I am so impressed with my kitchen so far, and the hard work that Jeff is putting in. Here are a few pictures of the tile work and granite work he has done. The cabinets are all up, but many of the doors are still not in. Also, he ran out of tile and grout, and I just got him some more, so please note that it is not all complete - but you'll get the general idea!

There are a ton of pictures here, so I have put them on a little slide show.

link | posted by editor at 2:26 PM
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link | posted by editor at 10:44 AM
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Caci & Mary performed in an American Idol (like) competition last night. Here is a link to a video of their performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl9A-PcR9bU

I am having trouble trying to get it to embed directly here, so keep checking back in case you have a problem viewing it on YouTube.

Labels: daughter, family, girls, kids

link | posted by editor at 10:39 AM
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I cannot believe that we got a call this morning from Home Depot - our kitchen is in!

Can you believe it? More than one week ahead of schedule. How does that happen? Everything is in except for some of the cherry end panels, that wouldn't go on until the end anyway. And we are still not even ready with the plumbing in there anywhere.

This may mean that within two weeks my house could be back to normal! Is this true??? Am I dreaming???

Here are a few pictures of the (almost) completed family room. Thanks, Dad, for all of the hard work. He did the ceiling, built the bookcases, painted them (and the walls and trim) and scrubbed the floor over and over and over for us (hint: never put in a new floor before everything is finished!).

Labels: family, family life, house, remodeling

link | posted by editor at 10:20 AM
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Sometimes - I , well, I just amaze myself.

Doodles would say that I watch too many HGTV and TLC Home Decorating shows, but you know what? Sometimes, the great ideas just pay off.

I bought the following lamp base (2 of them) for $4.99 each, and then I found the lamp shades elsewhere for $7.99 each. I wasn't sure how they would look together, so I shopped for some trim to try and dress them up.

What do you think?



The final result:



I wonder what else needs some trimming. Just give me a hot glue gun and watch out!

I am thinking that I need a mirror above the fireplace - ooh, which we finished in black granite. Maybe I can trim that...LOL.

Oh - what about my new drapes? I made the tie backs with tassels myself!

Labels: family, family life, friends. housework, house, remodeling, shopping, Teri, women, work

link | posted by editor at 9:21 PM
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Cindi & Larry decided to go with this picture. I know it wasn't in the running, but Cindi took it and it is their decision.

E has a pretty smile in this picture, but it does not look like her.


Okay - stop throwing things at me. It is just my opinion!

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link | posted by editor at 9:59 AM
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Okay - We want to submit E's picture for a few baby contests. Not for the fame or recognition - but for the college scholarship money, of course. Please leave your choice number in the comments.

Though I really love #4, I don't think it shows enough of her for the contests.

#1


#2


#3


#4

link | posted by editor at 9:31 AM
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A few pics for your viewing pleasure.

Labels: boys, family, family life, girls, kids, son

link | posted by editor at 10:10 PM
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Here she is!

Labels: basketball, daughter, family, girls, sports

link | posted by editor at 3:42 PM
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Over at Beautiful Makeup Search, we have been nominated in the Glam Network Awards.

If you haven't been to Glam.com, do check it out. It is the number one destination on the web for fashion and beauty. And I am a proud member of the network.

So please, take a moment, register at Glam, and vote for Beautiful Makeup Search!

Thanks!!!

Labels: beauty, blogging, Teri, women, work, writing

link | posted by editor at 12:50 PM
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I got a new camera- yeah!

Labels: boys, family, family life, girls

link | posted by editor at 12:30 PM
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So, we needed a heater of some sort for Caci's room, because when we did the addition, her return air vent was blocked up. So in these last few mornings, we have noticed how utterly cold it has been in her room.

Jeff remembered how Home Depot had these cute electric fire-places that were heaters, and that there was a small white one, and it was on sale for $348. So , we decided to get it. And guess what? It was on clearance for $198.

Got it!

Done!

Then he looked at a huge one that was cherry with black granite. Jeff asked the salesman how much that was. It was originally $798, marked down to $648, then $348. So he decided to take that one too for wither the dining room or the master bedroom. Now- here is the good part. The salesman said that the floor model was the last one. Jeff noticed some nicks and dings to it, so he asked if they would discount it at all. He was hoping for 10% off. He was stunned and couldn't pay for it fast enough when he told him that the store manager said to take $150 off. So it was the same price at Caci's! He definitely could not pass that deal up!!!

Wow!

Here they are in all their glory!

BTW - the top two pictures are of Caci's!

