Lucy meets Santa Claus!

Lucy and Prince Will!

the way we were...

I have been putting some old pictures together of my family, and my Grandma came across a few that she sent to me, and this one in particular I just couldn't resist to share with everyone! This picture tells so many stories and gives alot of personality about each one of us....

I am most thankful for....

These two gorgeous faces

Tis the Season

There are times in our lives that we have conversations with others, namely friends, family, or spouses that seem to be thoughts escaping without restriction... or is it just me? .... No, it's most people!
Thankfully, I have a phenomenal few that can appreciate my sense of un-restricted thoughts that escape.
One recent predicament that I have found myself in is the all-consuming Christmas season. It used to be this magical time of year that smelled so wonderful. The anticipation, the homemade peanut butter balls that my Aunt Kerry makes that are a bazillion times better than "reses pb cups"
Anyways.... Ben and I had the talk, you know the one where you discuss, or thoughts running out of your head about how much to spend on "gifts"
We came to the conclusion... about a month or so ago on a budget of $600. I thought this was fair... Now, I am not the type to discuss "money" I feel as though there are soooo many people out there that I have encountered that have such heavy issues with money and it really bugs me. We are not "well off" by any means, but we choose not to put such a damper on "Mughnee" (say it slowly.. you'll laugh harder!)
Okay.. on with my story.. The other day we were discussing again our ideas and amounts of Christmas money and when I brought up the $600 figure, my sweet fair skinned husband turned the most pale color of white followed by green I had ever seen, all while coming out of his mouth.. "SiX HuNdReD DoLlArS" what...? he exclaimed. Then he swallowed the lump in his throat! But we have your family, and mine and 3 of my nephews' birthdays and our friends and, and, and.........
Well, my frustration set in when I started to try and figure out what I could say to ease the pain he was feeling in his wallet! And then I got MAD!
As I am trying to go over all the wonderful people we choose to buy for and what would be the most perfect gift and how exciting it should be to give them a wonderful well thought out gift... it hit me!
I have a family.
I have a family... a husband and a daughter( and a dog).
That I love more than anything... I would do anything to ensure their happiness, but as for christmas... who comes LAST.... DEAD LAST on my list of things to buy for? My #1's...
How does this happen, where has my mind, my reasoning gone? So it is my duty as a wife and a mother to make sure that my family, my little family is happy and well taken care of in rejoicing in the Spirit of Christmas and establishing traditions that I have grown up with that I can't help but think back and smile about! So Ben and Lucy.... This Christmas is for you... and then whatever we have left.. we'll make due for others.

Happy Halloween Miss Piggy

Happy Halloween!

Mercy, Madeline and Lucy

Frank, Frisco (the Dog) and LaDonna with Lucy

Found:

We returned from our trip from phoenix and we found our precious Jackie-O.... however she has been processed and canned... and she changed her name to... Libby?
We are glad to have you back.... Jackie/Libby!

REWARD for missing pumpkin!

One of my last posts was of our pumpkin.... Jackie-O!
Well, ladies and gentlemen.... She is missing!
If anyone has seen Jackie-O please return her to her beloved family at

315 27th St SE
We miss you Jackie-O and wish for your safe return.

Reward:

bag of candy corns and a toothbrush!

My Hall of Fame

If I were the one who chose who was inducted into the Hall of Fame this woman would need no introduction. But, for those of you who are not as fortunate as me to know this amazing woman... I give to you Mrs. Betty Ann Jackson-Showers. Born October 11, 19-- . To know Betty is like experiencing a piece of heaven. She is full of life, enthusiasm, Love, charity, humility, pride, humor, and so many more things. I have known her for a little over 26 years now and couldn't be more greatful to have her touching my life in so many ways! If there was ever anything in my life that I could emulate about her it would be the way that she can look on her family and think... Wow! I am so blessed to have all of this! I look at her 56 years of marriage to Bob Showers and hope that I can in someway achieve the happiness that they possess and the true love they have. So to you... Betty Ann I wish you the Happiest of Birthdays! You deserve the best! I love you Grandma.

I woke up this morning...

and I could smell it! Fall is here... unusually we have been experiencing (so I have been told by the native's) HOT weather. But not today. Today Fall came. A little late, but it's here! The leaves are rich with color, the pumpkins are orange as can be and the chrisanthemums are everywhere. (my grandma says that here on the East coast EVERYONE has a big pumpkin and a huge pot of chrisanthemum's on their porch....) So we bought a pumpkin and flowers today for our front porch!

Progression!

The first 2 pictures are for those of you who have incessently called me 2-3 times a day..." when are you going to put up more pictures of Lucy" so, you know who you are... here you go! Love ya! Kona and LuLu

As I wander around my house lately I wonder... is this really what I said I wanted? The dust, the 1940's plaster pieces in every possible nook and cranny trapesd throughout my house, did I mention the DUST? the continual hammering and drilling during every nap-time? YES! are you kidding me! I love it! Home restoration is fabulous! A bit wearing at times when all of your kitchen is between your living room and the basement, but it sure has cut down on my ability to HAVE to cook... I don't mind at all! I do have to give props where they are deserved, and that is: Ben and Lynn are super efficient and CLEAN, almost annoying at times how much they clean up after themselves...but in talking to my sister( who has been renovating/restoring in 2 houses over 11 years) I am blessed with the desire to have a husband that CLEANS... jealous? You should be! He is amazing, sometimes a bit quirky...but looks damn fine in a pilots uniform! So you give a little you take a little!

Whoever thought that drywall, mesh tape, new light switches (that are up to code), and putty could make a girl so happy?




Progress in the making!


