The after.

Were done, were done, were DONE! 

The whole "during" process I regretted doing this over and over again. I told myself I'll embrace everything WOOD in our house and NEVER try and change it again. I honestly didn't realize all that would go into doing the cabinets. BUT, Now that were done, I'm highly in love with them and even more so with the new hardware. ;) 

I wont bore you with the "before, after" business.... just know the wood is BEFORE and the white pearl ash is AFTER.

see the wood swirly thing above the sink?? 

You can tell in the  after pics that it is gone, and made such a huge difference... I definitely love the straight, sleek look, rather then the swirvy look. Also, hiding up under the swirly thing is a hideous, yucky light. That has also been replaced. We also left the cabinet doors off the 2 high ones above the sink.

We also took out the above (main) lighting and replaced it with a similar one as this one, just bigger. (No pic) 

oh and note the new dishwasher too.

Next up is to replace the stove top and built in oven. Which will be quite the ordeal financially AND physically.

 Seems that the people who built the house in the 70's made just about everything a "special order" size. and thats just plain 'ol frustrating!!!!! The stove top is a whack size thats in between the "normal" ginormous size, and the "normal" smaller size.... so, seeing as the counter tops are already cut out for it, we would only be able to go bigger, to cut out more counter top... 

bigger= more $$.... 

and the oven is 27".... who in their right mind would build their kitchen around a 27" oven?? Someone who obviously does NOT cook for a big family. I can barely for a 9X13 in it, and Nat took my regular size cookie sheets and cut the handles off cuz the extra small tiny cookie sheet just did NOT cut it when cooking for my fam. Its been frustrating, to say the least, learning how to get around cooking in such a small oven. Sooo... when we replace, we shall replace BIG. I'm thinking huge, DOUBLE oven for this mama!! 

oooh I can't wait. Every time we go to Lowes, I go to the appliance section and just look and dream about that double oven.

Anyways, since the smaller over is built in, we will have to bust out some cabinet area to fit a bigger stove. Nothing too terribly difficult, but thats what will have to be done to get anything at all remotely bigger than what we have now.

Also, we have some countertop stain stuff which I'm also really excited about. The counter tops now, with gold swirls in them, I just highly dislike. Highly. So, were gonna give it a try. We leave to go on our trip next weekend, so were gonna stain them right before we leave because you're not supposed to use them for 2 weeks. (eeek... we'll see how that goes. ;)

Anyways... I'll fill you in on that when we get it done.

So, there you have it. I am loving my new WAY brighter kitchen.

Thanks for going on this little make over with me... and listening to me vent about my not finished cabinets. :)

Check up.

Little man had his 18 month check up today, and everyone was quite impressed with how advanced he is in life. Always makes a mama proud to hear people bragging on her babes. :)

He weighed in at a whopping 27 lbs and he is by far still my biggest baby.. And to be quite honest, he was too busy jumping off things, opening the door and running out and acting like a maniac so I have no clue about his other stats. :)

As far is his rash/sickness goes, after being exposed to his cousins with it, the Doctor thought it was hand foot and mouth... Although after reading about it, Im still not thoroughly convinced that's what it is. I still vote chicken pox... But who the heck knows. All that matters is that he is healing beautifully and the girls have kept from it this far!!

This is my little man in a nutshell. Climbed off the table, (yes, the high
Up ones) walked over, pushed the chair to the sink, got up on it and drank....... All before I could blink and realize what he was doing. He's such a turkey head!!

Phone Pics.

Ha! Can you tell I have a tad more time on my hands without the puppies around?!? I have enjoyed lots of "down" time since they've been gone. :) 

I have a bazillion pictures on my phone.... when I don't have my camera around, you can bet Im takin pics on my phone!!!! I ended up digging a bigger hole for myself by not adding the photos to my computer on a regular basis. I finally sat down long enough to load them all......

So, all those pictures I took and thought... oh I need to put that on my blog.... here they are. Not really ALL of them, but just a few from the past few months... and some videos.

In no particular order and a completely random post:

She was asking for TinkerBell fruit snacks... 

and let me just say, IF it were possible to bottle up that squeaky little voice, and that cute little face, my world would be a better place.

The kids and I have been to the story time at the library a couple of times and the girls just love it!! Although, I probably shouldn't go per my 18 month old little boy who cant sit still for 5 seconds. But while the girls listen to a story and do a craft, I chase the little dude around like a maniac! 

Such is life. ;)

 Sweet Miss P after aunt KK did her hair.

