Raise you up

I am sort of glad I waited to write this post. Instead of taking the picture, waving her off, then blogging about it, I have been able to fully swallow the fact that I have a second grader. I have had time to watch her get ready in the morning, only to ask me if her hair looks OK. Time to realize I didn't have to remind her to get her back-pack or tie her shoes. Time to notice she can get off the bus on her own and walk to our front door without me.

Time to let it sink in that I only have just this one chance to do this right. And what is raising a child anyways but to show them how high they can go? What they can do. Who they can be. It is amazing to watch her soar but still so wonderfully sweet when she comes back to my arms for rest. I love you my second grader...

August is my New Year

I am totally motivated lately and I really think it is because back-to-school time is more like my New Year. January just really stinks to start fresh. What better time to get re-organized then when all the coolest office supplies are on sale? When all the fruit and veggies taste great and there is still time a little daylight to take a walk after dinner?

Carissa had her first day of Preschool yesterday and even though she talked like a baby for the whole tour (talk about embarrassing...) she was like an amazingly BIG 4 year-old the morning of. Confident and ever-so proud!!

It was not a sad moment, that is for sure, and we both greatly need the space to grow. I am super excited for the things she will learn this year. She is so ready. Just ask her... she'll tell you.


In preparation for all the wonderful school projects I will be receiving I had Justin screw two pieces of 4' molding on my wall and I used the best glue in the world (E6000) to hold on the bulldog clips. Me and my bare fridge are happy :)

Here's to the New Year ;)

Paint a Kitchen Table

We bought this kitchen table 8 years ago at Sam's Club for around $200. In that time it has moved 5 times and, we figure, has had over 5,840 family meals around it. It has heard discussions, felt hands held, been climbed on, spilled on, wiped up and wiped down. There has been moaning and whining, laughing and crying, all around this table.

When you start to think of a piece of furniture like that, well it becomes a part of you - of the family. What better way to honor it then give it a face lift? She needed one bad, dontcha think?

Justin sanded and I stained.

I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with the finished product! It turned out so awesome. I woke up early this morning and couldn't wait to look at it again. The whole project cost about $30 dollars and we have a brand new kitchen.

I can't even imagine what will take place around her in the next 8 years...

And to make things even sweeter the weather was amazing this weekend. Nothing better then taking advantage of every drop of warm summer rain!