Apple Orchard

The weather is quickly changing. It is getting cold... Fast!
So we decided to hit up the Apple Orchard one final time this season. We bundled up and headed out. This is usually my favorite trip to the Apple Orchard. It is a tad chilly, but for once it is not packed. The play area isn't too busy where my Mom Freak Out Mode doesn't kick in. Because I can actually watch him from a distance.... and see where he is at all times. And once we start getting a little too cold we can go inside and warm up with warm apple cider or a bowl of chili.
I am telling you... end of the season is the perfect time to go :)

We walked around and picked up a few more jars of our favorite salsa... got another bag of apple donuts... sampled all the goodies they had out :)

Then we took Madders to play on the play area. Gave him some freedom and let him run about. He ran inside the barn to look at the pigs, goats, and chickens. Then ran from tractor to tractor. Through the maze... then with the help of his father jumped from giant tire to giant tire.

We started to get chili and headed in for apple cider, apple pie, apple donuts, BBQ and chili.

Then on our way out... we hit up the pony rides...

Lets just hope we bought enough salsa to last us a few months before I start having withdrawals. That sweet corn salsa is addicting :)

The apple orchard has become one of our favorite fall traditions.

Kitchen Updates

The last time I showed you the kitchen...

We were here.



Which was a huge update from where we started...

So in the first round... light fixtures were replaced, cabinets were painted.. and a few cabinets were opened up.

This time around. We finished the kitchen floor. With some help from my Step dad and Mom. Thanks guys :)

So here is the new kitchen floor.

And you might have noticed the island is different. We decided to add a board and batten to the front of it.  Also I painted it grey to get it to stand out some from the white cabinets.

Its a medium grey. These photos make it look a lot lighter than they are. Sadly it has been cloudy and I am still trying to figure out how to get my flash to cooperate and not wash everything out.

So we started the hardware... which we still need to finish.
Paint that window white, make a roman shade with fun fabric. Replace that boob light. Put in some back splash. Add some decor here and there. A rug. New sink and faucet. and hopefully some dark counter tops to offset our white kitchen.

So far, we have made a lot of progress.

What do you think?

Fall Mantel

I love fall. It is by far my favorite season. I love when the weather starts getting chilly. Weather where you need a hoodie and boots... hot chocolate and Starbucks runs ... the smell of burning leaves... and Sundays filled with chili and football. I love it.
Not to mention. Apple Orchards. Pumpkin Patches. Pumpkin Pie. Apple Pie. Pie... In general
It is also kind of the calm before the storm. The quiet season between busy summer schedules and holiday chaos.
I love being able to change up the mantel on my fireplace every season. 

This year I decided to go pretty basic and simple with my fall mantel. Maybe next year I will have more time to get a little bit more elaborate. And won't be drowning myself in kitchen and basement renovations.

I went through my fall stuff and tried to piece together enough stuff I had.

I seem to collect ceramic pumpkins. I cant help it I love them. My Thankful frame with Maddux's chubby cheeks and bright baby blue eyes still melts my heart. A small vase filled with fall branches and a very quick rustic wooden sign I made to throw up there.
I created the fall banner a few years ago. I still love it.

Simple.
Happy Fall :)

Basement... Day 2.

Second day of working on the basement...

So far we have framed out all of the walls....
We have started running the electrical wire...
And cleaned up a lot of the mess from framing the walls.. .

So here we are... some photos on the progress...

Sweeping up all the sawdust... that was EVERYWHERE!

We finished framing out our back wall and put in the frame for the door...

Framed out the back wall...

Framed out the short wall coming down the stairs. Also back to the left framed out the wall leading to the soon to be bathroom and created a door frame.

Framed out the stair case... then cut in and created a doorway for Maddux's little club house...

Here is our next step.

So up next... they ran the electrical under the beams... so we have to move those for the drywall. So my step dad is nice enough to take care of that for us. So that will be what we work on for the next week. Getting the electrical figured out... getting the can lights ready... insulating a few walls...

and then we can get ready to drywall. And that is when this will finally start looking like a room.

So maybe in a week or two we will actually have some photos with the drywall up. Fingers crossed :)

Art Station Revisited

When you first walk into our house. Either off the garage entrance or the front entrance... You can see our Art Gallery Wall where we show off Little Man's Newest Masterpieces.

We started out with just the one strip... but that got filled up pretty quick since he started pre-school

So we recently added the framed artwork above... and then added in the second strip to add in more artwork :)

These are simple to make. You take a 1x2 .... cut it down to the size that you want... paint it. Then after it dries glue some clips on to it. Then just screw it into your wall. simple :)
This might just be my favorite part of our house... I love seeing all of his artwork first thing when I walk into the door...

My little entry way table is a work in progress... Haven't figured out that space yet. And don't mind that pile of wood on the floor. That is for a new project. Yep. I build in my living room once in a while... in front of my tv. :) Don't judge me.

Pumpkin Patch 2012

Well we did it. We made it to the Pumpkin Patch this year. Sadly the night we chose to go was stormy... but we got a good hour in before the rain started.

They did not have the pony rides, pumpkin flinging, or any of that going on. They put all that away since we were expecting rain. Which was a total bummer.

