Saturday, June 21, 2008

"Boots, Daddin..."

Last weekend, Adam got Jackson dressed. He asked me what he should wear for the day, and I told him "play clothes". Then, Adam asked Jackson, "What shoes are we going to wear today?" And, matter of factly, Jackson answered, "Boots, Daddin...." and pointed to his snow boots on the top shelf! I heard the conversation go on from the office, so I was ready for when he presented himself in his stylish snow boots (in Texas....) At least they match his outfit!


RSS Feed

Hey everyone! Wanna know when I update the blog without having to actually go to his site everyday? (unless you really wanna see his cute face daily!) At the bottom of the blog is a little scroll over that says: Subscribe: Posts (Atom) ...very very bottom of blog on the left hand side....all the way down...

Click on that and then add it to your bookmarks toolbar at the top of your internet screen. Then, to check for new updates, just click on that link and it will give you the name of the newest post! And you can click on just that post.....pretty easy! Let me know if that helps!

Friday, June 20, 2008

New Kitchen Update

Okay, so do you want to know why I haven't blogged much lately, nor have I gotten much work done with the business? Two words: new kitchen! Well, it's not really new, just a new counter top, new back splash, new hardware, and someday, newly painted cabinets and hardware. But so far, we've only gotten the first 3 on that list nearly completed. So here's the story:

We were in this house 4 days and decided "the blue has got to go." I just really didn't like it. I thought I could live with it, but I could not. So, we priced it out and after debating a TON over the counter top color, I compromised and went with the lighter, more neutral color. We chose Avanza Quartz in Portafino. We paid a little extra for a fancy 1.5" bevel. And then we waited 3 weeks for them to be made. When the guys showed up to install, the counter tops were bull nose. Not the 1.5" pretty bevel. (if you know me, I hate anything rounded. I like things to be clean lines and straight and squared...hence everything in my home is SQUARE--or will be soon) So, I tried to be nice about it and I just said "Go ahead and put it all in and I'll see if I like it, and if I can live with it." So they did, and I hated it. BUT, they were nice and left the pieces in while they made new ones for 3 weeks.
Bull nose mistake


New faucet



My microwave has been collecting dust in my formal living room for a month now.



Last week, the correct pieces were brought to my house. I had asked the last installers what they did with all the old pieces, and they said these pieces that are cut wrong will just sit at the warehouse until someone throws them away. So Adam and I got the idea that we would just pay the guys to leave us a few pieces. AND THEY DID!! We gave them $50 and asked how many we could keep: and they put 3 huge pieces in the backyard!! YEAH!! Those 3 pieces will be used to create Adam's outdoor kitchen someday soon!! What a deal!

Installation of Bevel counter tops



Thank you countertop installer guys (suckers..$50...hehe!!)


So after my great new 1.5" bevel countertops were installed, I LOVED them!! HUGE difference! That same day, our good friend Eric came over to start the backsplash: 4" tumbled marble on a 45* angle. So cool. After many days of hard labor in putting those pieces just right, we are at the stage of sealing and then caulking the base and edges (he's doing that on Monday!) Yeah!! I LOVE my "new" kitchen! I can't stop staring at it! Since Jackson's birthday is next week, we are leaving the staining of the cabinets until sometime later. Anything would have been better than that blue, but I think we did pretty good with our selections (I have to say, I was really nervous about them, but I love them now!)

Eric working hard

Grout starting to dry


Awwww...put back together and functioning again!






In the meantime, I did get new curtains and curtain rods for my downstairs: formal, dining, and family room. I also got a new light fixture for the dining room that Adam put up last night. I have video of Jackson helping which I'll post when I have time next week. Right now, I'm uploading photos and killing time.....just so you know!


Eric is still currently working on the fireplace, so I'll post those pics when he gets finished!

During all of this lovely "re-facing" (as I've been calling it) Jackson has either been intently helping everyone that walks in our door "I elp! I elp!" (he carries, or steals, their tools....seriously) or he just plays trains:




And apparently my new curtains are not just pretty, they are multi-functional. They serve as great hiding places too!



