An entirely too long and overdue post!

I have been MIA recently, sorry! We have been really busy! My last real post was during Matthew's 1st day of preschool. I can't believe how much he has learned in only a month. He amazes me daily. He seems to be fitting in really well with his classmates. We have only had one call home from the teacher saying he punched  a little girl! Oooops! We talked about it and prayed about it and now whenever I go to pick him up he says "we had fun and I didn't punch anyone!" I guess that is a good thing! We went to his Christmas concert mid-December and it was so cute! Matthew did a great job singing the songs and doing all the actions. He starts back up on Wednesday. We are both ready to get back to our regular schedule after an awesome Christmas and New Years. *Sidenote: it took so long to write this entry, it is now Friday, he is currently at preschool!

We ended November with a pretty wonderful Thanksgiving. We went to my stepfather's family Christgiving. Fortunately, they always celebrate Christmas on Thanksgiving just so we don't have to add another Christmas gathering on the 24th or 25th of December. We also made a surprise visit to my Aunt Beth's, my step mom's sister. All in all a great, low key day.

We stayed here in central Illinois this December (last year we visited Katie and Jacob in Arizona). It was a very mild December allowing many walks and trips to the park, which is always nice with a very active 3-year-old! We began the month of December with Patrick's birthday and great friends. We held a frat-style-dance-surprise-party for him! It was so much fun and a total surprise to Patrick. I think he really enjoyed himself, until we arrived home and then he wasn't feeling so hot! I won't go into further detail!

Patrick was offered a job at the beginning of December in IR radiology (Interventional ). We are really excited for this new position and responsibility. He will be working four, ten hour shifts. The same schedule he currently has but a little better hours. He begins his new job the 16th of January. He will remain PRN helping out with dialysis. His patients will greatly miss him and although fellow employees may be silently celebrating his leave they will miss the hard work and reliability they could count on him for. I hope this new job brings a lot of new friendships and a good sense of comradeship. I think these aspects are something his current job is lacking.
Christmas is always a crazy time of year for us. However, it was exciting because it was our 1st Christmas in our new home!

Our Christmas started at about 8:30 am on the 24th. We drove out to Kirby Acres to give Momma K and Big Kev their Christmas present.

All of the siblings pooled together and purchased a pretty awesome looking stone for the end of their driveway.

It started out looking like this.

Loaded in the back of the truck.

The big reveal! Ignore the awake-ness of us all, it was early!

Next we were headed to my Aunt Sara's house where we ate awesome food, opened presents, spent time with family and played games. After we packed everything up we went to my mom and Brian's house for more present opening. We were planning on going to church on Christmas Eve but we were all exhausted and still had another full day ahead of us. 

Christmas morning, we were at the Kirby's again, bright and early. There are always so many presents there. I think I received my two favorite gifts there. One being, a course on Lost Christianities: Christian Scriptures and the Battles over Authentication. I love it! It really got me searching my Bible and wanting to learn more. I also received a Nook! Which has helped a lot on my history of the Bible searching. We then packed up and went to my dad and Barbie's house. Patrick received his favorite gifts there, Illini basketball tickets and a Kindle. I think my favorite gifts Patrick received were a miter saw and a table saw! Yahoo, let the home renovations begin!  Matthew opened a big wheel which he loves! He even got to ride around outside, thanks to the awesome weather.

After my dad and Barbie's we headed to my Grandpa and Grandma Swisher's. We had a great lunch and enjoyed a fun white elephant gift exchange. Check out the awesome-ness I came home with + $25! 

They totally do not go with anything in my house, but I love them, and I will find a place for them, hopefully!

We ended the day back at Kirby Acres for a pretty awesome prime rib dinner! We had a great two days celebrating our Saviors birth by enjoying time with family. The only thing I would of changed is making myself go to a Christmas service. Top of the list for next year! 

I almost forgot! Christmas morning we gave Matthew our presents to him. We really only gave him two presents as we knew he would be getting a ton everywhere else. The first gift was this bad boy...

