HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010 has been ok

But

I am looking forward to a

AWESOME

2011

Be safe and I will see you next year!

Blessings,

Pam

CHRISTMAS 2010

Coco and I had the hardest time going to sleep on Christmas Eve. We finally went to sleep about 1am and then she woke up her Daddy before 4am and they tried to get me up. I was having none of that. I woke up at 6:30 and woke her up.

We decided that we would only get her 3 gifts to open in reference to the 3 gifts that Jesus received. Well as a Momma I had the hardest time with that. SO I found a huge stocking for some some small things and clothes.

Her big gift was a trampoline. It was to big and heavy to bring into the house so I cut out a picture from the sale ad and put it into a jewelry box. She was a little confused but over the moon when she realized what it meant.

Daddy opening his most precious gift. A coupon book handmade by Coco with lots of foot rubs and dog feedings.

Us at Mom's for lunch. We had a wonderful time with my side of the family. Lots of good ole traditional Christmas dinner foods.

My nephew Dallas and his children Kaylee and Ethan. My most favorite little people in the world.

Coco opening her blanket of Jacob from Aunt Tammy. This was the biggest hit. She made sure to sleep with it last night.

Mimi was very happy with the tie blanket Coco made for her and Pa. 

We will be celebrating Christmas with Scotts family sometime this week. I love it when we get to spread it out so that we can enjoy it a little longer.

Feeling very blessed today.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my blog friends!

LOVE IT

I found this when I walked into the bathroom tonight.

 

A childs play. Only a Momma could love!

TRADITION

Growing up we always spent an evening driving around looking at Christmas lights. I don't remember ever going to the square in Fayetteville for lights, we always just drove thru area neighborhoods.

We have kept up that tradition with Coco.

Tonight was an unplanned drive after we left Walmart.

These are a few of our favorites from Rogers/Bentonville Area.

This home is always AWESOME! Don't you just love the ice skaters and all the trees in the background.

We loved this. Did you notice the shadow up on the house. So cool.

Pretty street with several homes in a row!

Fellow HOG fan!

I wish you could see this. It was a cross on the back of a home. You could see it thru the trees from the street.

Thanks to all the folks that decorate their homes for Christmas. It makes my heart happy to see all the beautiful lights. A magical night.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITES

Just a few of my favorite ornaments hanging on our tree.

Grease! My all time favorite movie. It even plays music

One of my craft projects

A new one I bought after Christmas last year. Loving the Santa belt

Coco's swingset from several years ago

This rooster was on a gift from my MIL

The most important one of all. This is in remembrance that the season is

all about the birth of Christ!

Loving all the Christmas tours in blogland!

ALMOST THERE

BEFORE

AFTER

We are almost done with the bathroom remodel.

We still need to do some touch up painting and install the vanity when it is finished. We had to order a custom cabinet to fit our plumbing. It worked out better and we will get a little bit bigger one and a cabinet over the toilet.

I am loving it so far. The new tub is not really bigger than the old one but it seems alot bigger when you are showering!

So grateful to be home again.

Very THANKFUL for wonderful In-laws that put up with us and helped with the work for 3 weeks!

We are very BLESSED

We are working on putting up some Christmas tonight. I am disappointed that I am not putting all our trees and decor up. I don't want to put it all out just to take it down in a couple of weeks. I will be working on making it feel more like Christmas this week.

DAY I DON'T EVEN KNOW ANYMORE

I really thought I would be back in my bathroom tonight. The tile guy tells us we can't use it until Friday night.

UGGGGGGGGGGGG

This is driving me up the wall.

Rhonda asked if the beadboard was board or wallpaper..

It is actual beadboard with the baseboards and chair rail on top. I love it.

He got it all up today.

Scott will get the toilet and fixtures in on Saturday.

We will still have to wait on the vanity but at least I can take a bath.

I might just get some champagne to celebrate!

I will probably need it after all the clean up I have to do!

Oh Happy Days!
Pam

SNEAK PEEK

We are almost there!

We ran into another problem yesterday when measuring for the vanity. We have to get one custom made to fit our pipe situation! It won't be finished until the week of Christmas :(

Surprisingly it actually cost less than the premade ones you can buy. The top might be another story so we shall see.

DAY 14

Boy I will tell you, I sure didn't think this bathroom was going to take over 2 weeks to complete.

I was so excited when I came home today.
There is tile on the walls and floors. PTL

Don't worry I am not having red paint around my tub. LOL

This is a water proofing thing he painted on before the tile.

