Where You Live Friday: Entry Ways

This week on WYLF over at Kelly's Korner is Entry ways! I think ours is beautiful and - as always - full of a few special memories!

This is the view from the living room, which is how I most often seen our entryway (I rarely come in the front door!) Doesn't it just look peaceful? Or maybe it seems that way, after the chaos of the family room! ;)

This is what you see as you walk in the door.... (this pic is from moving day, obviously, since there is no furniture!)

Here's a recent one that shows the view to the right...
And a view from the gameroom upstairs....

Here you can see our double staircase - one comes down to the front door, the other to the family room. I LOVE having it this way! (And Big Sis likes to race me upstairs at bedtime - we each get our own staircase!)

Some of our special memories that we keep in the entryway.... this is our wedding picture, which we finally (after 7+ yrs of marriage!) had custom framed. And I love it!

Can you see the frame detail? It's not the best shot, but I tried....

On the console table, we've got G-man's newborn pic (watch for his 1 year pics soon - Kristie and I have been brainstorming his photo shoot!), a family pic from last summer about a week before I had G (from yet another Kristie photo session!), and a candid from our wedding day.

There's generally not much action in the entryway, seems like... but last summer, every Monday, it was the home of my weekly belly shots! (I've never followed thru on something like this before and I'm so glad I did! I have a weekly pic from 3 months pregnant until 3 days before I had G!)

Thanks for viewing our entryway! For more of our house tour, visit here.

THAT friend

Do y’all have this friend? I hope so…. This is the friend who you haven’t actually SEEN in 4 yrs (I can’t believe that, still!)…. The friend that you talk to very sporadically (mostly because you both work like crazy and because this friend is an international jetsetter!) but can pick up like you never left off? This is the friend who just gets you? The friend that makes you laugh til you hurt. The friend that would ALWAYS be on your side and agree that anyone who isn't on OUR side is... well, the enemy. The friend that you had inside jokes with, coined new phrases that you still - to this day - use....

That’s my friend Amy….. She’s coming this weekend from DC where she’s a super important person at the pentagon. Isn’t that cool? The funny thing is….. we worked together in our very first jobs out of college at a retailer in KS…. Picture:

Yes, Elle Woods. That was us. Smart…. But you wouldn’t know it by looking at us or listening to us. ;) Because we were way too into other things (like rather it was a curly hair day or straight - because honestly, you're taken more seriously with straight hair)... or what sale was on at the mall.... but watch out, because if you underestimated us.... damn, YOU would look stupid! (What's even funnier? Wasn't the 2nd movie something like Elle Woods Goes to Washington? And that's exactly what Amy did! She's the foxiest girl in the pentagon!)

I cannot wait to have some girl time!!!! Haven't had any since.... well, 6 months ago, when Mr. Fix-It surprised me for my birthday and sent me for a spa day with Mrs. Everything. We're going to get facials or manis... go shopping, to the pool... she's going to MEET the kiddos for the first time... I just can't believe we let life get in the way like this!

She's getting married this fall in DC and I can't wait to hear all the amazing, big-city details. (Mr. Fix-It and I got married in my small hometown, on a small budget, so I've always been fascinated by weddings of all sizes and budgets!) I'll try to take a few pics... and scan in some from the last time we saw each other - it was before I even owned a digital camera!

This weekend is going to be just what I need to relieve some of this yucky work stress!

A Semi-Homemade 4th of July

FINALLY! Omg, this work week has been insane. I have worked til 8 at the office all week, and then come home to work some more. But tonight - I'm leaving at a decent hour! I promise....

Okay, a quick run down of our patriotic festivities, food, fun!

It all started with Thursday's Patriotic Parade at school. I had missed the last parade (something Big Sister had reminded me of every. day. last. week. Nothing like the mommy guilt!) But I was there AND took pictures - in case I have to use them to prove to her that I don't always have to miss these events!

She truly was happy to see me....

That's her at the front, as they were lining up for the parade. ;)
Best part was that my favorite mommy was there, and we got to chat the whole time the parade was going on inside (it was 105+ outside - smart move!) She's working in a stressful career, managing the house with 2 kids... just like me. And she's decided she cannot continue with the hours she puts in (like me) and she's doing something about it - going to nursing school! What an inspiring chat... I think I need to get together with her, outside of school functions!

And the back of her outfit - she was so proud of the flag.


We had popsicles and red, white & blue popcorn!


Then we settled in for the Creature Teacher. Yes, she had snakes... 2 diff ones. Alledgedly not poisonous. ;) And Big Sis got to pet a chinchilla. Creature Teacher had the cutest hedgehog and a few other things....


The 4th rolled around and it was time to get ready to par-tay!
I had been looking for an excuse - any excuse - to use 4 sticks of butter in Pioneer Woman's famous chocolate sheet cake.

Can I just say that I really love baking and cooking? I just wish I had more time to do it! And this smelled soooo yummy while I was making it!
Big Sis worked really hard on decorating it....

I had grand visions of a super semi-homemade patriotic party (say that 3 times fast!).... but with the way work has been lately, I settled for pulling together what I could! I have red dishes, so that helps... and we live in Texas, so of course we have a plate like this one:


I threw red, white & blue touches wherever I could:

Look at this cute pic G-man 'made' at school - it's his face as the statue of liberty!

We had strawberries and blueberries.....

Mr. Fix-It grilled sliders and brats (but I didn't get any pics once all the food was ready!)... Mr. Everything made his famous mac & cheese... Mr. Fix-It made the guac that I beg for on a weekly basis (I'll have to post his recipe sometime!)... and my brother brought his girlfriend, her famous dip, and a watermelon!
Oh, and Mr. Fix-It grilled corn on the cob... if you've never had yours grilled, I suggest you try it. You'll never eat it any other way. Just spray on some butter, salt/pepper/season (I love dill, but that's just me), wrap in foil and throw on the grill!


