Angie's Birthday

Yes, my sister Angie's birthday was in January...I am a little late. But better late than never, right? 

We celebrated my sister’s 30th birthday back in January. Our parents surprised her with a bowling party, which was perfect for her since she loves to bowl.

Addison and Angie

Addison and my Aunt Julie



Addison and I

Aunt Julie and mom

Dad

Addi and Daddy

Addi and Papaw

Dad, Jack, Addison, Angie, Julie and cousin Jack



Angie and I



Mom and Angie

Uncle Tony with Addison

Tony and Angie

Cousin Cameron and Addison

Julie and Angie

Uncle Scott and Aunt Julie

Cousin Jack and Addison

Addison had such a great time bowling and can’t wait to go back. It is convenient that our bowling alley is in walking distance to our house. Oh and isn’t her hair darling? I used spiral hot rollers.
After bowling we had a wonderful dinner at mom and dad’s then Tony surprised Angie with her favorite cake from ele’ cake company.

Circa 1978 and other ramblings

I love having a daughter. It’s the best. Especially when she gets the toys out my sister and grew up with. This Barbie house was second-hand when my sister and I got it in 1986 (date on bottom is 1978! Before I was born!). Addison is more than happy to have the “mansion” in her basement now. We also have Barbies from the very early 80’s and a sweet Jem and the Holograms doll.

Oh and don’t forget Danny from New Kids on the Block!

So besides playing Barbies, we’ve been trying to get a plan together for what we want to do to our house. Everytime I think about it, it gives me anxiety. I am the type of person that wants to do it all NOW. It is obviously not going to work like that. It really started when I found this sweet deal on the Benjamin Moore website, for a FREE Gallon of their Advance paint, which is an oil-based paint that cleans up like a latex and it is low-VOC. It is specifically made for cabinets and trim. I registered for the coupon (this was on January 4th) and when it was sent to me the same day, it had an expiration date of 12/31/11 on it. I was so mad! I emailed the Benjamin Moore customer service department and kindly asked them to extend the offer to me since it was still on their website. A couple days later I received and email back that indicated I could purchase a gallon (which is $49 a gallon) and they would refund my purchase!! The closet retailer who carries this type of paint happened to be in Centerville. I went up there on Monday (MLK Day) and purchased the paint along with a quart of another amazing paint for our master bath vanity and some other furniture. When I went to print the coupon to email back to Benjamin Moore along with my paint receipt, the coupon would not print (assuming because it was expired). So now I’m waiting again for a response as to whether or not they will still refund my purchase. Keep your fingers crossed.

I bought “Simply White” for the cabinets and trim and “Black Bean Soup” for the furniture/vanity. When I told hubby about the paint, he didn’t think it was a good idea to do the kitchen cabinets at this time since we wanted to also do granite counters, sink and backsplash. I am instead going to work on the moulding/casing around the windows and doors with the white paint. One thing is leading to another, again, giving me an anxiety attack. Our baseboards are in really bad shape, so instead of painting them, we plan to replace them. This gives Jack a chance to buy 2 new nail guns, so I think he is happy. But then baseboards make me think about flooring (since we need that too).

So the room I plan to focus on next is the dining room. I found some really inexpensive curtain panels at Marshall’s the other day that I couldn’t resist. I initially wanted to make them, but I needed at least 12 yards of material, which was probably going to be a minimum of $120 in fabric alone. In the Marshall's clearance section I found 2 packages (2 panels per package) that were $10 each for a whopping total of $20. They were too short though, so I went to work on lengthening them. I already had the material that just so happened to match my color scheme and then I bought 5 yards of brown ribbon.

I didn't have a zoom lens on my camera so I couldn't get the whole window, but you'll get the idea.

Too short:

Just right:

I plan to do the walls in Revere Pewter (Olympic One paint color matched to this Benjamin Moore color), paint the existing trim-windows, chair rail and baseboard since they are newer and in good shape. The dark paint I bought will be for the buffet, table and chairs.

2011 in Review

Since I feel like blogging is the best way to document our family memories, I better get back on the bandwagon.  I just feel like I don't have any time!  The new year is giving me a fresh start, but I also feel like I need to review 2011, so here goes....