This was at Payton's  VCUG appointment. Not ever being able to spend 1 on 1 time with each kid, its always a pretty BIG deal to only have 1 child with us. :)

Little Cowboy.

 me and my little man.

 This is a time when they were all 3 sick and we all just sat in the chair all day long. 

Little Madelynn. 

Oh my precious little 3.5 year old. So thankful for videos and to be able to look back and remember her sweet little prayers.

18 month old little boy.

'nuff said.

The kids love to all 3 jump in the jeep and DRIVE... when the puppies were here, they always grabbed one and took it for a ride too!

I potentially shouldn't share this one.... but I can't resist!!!!!! 

 Little diva 

My sweet Mad on Valentines day with her new monkey.

This is always good for a laugh. I go back and watch it quite often.

Puppies trying to run across the cattle guard.

We have handles on the drawers.

*HALLELUJAH*

But then look down a tad and see my toaster. 

Still no cabinet doors. 

The girls on one of their playing sprees. Learning letters at "church" ;)

BATH TIME!

and last, but not least, an infamous baby eating lemon video.

Valentines. Foot. Chicken pox.

This is gonna be one of those Im gonna look back and laugh posts. :)

I guess I will start out with a HAPPY thing. 

Valentines Day!! 

Who doesn't love a day full of love and sweetness?!?! I know there are Valentines haters out there, but, I'm not one of them, Yes I love my husband and treat him special every day of the year. Yes, I love my kids and treat them special every day of the year.... but Valentines day is just a day where you get to really show the love. We got our 3 little sweeties Valentines goodies, and to say they loved it would be an understatement.

Bub was a late riser that morning, and lets be honest, he woke to candy and was a happy man.

*My foot*

Remember how were still in the process of the kitchen remodel?? remember, cuz I haven't showed you the "after" picture from our kitchen cabinets??? Yes, we are. 

and thanks for asking, yes my type A, OCD personality is OUT OF CONTROL with the slight mess that is going on in our back room.... and no kitchen cabinets to cover the "mess"... that's not really a mess at all because I'm severely organized and there's not a 1 thing out of place.... but just having to look and see EVERYTHING is a "mess" to me. Shout out to all you type A's out there who know what I'm talkin about!!!!

 ANYWAYS.... can you tell I'm a little bitter about this?? 

So Nat was putting the drawer pulls on the drawers (hooray!!!) and he left the screw gun, with a drill bit on it, on the ground. I walk to fridge to get something out. Not looking down, I kick the drill bit mid foot, and it slices all the way almost to my toes. Ya, didn't feel too hot. At first I was like, whatever, it wasn't that bad. I looked at it and didn't think much of it... then upon further investigation by Nat, it was bleeding and sure enough, sliced. Not enough to go to the ER.... but enough to not be able to walk on it and to be put out of commission. Nat wrapped it up and I've been "mothering" with a limp and a sore foot. Here's to hoping another good nights sleep and that much time not on the foot will close it up enough to be able to walk on it!!

*Chicken Pox*

Can you believe it?? Who actually gets chicken pox these days?? Apparently my Stetson James does.

I slowly started noticing that he was getting these red spots on his thighs and groin area, but just thought I'd watch and see what would come of it. He hadn't had fever or anything but HAD been SUPER fussy and not sleeping well.

Next morning they were spread down his legs, were way more red and REALLY looked like chicken pox.... but surely not. He's been vaccinated! After asking peoples opinions, everyone agreed that's what it looked like.

Hooray for Chicken Pox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not.

We are benadryl-in

caladryl-in

and PRAY-in

that this doesn't spread to the girls and/or Nat.

Please pray with me!!! We have an exciting trip coming up that we've planned for months now and I think we will all be devastated if we can't go!!!

As of this evening, legs, groin, arms, hands and feet are pretty covered. Like I mentioned before, he was having trouble sleeping, and now that we know why he wasn't sleeping well, I think we both felt bad for not knowing how to help him and what was/is wrong with him. He's not acted itchy, but now it all makes sense as to why hes been so fussy. Who wants to be all sorts of itchy and not know whats going on, and what to do about it. Poor little man. :( 

Thank you Benadryl!!

Peace.

Before you read:

This is about me. This is for me. So If you're here for pics of my offspring, my apologies.

When this huge job change/move happened, I was feeling optimistic about it, like this would be a great thing and that it was really God's plan for us......

Fast forward a few months after we got here and I was angry. 

Upset. 

frustrated.

