-in-law 

  with the final touches on 

the new nursery 

and getting

big sister's room

finished.

We are also working on some

new landscaping for our front yard.

We have taken out everything 

in our two front beds 

and the one right under our

bedroom window.

The old landscaping was so overgrown

and really needed to be replaced.

While working on the flower beds

we discovered that we are having some issues 

with our irrigation system.

So, we have a call in to the

irrigation guy and

are waiting for him to come fix it

before we plant anything.

After all, we don't want to plant new

plants and then not be able to

water them!

We picked out the plants we want

at the nursery - so hopefully we

will be able to get all this done soon.

Maybe, before Christmas?

I know it's not happening

before Thanksgiving!

(Okay, I know that some of you might question

us planting in December, but remember

we live in South Florida.  If we are lucky

the temperatures will be in the 70's - 

which will actually make

it comfortable to do some yard work!)

We are also HOPING to get

the back yard fenced during

this time frame, but some things

might have to wait depending

on how much it costs to get

the irrigation fixed. 

Guess we'll just have to wait

and see.

So what else is going on?

Well, my oldest daughter is coming Friday

 for the weekend.

She lives in Nashville, and is going

 to be at a conference

in St. Pete 

Wednesday through Friday.

 We are going over and picking

her up Friday afternoon 

and she will stay with us for 

the weekend before we take her back

to Tampa on Sunday to catch her

flight back home.

Even though this will be

a quick visit, 

it will certainly be

good to see her!

While she won't be able to be here 

for the birth of the new baby

she will be back for Christmas and then

she will be able to

stay for a couple of weeks to help her

little sister with baby

and Little Miss.

With everything that is going on

during the next six weeks - 

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and

the birth of our second

grand baby-

I'm afraid that it

 will be the first of the year

before I have any of the tutorials ready

on the things that we did in the

guest room/nursery

(the rope boxes, subway art sign, and the headboard)

but I will get those done.

Well, I think you are

all caught up

with the goings on

here.  Hope you are having

a good November and I'll

talk to you 

later!

Hugs!

DONE!!!

This is week six, and the final week, of the One Room Challenge

over on Calling it Home.

Well, I will tell you now - there were times that I didn't think I would get the room finished - and while there are some things that I don't like and will probably change in the future - it is DONE!

First, I guess we should have a reminder of how the room looked

when we bought the house.

This is what the room looked like when we

first looked at the house.

Yikes!

So, shall we see what it looks like today?

I'm sorry about the quality of the pictures,
  they were taken at 6:30 this morning before Little Miss got here - 
so they are a little dark.

Let's take a little tour of the room first okay?
Then we will look at some of the projects.

You can see a couple of our DIY projects already.

I absolutely LOVE the headboard the hubs made!

I saw one similar to this on Pinterest

and when I showed it to him - 

well, he just did his own

thing with it.

(I'll put the links to all the inspirations at the end of the post.)

Love it!

I'll have a tutorial on how he did it on

a later post.

This was another idea that I saw on 

Pinterest.

I love the way it turned out too.

I don't know if you can tell but

we put clear glitter 

on the

"Twinkle Twinkle" 

and it just sparkles at night.

There is another little DIY project that I did that I just love.

I actually got the idea from another blogger

that is taking the challenge too.

She made a trash can using a cat litter tub, and I loved the way

looked.

 I needed some containers on the changing table

 for Little Miss and her new little sister.  

You know, places to put things like

shoes, socks, etc.

I had tried several different baskets,

but I just couldn't find the right size.

So, I did this instead.

I'll do a tutorial on this later also, but I'll give
you a hint, they are made with 
cardboard boxes.

Love the way they look!

This was another little DIY.
I've had these little plates
for several years.  
I'll tell you a little secret -
there're plastic!
I just hot glued the pop tops
off a soda can on the back and
voila
plate hangers!
They are just the right size to
fill in this little
space between the closet doors.

You can also see the beautiful
valances that the hubs
made.
Once again, Love, Love, LOVE!

Now, let's talk about some of the things
that I don't love and will
need some more
work.

First - the curtains!