And today, as I was working on the computer getting Lauren and Wade's book posted, Jackson was being awfully quiet. As I turned the corner, I found Jackson in the booster seat that Daddy brought home from work (someone bought it for a quick trip to Houston and then gave it to Adam...they didn't want to lug it home) just chillin, singing/whispering his ABCs with the cool book lights on....everyone needs to be alone sometimes--until Mommy busts in with the f-ing camera!! Can't a kid get a little privacy!


...uhh, no.








Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Video clips from MeMaw's Bertday

I am just now getting around to posting the videos from MeMaw's "bertday". Jackson got to play W-ii for the first time, and it was hysterical. He kept asking,"When it Jackson's turn?" "It Jackson turn?", so we let him play tennis first. I couldn't get the screen and him in the shot, but it's still pretty funny!

First, the cake:



Tennis attempt #1:



Tennis attempt #2:

Thursday, June 12, 2008

This week....long....

Okay, so lots has been happening at our house lately...more pictures to come (I'll post them on this entry too, so check back later), I promise, but I have to blog some of the fun stuff that happened this week before I forget.

On Sunday, I took Jackson to the train tracks to get some shots for his birthday card--and although his head was down the ENTIRE time watching the tracks, I managed to get a bunch of fun shots (including the one for the front of his card where he was saying "um-on momma!").

On Monday, we ran a TON of errands getting some stuff for his birthday party (yes, it's in full swing around here!), then picked up GG Jane and headed to Kemah to ride the rides. We also stopped into the Thomas the Train store and Jackson went BANANAS!! All the trains, the train table, the track, the cool new destinations (even Mommy was having a blast checking out all the new Thomas stuff!) We especially love the new Thunder and Lighting track, the Chocolate Factory, the Roller Coast, and the Power Plant (to name a few!).

Tuesday was FABULOUS!! We had Little Gym in the morning, and we were the only ones in the class that day! We have a new teacher (not sure about her yet) and Jackson showed off by following most of her directions. After LG, my friend Courtney West (she just got married on Saturday, and I shot the wedding) and her little girl Delaney (born on the same day as Jackson, just a few hours earlier!) came for a play date! Courtney and I had some wedding stuff to finalize, so the kiddos played trains while we chatted, then we ate lunch at Chick-fil-A, and then headed to Target to wander and shop (it was pouring down rain--yuck!). We had big plans of laying by the pool and letting the kids swim, but it was storming, so we shopped! Honestly, very relaxing. The kids didn't take a nap, so the minute they left, Jackson was OUT. They had so much fun (Jackson needs to work on sharing his toys a little more), but they did GREAT together!!

On Wednesday, Mommy worked ALL day in the office. I am ALMOST caught up on books (Lauren and Hillary are next to post--early next week, I hope!) and then I walked to GG Jane's to get Jackson and meet up with Daddy for dinner (GG cooked for us! Yeah!) Right after dinner, we hoped in the car to Galveston to see our friend Nathan who is in town. We went straight to the beach and Jackson and I collected sea shells for Mommy's beachy bathroom! He kept picking up shells and saying "It a good one Momma...It a good one!", b/c I kept telling him, "Okay, let's find the good ones!" We were only down there for about 2 hours, but it seemed like time stood still--I love the beach...the sound of the waves and the ocean breeze....awesome! We stopped at Marble Slab on the way home....gooooood.

On Thursday, I had to shoot some watches at Lewis Jewelers all day. When I was done, I met up with the family at Grandma Netty and Grandpa Scotts--because it was MeeMaw's Bertday! YEAH! Jackson got MeeMaw some Calla Lilies, and the rest of us all went in on the best present ever--a W-ii!! Oh my gosh! SOOO much fun! Daddy got off work early and we ate dinner, opened her present, ate cake, then played W-ii ALL NIGHT LONG!! I love the bowling, the tennis, and the boxing!! Jackson even got in on the action--I have it all on video, so don't worry, you'll get to see it soon!!