2 wild and crazy guys!
( a SNL reference )

The spare bedroom being closed off to add an additional bathroom! I am so excited to finally have a bathroom on the main floor, how this house has survived almost an entire CENTURY without a bathroom on the main floor is mind-boggling, so leave it up to us... It will get done! ;)

Here are the promised pictures of the finished molding on the expanded door ways! Aren't they gorgeous! still needs paint... but we'll get there!

all in a days work

Ben's dad Lynn came out on Tuesday, so Wednesday they worked on the house, and everyday since...but this was Tuesday's task....

we went from this

To this

To this

Today they are doing all of the finish work... more pictures to come soon!

Wild Wonderful West Virginia!

We were at Lowe's this weekend having our new kitchen designed, Andy who was helping us out in the design center... Poor guy we are really going to make him work for his commission! Anyways, we all started chatting and turns out he is an 11 year veteran to Lowe's and a WV native as most West Virginian's are, amazing? So he was giving us a history lesson about WV. Now we asked where he grew up and he said he was from Jackson County, funny thing about these west virginian's they always tell you what county they are from... Why you ask? Well, turns out that in Logan County and Boone County they talk with a real heavy accent ( I think everyone talks with a heavy accent) but especially from those 2 counties! So, Andy proceeds to tell us that those 2 counties contain all the "Rednecks," supposedly the phrase "rednecks" was coined here in WV. How you ask? I will tell you what Andy said! Back in the 1920's there were what were called the "Coal Wars" blah blah blah.. a bunch of other stuff, but turns out that some of them wore red hankercheifs around their necks... and that is where you get "red-necks!" GREAT.

So as for the state motto: Wild Wonderful West Virginia... That is what the "wild" means. As for the wonderful? Well, to me it means that I won't have to live here too much longer! For others... WV is a beautiful state, probably one of the most densly green areas in the country and not a whole lot of people here in the capitol- Charleston. One more wonderful thing... When WVU (that is west virginia state university) plays football.... it is like a holiday! That is when we go out and do our errands, it is pretty "wonderful!" And when it is all said and done and we are living back west coast style (if I have it my way it will be in Phx...) then the most wonderful thing about WV is Lucy, actually it already is... by the way in case you were wondering, she was born in Putnam County, and we live in Kanawha County (that is pronounced Ka-naw, go figure these people are so different). As for my history lesson for you all... we will have to get back with you after we meet with Andy again for our countertops!

Like Father Like Daughter!

So, I am a pretty consevative when it comes to alot of things, but parenthood has forced me to step out of my comfort zone and face the fact that not all Little Girls will be a" Little Lady" all of the time! We have been feeding Lucy oatmeal in the evenings at a desperate attempt to get her to sleep through the nights, (atleast 6 hours) so I can get my sanity back and feel like a rejuvinated woman! (I know poor, poor, Kristen your thinking... it's not that bad. I am just looking forward to a restful night, probably won't happen I am told until we're done having kids and they are teenagers, but I am HOPEFUL!) So, oatmeal and sweet peas were on the menu last night, and she had not had a BM in almost 24 hours And I knew it was coming... and it did! Like montezumas revenge! Straight into the shower we went!

So, prior to the blow-out she had been "passing gas" alot... So much that when it was family nap time on Sunday afternoon Ben and I were entertained for atleast 20 min listening to our sweet little lady rip them like a pro!
My sister sent me home with all sorts of books from Lucy's Book Shower in August, and one of the books was: "The Gas We Pass The Story of Farts" by shinta cho. If you haven't had the chance to read this book to your children or just for yourself.... GO GET IT! This book had me rolling on the floor! Lucy was entertained and so was I. Enjoy!

Our 1920's... Project!

This is what we ended up with after tearing out our kitchen flooring... Give it a few months- (when the remodel is complete) and it will look gorgeous. Until then, we are lucky to walk on this!Ben having fun... The flooring absolutely smelled horrible when we (Ben) took it out!

The white linoleum with green diamonds was what was on the top... 2nd layer was the confetti mess! Then down to the wood flooring. Surprisingly the wood is in fabolous condition, however we have spent hours scraping the paper backing off the wood from the first layer of flooring! Why People cover up beautiful wood flooring is beyond my comprehesion!

Dinner time!

We fed Lucy oatmeal for the first time. She loved it!

Reflection

8 years ago today my life was turned upside-down, or right side-up... First, it was my 18th birthday! but...My family was falling apart, I was leaving for college in 24 hours with my best friend, but leaving my Dad. My plans to play volleyball in college were crushed due to a knee injury. The best year of my life... (senior year of H.S) with the most amazing friends was over. But.... today I will be making a decision that will affect me for eternity... I was getting baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I look back on these last 8 years and am so truly greatful for where my life path has taken me. I owe so much to my family first... I have the most amazing family! Thank you for being so supportive, encouraging, helpful and patient while I have traveled this journey so far. To my wonderful friends ( you old souls...) I don't know what I would be without you. I love you so much and am more greatful than you'll ever know for the friendship which we hold.
There have been a few bumps in my road... but far more good than challenging! I have the most amazing man for a husband... Benjamin Ryan thank you so much for allowing me to become a mother. My potential has increased by 10 fold with this blessing of wife and motherhood. Thank you to those who have been so significant in helping me find myself. I can honestly say that at 26years old I am grounded and know who I am. Without the knowledge of what I know now, I am uncertain as to where I might be with my life, but thankfully due to some pretty amazing family and friends I have been given so much. Those who have blessed my life I am debted to eternally.
With thanks overflowing,
Kristen

4 months old today!!!!!!!!!!

Here she is... my baby is growing up so fast!