Labels: family, family life, husbands, sales, shopping

link | posted by editor at 6:00 PM
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Whoo - hoo! I am so excited and proud.

I opened an very unexpected e-mail last night to find that my writing about makeup is so loved by one of the sites I contribute to, that they have decided to re-do my contract. And in the contract there are two noteworthy items. My commissions went from 2 % to 10%, and my pay was increased by 10 times. 10X!

I am so thrilled to be earning my own money - like money I would be paid for leaving the home and the kiddos and working 8 hours a day. Except, I do it from home, any time of day I want, even in my jammies if I so please. And I only put in 8 - 10 hours per week!!!

Labels: blogging, family, family life, jobs, women, writing

link | posted by editor at 10:09 PM
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I am so damn sick of constantly fighting with my kids. Why do I even fight with them???

It should be that why we (hubby & I ) says goes. Shouldn't it?

I am sick of being given 100 questions by my kids. Why do we have to go? Why do we have to eat now? Why do we have to take a shower? Why can't I stay out/up later? Why? Why? Why? And then when I tell them why, they get so argumentative - I CANNOT STAND IT!

So I have made a New Years Resolution. No fighting with the kids. I will tell them once (well maybe twice) and that is it. And if they ask why? I will simply say that I am the mother and that is how it is going to be. I figure if I do this long enough, they will eventually know what the answer is and stop asking (arguing) with me.

Now, if only I can stick to it - it should work.

Labels: boys, daughter, family, family life, kids, son, teens

link | posted by editor at 10:51 PM
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A few of you have asked for some pictures of the quick dining room we threw together before the Holidays.

Labels: family, family life, remodeling, work

link | posted by editor at 11:29 PM
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Labels: boys, kids, life, son

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I have been not so dedicated to posting in the last few weeks, but now that the holidays are over and we are sort of back to a normal schedule, I should get back to posting more regularly.

So if you have missed us, sorry!

We missed you too!

So here is a quick family update:

Justy is back in a full arm cast. We thought it would be cut down today, but the one bone is not creating new bone as fast as the other, so it still need extra protection. Hopefully in two weeks he will get his wish and only be casted up to the elbow.

Doodles is the last of us to have had the stomach bug. She still has the lingering headache that accompanied it and didn't go to school today. She made basketball though, of course. And she is so totally looking forward to the High School Musical Concert tomorrow night.

Jon-Jon was to the doc today too. He has a bad ear infection in one ear. The good news is that he is very good taking his medicine and it has been almost a year since his last ear infection - when it was a double one, the day before we got on a plane to Florida. (Which I can't believe was a year ago already - it seems like yesterday!)

Joe-Joe has chapped lips right now - exciting, I know. So, he is currently obsessed with the petroleum jelly. He is finding new places to apply it and smear over. I keep finding greasy piles of it everywhere you would think he is two. Oh yeah, he did smear a whole jar of it on the bathroom cabinets when he was, yeah, just about two.

I am obsessed with baking lately after getting my new stand mixer from my parents for Christmas. I don't remember baking to be so fun! We have cookies galore in the house. Seriously, I think I have to send some in to the teachers at school or deliver plates to the neighbors. That is how much we have!!!

Okay - after that lengthy post about ...did you really miss us that much???

Labels: blogging, daughter, doctors, family, family life, kids, life, Teri, writing

link | posted by editor at 8:12 PM
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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year one and all!

I can't believe that Christmas has come and gone already and that tomorrow is New Years Eve already. A new year, again - already??? Where does the time go?

We have no big plans. Hubby and I were talking about it, and I think the last time we went out on New Years Even was when we were in Disney World for 96/97. Yes... ten years ago! I was pregnant with Johnny, and we were on vacation with my parents. I think we may have had a party once or twice for the celebration sometime in the last ten years, but none too eventful, as I cannot remember them. I think New Years Eve is basically over-rated on a whole.

Well, I hope everyone had a great holiday and here is to a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Stay safe!

Labels: Christmas, family, family life, holidays

link | posted by editor at 8:41 PM
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Ok -

3 Days until Justin's Birthday!

5 Days until Christmas!

Hours from going CRAZY. Making cookies. Wrapping presents. Getting the kids in bed. Wrapping presents. Cleaning up the kitchen. Figuring out what else I need to get before Christmas. Wrapping presents.

Try not to go too crazy!

Oh - I almost forgot, I have one less thing to go crazy about. Justin is in the clear. His bones are finally growing together and making new bones ! YAY! No more appointments for two weeks!