He left the bottom so that the top could dry and wouldn't slip down .

The guy that is doing our tile has been doing it for 40+ years, he might be a little slower but when he is done it will be wonderful.

the floor in the process. I am loving the tile I picked out.

Today we had our office Christmas lunch. We played White Elephant and look what I came home with!

Won't that come in handy cleaning my new tile (and my old)...

So happy with it.

Tomorrow begins our Basketball season. For the next 10-12 weeks our Saturdays will be spent in a gym somewhere watching Coco play ball. She made the A team.

It amazes me her love for sports. I was not a sporty kind of girl but I am glad that she is. I will spend every weekend doing this so that she can play as long as she gives it 100% and she always does. I truly believe that team sports teaches children so many things. Especially with her being an only child.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Pam

THE REMODEL CONTINUES

I am so ready for this to be over! I have been spoiled during this remodel. I haven't had to do anything but some clean up each night. Scott and Papa have done it all.
We were disappointed to not be able to put our Christmas decor up on Friday. This is the first time in 11 years that we haven't ordered pizza and put the tree up.
Hoping by the weekend we can put it up though.

This is where it stands tonight. It doesn't look like much has happened but we had a full working weekend in that room.

Day 8

The vent fan was installed.

Walls prepped, taped and sanded

New sheetrock hung.

Day 9

Plumbing under the house done

Sheetrock mudded and sanded again.

Orange peel texture sprayed on

Day 10

PAINT

This is the new paint color. I just love it. Can't remember the name but I will find my card and let you know. Scott calls it coffee with cream. Papa and Scott painted teh ceiling and walls today.

I had to show you the mishap! Remember when I showed you where Scott came thru the ceiling. Well it is all fixed up and you would never know it happened. The whole is the return air vent. I am looking for a new grille for it but having no luck. I might have to paint the old one.

Scott told me the tile guy might start tomorrow. That would be so wonderful. He will be doing the tile on the floors and shower area plus the bead board and trim.

I am ready for some normallcy!!!!

I haven't even had time to really get to read blogs.

The end is near!

Blessings,

Pam

DAY FOUR AND BEYOND

We are still in the throes of a bathroom remodel. One week down, one week to go.

Days 4, 5 and 6 didn't produce much.

Day 4 we did get the tub set and Scott spent a couple of hours under the house working on the pipes but he ran into some trouble so he is going back today while a friend of ours works on prettying up the drywall.

Papa decided he would hire someone to do our tile. Praise the Lord for that. Surely he is not tired of us already!!! I know we could have done the tile but I am SO grateful for all that my in-laws have done for us.

Hoping today I can get some cleaning done. There is dust EVERYWHERE!

Blessings,
Pam

GRATEFUL

Happy

Thanksgiving

I am so THANKFUL for a wonderful loving husband, gorgeous daughter, great family and friends!!!!

I wish the bloggers a wonderful Thanksgiving. I hope you have time with your loved ones and plenty to eat.

Blessings,
Pam

BATHROOM REMODEL

WE ARE CRAZY!!!

Yes we started a bathroom remodel the week before Thanksgiving!

Well it really wasn't our choice but the tub wasn't draining and we were planning to do the remodel sometime so it just seemed best to do it all at once instead of fixing one problem just to tear it all out again later.

Our house is 50+ years old so it was TIME

Our progress in photos.

Day One

The before, see that spot in the middle of the wall above the tub? There used to be a handle with a soap dish. Coco pulled it off a couple of weeks ago and we had plastic ducked taped over the sheet rock. Another reason it needed attention.

I have despised this tile forever. Ugly peachy color all the way around the room.

Day 1

1. Total Demo

2. Purchased subflooring and bathtub

Day Two 

Scott worked hard getting it to this point. He had to scrap up the subfloor after taking everything out.

End of day 2. Too much money spent. We went and purchased everything we need and a couple of wants. I really wanted this curved shower rod. We debated on getting doors but this will be our only tub and I didn't want it to feel really closed in. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Day 2

1. Removed subfloor

2. Installed new subfloor

3. Sanded walls

4. Purchased everything else we will need

Day three

A little mishap in the hall when Scott was in the attic installing the vent fan. His foot came through the ceiling.

I get 2 new plug ins. One more in the bath and one outside in the hall. Now I will have to find some cute lamps to put in.

The room looks the same.

Day 3

1. Removed gas stove insert.

2. Installed and wired 3 plugs

3. Prepped for the vent fan (the one we bought was broken)

Scott says we might get the tub installed tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed.

