Birthday Dinner with the Family...

We have been so busy with moving and school activities that we have not had time to have the birthday parties for the kids. So, we decided that we would go out for pizza with our families so the kids could get their presents. =]

We love Zwanzigs, so, it seemed like the perfect place! A good time was had by all!

Happy Birthday Caitlin!!

CAITLIN IS 15!!! What the heck is going on? Since when I am I remotely old enough to have a 15 yr old?!?! Geez! I am not kidding, it seems like just 5 minutes ago she was handing me her sippy cup asking for 'more juice please.' It's not right. On the other hand, it has been so much fun to watch her grow up and into a young woman. She is so warm and fun and into everything. I am so proud to be her momma! =]

Caiti's boyfriend Preston got her this pretty bracelet, and roses. He surprised her at her cheerleading practice in front of all her friends! It was sweet. His parents got her a personalized stadium blanket for Columbus North. How thoughtful.I baked her a small bundt cake no icing, just like she likes it! It was a great day!

Decorating the tree....

Tonight we went to my mom's to help her decorate her Christmas tree. She loves to have all the kids help her. Well, I will say that the adults did more than the kids this year. Perhaps we should have shut the tv off. =]

Taming of the Shrew...

Madeline's 6th grade AC class put on a play of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. Madeline played a very full bottomed Tailor in this rendition. We folded a pillow and padded her bottom to get the effect!! It was a hilarious performance and I was so impressed by the students and their ability to learn all those lines! =]

Miss Heidy is here!

My best friend Karen is a Mammy for a second time! Her daughter Brittany had her second daughter today! I am so excited! I LOOOOOOVE new babies and especially when they are my nieces! =] So, Miss Heidy Rosilyn Made her appearance this afternoon. She was 7 pounds 6 ounces and 19 inches long! I had her big sister Sofya while Karen was at the hospital. So, as usual, I took the liberty of taking some very cute pictures of her and Mia!

OK OK OK ...so we moved... =]

We have been praying for a miracle for 2 years now! I am so excited to tell you that we have moved! Just across town- not out of state. It is such a blessing! Long story short, we have had trouble with financing and buying a new home seemed impossible....but nothing is impossible to God! So, there was this house..... we drove by it everyday- twice a day for almost a year. It would sell and then the buyer wouldn't get financing. It even sold at auction...same thing. =] Little did they know that we were secretly throwing our mojo at it everytime we drove by! =] My kids and I would pray that God ould work it out- that some way some how he would deliver us into this new home....and HE DID!!!!!

So, this is it.... it is not new and it is not fancy, but it is OURS! It was built in the late 60's and at the time was a big deal custom home. So it is beyond solid. And it's just a bit quirky which describes us to a T! lol =] It has 4 bedrooms- we will make it 5 by converting the den area into a master suite. All the girls have their own rooms and the boys are sharing the large former master bedroom, and it has 2 and half baths! Living room, dining room, big kitchen-plus a basement! The circle cut out is a scream- don't you think? lol We can't wait to show the exterior some love this spring. We intend to paint all the rust color with a nice sage green and trim out all the brown with a white or cream. I of course will keep you posted. So Brady bunch right?

We immediately went to work and painted all of the rooms inside. I painted the family room green. I really like this color...it is darker than my previous family room. There is a bay window too, which I could not get in either of these shots, but I added a pic of it with our holiday village on display. =]

The dining room is cool! I love having all the space. It is weird to not be eating in the kitchen area- as we have been doing that for over 12 years! But very cool to know that we have the leaves in the table and still have plenty of room to expand with company! I painted it a pretty yellow called golden corn.

My kitchen worried me at first. It looked so small, and I was not wild about the cabinets. They looked very dated and needed some attention. The former color in the kitchen was a limey green but it totally washed out the cabinets. So, I chose a pretty red called cinnamon apple. It warmed them right up! I found out that the cabinets are all hand made and are made of pecan wood which was custom to the home. So, we will keep them and possibly spruce up the finish soon.

There is a small bar area that we will get stools for and it has the double ovens like the Brady bunch had! What a hoot! I like the stone from the fireplace on this side too! very cool.

So, that is all I have pics of so far. we are still moving things in and out. The kids rooms are all done but a huge mess right now as they are getting things put away. I will post pics of them soon!

Happy Birthday Madeline!!

My goodness.... I can't believe Madeline is 12 years old. I am so not ok with my kids growing up! lol. Madee is such a wonderful daughter. We love her so much and we are so proud of her! She is such a good student and she is so funny! lol. It has been cool to see her blossom this year into a young lady. She is ever fixing her hair and loving mascara. hahaha She enjoys being on the basketball team and had a game tonight. The announcer wished her a happy birthday and we went out for Pizza with the team after the gme. The cheerleaders led a Happy Birthday song to her! It was a wonderful day! =]

BANDS OF AMERICA- INDY

BOA NATIONALS started on Wednesday in Indianapolis. Columbus North competed Thursday night. OMG...It was the BEST performance we have done to date! I am so proud of this group of kids! They played their hearts out and you could feel the electricity in their performance. I had chills! They got a standing ovatin and it was amazing. I have pics from the event and I know you have seen tons of band pics, but indulge me.... lol We placed 9th of 30 bands that will continue into Competition on Saturday.

Caiti gets a NEW DO! lol

Well, Caitlin has had long hair for about 3 years now. She has great hair and always does a good job with it, but has been asking me for a few weeks to get'something different.' She has kept her hair long mainly for style and for the need to be able to pull it back in cheer-leading. Well, evidently she's all done with that. hahaha I know you have also been 'done' with your hair at some point too. lol It's a weird place to be. But then you get a new style and your whole life changes....or at least that's the way it feels! =]

So, here is what we ended up with. I LOVE IT and so does she! =] It is very trendy and cool. I cried. ya know....I remember getting my first 'adult- self decided ' style when I was in the 10th grade. It was a spiral perm wedged bob. Man! It was the coolest hair out there....well, let me interject- 'at that time'. lol It was a benchmark moment for me. Of course my husband says I am blowing it out of proportion- but maybe just maybe you had one of these moments too?! If so lemme know. =]

Madeline's First Basketball game of the year...

Madeline made the Parkside Girls Basketball Team and the Elementary Jamboree was this weekend! They had the first game of the day with a 9am start time! UGH! It was a great game though and she had a good time... They have been practicing all summer and gearing up for this season!

The game started out slow, but we were up by 12 points going into the second half! =] We won the game 38-13! Yahoo!

Madee had 2 baskets and several assists! I was so proud of her and I can see how she is developing as a player! It should be a great season! Stay tuned!