Needs Just a Little Practice

I saw the video below online and called the kids down to watch it. It's fun to listen to AND fun to watch! We were all smiling at the end.

Afterward we were in for a treat! Maddie decided that the pianist's part wouldn't be THAT difficult. So she sat laid down to play a little tune for us...





You can hardly tell a difference between the two performances, right??

They Just Needed a Little Push

We opened our pool about a month ago, but weren't able to swim until just a couple weeks ago. Maddie and Jake were excited to get the summer started and lined up together to jump in simultaneously.

This happens every year. It's like a tradition. They hold hands...count to three...

Then stand there.

Then they do it again.

This is SUCH a tradition that I knew I didn't even need to worry about taking pictures on the first "jump".

But, I did have my eye on Mike who was walking behind them. Knowing him so well (and knowing what my own dad did to us...and what I would have done...) I had my camera ready and my mouth shut and just waited...

It's moments like these that we walk away thinking, "Parenting is AWESOME!"

Kitchen Remodel Inspirations

About five or six years ago our neighbor, whom I had never met until that day, invited me into her house (which is exactly like ours) because we were discussing kitchens and they had just remodeled theirs - to the point of moving it to another room. I've never really loved our kitchen - I just haven't liked the layout or the size. When I got home I talked and talked and talked about this awesome kitchen to Mike and suggested we move our kitchen too...I think he replied with an eye roll.

I've continually "dropped this hint" on a regular basis ever since. I've even drawn up plans online and shown them to him. Over this same amount of time our kids have gotten bigger and both like to spend time in the kitchen. Maddie loves to bake and make smoothies. Jake loves to cook. We are discovering that four people in our kitchen does not work out well. Oh yeah...and when there's food out, the dog is SURE to be involved by just sitting at your feet looking up at you. She's a tripping hazard.

We took on the idea of updating our kitchen and picked out all new appliances with the intention of getting a new counter and floor. Then we just stopped and took no action. Neither of us was excited to spend that amount of money on a kitchen we both disliked more and more each day. Mike had drawn up some plans to move the kitchen and we liked it - but that's a huge step and we weren't completely sure it was best. Last week we finally decided to stop talking about it and get it done. We ordered all different appliances than originally planned and set the plans in motion. We are currently waiting on some bids for cabinets and we've started looking online (God Bless Pinterest!) for tile/counter/backsplash ideas.

Last night I was looking through Houzz.com which also has a handy app for my tablet. I was trying to find examples of a cabinet we were looking to order. It was a little late, it had been a long day of already looking at cabinets galore and I was getting a little punch drunk on cabinets. So...I buckled down and got serious on kitchen design...

First we have to decide on our style:

Versailles called - it wants it's kitchen back.

Traditional Kitchen by Lodi Kitchen & Bath Designers WL INTERIORS

A little too simple. (and that thing is a hood fan...)

Contemporary Kitchen by London Interior Designers & Decorators Celia James

We also have to decide on a color scheme:

Perhaps a lovely Blue...

Contemporary Kitchen by Burlingame Photographers Dennis Mayer, Photographer

Or Pink...

Eclectic Kitchen by New York Architects & Designers Cronos Design

Green??

Traditional Kitchen by Crosby Home Builders Copper Basin Custom Homes

Maybe just a little of everything to cover our bases:

Eclectic Kitchen by Hendersonville Artists & Artisans Monapaints.com


We will also have to decide on back splashes/wall coverings:

I've always wanted a garden...

Contemporary Kitchen

You have to admire the time and dedication it took to make this all fit together - but that asymmetrical hood really bothers me.

Eclectic Kitchen by Austin Architects & Designers Cornerstone Architects

Makes me want to pull out a Margarita. It's 5 o'clock somewhere.

Tropical Kitchen by San Juan Capistrano Kitchen & Bath Designers THE KITCHEN LADY, Enriching Homes With Style


Next up is lighting - we'll be getting a couple pendants so this should be easy...

A microphone stand...calling everyone to dinner will be very easy!

Eclectic Kitchen by Toronto Interior Designers & Decorators Jenn Hannotte / Hannotte Interiors

The Pièce de résistance...

Eclectic Kitchen by La Jolla Interior Designers & Decorators Andrea May Hunter/Gatherer


We have to make sure we put the details in:

Boar's head, anyone? (wait...is that a boar's head???)

Beach Style Kitchen by Atlanta Architects & Designers Historical Concepts

Too many details...and too much dusting.

Eclectic Kitchen by Santa Barbara General Contractors Giffin & Crane General Contractors, Inc.

We will be installing a big center island..

This would go AWESOME with the ship chandelier above!!

Beach Style Kitchen by Jamestown Architects & Designers Ronald F. DiMauro Architects, Inc.

Can you even imagine the intense hot dog Cook-offs the boys could have?!?

Contemporary Kitchen by San Francisco Architects & Designers Butler Armsden Architects

So, you can see where the next few weeks will be quite stressful for two people that aren't all that great at decorating in the first place. If we make the wrong choices - that could be a lot of therapy bills for our kids later in life!

April Project Life

I'm not keeping up with this nearly as well as last year. I have two weeks off starting today; my goal is to get caught up on this project and get it back into a regular schedule!