REALLY BEHIND

I have been a bad bad blogger. Life has just been way to busy and not much in the way of fun adventures.

Last weekend I did get to go hang out with my sister and a couple of her friends.

We planned a craft night and she asked me to come teach them how make tassels.

These are 3 that we did. Laura did the Santa on the left and I did the dress form and rooster for my house. I had a great time crafting since I hadn't been doing anything crafty and fun in sooooooo long!

Tammy Lou (my sister) picked out 2 super cute ornaments to make her tassels. I love the scarecrow and the snowman.

Tammy Lou has been doing lots of decorating and redoing around her house. I took a few photos to share.

The mantle in her den is looking great.

Love this desk she found on craigslist and all the fall decor.

I loved this little vignette on the end of her bar. She has some really cute fall decor.

One wall of her scrapbook room. She and her friend Laura went in and totally reorganized it. Now we just need to make good use of it and do some scrapbooking.

We are in the middle of a bathroom remodel. We started on Friday night.

So far we (i use that term losely as I am blogging while Scott and Papa work)

Demo done

Completely empty room.

Old tile on walls removed

Subfloor removed
Walls sanded

Durarock subfloor put down

Maybe we'll get the new tub in tonight.

I am off to Home Depot to spend some mooola!

OUR WEEKEND

We had a real low key weekend. I had to leave work early on Friday after a call from the school nurse. Coco was running a fever, tummy ache and headache. She is much better after some rest and meds.

Saturday we jus tlayed around and watched TV. We rented Karate Kid. I was so surprised at what a good movie this was. Jaden Smith did a wonderful job. I would totally recommend this movie.

We packed our Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. We have participated in this for several years and I love doing it. I love buying and packing these with a little girl or boy in mind. Coco and I both made up a box and then Scott wanted to do one for a little boy. This is a great project and you still have time to participate. You can find all the info at http://www.operationchristmaschild.com/

Our Girl Scout troop tied fleece blankets at our last meeting for Project Linus. This is an organization that provides blankets for children at shelters, hospitals, etc. I had to finish sewing the labels on all the blankets today.

A very enjoyable weekend.
This week we have a holiday so I get Thursday off and I am taking Friday off too. I am so looking forward to a 4 day weekend and hope to get some preparation done for Christmas decorating. I think Scott might have me doing demo on our bathroom instead. We'll see no matter what I will love having a couple of days off to spend on something I want to do!!!!

POAM BY COCO

Coco has had a Poet in her school this week teaching them about creative writing. He has been such a great inspiration to her, she has came everyday with new stories about him.

Today there was to be a contest for the 5th grade. If she won she would have received $50. She was sick this morning but determined to go to school to read her poem.

One of the prompts he gave them was "The Worst Day of Your Life"

This is the poem she wrote. I will write it just as she did misspellings and all. Please remember she is only 10 years old!

The wet substance in his eyes proved he wasn't merry
 the coffin lay there in front of him like shrimp on a plate (he is allergic)

The line to see her was exravagetly long
the expression on her face was priceless
her death was tragaty for many

A loveing mother, wife, and daughter
her spirt, ghost or soul goes into the horizon
she was offisally gone
 her loved ones cryed hard

Breast cancer awareness month was in the air
but all was not good at the hospital
doctors could not save her dearing life
 it was to late she was dead

                                         The End (of her)

This was about our friend Beth that past away last October. Her husband is really allergic to shrimp. I am very proud of her. She didn't make it to the finals. Her judges were some of her classmates and I think her poem was a little to mature for them to grasp (thats what I am telling myself anyway)! I love that she has such a compassionate heart, usually putting others first and herself last! My hope is that she never loses these traits as she sees and learns more about  the world and all the ugliness in it.

Blessings,
Pam

HALLOWEEN

This has been a really fun weekend.

Last night we went to my Mom's church for Trunk or Treating. I just love that churches do this.

I stayed home all day Saturday and just threw on some clothes and put my hair up to go down to Moms. I had no idea I would be meeting someone special.

I got to meet a fellow blogger Rhonda from Down Memory Lane. We have spoken thru our blogs and facebook for awhile so I was so excited to meet he in person.

Rhonda, me and my sister Tammy Lou.
Rhonda please forgive me for not looking my best. I didn't have a stitch of makeup on. Who would have thought I would see someone important!

T

Tonight was spent trick or treating in our neighborhood. I followed Coco and her friend Avery around for about an hour. They had a great time and got TONS of candy!

Now I must get myself prepared for another week of work!

Have a great week!

Blessings,

Pam