Decisions Decisions

Well, the cabinet is about done, but we need to buy invisible hinges. I don't think I like them showing! I thought I would like the look of the bronze hinges. Oh well. Here is the cabinet now! I hid the hinges! LOL Totally didn't even mean too. Just noticed it when I put the picture up! That is too funny!

Now, I need to get Jeff to finish the side!

I have so many decisions to make. Here are just a few that have been sitting around our house.

I just got this phone for the kitchen. I think it holds up my paint samples quite nicely! I am thinking of painting the kitchen yellow! I think Jeff thinks I have gone crazy!

Jaden had a little fun today with his Combos and kept making Combo Castles!

Right now, we are doing school and Jaden is studying his spelling words. Here are some things we are working on right now:

Math: adding double digits, time, and drills

Spelling: Consonant Blends with short vowel sounds

Phonics: dipthongs

History: God's promise to Abraham

We are still working on our "r's". I hope he gets this soon. He is working very hard on it.

Tonight we have a birthday party to go to at Chuck e Cheese. I will be slathering the kids with sanitizer!

New Cabinets, well, sort of.....

I started painting our bathroom vanity. We are thinking of painting the kitchen cabinets, and I wanted to test on the bathroom cabinets first. They are just the plain builder cabinets.

I decided I should do the cabinets BEFORE we do the countertop. So, it is beginning.

Here is a before picture of the bathroom vanity (the only one I could find, see the corner! LOL):

Here are the doors during painting:

I was very nervous at this point!

I will try to get the finished cabinet up this week! I finished glazing them today and will get the new hardware on tonight. I can't wait to see the finished project. I still have to get the beadboard to put up on the side. Jeff will help me with that!

Dining Room and Healthy Pancakes!

After painting the front room, I knew I needed to paint the dining room the same color, since they flow together. So, it is now finished. Well, the painting that is. I have so many more plans for this room. I will have to post about all of those!

Some of my favorite things in the room that will not be moving!

And my most favorite! LOL

I hope to paint the table and hutch black or white. I have not figured out which color yet! Any ideas? I seriously think this room will turn into an office in the future. The dining room will then move into the front room (the room from the last post). I will also be painting a harlequin design on one wall in here. I just wish I could have someone come and do it all for me. But, then I wouldn't have the feeling of accomplishment that comes afterward!

Jeff is working tonight, so I have chili simmering on the stove. Jeff doesn't like chili, but I am hoping the kids will! With Cassidy having a cold, I though it might be good for her! I am also going to add a few extra peppers!

I feel like this is going to be a good year for us. I learned so much last year that I am getting to apply to this year. We are healthier than ever! I hope to get even healthier. We are trying to eat more whole foods and staying away from most junk. Of course, having kids and a husband keeps the word "most" in there. Ok, and I will admit, I love me some junk food now and then! I hope to put up some of my favorite recipes up here over the next few days! Everyone loves healthy recipes this time of year!

Here is one to get you started!

I use this recipe every time I make pancakes!

Whole Wheat Pancakes

1 egg
1 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. milk
2 tbsp. melted shortening or vegetable oil ( I use applesauce)
1 tbsp. packed brown sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Beat egg until fluffy; beat in remaining ingredients just until smooth (for thinner pancakes add 1/4 cup more milk). Grease heated griddle.
Pour about 3 tablespoons of batter from spoon or pitcher on griddle or pan. Cook until pancakes are puffed and dry around edges. Turn and cook on other side until golden brown. Makes about 9 4-inch thick pancakes.

I know, wrong room

So, all of this talk about the kitchen, and I started on a different room. Our entry way has been so blah since we moved in. I have wanted to paint it green since we moved in, but wasn't sure how the colors would flow! Well, I finally did it! I went to Lowe's and picked out a color!!!!! I started painting it on Saturday. I finished last night. I am going to do the dining room today! It looks amazing. I can't wait until we get our new flooring in now! Also, we are going to work on the stairway railing. But, so far, it looks great. I couldn't be happier!

Before:

(I can't believe I waited so long!)

After:

Ktichen Before!

I really don't know why I am feeling so tired. It might be my diet. I haven't been eating very well the last few days. And, by saying that, I mean no veggies at all! I really need to go to the store tomorrow and pick up some whole, fresh foods! I have been running though! Yesterday I ran 3.5 miles and didn't feel very tired afterward! That is such a good sign. I hope to be running 4 miles next week!

The kids have been busy playing the Wii. But, yesterday, Jaden got a little to rough with it and it was taken away. So, he will have to find other things to do today! We will have school time and a craft time today! That should keep him busy for awhile. Yesterday, I painted the trim on our half wall white. I will have to post pics soon of all of the changes that are happening. I guess I can post some before pictures!

Here is a picture of the kitchen the way it is now:

Here is the plan:

New countertop

New sink and faucet

Paint and trim cabinets

New hardware

New flooring

New appliances

New lighting

The appliances will be the last thing to happen! I can't wait for the transformation!

Kitchen inspiration!

We are starting our kitchen renovation this year. It will be a year long process. First, we are starting with the countertops, sink, and faucet. Next, will be the floors. And lastly, the cabinets. I am so excited. I am just not happy with the kitchen the way it is. And, I am hoping for some new appliances next year. (unless I find some cheap ones this year!)
So, here are some inspiration pictures I have gathered! As you can tell, I will be going with white cabinets, a granite looking top, and wood flooring.

Truly blessed

I feel so blessed that I have the opportunity to teach my children every day, even when it snows! ;) I just feeling very thankful for it today. We have been doing school and then playing. The kids got to play outside in the snow yesterday and eat snow ice cream, all while others are "in" school. After we were finished playing, we had school and enjoyed some very cool math using dice! Jaden doesn't even realize he is learning! I can't believe how well he is with math.

We are not half way through his books yet, so I am hoping to do a little catching up in these cold winter days.

Here are some pictures from yesterday.

Snow and Cold!

Ok, it is just too cold here to do anything! The wind chill is -7! That is insane! There is also snow on the ground, which makes it seem even colder. Here is the cold view out my window!


And everytime Nacho has to go pee, I freeze! Ugh!!!! Good thing he doesn't make me go all the way outside. I get to stand at the door.

For some reason, I have been wanting so many things lately. Probably because we have been stuck inside and I am wanting something new to do! Here are some of the things I have been dreaming of:

I will find a way to get these! I would also like other things, but these are on the top of my list. I might have to wait until my birthday (April)! We will be getting a new countertop in the kitchen next month! I can't wait to start that project. Actually, I can't wait for it to be finished. Then, we will be starting on either a storm door or our fence. We will see which comes first. We also need to get french doors for the back, but that is going to be a little expensive. We might have to wait until the kitchen is all done for that.

Today, we are going to be doing school, cleaning the house, and I am sure there will be some Wii playing!

Happy New Year!

It is now 2010! So much has happened in the last year. I hope this year is even better! I have set many goals for myself. There has been plenty of lazy days going on here. But those are over for now! We have started school back up! The kids both seem to be happy to be back at it!

Ok, so that is Cassidy STILL in her pajamas. I guess things are still a little lazy!
There has also been a ton of this going on:


I am not sure that the Wii will ever get old! It is so fun. The kids are addicted and I would be too if I had the chance! Oh well, I will perfect my Sonic skills when the kids move out!
I have been busy cleaning and getting the house back into order. It still isn't finished. I hope to get the clean clothes put away today and start of the rest of the laundry. But first, check out this cutie:

He is keeping me pretty busy also! But, he learns fast and has been housetrained already! Now, we just have to watch that he doesn't chew our house down!