Favorite projects of 2009

chair makeover - $10 yard sale chair

bed makeover

painted kitchen


here is the "before" of the kitchen, when we moved into the house in April. I love brown, but it was taking away from the pretty countertops and backsplash.


I don't have any major plans for painting around the house in 2010, but maybe I'll find some more thrifty pieces of furniture that can be fixed up with paint!

I'm sharing this at The Shabby Chic Cottage

and Miss Mustard Seed's link party

A reading chair

It's been a while since I shared one of my Goodwill finds, most of my visits lately I haven't found anything good, but I really love this little chair I found a few weeks back. I was going to have it in my office, but I thought it would fit much better in my daughter's room. I love the cream color fabric and the ruffle skirt!

It was $19, I think pretty good for a unique piece of furniture.

Christmas Eve

We had my in-laws over last night before my sister in law headed back to Chicago today. We had pizza and salad, and brownies and ice-cream. It was nice to have everyone here our first Christmas in this house.

K and T are ready for Santa to put something in their stocking tonight.


with Stephanie and Granny

with Stephanie and Paw Paw

group shot

and one with me too thanks to camera self timer and balancing the camera on the banister.

more Christmas cheer

added a few more shiny red ornaments to our wreath
after many years of begging and pleading we finally bought the kids an inflatable yard decoration. This little Rudolph is about the cheapest option out there, but when we got it home and out of the box found out it is supposed to be "indoor" only, I guess he will be ok on our front porch. He kind of freaks out our cat though.

and we went to the mall and waited in line with the masses for our Santa picture today

Snow, again! and decorating for Christmas

This is the 2nd year in a row we've had snow in the Houston area in early December. See this post from last year.

The kids in my class were so excited this morning. The first 3 pictures are from outside my classroom.

our garden outside my classroom

The kids school released the kids a little early today, so we came home and the rain had washed away a lot of the snow, but then it snowed some more and they got to go outside and play for about an hour or so until their hands got too cold - we really need to get some waterproof gloves to prepare for another possible snow next year!

snow on the roof and some of the plants

the picture to put on the blog for family in NZ to see, say cheese!

with the neighbor friends

I stayed warm the rest of the afternoon and watched the snow from inside! It's supposed to get in the 20s here tonight - so the pets are in - Ally the cat in the house and Molly the dog in the garage.




And some more 'Christmas' pictures to share - some of the decorations in the house.

I took these pictures the other night while Chris and the kids were out, and so the house was clean and quiet, but the night lighting was not the best for taking pictures.

I love these glittery green snowflakes from Target.

a couple of my favorite ornaments, the Starbucks cup, and a 'baby's first Christmas' one that I got when Thomas was a baby

a couple of pictures from past Christmas', and one of my owl ornaments

So, it looks like we're ready for Christmas, but I have barely done any shopping, this weekend at least I need to get a few things for the family in New Zealand and get that in the mail on Monday!

Counting down 2 more weeks of school for me and the kids.

Thanksgiving Day in the country

Chris' family has a farm and 200 acres of land in east Texas. We spent a relaxing day there yesterday and the kids had fun playing outside and we took a walk down the dirt road. Chris and Thomas did a little more exploring back on the land because Kate was wearing flip flops and not the best for hiking.
We had the big Thanksgiving meal with Chris' aunt, parents and cousins.

they don't make swing sets like they used to

posing for some pictures

even got a rare family picture

Chris' grandfather's truck - 1965 Dodge

Chris' Dad's old truck - 1974 Ford

some fall colors - it is still pretty green in Texas though, winter is still not here yet

this grave marker is one of a group on the side of the dirt road - it is marked Jessie Hendrix, born 1883, died 1884