                                         

 ...the best photo I could get of Matthew.

I love this picture because my two full grown cousins are in the bounce house and Matthew is not!

To be completely honest when we showed Matthew the bounce house on Christmas morning he hated it. He  did not want anything to do with it. I even told him we were going to take it back and he did not care at all. We were pretty let down. We thought it was going to be the best gift ever. After a few beautiful days and having friends over he wouldn't give it up for anything! I think it is really going to be great this summer. The other gift is a work bench we had been working on for a while, we just never got around to finishing it. We decided to make Christmas our goal and Matthew loves it!

Between Christmas and New Years we did take a trip to Chicago to attend a funeral for Patrick's grandmother. She passed away the Monday before Christmas. This will be the third funeral we have gone to Chicago for. It is always a weird event because of course we are sad at the passing of a family member, but it is also the only time we see our family that lives in Chicago. After the visitation and funeral there is always a luncheon and it is so much fun! I love catching up with everyone and seeing how their kids are growing, right along with Matthew. I wish we lived closer or made more of a point to visit outside of a funeral. 

New Years day we went to my Swisher grandparents to visit with my Aunt Debbie and cousin Kristen who had come from Texas to visit. I enjoyed catching up with my cousin Kristen. She is probably one of the funniest woman I have ever met! I wish we lived closer.

Aunt Debbie, Grandma Peggy & Me

Benjamin, Aunt Debbie, Me & Kristen

For New Years Eve we went to my Aunt Sara's for great food, company and games. We were not planning on staying out till midnight but we made it and then came home and collapsed!

 Cynthia and her best friend Sonya.

 Claire and I.

 Group photo!

Goofy photo!

 Playing games.

Claire...12:01 am, time to go home!

We have had a few days of snow and took full advantage of them!

To catch everyone up to speed on our house progress. It is moving slowly but surely.

Let's start with the bathroom.

The last time I blogged about the bathroom it looked something like this:

There has been a little improvement made. We now have much better lighting and tile to put down under the shelving.

Now we just need to get around to actually laying the tile and framing out the mirror.

We have started to hang photos in Matthew's room. There are many more to hang.

Along the other wall in his room we have hung a wire to show off all of his art work he brings home from school and church. Excuse the current artwork. It is mine. For some reason when we start to paint at home he just prefers to sit and watch me rather than do his own thing.

We have also painted the kitchen and are getting ready to paint the dining room. I put up some sample colors on our cabinets to see what color I think will be best once I build up the courage to actually paint them. Sherry, from younghouselove recently painted their kitchen cabinets and they look amazing! It gave me a little bit of motivation, but I am still too scared to do anything. : / We also decided we were going to purchase new counters before we paint the cabinets. Sorry I do not have any photos of the kitchen currently. I tried to take some but the lighting is not very good so the quality was not good enough to post a photo. We are currently changing out all of our light switches and outlets. They were all a dingy beige and we are giving them a little update with brand new white ones. I didn't think it would make that much of a difference but it really makes a huge difference.

There is so much more I should have been sharing over the last two months but time got away and I know I have exceeded the appropriate length a blog should be!

Fun in the Sun (& at Ikea)!

Last weekend, two of my good friends and I went on a little shopping trip to Chicago! We had such a great time! Kim introduced us to the world of Ikea! That place is amazing and took way to much of my money! I think I made some really great purchases though! Here are a few shots of the three of us and some of the items I came home with!

Eating lunch at Ikea! It was delicious!

Kim and Brittany being very excited!

And an action shot!

We also had fun dining at Lou Malnati's (where I had the best salad of my life!).

...and for some of the items I came home with...

This is a photo of the display from Ikea. I am waiting for the kitchen remodel before I find the perfect place to put them but I fell deeply in love with them.

This was probably my favorite purchase. It goes on Matthews bed, obviously, however, I could see how you might think Patrick would enjoy it! It is perfect because Matthew and I have been arguing about the color his room is going to be. Yes, Matthew the 3-year-old that lives here! He wants it green and I want it blue. SO....I bought green paint and I am going to paint two of the walls green and the ceiling blue with white clouds! The inspiration room is on the Ikea website! I hope it turns out looking just as good as it does on their site.

