Redecorating: Room #1 Done

Reagan's room used to be our guest room before we had her. The walls were a dark green and her crib bedding went with it fine, but it wasn't very cutesy for a two year old. Here's how her room used to look:

Now that she's in a big girl bed, new bedding and all, we wanted to give her a new room. She loves blue so we wanted to incorporate that but not make it all blue. We're also working on redoing the trim on the inside of the house to white instead of brown oak, that we currently have, so we thought we'd start with Reagan's room since it was getting an overhaul anyway.

She got a new 6 panel door (the others were just plain oak, no panels), new paint job, and our own version of crown moulding.
New closet doors as well, a nice upgrade from what she had. Nick has done all this woodwork, while I'm more in charge of the colors and design.
The finished product! Also, a few other brag points :), we got her adorable sleigh bed off of Craigslist, mattress, boxspring and all for $200. PLUS, the Pottery Barn Kids comforter I was wanting and trying to check out on ebay, I found instore, in the 50% off bin (YESSSS!) and it was cheaper than ebay because I would have had to pay for shipping and there's no salestax in Oregon. Score!
A big girl room for our big girl!!!

Got Kids? Get M.O.M.S.!

I'm a part of an awesome ministry at my church called MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support). I'm a table leader this year and it has been a wonderful experience. I appreciate this place so much because no matter what your age, ethnicity or religion, we're all moms looking for the same thing. I've made lifelong friendships that I never would have found otherwise. Here's a little snapshot of my "table". Crazy and small as we are, it's awesome: back row, from left to right, Amanda (my co-leader), Kat, Carmelle, bottom row, Lori, Sherry and Me.

If you're ever wanting to come visit let me know. There are about 150 attendees, 12 tables each with two leaders, great speakers every week and the most awesome spread of food imaginable. Plus, cheap childcare. :) Come and be refreshed. Love my girls!

Enjoying my Family

Sometimes I really like to stop and be grateful for all the I have. My health, a great mate, healthy, happy kids and the love of God. Taking time to enjoy the small things often gets lost and I like to take a moment and be thankful for my family.

the unconditional love of a two year old daughter for her daddy!

the joy of playing a sport just to play (he's not too competitive) :)

frolicking around enjoying God's nature, even if it is freezing

my handsome hubby, couldn't have been more blessed!

in flight, pure joy!

the look of joy

childlike innocence!

Girl Bonding

Last weekend some friends and I went to the coast for some much needed refreshment and rest. We've all got kids (9 between us all and one on the way, not me), so we just needed some girl time. It was so fun and I'm so blessed to be meeting and sharing memories with my new friends. Here's some looks at our little trip.

From left to right: Virginia with Baby Joe, me, Gretchen and Katie.

Baby Joe, 6 months. What a lucky dude!!! He was such a good baby!!!!

Virginia and Katie, dinner at Mo's

Gretchen and I, showing the love

Sunset over Haystack

Me and Gretchers!!!!

Not loving my double chin but Katie didn't want her head to look big so I had to be closer to the camera!!

Wow, that's alot of taffy, Ginny!

My lost love, I think his chest is bigger than mine (but that's not saying much)! :)

Katie in the sand on our walk to Haystack

Virginia with Baby Joe in there somewhere

Me and Virginia

Walking in the sand

No climbing rocks, the birds make their nests there

Ethan's first Soccer Game!

We decided to put Ethan in soccer this spring to get some exercise and have some fun. It's alot more action packed than T-ball, let me tell you (we did that last year, kind of a yawn). So here's some shots of his first game. He did great, spent ALOT of time on the ground, even the other parents were noticing how often he fell. It was pretty funny. But he got right back up.

He was pretty intense. Go Purple Bugs (that's their team name).

It was cold too. Nick and Reagan cheering him on.

Go Ethan! Kick it hard!

Running like the wind!

Erin's baby shower...and MY gift! :)

My great and wonderful (and totally hot) friend, Erin, is preggers with her first child, a boy, which she and her hubby, Andy, have dubbed "Bo" for "baby Oranen" (their last name). At first I told her it looked like b.o. (body odor), but I was promptly corrected. :) Anyway, I couldn't be more happy for the two of them and their little coming attraction.

For those of you who don't know, Erin and I roomed and worked (and starved) together in 1999 at Cannon Beach Conference Center and we've been friends ever since. It was the best summer to have before getting married.

So here's a couple pics of her delightful baby shower, a decent picture of us (finally), and the gift that I'm very proud to have put together for her. I thought it was so cute wrapped up I had to share.

Our Mini Getaway-Cannon Beach, OR

This was the first time we've taken the kids to any kind of hotel type vacation, other than staying with friends or relatives. Here's a little glimpse of our time.

Gotta load up with the right stuff, a nice 24 oz. Big Train Chai, that oughta last me thru the ups...

and the downs of the two hour drive. Reagan was done after 45 minutes (actually she did pretty good).

We arrived at beautiful Cannon Beach, OR. The weather was outstanding.

Our lovely hotel, The Ocean Lodge. *Thanks Erin!*

A great family shot of us on the beach (I took it myself with the timer).

Digging for "treasures" and enjoying my complimentary hotel cookie. Yummmmm!

I love this shot of Reagan throwing rocks on the beach.

Ethan and I at Mo's for dinner.

I LOVE this sign, I need it at my house. If you can't read it, it says, "Unattended children will be given an espresso and a free puppy". This was in a little play area loft in the hotel. Too cute!

Playing with Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys.

One of our gorgeous sunsets. This is why I love this place, it's heavenly!!!!

Ethan enjoying the sunset, and the seagulls, with me from our balcony.

"Tuckered OUT!!!"

Me and Reag's on the beach, a bit windy.

Did a little kite flying as well.

Our last morning, about 8am!

...and we didn't want to leave!