And maybe I should try and write out my Christmas cards that have been in a tote bag that I brought to Justin's last surgery. You know the ones I was thinking I would have a chance to do them then - which I have basically forgotten about until now. Will they even get there in time?

Should I just forget everything and just go CRAZY now???

Labels: birthdays, boys, Christmas, Christmas Presents, daughter, doctors, family, family life, girls, house, husbands, kids, presents, son, teens, work

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So, when the Doctor comes in and expresses that she is afraid to look at your X-Rays, should you be worried?

And worry even more when she says she will be right back?

Well, Yes.

And.

Yes.

When she did come back, she gave us a big thumbs up. His bone has finally managed to stay in the same place for the last five days! Yippee! And if it continues to heal this way and looks the same on his X-Ray next Wednesday, then it is (or should be) smooth sailing from there.

Justin was so relieved, as was I.

I am finally feeling into the Holiday spirit.

And I am finally going on a marathon Christmas shopping spree tomorrow.

Thank you good Doctor!

Labels: boys, Christmas, Christmas Presents, doctors, family, family life, kids, son, teens

link | posted by editor at 9:23 PM
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So, I have just realized that it is like...two weeks until Christmas. Actually - less than. Two weeks from right now, all the mayhem will be over.

And guess what? I have not even purchased one single solitary present yet. I have been a bit busy with Justin and his arm and multiple Doctor appointments and surgeries - and then Caci's (yes, Joey & Johnny too) basketball. And school. And work. And life.

Maybe we should just keep busy...
and maybe the kids will forget about Christmas...
yeah, there is an idea.

NOT!

I better get busy!!!

Labels: blogging, Christmas Presents, doctors, family, family life, holidays, jobs, kids, presents

link | posted by editor at 10:19 PM
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link | posted by editor at 8:25 PM
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Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday my Jo-Jo.
Happy Birthday to you!

Labels: birthdays, boys, family, family life, kids, life

link | posted by editor at 11:27 PM
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Labels: beauty, blogging, family, jobs, kids, Teri, women, work, writing

link | posted by editor at 9:27 PM
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Remembering Jeffrey & Joshua.

They would have been 17 years old today.

I can't believe that they would have been 17 already if they made it past their first and last few hours of life.

My twin baby boys.

I cannot believe that we have never been to their place of burial since we buried them. Oh - I think I may have tried to find them in the part of the cemetery that is reserved for the littlest of Angels - as they call it. I think I made an attempt at finding them when my Grandpa died in 1992.

It is quite sad that I never want to go there or to look back at what could have been.

Would they have been healthy if the Doctors could have been able to save them? What hardships and disabilities would they have had to endure? Were Jeff & I strong enough to handle it? Would I have still wanted to have Johnny & Joey - assuming that it was in God's hands that I were to raise 4 children and only had Justin and Caci? Was it a blessing in disguise? I could not imagine my life without the children that I have now. They are my world!

It is so very sad that we have moved on in life, and never even placed a marker at the twins grave. They are buried together and at the time they died, the size of the foot stone that was allowed would not fit both of their names and date of birth/death on it. I wonder if they have lifted the restrictions on that?

Maybe I should be strong enough and get a marker with at least their names on it to remember them by. Or would it bring back too many memories of the devastation of it all - all of the what ifs?

I think I have made my New Years resolution. I think that all of the kids are old enough to handle it and they should be a part of choosing it.

It is the least I can do for the twins that made room in our life for the children I have now.

I love you, Jeffrey and Joshua. Born and taken to heaven on November 18th, 1989.

Labels: birthdays, boys, burials, cemetary, death, family, family life, twins

link | posted by editor at 10:16 PM
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my profile

cast of characters:
mom - me (39)
hubby - my husband (48)
justy - my oldest boy (15)
doodles - my only girl (11)
jon-jon - my middle boy (9)
jo-jo - my baby (7)
pow-pow - my dog (4)

Contact

Yes - He Can Do it All!
Headstrong!
Headstrong Link!
Ongoing Renovations.
I am the Crafty One!
The Choice.
Cutie!
Which to Submit?
Some Pic's.
My Basketball Beauty.
Nominated at the Glam Network.
Updated Pictures.
Can't Pass Up A Good Deal?
I Got a Raise!
Why Must We Fight?
Holiday Dining Room.
Who is this Kid?
How Have You Been?
Happy New Year!
The Countdown Begins!
No More Surgery - At Least For Now!
Two Weeks Until Christmas???
Justin
Happy Birthday & Happy Thanksgiving!
ALLURE Magazine!
Remembering.

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