Ready for photo overload?

Meet Kenzie...Syd's new buddy, or at least for 2 days.

Kenzie is hubby's kind of niece...I think! I haven't seen this girl since she was 5, so seeing her again was quite the shock to both of us! Syd couldn't get enough of her however, and you see the nasty face because Kenzie had just turned away from Sydney and wasn't supposed to be looking at her. I guess you could call it a love hate relationship.

On to the next feat....isn't this cute?

I've been searching for a bed set for new baby, and hadn't come across one that I absolutely loved....so meet my bubbles! I test drove a purple butterfly pattern, but between the color and the end result I wasn't super pleased, so I moved on to something I'm completely in love with. Keep an eye on my etsy....the butterfly bedding along with the hats I did last year will be making an appearance soon!

And on to little brother!

It's been a few months, but we've had a super crazy house the last few months.

This guy hit a milestone the end of may...High School Graduation!

I realized something as I was walking into the Gym doors that day, I'm getting old!

My baby brother graduated 10 years almost to the day after I did,

he also did so with honors (go little brother!) and he had one of the same teachers I did,

and she retired after him!

After a brief conversation with one of my favorite high school teachers, we realized our lives don't always take the path you see when you leave that building.

I for one never thought I would make my way slowly through college, only to graduate and decide to stay home with my babies....luckily my degree will allow me to work from home when things slow down a bit.

I realized another thing looking at this picture, this will be the ONLY photo in existence after age 5 that will show Cole and Caley willingly holding hands!

Yep, those are both my babies! Or at least they were years ago, now they're growing into amazing people, especially with all of the hurdles they've crossed!

And a thought for the day...

why do we spend a fortune on furniture?

I will never again pay outrageous prices for a piece of furniture I can whip up with a few boards, glue, nails and some paint! We have end tables that look like they're ready to decompose, and they aren't actually that old....nor were they very cheap! We have an entertainment center that nothing fits in....and we were agonizing over bedroom furniture, mostly the cost!

Meet my little friend....I like to call him nighstand!

The photo doesn't do the finish justice at all....but believe me, I will never again buy a piece of furniture I can build! The top of this will never bubble like our end tables, we won't ever cry about how much was spent on it, and if I fall out of love with it in a few years it can be replaced without cringing! It will grow into an entire bedroom set as soon as we replace our bed...no use in building the headboard/footboard for a queen when we plan on getting a king, right? Until then I will continue replacing the cheaply made store-bought furniture one piece at a time.

We're also test driving a stool in our kitchen, which so far has held up really well, so chances are a few more are going to appear, but first up is getting baby out of her nice warm cozy and in the real world with the rest of us! Due date: the 11th....but hopefully she's here before monday!