But Maddux did not seem to mind. He ran around the place like crazy. Wanting his picture taken with every single board you could put your head through.

He loved the animal area... where he stood and "Baaa'd" at the goats. {My family should not be surprised how much he loves to make sheep noises ;)}

He loved looking at all the pumpkins... Everywhere! Especially the Giant pumpkin!

The kid had so much fun just sprinting all over the farm... he did not even notice all the bounce houses deflated in one corner of the farm. He just ran and ran and ran. I swear this kid is faster than me at age 2... No way will I be able to keep up in a few years. Which just reminds me... I really should start running. (Maybe next week...)

Once the rain started... we went inside for food. Where Nana and Papa met us.
Of course... He picked the biggest cookie the place had to offer...

But we had a great time at the pumpkin patch. Every morning he wakes up and asks to go back... So even though everything was taken down and the weather was terrible.. it is nice to know he had a great time :)

Mini Office Update

I revealed the desk I built... and my "Mini Office" back on this post {here}
To the left of the desk was a completely blank wall....

So after considering... a giant piece of colorful artwork, a giant mirror to bounce more light around... some hand made pallet artwork....

I landed on...
              Organization.

I figured this would be a good spot for a Family calendar... a spot to put mail and magazines... and whatever else needs a place.

So i built a very simple shelving unit for magazines and mail...
Picked up A calendar from Target (which I am not completely sold on.... I am looking for something better)  But for now it will do :)

So here it is today...

 Anyone know of where I could find a customized calendar? maybe something bigger? Suggestions... please!!!

HER Magazine Feature

Thanks to the world of Pinterest, my DIY fire pit has received a lot of attention :)

This was a super cheap project, super easy, and perfect for fall weather.

I was contacted by HER Magazine (based in New Zealand) to publish my photos for the fire pit and I was delighted. How exciting to be published in a magazine!

I did get a digital copy of the magazine and took a quick snapshot of the feature.

:) So exciting!

If you want to check out the magazine here is the Link

Dear Maddux

Dear Sweet Maddux,

You are knocking on the door of officially being a three year old.

In the past few months... You have definitely started testing your boundaries more. Trying to figure out just how far you could push your parents. This has been a struggle both ways. But nothing too crazy. except for the one time... you thought you would punish us by throwing yourself backwards on the stairs (because I wanted you to put on pants before we went to the store)... Thank God you were okay. And this is not something you have even tried to repeat.

You still have quite the imagination. More imagination than your mom knows what to do with. You can play beat up the pretend villains for hours.  My favorite thing currently is you start out as either Captain America or Iron Man. But then one of these imaginary villains gets you and knocks you over... which brings out the hulk in you. Which means you stand up slowly snarling and growling. Then proceed to pace while growling louder and louder til you are almost screaming. Then you explode with energy and smash the bad guys. I think people would think you were off your rocker if they watched this .... but I understand your love for the Avengers. So this scene makes perfect sense to me. And I love it.

You have started enjoying puzzles and boardgames within the past few weeks. Which I love. However... now you want to get each board game out... every tiny piece out. Look at it... spread it out on the floor... table.. wherever... then you get bored within about 2 minutes. and get out the next one... so I will walk upstairs after making a cup of coffee and there are at least 5 board games just spread about the playroom. Awesome.

You started Pre-School at Daycare this fall. Everyday we get in the car and I ask you... "Maddux what did you do at school today" And everyday... I get the answer "I played with Josh!" Apparently that is your BFF at the moment. If I continue to pry... you just start listing out all the kids at daycare. But you are excited about it... so at least you are enjoying yourself at daycare :)

You are singing your ABCs to Mom in the car every morning. Your version goes... ABCD, ABC.... up and down. beep beep beep... ABCD, ABC... Sing with me. But honestly... its the best ABC's I have ever heard.

You can now count to 15, except you skip the number 4. You refuse to say it. It's strange. Even more strange... I am going to be upset the day you actually start throwing that four in there...  And you can point out about 7 letters in books. Its amazing how much you are learning! You know Mommy's name and Daddy's name. But when I tell you Nala is our Dog... you look at me and say... Nooooo Mommmy you are silly... She is Nala.

You are currently obsessed with hot dogs. That is all you ever want to eat. Hot Dogs... All. The. Time. And I should mention. You want them cold. You love hot dogs cold :)

You have a high appreciation of each and every one of your grandparents. Which makes me insanely happy. You love all of them... and you get soooo excited when you see any of them. I love that you realize just how important they are. Whenever they stop by... You squeal "Nana/Papa/MeeMaw/Grandpa are home!!!!! They are home!!!!"

You are sneaky. And you figured out quick how to climb the pantry cabinet to get the cookies. You little stinker. :)

Anytime we see a jet stream in the air. You get excited... because you believe that is Super Man. (I never want this to change... ever)

You love to talk to people. You will talk to anyone. You are my little social butterfly.

You have recently started calling Mickey Mouse... Mickey. Which breaks my heart. The days of "Bucko" are disappearing fast.

Everyday... is such an adventure with you. Living life through your imagination. Seeing the simplest things, through your eyes... is extraordinary. I am so thankful for your smile... That little grin of yours every morning... makes me realize just how lucky I am.

Love,
Mom