a few great guys . . .

This is Ross after the P.F. Chang Marathon and his debut of a shaved head . . . love this head!

I found these pictures and thought that I would post them as a way to say THANK YOU to both, especially Ross, for all of his work on the house. THANK YOU ROSS!

And little Bogart is sporting his very little sweater. The one and only time he debuted this sweater . . . not a good fit!

A quick update . . . our house is really, really close to being done. I am completely amazed that I continue to find things to put away. I just cannot get on top of everything. But we are close. So, so, so close.

hip hooray!

We are getting closer! The cabinet wonder-men finished yesterday afternoon—woo-hoo! I put away a LOT of our kitchen stuff last night and I cannot believe how much room I have. Randy, one of the cabinet gurus, told me that I would never be able to get everything back in (I do not have the nerve to take a picture of “everything”—take my word, it looks like we are moving!). With that, I decided to part with a few things I no longer need. In fact, when I was going through my plastic bowls I decided that if a lid existed without a bowl, or vice versa, than it needed to be packed up for a better place (no, not the land-fill)! I love our new arrangements so much! I put our pots and pans in a completely different place than before and I told Ross that I believe it is magazine worthy (check out the picture!). When the cabinets are open, the pots and pans match . . . who could have EVEN planned such a thing?

On the bedroom front, Ross has been championing our new paint for our bedroom walls. He is very particular and really very careful to catch every missing spot. I am going back to the paint store today for one more gallon! I keep telling Ross “I am in LOVE with this paint!” I am in love with him too!

. . . i am so delayed!

I have wanted, really wanted, to post to my blog! I have been so caught up with all of our home updates (and it is really so exciting!!). Ross is in the kitchen painting RIGHT NOW and I am helping :) I will post pictures soon of our little, really HUGE, completed projects.

AND, I will admit that I have been in a bit of a funk lately . . . it's true. Sometimes the holidays are a little difficult to grasp, and love, and admire . . . its true. I even find myself wondering if I am really the Grinch! I have even wanted to post a little welcome wagon message to anyone and everyone that gets this Grinchy feeling during the holidays. I am comfortable admitting my Grinch tendencies as he is a darling little animated character and he eventually realizes he does not want to be mean! And please know that I do not look at holiday blogs or neighborhood lights and decorations with disgust. I just wish I was the kind of person that had my tree up the day after Thanksgiving! I am not! Where does this come from? Perfectionist tendencies? Unrealistic expectations? Memories of holidays past . . . the memories that fog holidays' future?

End of discussion. I made a commitment to myself this morning that there is not one reason why I cannot enjoy my upcoming holiday . . . with tons of family coming for a whole week, with menus to plan and decorating to do and sleeping arrangements to arrange--with proper bath amenities and comfy blankets and pillows. Oh, and what about LAUGHTER and FUN TIMES?! See, I am in a holiday mood just thinking and writing! Thanks for reading and I really do hope everyone enjoys their family and friends . . . always!

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

I saw this movie and LOVE it! It reminded me a bit of "Nancy Drew," another movie I really liked (I grew up reading Nancy!). Anyway, Kit is the most spirited little girl and the story is really very timely . . . see it and you will know why.

Madonna meets Becca . . . Halloween 08'

I could not help but think of a certain little 9 year old that really reminds me of Kit--brilliant, cute, independent, funny, thoughtful, artistic, active--loves playing outdoors (to name a few). I always hope, with all my heart and fingers crossed, that she (and children like her) will never lose what makes them so amazing . . . Becca, you-be-you!