January 2011
-We celebrated the new year in Michigan with Jack's family
-Sister turned 29
-Started the photography class at Live Oaks
-Grand Rapids, MI trip for Jack's cousin-Rob's-retirement from the Army

Me, Tara, Deanna, and Rob

At the Retirement dinner

February 2011
-Quiet month
-Continued photography class

March 2011
-Dad and Uncle Steve's birthdays
-During Jack's spring break he constructed a gorgeous pergola and paver patio at the Parker Road house

In progress

Finished pack porch/patio

April 2011
-Finally decided we really wanted to move, started looking for houses and getting ours ready to sell
-Grandma Jackie took Aunt Amy and I to San Francisco.  It was an amazing trip

Us by the Golden Gate Bridge before a tour of Napa and Sonoma Wineries



Postcard Row with the city in the distance

 May 2011
-Traveled to Michigan to visit with Jack's cousin Jeremy
-After finding out that it wasn't smart to sell the Parker Road house, we decided to lease it.  We put an ad on Craig's List and had about 7 families interested in it over 2 days.  We showed it to 5 great families, but decided to rent it to a couple from the Hamilton area.  We couldn't be happier. 
-Looked at only 2 houses and decided on a foreclosure in Miami Township with a Loveland address (Milford Schools).

Before we bought

After we bought and painted the front door, etc.

June 2011
-Continued to get the Parker Road house ready to rent and pack to move.  We closed on June 24th and finished moving by the 30th since the renters moved in July 1. 
-Celebrated Addison's 4th birthday on June 5th at the pool.  She got a new bike!

Addy and her BFF Kylee

July 2011
-Spent a week in Caseville, MI with Jack's side of the family.  It was a bittersweet trip since it was the last time we'd see Jeremy. 

-Jack traveled to Michigan again mid-July to celebrate his cousin Jeremy's life.  He passed after a three-year battle with occular melanoma. 
-Jack started football camp

August 2011
-Jack finishes his Masters in Educational Leadership from Wright State University!  What an accomplishment!
-Back to school for Jack
-Addy loves her new house and neighborhood. 
-Bought a hot tub from a friend and built a deck for it. 
-Jack and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary with a night at Montgomery Inn and champagne.  It was wonderful!
-Continued to make small outdoor improvements to the new house house including 4 yards of mulch and a lot of weeding/clearing out.
-Celebrated Aunt Amy's 30th Birthday and Grandma Jackie's 60th Birthday with a surprise party at our house

September 2011
-Addy started gymnastics and ballet at Dance, Etc.

this was taken with my phone, but you get the idea

-Football season is in full swing; Jack is gone a lot.

October 2011
-Got together with friends a bunch of weekends
-Took my friend's daughters' senior pictures.  They turned out great!
-Went to the Zoo's Hallzooween festival
-Visted Shaw Farms to get pumpkins


-Had my wisdom teeth taken out
-Celebrated Halloween as a cat

Not her whole outfit, but you get the idea

November 2011
-Had gum surgery...horrible!!!
-Decided to look into back surgery again.  Had several MRIs and X-Rays
-Celebrated Jack's 33nd birthday
-Flew to Columbia, MD (Baltimore) to visit Uncle Steve for Thanksgiving with Jack's family

at Steve's apartment with his roommates

December 2011
-Went to the Zoo's Festival of Lights.  This pic was taken from Jack's phone, so it is not the best, but we were having a good time on the train

-Celebrated my 32nd birthday on the 8th
-Went to 2 Christmas parties
-Hosted my neighborhood's ladies night Christmas party on the 7th
-Underwent an AxiaLIF Spinal Fusion on December 16th.  My L5 and S1 Vertebrae were fused together with bone from my hip.  2 screws were installed to help with stability.  The screws alone cost $120,000 so I was very nervous about the insurance process, etc.  I had planned to be off work for 4 weeks (scheduled to go back on January 17), but will probably go back January 10th, part time for a week.  I am doing so much better.  I am very surprised at how quickly I am healing.  I am happy it doesn't hurt to cough or sneeze and I can get out of bed in the morning without screaming.  I am hoping to finally be able to run again and lift weights.
-Celebrated New Year's Eve with Jack's family and our friends Rob and Audrey and their adorable boys.


That is the year in a nutshell....major highlights. We really enjoyed watching Addison grow over the past year.  It is amazing how smart she is.  She has learned to write all of her letters and numbers and is starting to learn sight words.  She knows all of the continents and the oceans.  She is starting to learn the bones of the body and sings a new song everyday.  She loves to help with any chore, including loading the dishwasher, laundry and vacuuming.  She loves her pets and playing with Barbies, dolls and her "office".  I am looking forward to teaching her how to sew during the next year. 

I hope that 2012 is a healthy year for all of us and the rest of our family and friends.  I am looking forward to making more improvements in the house, including the 2 bathrooms upstairs and the kitchen.  Jack of course wants to build a shed and fence.  Addison only has 6 months of preschool left until she is off for the summer with Jack and starts Kindergarten in August.  Time goes by too fast.

Happy 2012!!