...a plant... my very wonderful friend Brittany has me hooked on succulence. I love them. So I bought one from Ikea! I bought many more things but I hate uploading photos on here. It is really a pain and I wish there was an easier way to do it! If there were I would post a lot more!

On to more fun!

Matthew's Aunt Katie and cousin Jacob (you may remember them from here)

are back and we headed to the pool this time!

Doesn't she look awesome in a swimsuit...

someday I hope to look half as amazing as she does!

Yet another hottie in a swimsuit! AND Tucker!

and last but most certainly not least...

not a great photo.

And now I will leave you with more random snapshots...

An Update: on the bathroom

Before

Progress

I'm sorry it is really bad lighting so the colors do not look great together. But hey, we have a toilet in there and that makes me happy! :)

Have a great week everyone!!!

P.S. Sorry for the poor photo quality. Most of the photos were taken on my phone.

I didn't forget you!

I know you were getting worried it was going to be another year before I updated my blog alas I am still here! A lot of stuff has been happenin'! Mostly good stuff and that is what we are going to dwell on today!

First things first. I want to redeem myself from the previous kitchen photo. It was a little messy and well embarrassing! So here is a cleaner version of the kitchen.

Before

Now

You can at least see the counter tops in this one. I am so excited to redo this room but we are still working on the bathroom. Speaking of the bathroom I also have a little photo update on that room as well.

Before

Now

I know it doesn't look a whole lot different but it is! The walls have been smoothed and one coat of paint has been applied. We did purchase a vanity and trim but sadly had to return them. Once we had them in the bathroom I hated them. So we are once again on a vanity search. I thought I wanted white trim but once we put one of the pieces in the room I hated it. It was too similar to the floor and walls. A bonus to oak wood trim is that it matches the rest of the house. So it isn't a big deal just EXPENSIVE!!!

On to another room you haven't seen yet: Matthew's room!!!

He loves it! And so do we! It fits all of his toys! We are getting ready to paint his room green. Not my first choice, but Matthew insisted. Thanks to the Huff Family for donating the funds for the paint!

We have a new addition to the family! His name is Geo! Matthew and Geo have become best friends! They are so cute together!

Geo's favorite place to hide is under Matthew's bed. When we lay Matthew down for his nap or at night Geo whines and waits at his bedroom door.

We just purchased a new bed and I am in love with it. Here is a picture (excuse the mess, you are lucky the bed is made!).

In other news, we have been trying to potty train with no luck but yesterday we had this surprise!

That's right I am the mom that takes a photo of her boy's 1st poop! And as you can tell it was a family affair: mom, dad, Matthew and Geo (and camera!). We were so excited! It only took about 40 minutes of sitting on the toilet and reading books! I was hoping he would be ready this spring so we could have a diaper free summer. I just don't think he is ready. :( And I don't want to make it a huge deal. Yes, diapers are pricey and I would rather not have the expense but one day I will miss those days...or not...

My grandparents gave me this cabinet and I am so excited to refinish it and find a good spot for it in the house!

I also have a bit of exciting news! I am going on a mission trip this summer to Belize! I am beyond happy about this opportunity. I am going with Carrie Webb who was my maid of honor in my wedding. I am hoping it is a great experience for both of us! We are going with a mission called International Servants. We will be going to the Stann Creek District and helping in schools with young children. Pray I don't kidnap one! In order to help with the funds we are having a garage sale at our home June 17 & 18. If you would like to donate some items or come out and purchase some both would be greatly appreciated!

Guess what?!?!? Patrick graduated! We don't know what to do with ourselves not having to work around his school schedule...oh that's right...the bathroom! Some of our very bestest friends came to support and celebrate the pinning!

This is the most random post ever!

I have to go vanity searching!

Thanks for stopping in and catching up with the Kirbys!