peter

Happy Birthday! I love you more and more every year.

freedom

Yesterday, I was reminded of one of the most liberating, exciting, scream inducing, fast hands clap causing, moments of one's life.

Passing your driving test. Getting your license.

Dont you remember how BIG this was? What that new found freedom felt like? It didnt matter what kind of car you drove or where you went. It was just that you could.

Last night her new freedom included a trip to my house (only about 5 houses away), a trip to the grocery store, and a trip to dinner with her friends. All the while my mom was a ball of nerves and I was amazed that this was my baby sister.

Congrats Nikki! The green cavalier is back in action!

much needed weekend

This past week was hard. I had a lot going on at work and I felt like I was never home. And I wasn't really. No dinners with my husband. No curling up on the couch to watch tv. No playing with Scully. I was up early and home late. One night I didnt come home from work till 11:30. Thats right, I worked over 14 hours, which despite the craziness of tax season, is a record in our house. And I work in marketing! This wasnt an after-work event either. This was in my office, at my computer work. Ugh.

Needless to say, I really needed this weekend. A couple days to relax, enjoy my husband, and clean my house. The sunny, mild temperature we are having was icing on the cake. Now my house smells like clean laundry and chocolate chip cookies. I love it. Now if only I could eliminate the tingle I am feeling in the back of my throat...

Here is a random picture of the lemon tree outside our bedroom window. Waking up to it on sunny Saturday mornings is one of my favorite things.



They look cute inside too. I think some lemon inspired recipes are in order this week

scully

The Frantz family has increased over here on Pine Street.
Meet Scully!



She is a 7 week old Beagle and we picked her up today. We received her from one of my co-workers (who is not in the breeding business) We really like that we got her from someone we know that her mom and dad (both Beagles) live together and are not puppy making machines.

She is precious and has already stolen our hearts.

Although, she doesnt like the paparazzi....but who does really?

thank you aaron brothers...

...for your Penny Sale. Buy one frame, get one for a penny? Yes, please.



I framed calendar prints and think they look great in the front room. I have more prints and another frame leftover that might make an appearance in the guest bedroom. Now if I could only get my wedding pics in there before the sale ends....

kitchen

We are done! Here are the results of our labor. I dont have a fancy camera, so the pics are pretty...um, bright. Dont worry, the white is not that blinding in real life and the hardware is more bronze, less black. The only thing left is to hang the upper molding and finally make the curtain. We love the result, it really opens up our room and creates a lighter, more updated look.

Here is the before, when we first toured the house...







After taking down wallpaper, painting the walls, installing new appliances, and painting the cabinets....









Hopefully we will work on the flooring in the new year!

first day of the year

I am sitting here with my man enjoying the first morning of 2009. Me, on the big chair, sipping apple cider. Up early to watch the parade. He, on the couch watching the first of many football games. Not up early. Both, mentally preparing for the feast that lies before us at the annual New Years Party. We are talking about thought provoking issues that we will face in this new year. Like, "What do you think about moving the bed around in our room?" (Do we have to talk about this) and "Do you have any opinion about framing for our wedding pictures?" (No, just not round) and "Are you going snowboarding tomorrow?" (Yes) and "Should I buy these plates?" (No answer).

This day is full of family, friends, football, and food. And I love it.

christmas book

So technically Christmas is O-V-E-R and the new year is here, but all my decorations are still up and I have one last Christmas related post. Every year, when I go over to my mother-in-law's I look at her Christmas book. Its an album really and she started it in 1985, the year Peter was born. Every year since then she has added the family Christmas card, Christmas related photos and info about that years festivities. It is so fun to look back and see how my husband celebrated with his family over the years. Where they went, what they ate, how they decorated, who was sick, etc. It captures that special time of the year for their family.

This year, I was so surprised when one of the gifts I opened was a Christmas book of my own. A cute red leather album. Now, those of you who know me now that scrapbooking is not my thing. Sitting down and cutting little shapes out of paper does not sound fun at all. I do not have the patience for it. I do like the digital ones, and would consider those, but anyway, this is NOT a scrapbook. I simply include my photos of the season (family, decorations, gifts, card, etc) and then fill out info using a template. Where we celebrated, what we ate, our decorations, and news events of the year are some of the categories. I am looking forward to filling out our first few pages from our second Christmas as a family of 2.

this is NOT what the Christmas book is about...