Birthday Bash

Today we celebrated Ava's first birthday with a small family party. The hat was a big hit, and fit perfectly!

Fall Projects

It seems that Fall is on it it's way (cooler weather and back to school is here!), and with it has come some fun projects.

When we first moved in to our lovely home, we got right to work on several projects to bring it up to date. (I'm sure you're thinking back to all those blog posts with new paint, curtains, and organization.) After this initial push to get things done, much has stayed the same, until very recently. I got it into my head to take down the ugly scalloped wood piece over the sink that I've hated for two years. It came down in less than five minutes, and then I promptly decided that the grape-themed light fixture had to go as well. Here's what I came up with.
Yes, I installed it on my own (after Dad helped me changed it from a pendant to a semi-flush mount). Go me! And I love it!

The only problem was an adorable matching fixture for the dining room. After all, is a green clover light fixture any better than a grapes light fixture? After hem-hawing for a couple of weeks, Shaun bullied me into it yesterday (I needed the push), and the two of us got it up. Go us! Quite the handy ma'ams (anybody else watch that PBS show in the mid 90s?) Also noteworthy, my projects have come full circle. After spending an afternoon taking down many plant hooks, I installed one of my own for the light fixture. Made me smile.
I couldn't be happier with the result, although now Shaun is pushing me to buy the third matching piece in the collection for the entryway. I agree it would look fantastic, but fixing up an older home has to end somewhere. Also, the three-way switch that it's on has me flashing back to terrible memories of the ceiling fan installation nightmare that ended up costing $800. No, thanks. I'm done, unless the lighting fixture fairy stops by :0)

*********************
The project list goes on, with a very fun knitting project for my favorite soon-to-be one niece baby.

Weekend Visitors

Yesterday Joshua's mom, step dad, and kids came for a visit. We had a relaxing afternoon of Wii, Pizza Hut, and Yahtzee. Other entertainment was provided by my favorite niece baby. Little Ava is getting so big - holding her head up and smiling.

Jack and Jenny are changing quickly as well. I suppose kids do grow up. Joshua and I have been together for seven years now, so they are little kids no more, but rather teenagers with personalities and opinions. Jenny was busy talking about basketball camp this summer, and Jack is excited about chess and scholastic bowl. Time keeps moving right along.

Time for a Trim

We went to Monticello yesterday to visit family. While we were there, Joshua's grandpa gave him a haircut in his garage barber shop. The last few years I've taken over the hair cutting, but before that, Grandpa was always in charge. Thinking of his barber shop (still open to the public, if you're interested) always makes me smile. Surrounded by old sheriff election signs, pictures of police dogs, and a vintage barber chair, it's quite the cozy place. It's also the only place I can think of to get an $8 haircut while petting a Golden Retriever.

In other news, we still haven't seen baby Ava. She's in the NICU for another week at least and is only allowed limited visitors. She's doing well, but isn't able to hold her own temperature yet.

Happy Birthday Ava!

My first little niece baby was born today. We love you Ava! Can't wait to meet you next weekend.