Love Is In The Air...

Christmas is over at our house...which means Valentine's Day is in full swing. We don't go too over the top but I do like to add a few little touches of red and pink.

 Our kitchen window...this is one of my first Scentsy warmers...I still love it!!

 

 Heart towels...

 

And a little touch of Valentines in the computer stand shelving...

So thankful to have the love of my life to share this love season with! Happy Friday!

Addition Post #4

Okay...finally, an update! In all fairness I had some great pictures of the house...but this silly blogspot isn't letting me upload pictures from my computer! Weird!!! Only pictures from my phone...and normally when I get home from work, it's already dark, so the pictures on my phone have been limited. But tonight when I got home...I fell in love with out master suite! This will be our fireplace...I know it's hard to picture, but this is the first time I have really seen my "vision" start to take shape! I am so excited to have this part done...it will be awhile (clearly) but it will be beautiful. This weekend we are going to go look at tile/slate options...just to get some ideas, my OUR hope is to have the fireplace have stacked stone (or at least look like stacked stone) from the floor to the ceiling...can you picture it????

Now I haven't taken a picture of it, but I promise I will soon...the upstairs is starting to well...get a little messy. Upstairs, the sheet-rock has been taken off the entire wall...that being said my precious husband has decided it is no longer a suitable space to play XBOX. Guess what that means...yup, the XBOX is now down stairs. I think he thought I would really be grumpy about this, but seriously, if you saw the rest of the crazy, muddy mess around here, you would agree this is minor!

I think I say this every time I post about the addition, but...I AM SO EXCITED!!! Can you imagine my excitement level when I get to decorate??? 

Classroom Make-Over

Over winter break I had some time to enjoy Pinterest...I came across a picture of an "office" that had 3 shelves above a desk, and I decided "I LOVE THAT!" My dad had recently built my mom a new wall unit in her living-room which eliminated a need for her computer desk. I asked if I could "store" it in my classroom. Dad had a bit of extra lumber left over from mom's project so he cut out these shelves. A somewhat quick trip to Home Depot and I got six shelf brackets for less than $2.00 a piece! This project cost less than $10.00 (thanks to my handy dad and generous mom)! I had pretty much everything you see on the shelves already in my classroom...a few little added touches and it came together beautifully!

I was then inspired by my wonderful co-worker (Sarah) to revamp my many binders! In teaching there are a few basic blessings: 3" binders, gallon zip lock bags, and sticky notes! Binders are a blessing but also a curse...I like things to be organized and unison...so when I found a card stock book of animal print at Michael's I was beyond excited! My mom and I got all the binders recovered and now they are functional and pretty! Perfect next to my zebra chair (which was my splurge this summer, I couldn't pass it up!)

I decided I spend more time in my classroom than I do at home...so it is important to me that it feels "homey" and is a place I enjoy...and trust me, I enjoy it!

Shopping With The Girls!

On Saturday Landen had a birthday party to go to, so Kyla got to hang out with Auntie and Grandma-Grandma! We met Kate at Micheal's and took Kyla for the day. She is one excellent little shopper! She loved sitting in the cart at Micheal's...I think she enjoyed going everywhere we went, having our attention 100% of the time, and telling everyone she meets "Hi!"

 Look at this sweet little smile! Patiently waiting in line to buy our animal print card stock for Auntie's classroom! (stay tuned for a post containing my latest project!)

 

Then we were off to Target to pick out new towels and rugs for Auntie's new bathroom. I finally remembered to bring a pillow sham from our new bedding so I could get a good match for the new master bath! (Ky liked the blue too!)

We did a little "fun" shopping...we found this supper soft pink fleecy blanket with little white hearts on it...we thought it would be perfect for Valentine's Day! (I especially like Kyla's little crossed feet in this picture, she is ready to cuddle up with that blanky)

And then there was the pink heart pillow! Kyla REALLY liked this! Auntie is going to have to go back and get it for her "love present" for Valentines Day!

Shopping can make a girl hungry...Kyla snack of choice is fruit snacks...now since she was with Auntie and Grandma, she pretty much got to have whatever she wanted, and she wanted 3 packs of fruit snacks...so she ate three small packs of fruit snacks. And she was happy about it! After Target we headed to Sears to check out their big sales since they are going out of business...while we were there Kate called and said her and Landen were on their way to the mall for the hand off...and so ended out girls shopping trip. It was sure a lot of fun though...I'm so excited to have a future shopping partner...she definitely DIDN'T get that from her mother! :)

Family Fun

When my Aunt Gig was here visiting from Virginia we all got out for a little girls time! We went straight for mani/pedies followed by dinner with the guys. It was a nice relaxing day with family...something we don't get often enough, especially with my aunt!

 

Christmas Day

This year we had a full Christmas. We started celebrating Christmas morning at my Grandpa and Grandma Holt's house. We had a yummy Christmas breakfast, and enjoyed a very low key morning visiting and enjoying family, all of which I have no pictures!

After breakfast, we went home to lay low and relax. Next we went over to my Grandpa and Grandma Lane's house. We had a delicious dinner! This year's Christmas was extra special because my aunt and uncle were visiting from Virginia! We had a packed few days while they were here, a lot of memories packed into a very short week.

 Landen was totally into his new DS game...Monster Trucks! (not nearly as fun as his other new game "Super Mario Bros.")

 



Katie and my Aunt Gig hanging out by the dinner table...by the wine :)

Kyla playing with all her new kitchen stuff...we sat and played for at least 30 minutes! She is getting so big!

She also loves her new pony! If you look close you can see she has a clip or "hair pretty" in his mouth while she combs the pony's hair...I think this is a strategy she learned from her mommy!

This picture was too funny not to post...this is Landen's face right when he opened his Jake and the Neverland Pirates ship...he was super excited!

Complete with the "action figures"....he definitely has the "present pose" down!

Kyla getting ready to open her giant present...the kitchen center!

Again...present pose....

I was trying to take a picture of Kyla with her crown on...but you can see big brother thought he needed to jump in the picture too!

Everyone vegging out on the couch...

Kyla and Daddy with their crowns on!

Landen with his crown...

Kyla chowing down on a yummy dinner roll...with the assist from Mommy.

Dad and Ben...

Christmas visiting...

Landen all ready for Christmas dinner!...holding his Christmas cracker!!!

We had a great Christmas and are still in shock that New Year's is right around the corner...where did this year go???

Merry Christmas!

As we reflect on the year 2012...we can't help but be full of gratitude to our loving Heavenly Father. We have had a year packed full of blessings!
Here is the run down:
January: Celebrated SIX wonderful years of marriage; Ben flew on an airplane for the first time!
February: We were blessed with an uneventful month...which is truly a BLESSING!
March: Abbie submitted National Board Portfolio (and we both survived the process)!
April: Ben began his third season coaching MS Track!
May: Abbie completed her Master's Defense (Ben, Mom & Dad watched)!
June: We wrapped up another wonderful year of working with the students/athletes in our community!
July: Abbie was asked to join the Teacher Leadership team at NVSD (more classes began!)
August:We celebrated Abbie's birthday (21 again...can you believe it?)!
September: We celebrated our grandpa's 80th birthday!
October: Ben enjoyed being a PAID football coach!
November: We celebrated Ben's birthday and Abbie became a National Board Certified Teacher!
December: We began our home addition!
We look forward to 2013...and can't wait to see what our Lord has in store for us...Many blessings to you and your families, we pray you enjoy the Savior's birth!