A few things I'd picked up randomly ended up being the hit of the party! The taffy is peppermint and Mrs. Everything's favorite. And we could NOT keep the girls out of the star spangled marshmallows!


Speaking of the girls.... Big Sis and Miss Priss had all the fun they usually do. Here they are, dancing to Lady Gaga - they both insist it's their favorite. (Big Sis is taking a break from her old fav, All the Single Ladies by Beyonce.)


And the daddies should have realized that Rock Band would not be safe with them around.... they had to play!


We suggested they play the (Fisher Price) piano.... and G had to help!


Then on to the fireworks, put on by our town! I didn't get any pics of the actual fireworks, but I thought they did a great job! Here's the Semi-Homemade family, heading towards the fun - live music, bounce houses, food, you name it!Here is Big Sis, watching a hot air balloon land (or take off?) with Uncle Frank's girlfriend, Courtney.

I was so proud of G-man! We didn't get them home and in bed until 11pm and he was a trooper! Although he kept trying to lay down on the blanket (in typical G style - on his tummy with his butt in the air!), and the fireworks kept him awake and confused. But he seemed to enjoy his 1st fireworks!


And those girls.... by now severely sugar buzzed from those damn marshmallows..... running it off.....

Here's Big Sis (with a marshmallow in her mouth - MY goodness!) and Mr. Fix-It right before the big show!

Hope y'all had a fun & safe 4th of July! I've got several posts half written, just waiting for me to have a spare second... so stay tuned!

ETA: I just visited Mrs. Everything's blog and she has tons more pics of the festivities from the 4th! Go check them out!

Who likes to read?

Me!!!!!!!!!!!! Who has time? Uh, that's another story.

But check out this awesome giveaway from the sweetest cupcake connoisseur - Kimmie! Earlier this year, she met Jen Lancaster, author of the book I'm reading right now (Bitter is the New Black) and a bunch of other super fun reads. Anyway, she had Jen autograph her latest and greatest, Pretty in Plaid and she's giving it away!

How sweet is that? I've been wanting to read that, but who can afford the hardback in this recession? (Okay, if I was willing to part with my 1 - or 2 - a week Starbucks deliciousness, I could prob afford it. But I'm not willing to go to that extreme!) Just visit her giveaway and enter to win!

.

And I promise I'll get around to a pic recap of the 4th. We had lots of fun. But then the reality of Sunday and an insanely packed work week hit me yesterday and well.... everything else fell to the bottom of the list. Stay tuned!

Where You Live Friday - Yard & Garages

Wow, it's only Sunday and I'm already doing Where You Live Friday at Kelly's Korner! What an improvement! ;) This week is yards & garages.... This is the 2nd house that my hubby has built us - and my, how we love it!

We lost a beautiful crape myrtle tree during a storm this year, and replaced it with a gorgeous magnolia tree (don't you know you're in the South, now?!) It's looking a little sad right now, with the temps around 105 lately... but we're giving her a little more tlc going fwd so she'll recover!


I love begonias..... you can see our O-state stone here.... We are THE hugest fans and totally bleed orange & black...

Here is our garage! Inside, it's filled with strollers, a bow flex, my car, bikes, and lots and lots of tools (they don't call him Mr. Fix-It for nothing!)

Moving on to the back yard!

It's the typical suburban back yard, huh? ;) That's Big Sister's weeee (that's Big Sis-speak for playset!) And G-man's is to the right... although they have the most fun when he's on the red baby swing next to her big girl swing.... and now that she can pump herself, it's even more enjoyable for momma. ;)
We've never had a back yard that I've enjoyed as much as this one....There's plenty for the kiddos to do, a huge covered area for dinners and entertaining, a patio for bike riding, a fireplace for s'mores making... you name it!


That patio furniture was our gift to ourselves for our 5th wedding anniversary! And I love the pair of outdoor wall hanging we have on that far wall (you can only see one in the pic)..


Do you see the bird flying over the fireplace? I hadn't noticed him and I guess my camera scared him into flight! That was a project after we moved in.... and if we get around to it, we're going to build a matching outdoor kitchen on the other side of the patio.


My patriotic cuties in front of the (unlit) fireplace on the 4th of July! No s'more making lately... it has been way TOO hot!

We're not going to build a pool until the kiddos get a bit older (and until we plan to stay in a house for longer than a couple yrs!) So, until then, we're living in a neighborhood with great amenities! This is the beach club, which is pretty cool when you live landlocked in the middle of TX! This is Big Sis last June.... I haven't managed to get the camera there yet this year! (And probably won't until G-man's 1st birthday party there!)

Big Sis loves the splash pad.... and G-man is learning to tolerate it. ;)


And another pic from last summer, this time the aquatic center.... the kiddie pool has a beach enrtrance with fountains which is great for the mommas...

Thanks for checking out our outdoor living! If you're interested in seeing the rest of the house - my husband is THE best builder and I love to decorate! - check it out here.

We heart America!

I was hoping to have our 4th of July card and a few pics from yesterday's Patriotic Parade ready to share with y'all, but.... we've been having so much fun enjoying our extra day off together (and getting ready for all of tomorrow's fun!) that I didn't get a chance to pull it off....

But here is G-man and Big Sis before they went to school yesterday, dressed in what little red, white, & blue mommy could pull together last second!

And I'll be back with the wrap up of our weekend BBQ with the Everythings and some of my assorted family.... I love summer!!