Just Normal Everyday

Well, I'm happy to report that the kitchen is moving forward.  We now have a new paint job, compliments of Josh.  Paint color was decided on by Josh and approved by several of his siblings while my dear one and I were out of town.  I love the color and love even more that I did not have to choose it.  I took a photo of it, but it just looks white in the picture.  It's really a light beige.  Perfect.  My favorite picture looks lovely on it.

We have new cupboards hanging (and full) with under cabinet lighting.

 New floor cabinet!


There is still a ways to go, but for right now cooking and other food prep is getting easier and the family room is getting bigger as we get rid of boxes and temporary shelving.  Ahhh!


Our tenacious one has been busy painting her closet-turned-bedroom. Her creativity is wonderful.

Also, while golden tickets are hard to come by this year (her spelling words are ridiculously challenging) she did manage to score the highest on her recent Social Studies test: 103%.    

We are also busy planning the next wedding shower.  We have invitations, thank you notes and stamps purchased and the date set.  Full speed ahead!

In the 'more fun news' category, we got a "new" van.  The kids cannot figure out why I keep buying big vans, but I've been driving them since 1994 and I like them.  This one seats 8; although not eight of our kids will fit because they are no longer quite so little.  But, the four I drive around the most often fit nicely and it has significantly fewer miles.  And, it's a pretty color blue.  

Josh will find out in a couple of weeks if he got his Air Force pilot slot.   Stay tuned.  Hoping the next photo of him shows him wearing his "pajamas",  aka flight suit!  

Our Bathroom Saga

We have 2.5 bathrooms in our home.  Through the years they have come to be called by different names depending on who is using them the most.

For example, the master bathroom is known as Grand Central Station.  It's big, well-lit, has a three-way mirror that is awesome when curling, cutting or dying hair. It also holds the store of Q-tips, soap and towels.  So, though it should be 'mom and dad's bathroom', it's really everyones'.

The small half-bath is Erin's because she cleans it (though everyone used it, too!)

The kids bathroom is called the "girls'" bathroom because we have more girls than boys and only the girls ever clean it.

Speaking of cleaning, apparently there has been a little less diligence on the part of some showerers which led to the main bathroom cleaner to leave the following notice taped to the wall:

I'm not sure if it had the desired impact right away, but it did inspire another note: 

Not a bad song title...

Which then inspired the original note writer to write a song, apparently sung to the tune of a popular song with which I am not familiar.

 To the tune of "Say Something"

Do something. I won't clean up after you

I'm an adult and you are one too.

All I want is some help from you.

Do something, I won't clean up after you.

Hang up your wet towel, 

Grab all your dirty clothes

And take them with you.

And I will be so pleased

You learned your lesson, 

The bathroom is clean.  

I guess it worked, because the door actually opens all the way now, as there have not been any dirty clothes left behind it since the song posted.  That makes it a number 1 hit in my book!

www.centeredinchrist1.blogspot.com

Those Wedding Bells Keep Ringing!

Christmas Eve 2012 brought us the engagement of our second eldest daughter, Caitlyn, to Jimmy.  Their September wedding was lovely and the newlyweds are doing well.

This Christmas Eve passed with no new announcements.  However, New Year's Eve did not!  At our family Christmas party, our oldest daughter's long time love requested her father's permission to marry her.  Permission was grated and Jim told my dear one that he was planning to ask her on New Year's Eve.  I can't be certain, but I believe this photo, also taken at our Christmas party, was snapped just after permission was granted.

The first Sunday of the New Year, we celebrated their engagement with a houseful of family, a big pot of goulash, some cheesecake and pumpkin pie, and the customary engagement gift. (see www.centeredinchrist1.blogspot.com A Tradition Continues 12/26/12).

Our tenacious one needed to share the joy of the moment. 

The wedding planning has begun in earnest with hopes of a summer event.  We look forward to welcoming another Jim to the family!