I love the valances the hubs did, 
but the curtains are awful!
Once again, I saw this really nice idea on another blog.
I have to say that the curtains on the other blog
turned out really nice - mine, not so much!
 I thought I could make my curtains look as nice as the inspiration.
I ordered some ribbon online.
However, when it came in last week
 it was the wrong color -
way too orange. 
I didn't have time to order more. 
 I thought I could make it work.
Well, it just doesn't.
Not only is the ribbon the wrong color I just don't
like the "stripe".
It just looks like I put a piece of ribbon
on some white curtain panels.
YUCK!
This will be the first thing that will change
in the very near future.

The other thing that I didn't have time (or money) to 
do right now was to replace all the electrical plates.
The ones we currently have are an off white 
(okay, let's be honest - they are OLD)
and I want to have ones that are white.
This will be something else that will
be done in the future.

I also need to redo the bed skirt on the crib -
I was just in too much of a hurry (last night) to get it finished
for the reveal today and it just didn't turn out
 the way I wanted.
Another little thing to redo.

However, for the most part, I love the way the room turned out.
It is such an improvement from the before.

The main occupant of this room -

 likes all the changes we made.
Hope you do too!

Make sure you check out all the other
rooms final reveal
at
Call it Home
(http://www.callingithome.com/).

They are fabulous!

I might even be ready to do another room in April!
(I'm not sure about the hubs!)




Links to our inspiration:

http://emeraldcovejewelry.blogspot.com/2011/01/starfish-headboard-reveal.html
http://www.thekimsixfix.com/2013/10/nursery-progress-what-is-left-orc-week-4.html
http://thepinkclutch.blogspot.com/2013/10/one-room-challenge-week-5.html
http://www.etsy.com/listing/162673461/twinkle-twinkle-little-star-nursery?utm_campaign=Share&utm_medium=PageTools

Week 5 of the Challenge and still so much to do!

Well, another week has flown by in the six week challenge that I decided to participate in (what was I thinking????) over at Call It Home.

We did get a lot accomplished this week, but we still have

so much to do - and only a week to finish it up.

What did we get accomplished?

 1. We (meaning the hubs) got the trim up on the bead board wallpaper

 and everything painted.

2. We (meaning the hubs) made the headboard, stained it,

and cut in a special design.

 (can't wait to show you this - it is sooo cool!)

  Still have to install.

3. We (meaning me) made a subway art sign.

(another Pinterest inspiration)

4. We (meaning me) rearranged the furniture.

5. Spray painted picture frames and shelving.

I still have to do something with the window treatments.

I have an idea in mind and I hope to have them ready 

for the room reveal next week.

I was looking at some things the other day and realized that

I keep talking about this room being a guest room

and a nursery, but I have never shown you the 

"nursery" part of the room.

As you know, the entire room is being decorated around these two

watercolor painting that my friend Marsha Penn painted.

They are absolutely AMAZING!

Wish you could see them in person.

I knew that I wanted a new crib set for the new baby.

(When we were in our other house and Little Miss was a baby

we had a "jungle themed" nursery.)

That wasn't going to work in this house.

 While surfing on the Internet I found this 

crib set and knew it would be

perfect.

It really helped that Little Miss

loves

Nemo!

It all just came together.

(Oh, and before anyone says anything, 

yes I know that I have the crib bumper

upside down.  I'll fix it before the room reveal! LOL!)

I do have two different size Nemo's - I got the larger

one first, but they just seemed a little big.  So, I

ordered one a size smaller.

Then, I just had to get Flounder - even though he comes

from the movie

The Little Mermaid

he just went with the theme.

(Plus, I think he's cute!)

So, this is the nursery side of the room.

I think we will be able to get everything finished up this coming week

and be ready for the room reveal next week.

I'll work on the curtains, finish up the Subway art sign, and the 

hubs needs to finish up the headboard and get

it mounted.

Then there is the little decorating that needs to

be done!

Yep, it should be a busy weekend ahead, but am looking 

forward to showing you how everything

comes together!

Be sure to visit some of the other

great bloggers and see

their awesome rooms.

Here's the link:

http://www.callingithome.com/

Now, I'm off to take care of Little Miss!

See you next week!