As I was taking the picture, Marseille kept saying, “I don’t want to do this, Mom!” This has been our journey potty training her, but she has finally given in. She has been accident free for 8 days! We are so excited for her!
Bentley received his first LEGO Jr. magazine in the mail yesterday. He has been waiting, somewhat patiently, for it. (I signed him up in November.) He was very excited and asked me to read the whole magazine to him before bed. This morning, he woke up and wanted to build the two projects in the back, but sadly he doesn’t have some of the pieces. I tried to help him find other pieces to make it work but combining the pieces were either too short or too long. Oh well, I’m sure after his birthday he will have more pieces to work with!
Bentley is having his first birthday party this year. He is having a LEGO party because he is quite crazy about LEGOs. From the time he rises in the morning until he has to take a bathroom break , eat or goes to sleep, he plays LEGOs. We are really surprised at how well he can build them, especially the complicated ones with no help but the manual. On Sunday, he handed out his invitations to his friends, which he thought was so cool. I’m excited for him! His birthday party is on the 9th. I have to start getting stuff ready. I can’t wait for it to all come together!
During our stay-cation, we decided that we wanted to fix up our place a little bit! We had tons of ideas but were limited due to time and money. Like our normal fashion, we shopped for four days and did all the projects in one day. Hopefully, we won’t do that again.
After the new year, we went to Goodwill to find all sorts of frames for the guest room. I wanted to make it travel themed and wanted to make a wall gallery of pictures and things that we have been given. We love way that it turned out.
Our collectibles gallery from around the world.
Money from my Great-Great Aunt Alice’s and my parents travels.
Hand painted papyrus from Egypt from Danny’s Grandma
A brass rubbing from the Westminster Abbey… a Goodwill find!
Calendar prints
Gifts and a calendar print.
Pinterest inspired. I finally found a Scrabble game at Goodwill!
An Italian mask from Danny’s parents
A piece of the Berlin wall from my Grandpa
$3 Ikea find and our wedding ring bearer pillow.
The window display, thank you, Meghann!!
Our new bookshelves
Made this topiary from the foam form I used for the Croquebouche I made at Christmas!
I made this topiary from a topiary ball, a chopstick, wire that was wrapped with twine and a pot we had in the garage. I love it!
Danny found these at a thrift store and spray painted them black.
Calendar prints in the guest bathroom.
My college diploma and my art work.
Sewing room revamp. I covered the lampshade.
The other chandelier Danny found, plus the curtain I made from a shower curtain.
Our bedroom. We love it!
Our thrift find chair and ottoman. We recovered the ottoman and I made a matching pillow.
Danny put in the reading lights and we put up a mirror and pictures.
Our fire place!
Danny’s dresser
I made these by printing the fleur de lis on vellum and adding layers of scrapbook paper.
My dresser!
We had so much fun decorating. We have had the same decorations since we got married, so it was exciting to get some new things and re-purpose others. I have a couple more things that I want to do, so hopefully I’ll remember to take before pictures!!
Yes, I have been neglecting you. I’m back now and want to be waaayyyy more consistent.
So, it’s almost Feburary, you may be thinking “What in the heck have you been doing since October?” You probably didn’t say that but I’ll imagine that you did :)
Friends, we have done too much. We’ve done way too much for comfort, too much busyness, just plain too much. I have felt like that since we went to the beach at the end of the summer. To some this might not seem like a lot, but for our family it was.
October- I went to NJ, NYC and NY and had a fabulous time. I could not have asked for a better trip! The kids went to Charlotte. Danny got quite a few things done around the house while we were gone. A week long trip takes a week to get ready for and a week to re-coup from.
November- In the beginning of the month we were still trying to get back on track. I had little projects here and there. Then we spent a week preparing for my family to come for Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving, the kids and I went to my parents new place in FL. Danny came and stayed the following weekend. We also got to see my Uncle and his family, which was an added bonus.
December- We came back from FL, and had Danny’s work party. The next week, I had two Christmas parties and a girls night out. Then that weekend we had a stay-cation for our anniversary. We hit every thrift store in the upstate up to Asheville, NC. It was a lot of fun. Danny took off work, so we had 5 days together. The house got a makeover, specifically our bedroom :) Which then brings us to the weekend before Christmas, we went to Atlanta and came home Christmas Eve. We like waking up on Christmas Day in our home :) Danny’s parents stopped in for Christmas and had dinner with us, as they made their way back from Atlanta.
Confused…
I am too! Oh, and sprinkle in 4 doctor appointments, an ultrasound, and bloodwork too! Their nephrologist believes that since they are progressing so slowly that transplants will not happen for another 5 to 7 years, if at all!! What a blessing! We know that this isn’t a guarantee but it is exciting all the same! The next round of appointments will not start until the end of Feburary.
We hope that you are looking forward to the new year too!!
xo, nikki :)
ps- enjoy the pictures from October until Christmas!
White Manna Burgers – Drive Inns, Dinners, and Dives
Grandma and Me at Cornell
Our pizza lunch. I was delicious!
My grandparents and their view
A little patisserie… ah Serendipity!
Felida… wOw! really…. wow!
hee hee…
toss toss… giggle. I had to contain myself from not singing.
One good lookin’ Uncle!
creme brulee donut. enough said.
Eataly… I love you suppasada and provolone.
We stumbled on this! It was fun too!
After dinner and dessert, Wicked, and second dessert snack… a Gray’s papaya hot dog and papaya juice!
Ladies and Gentlemen… Serendipity 3’s frozen hot chocolate. It was HUGE and tasty!
Brick oven pizza!!
Blast from the past. Ellios pizza. I loved these as a kid!!
Peanut Butter Cannoli in Little Italy
5 for a $1 dumplings in Chinatown.
strawberry and nutella crepe. oh yes we did.
My NYC loot!
Gingerbread Competition, Grove Park Inn.
The Gingerbread houses are amazing!
Jacksonville Zoo
Playing in the sand
Uncle Vinh, Aunt Nicky and Gabe at the Fort!
So strong!
Car ride home from FL
Ann and Margaux at the 50s Christmas party
My first ever Croquembouche. I made creme puffs for the first time!!