Days like these....

Yesterday, I spent the day in the kitchen.  Over the course of a day, I cooked:

pumpkin muffins and smoothies for breakfast
shrimp and corn orzo
tomato tart with homemade crust
peach cobbler
homemade granola
and chopped tons of fruit!

And don't forget the homemade playdough to keep little hands busy while I cooked (again, thanks, C for the recipe!).

One didn't help cook or play with playdough.  Much to busy reading his Magic Tree House books.  He has flown through five of them in a matter of days.  Makes a momma happy!

The boys and I took dinner (and lots of gowns that my boys never got to wear) to our newest member of the family....baby Campbell.  I'm without pictures, but I will share as soon as I get some!

It's days like these that make me long for this project to be done.

this one is actually a little old...but a new window to replace the other two...actual window is in!

standing in kitchen looking toward office...bathroom on left with laundry room behind it

Love time in the kitchen.  Love my little helpers!

Gotta run...I think the phone is ringing...is it for me?

What We're Loving Right Now...

Visits with family...

Aunt Nancy, Aunt Meme, Caroline, Lauren, and Daniel all popped in for a visit last week.  Love these people!!  We are trying to arrange a visit to Mary Neilson, Brown, and sweet baby Sydney too this week.

Nightly visits to our house...

The walls have been knocked out and I'm starting to grasp how much larger my kitchen is going to be.  Chris loves looking at it "naked" and studying where all the pipes, electrical service, etc. is going.  I just love the progress!!

A Daddy whose work schedule permits him to be around a little bit more...

Chris did not work all weekend and the boys and I were thrilled to have him around.  He and William even got to sneak off for a trip to Uriah while I took the other three to a birthday party.  My favorite part of having him home is lots of cooking in the kitchen!

Barefoot Contessa...

Okay, so I am starting to grasp how in love I am with this woman.  I own two of her cookbooks and I just checked this one out from the library.  This weekend alone we have cooked her Baked Sweet Potato Fries, Shrimp Scampi Linguine, Chicken Piccata, Roasted Carrots, and Dottie surprised us with her angel food cake.  All delicious...all basic ingredients.  Love, love her cooking!!

Walmart...

Well, not really, but I do love that they have a cart that will comfortably fit all of my children.  I usually put JohnJohn in a BabyBjorn to do my shopping when I have all four, but recently he has ben killing my back.  I mean, seriously, the boy weighs about 23 pounds.  Plus, he's in the Baby Bjorn with shoes on.  It just feels funny.  So, while shopping with four isn't always fun, I do love this cart!

Harry Potter...

I read the first book to Philip and Daniel earlier this summer.  In typical Philip fashion (remember Thomas the train, Star Wars, etc.), an obsession was formed.  He loves these books.  Last week, I finished the second book.  Daniel bought number three with his birthday money, but I insisted on a short break from the series.  The next morning, after refusing to read, he spent an hour like this.  He read a chapter to himself.  He confessed that many words were too big, but he tried.  He now wants to reread the first book himself.  While we are on confessions, I have thoroughly enjoyed the series too.  Some nights I've been tempted to read ahead while they are asleep!

The waiting game...

I have no pictures, but I love the anticipation that the soon arrival of a baby brings.  We are on pins and needles waiting to hear about baby Carothers.  Since she is past due, the baby will be induced later this week.  Can't wait to hold the little person!!  Can't wait to find out what their blessing is!!

And believe it or not...our rental house...

I love this house...like love it so much I wish we could buy it too!  The architectural detail is awesome.  It has such charm and I love how close by everything is.  The yard is awesome too.  Plenty of room for some incredible kickball games.  Plus this swing that believe it or not...all my boys love to swing in.  It gets very twisted and they love to spin in it!  I generally don't deal with change very well, so I am pleasantly surprised at how happy I am here!

What are you loving these days?

Home Is Where You Make It

On Sunday, Father Bailey gave a wonderful sermon on home.  He challenged us at the end with two questions.  One was, (I'm sure I'm missing something in translation here, but effectively) what do you go home to each day?

The sermon could not have been more appropriate for this family.  We were in the process of moving our things to another house...a place that most certainly is not home.  Or is it?  Home is where Chris and my boys are.  Home is where we make it.

I know what I go home to everyday.  It isn't the walls, the contents, or anything about the house that Chris and I purchased six years ago.  It's him, my boys, and Roxy.  And so we are home.

The boys have adjusted well.  I couldn't be happier.  For now, I am enjoying the smaller floorplan.  Less to clean...less to keep up with...no stairs!  Also, I really love all the windows in this house!

This house is truly a blessing.  We have our space and yet we are so close to the action.  Without a doubt, the best case scenario!

the big boys watching the dumpster being dropped off

I'll leave you with some shots from the conclusion of day one.  Couldn't be more excited!!!!!

An Adventure

A little over six years ago, Chris and I purchased our 'forever' house.  At the time it was big...a lot of space for just the two of us and a six month old Philip.  Now we fill every bedroom and then some!  We knew then that we had many projects ahead of us.  We've tackled several...new A/C upstairs, new windows, bathroom remodel, a living room spruce-up, etc.  But the biggest has been what I have been dreaming of ever since we made the purchase.  The time is now!

Tonight is our last night in our house for about four months!  Tuesday begins our long awaited kitchen remodel.

Some before pictures to share...

Gotta love the water heater in the already tiny kitchen

And then a few to show what things look like when we all get in there together...

The closest thing to seating in my kitchen...the trashcan

The boys in my "pantry"

Because there are walls being knocked out, wood floors refinished, cement slab jackhammered to move plumbing, etc..., we have decided to move out.  Mom and Dad were gracious enough to invite our crazy crew of six plus the dog to live with them.  While the price was right, we jumped when the house literally behind us came up for rent.  We can watch the construction, maintain our routines, and provide GranGran and PopPop the ability to keep their sanity!

The past couple of days have been busy and we still have much to do before the movers arrive on Monday.  But the excitement of what's to come makes it all worthwhile!

A Much Needed Vacation

The morning after the party, we all headed to the beach for a much needed vacation.  Chris' days have been long and we all needed a little time to be a family!  Some relaxing was what we all needed...

As always, we had a wonderful trip to Perdido Key.  Chris and I feel so blessed to have a place to go.  We both grew up going to the beach and the gulf is a big part of who we are.  It is neat to see those same memories being made with our boys.

We swam, played on the beach, rode in the boat, and just relaxed.

It was needed.  In just a few days, we are moving out.  The kitchen remodel is ready to begin!!!