***DISCLAIMER: MOMMY TALKING ABOUT POTTY TRAINING AND POOP.
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!***


But the best thing happened tonight--many of you know that Jackson has been actively potty training since 18 months old. He started showing all the signs and was interested, so we didn't push him, we just made sure that he was going on the potty alot and wearing the big boy pants as often as possible...kind of easing him into it. I really thought he would be fully potty trained by his 2nd birthday--practicing couldn't hurt, right? Well, we are there!! We have gone out in public with only big boy pants on (not pull-ups, full on tighty-whities!) about 4 times now with no trouble!!! He poops almost every day on the potty ("I POOOP!" and runs to the potty) and usually grabs himself and says "I pee! Oh, I pee, I pee, I pee" as he runs to the potty. Well, tonight was the clencher. He took his bath, and after I dried him off, I went to get a pull up for bedtime and got distracted by the laundry. Daddy was laying on the bed playing with my new iTouch. Jackson was in the potty--we didn't know what he was doing. All of a sudden, he comes running over to me and says "I pee pee!" I said "Oh shit, Adam, he must have peed on the floor, can you find where he went?!" So Adam asked "Where did you pee pee, Jackson?" and Jackson took him into the potty. In the bottom: poop. I said "did you put him up there?" "No. Did you?" "No." Jackson: "I did!" and with that, he shows us how he climbed up on the potty and proceeds to pee. I have never danced and screamed and laughed so hard in my life!!!! He climbed up like a little monkey, grinning from ear to ear!! He was so PROUD of himself! And we are too!! He is SOOOOO there! We have been wearing big boy pants during the day, but officially tonight, we are in them full time (if we can keep this up!) I am on cloud nine right now!! So many people thought I was nuts trying to get him potty trained. "He's too young!" "Good luck with that, it will never happen..." well, so far so good! LOTS of encouragement! LOTS of praise and EXCITEMENT about the potty, and look what happens!! YEAH!!!!

Tomorrow is a big day for us: our kitchen re-facing will be done! Long story about the countertops to come, but we will have the new countertops and then the tile guy (our very good friend Eric) will be here all weekend finishing up the backsplash and the fireplace! Yeah!

And a busy weekend to come: Sarah + Jonathan's wedding Friday and Saturday in Galveston, a children's session on Sunday in Kingwood and a Maternity session on Sunday (if she doesn't go into labor early! PRAY!!) in Humble. So we are busy busy busy....July. I'm almost to July and my month off.....

Birthday Invite

Many of you will officially be getting these in the mail....but here's a sneak peak!



Friday, June 06, 2008

Jackson's Birthday Party

Hey! We are in the process of planning Jackson's birthday party! It will be on June 28th, 2008, at our new house, in the evening. Invitations will be going out, but I wanted to just give people the heads up!

In case you are wondering, Jackson is obsessed with Thomas the Train, and the movie Cars.

The theme for the birthday is going to be Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. And this year will be nothing less than last year! Food, drinks, music, decorations, photography, and cake!! YEAH!! Attire for the party will not be mandatory this year, but for those that read the blog, red and demin will be encouraged (just so that I can see how many of you that attend read the blog!! HA!!)

Everyone pray that our kitchen re-facing will be complete by the party! We have really had NO TIME to decorate or paint or even hang pictures on the walls, but you won't be able to tell with all the party decorations (I hope!)

Happy Bertday PawPaw Tott!!

Thursday was Pawpaw Scott's birthday! Jackson and I practiced all morning singing "Happy Birthday to you!" and saying Happy Birthday Papa...then, after a conference call, Jackson, MeeMaw and I headed to Randall's to pick up PawPaw's favorite chocolate cake and a balloon. And not just any balloon--a special balloon that Jackson paid for with his own money. Seriously! Every time we are at MeeMaw's and Jackson pee pees on the big boy potty, he gets a quarter. Why? No, we don't always bribe my kid, but he really loves money and putting money in his bank, so it was just the perfect reward! Some kids get an M&M, mine gets a quarter! At MeeMaw's house, he has the Curious George lunch box that Grandma Patty got Jackson for Christmas (b/c he took it over there one day and it became his bank) and that's where he puts all of his "moneeeeey!" So we grabbed the lunch box and headed out the door. And when we got to Randall's, Curious George in tow, he grabbed PawPaw a balloon and paid for it himself! Jackson's first purchase!! YEAH!!l "Tank too" "It PawPaw bertday?" "Happy bertday PawPaw" "Ba-oon fo PawPaw"....and then, came the cake:



Oh his birthday is going to be soooo much fun!!