a work in progress

we have been in the process of renovations, probably since the day we bought the house, but our newest endeavor is our kitchen....this "original" masterpiece was quite the sight when we first moved in....two layers of wall paper, no lighting except for the interesting pizza hut style soffet lights, rippled stained nailed down in sections linoleum flooring, push button cooktops with one working burner,fruit themed non-working chandelier hanging from an interesting ceiling....and that is just the beginning. i could go on and on with descriptions. ok, so we have conquered this room in baby steps....first taking wall paper down, adding ceiling lighting in the beginning and then last year we did a little more...repairing the walls, painting and replacing the floors. most everything we have done with our own blood (hurt body parts), sweat(depending on the season and task) and tears (lots and lots of these, mostly from me!!) the final phase is in full swing as i am writing this entry. i am sitting amongst drywall dust, walls with holes and lots of dirt, but also around, new appliances and best of all New GRANITE countertops!! yay....the best christmas present ever. below are a few pics of the transformation. oh and the best part...this is being done the week before christmas. why do you say? because we are CRAZY, hence our blog name.

the kitchen with the original floors, wallpaper and older appliances, shortly after move-in

the new kitchen island and stools from Ikea (see the newer flooring and some new appliances)

remaining old cooktop and wall-oven being removed

the lovely non-functioning push button cooktop hood circa 1960 in the fabulous cocoa de mauve color

bye bye bubbling pinkish countertops and backsplash!

oh no...that cabinet was only held up by the backsplash. not one nail in it!!

piece de' resistance....the new counters and appliances (can you hear the angels singing AHHH)

live nativity

last night was the annual live nativity at Ortega Methodist. we love this time of year and for the past three, have made this a tradition with jackson. so sweet. this one, we met up with some friends beforehand at Che'Chikfila for dinner and play, then headed over to the church. it is really a great time...festive music, holiday games and activities, a manger petting zoo and the live story of the birth of jesus. I think this was the best year so far and it was a great time with family and friends...the cooler weather helped to set the scene too!

the story of jesus being told

jackson and halle claire listening very intently

miss olivia and her friend kerrigan all bundled snug as bugs

the kiddos enjoying some time with sheep, goats named billy, bunnies and the token chickens

oh christmas tree, oh christmas tree.....

with the holidays creeping up SO fast this year and with trying to get ready for miss O's big birthday, i felt a bit overwhelmed....so i opted out of my normal tree routine and took a new twist on tree decor. hence, my Santa tree. see below. with this idea (thanks lori) i was able to trim the tree in a much more easy way and if i feel like it, i can bag the whole thing and not worry about wrapping up and packing the million of other ornaments this year. at first i was a bit bummed about not getting to see all of my pretties that i have collected over the years, but once the santa-baby tree was complete...i thought it was so worth it; less-effort. what do u think?

my flash would not turn off, so u cannot see all of the pretty white lights on it...its not as bare as it looks in this shot

20 years

my time with you was not enough if measured in years, but in love and influence, it was more than a lifetime.....today, tomorrow and always i will love and miss you most!!!

JPO- in gods arms since December 14, 1989

gingerbread time

saturday, we were invited by a sweet friend to a gingerbread house decorating party.....i decided to make it a date with jackson. we have not done that in quite some time and he surely deserved the one on one time! the party was at FYC...show up, kits ready to go...all we had to do is ice it and have some fun with friends. i must say, to maintain my OCD, this was the way to go....now there was quite a mess, even being this prepared, but i did not have to worry about it really. i took a deep breath and let jackson ( and myself) have a ball. and that we did!! all of the children behaved wonderfully ( big shocker, no really!!) not one tantrum with any and they did so well, some of us even took on lunch at the club. again, everyone had a wonderful time and were on best behavior. thank you jen for thinking to include us and thank you to my sweet, wonderful little man for the best date in a long time. xoxo

jackson "pretty-ing" up the house

julie, caleb and jman in full decorating mode

mama and her man

our group of gingerbread makers...chandler, jackson, logan, caroline, caleb, caitlyn, claire and lauren

11 months!!!

we are one month away from miss o celebrating her 1 year birthday. i seriously cannot believe that all this time has passed so very fast. we have had the most wonderful year. i want to freeze time so badly....she is growing, changing and moving so much. we love you littlemama!! we thank god every day for the blessing of your birth. xoxo

mommy, daddy and jackson

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday morning was the annual Breakfast with Santa at TCC.....i just love it, seeing all the children so happy and excited, getting into the holiday spirit... did not see too many meltdowns over santa fear, that including my kiddos. jackson has always enjoyed this day and loved to get a chance to see santa. i wondered how miss O would do, but she happily followed in brother's footsteps. no tears, just big smiles!! olivia was most enamored by santa's tassle on his hat...go figure, leave it to the girl to notice the accessories, haha. It was a wonderful way to start the holiday season and a perfect morning. Happy Holidays, here we come. now, if i could just get the house decorated!!!

family pic...last year miss o was in the belly, wow how fast it went

jackson telling santa his wishlist and olivia playing with his hat

these were the best we could get, at least no fits!

olivia was ready for some breakfast and playing with wesley

olivia's two loves, daddy and waynedaddy

my love

ickies

olivia has been quite the healthy baby...in fact, other than a little congestion right when she came home from the hospital and teething, she has been in the clear. not anymore. this past week was pretty rough in the smith household. first mommy came down with the sicks after turkey day...then miss.O two days later. that has got to be one of the hardest times for a mom....to be sick the same time as any of your kids. but olivia got the worst of the ickies and it took two trips to the peds office and an antibiotic to kick the week long ick. olivia is so much better now, thank the lord.....i do not think nathan, olivia or i could have taken not one more sleepless night. thank you, amoxicillin!!

what, do i look bad or something?

a portrait of the ickies (nathan was so grossed out by this pic, but this is what i stared at for a week)

kramer

i had to share these two pics with all of you, because well, they just gave me such a smile that i wanted to pass onto you. i think olivia was channeling her "grann" this afternoon when she woke up from her nap.....note the crazy hair-do. love you granny

miss o, almost 11 mos

passing by...

maren and shawn make a quick stop in jville on their way up to charlotte the other day.....and although it never seems like enough time, we will take whatever we can get together. and somehow, its as though we are always together...quality time! olivia and william already have a little bond and the look on their faces when they see each other is just priceless. they have old souls for one another....when they play, its like they have been best buddies for a lifetime. maybe its because that is how it is with maren and i........thanks guys for taking that brief stop to share with us!! any time shared is time well spent. xox

believe it or not, liam is almost 4mos younger but close in size. sorry olivia, you got mommy genes on height!!

peak

here i am!!

olivia showing william the ropes with this "new" toy