Finally Finished!

Our kitchen remodel is finally finished! Actually, it was finished a month ago but things happen... Here are the pics of our new kitchen. We didn't actually do a full remodel. Our cabinets and layout was all good, but we brought our bar/counter area out into a "L-shape" and added more cabinets underneath our new granite countertops. John installed the cobalt blue pendant lighting over the extension...I'm glad he is so handy! We had someone install the tile backsplash just to avoid anymore marital spats. Anyone married who has done home improvements probably knows what I mean. Good grief...we spent over six hours picking out the tile, think how long it would have taken us to install it! Anyway, we love the improvements we've made. It was well worth it!

New England 2008

Last week John and I took the kids to New England on vacation. We stayed in a beautiful resort in the Berkshires, in Massachusetts. There wasn't a whole lot to do in the town we stayed, but we took a lot of day trips. One day we went to Vermont, another to Six Flags New England, John went to NYC and then my personal favorite...Boston. There was so much to do there, we'll have to go back when we have more time. The kids did get to ride their first train though! Nolan loves trains so that was big for him. Then we took a quick trip to Madison's future home, New Haven , CT - home of the Yale Bulldogs :) We had a great time, but I think it'll be a while before I drive that far with the kids and my husband again!

Nolan's Preschool "Graduation"

Nolan graduated!!! Well, to the next preschool class anyway. One more year of preschool and he'll be in kindergarten...can you believe it? He loves school and always has. I wonder how much longer that will last?

Kitchen remodeling

John and I, well I, have decided to remodel our kitchen a bit. Right now we have counter tops that are very much useable, but a little 70's for my taste. If you'll notice, also, there is a little corner by the stove for myself and Madison to shove our ghettos into while cooking dinner. That just isn't cutting it anymore. So... we're adding more cabinets and extending our current bar into an "L-shape". Poor John, I believe I'm killing him with these labor-intensive home improvements of mine...ah, well. It's all for the greater good! :) I'm having so much fun picking out paint colors and cabinets and organizers, oh my. There's nothing like a well-organized drawer...am I right? Today, we went to Indy to the granite warehouse where we seriously got to pick out the actual slab of granite that will be our counters. I am so flippin' excited! Two more weeks and they'll be all mine! Pics to come later...

Father/Daughter Dance

Tonight, Madison and John are going to the Father/Daughter Dance at her school, St. Bartholomew. She has been so excited and has had a countdown going for the last two weeks! Before the dance I did her nails and took her to get her hair done. First they're going to have dinner with her friend, Abby, and her dad at Golden Corral (apparently I haven't taught her anything about where to go when the guy is paying) and then they'll head off to dance the night away, well until 9:00 pm that is... She is so cute! The big guy next to her isn't so bad either :) Man, they grow up way too quickly. Poor Nolan. He wanted to go too and stopped balling long enough to get his picture taken with daddy.

Girl's Night Out

Madison and I have this little tradition we started a year or two ago called "Girl's Night". We usually spend the evening cruising Target (with hot chocolates in hand) or loading up on junk food while watching a funny movie.

This past weekend we decided to do things a little differently. We stayed at the Hilton in Indy (near Keystone) overnight and had a blast. Friday night, we ordered room service so we could just relax after our hour jaunt and then I talked Maddy into going to Keystone shopping. I baited her with Sephora and she loved it! Then we went back to the hotel for the night and watched Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Madison saw the little cards they leave in the room where you can choose what you want for breakfast the next day and hang the card on your door...well, we woke up with breakfast waiting for us the next morning. How spoilt I felt! Once we got cleaned up, we went to Clay Terrace in Carmel. I love that place!!! My favorite store there is Sur La Table. It's a kitchen supply store and I stayed a bit too long there. Madison had to help carry bags out of there...oops!

Once we got home, we met up with the boys for a movie and then went to Not Just Popcorn in Edinburgh. They have every kind of popcorn you can imagine. I'm not a big fan of popcorn, but it's pretty cool. I came away with a Chicago Bears tin filled with caramel corn...beautiful and delicious! All and all it was a really good time. I can't believe Madison will be 8 this year. It is killing me how fast she is growing up. It's nice to be able to spend time with her while she can still stand me! :)

John in Japan

So this week John has had the great opportunity to go to Japan. He works at Toyota here in Columbus and was chosen to visit and participate in a race. He's actually participating in a more laid back "entertainment race" wearing a national costume, which he has chosen to be Superman. That should be entertaining! Anyway, the kids and I have missed him and will be glad when he is back on Monday.

Ahh the flu...

I haven't written in awhile, but it seems the stomach flu has attached itself to me. Therefore, I have some time to write. It started out last weekend with both the kids vomitting with fevers. Madison even had to miss the first half of the school week. Now Madison and Nolan have recovered and I have the chance to lay on the couch all day. You know what, it's really not as much fun as you'd think. I'm always wishing for a day off to veg and now that I have it-I am completely bored! John and the kids have been gone all day running errands so that they wouldn't be here to jump all over me, which is nice of him but I'd really like someone here to wait on me hand-and-foot. Is that so wrong?