Wondering WHY we were here. WHY I hadn't had this great epiphany as to why we were here. Things weren't going like I thought they would. Not 1 thing! I pretty much sat at home and pouted. Nat would work late into the night, and I was home alone all the time. I'd think of all the things we were missing back home and get more angry.... and I'd be lying if I said I didn't question God about WHY we were here. 

Deep down I knew why we were here. We, and many others, prayed for Nat to find a job to financially support our quickly growing family. I was pregnant unexpectedly with our 3rd child. We were barely making it paycheck to paycheck living in a 2 bedroom house with 2 kids.... and we just knew there would have to be a change before our little man joined us.

Once we got here, as I shared my sadness with everyone, I was encouraged by many to get out. Go to MOPs. Try to meet people.... and honestly, it upset me even more, that I wasn't the person everyone wanted me to be. I wasn't (and am still not) the type to do anything out of necessity. My bi-weekly trip to the grocery store was enough socialization for me... and I was OKAY with that. 

Me being okay with that and me knowing I needed to do something for my sanity were 2 different things.

and.... lets face it, it would take an act of God to get me, shy little, extremely introvert Mara to go do such a thing.

.... and an act of God it was!

I had looked up information about the local MOPS, learned where it was and time and such. Come to find out it was right across the street from Madelynn's school. So, one day I dropped Madelynn off and drove over and sat at the church. Just sat there and watched as moms drove up, parked, and walked into the building. I even drove off, but for some reason, something pulled me back to that parking lot... but I was NOT going to go in. I was going to do this a couple of weeks, scope it out, and then maybe decide if I could ever really do such a thing.

Now before you go laughing at what I just said, let me just give you permission to think I'm a nut case. I am. 

I really am. 

But that is literally how insanely intimidating and deathly frightening it is for me to put myself out there. 

Literally, its like I was completely put outside my body when I got out of the suburban, unbuckled my 2 kids, and started walking into the church. 

OUT.

OF.

MY.

MIND

The Lord brought me in there..... and I left not believing I had just done that. 

I went to Mcdonalds for the kids to play so we could blow some time before picking up Madelynn from school, (also another God thing... I had completely planned to go to burger king and at the very last second pulled into the turning lane to Mcd's instead) and met 2 very kind ladies who had recognized me from MOPS. One of which  was the Pastors wife of FBC Lovington, which ironically, I had just told Nat a few days before that I had wanted to visit that church. We chatted and I told them of my struggles, and I left in complete AWE of what had happened this particular day. 

150% knowing that this day was an act of God and I had NOTHING to do with anything that took place. If ever I didn't believe there was a higher Powers, this day would change my mind.

Fast forward a few months to a me who is trying and making efforts to get to know people. To talk to people I don't know. To get involved in a church. To take my kids places to play with other kids. A me who has had several play dates and ventured out doing things with my kids I would have otherwise never done. 

.... all this to say, I'm slowly but surely realizing why we are here. I feel like we needed to get away together. I needed to get out of the "normal" I was satisfied with living in San Angelo. It went in a totally different direction than what I had imagined... totally and completely different. Nat and I have had to lean on, and rely on each other, and have grown together in our relationship more the year we've been here than since we've been  married.

One word:

BLESSED.

18 months.

I don't know about y'all, but I feel like 18 months is a monumental age to celebrated... one that deserves a big 1/2 birthday party and a recognition. As most of you mamas know, 18 months is pretty much OUT of the anything baby stage, and INTO big boy business. Know what I'm sayin?? 

Well, all this to say my little dude has hit that mark!!!!!! 

*tear*

I CANNOT believe it!!!

Many many times when all 3 were still so small, I would look at the future of our life and see nothing. Absolutely nothing.

No light at the end of the tunnel. No "Easy" heading our way. Just 3 little helpless babies. 

Diapers.

Bottles.

goo goo ga ga.

No sleep.

BABIES!

Well, I feel like I've made it to a pretty exciting time in life! and although the average person would probably disagree that my life be "easy,"I would say we are at an easy time in life.

Little man at 18 months:

-Is talking up a storm!! I think its safe to say that he has picked up the talking thing earlier than either of the girls ever did. He just talks and talk and talks!! So much so that I can't even remember all he says to list the words. ;)

-Sleeping in a big boy bed for a couple months now. After 2 nights of "sleep training" i.e.... getting out of bed and being put back in the bed for 4 hours straight, he stays in his bed like a champ!!

-No more ba ba! 

-Loves all things BALL!! 

-Loves, loves, loves animals. 

-Anytime he hears any dog bark he says "asel, STOP" (axel, stop)... even if its not Axel barking. 

-Loves to tell you to STOP. Stop tickling him. Stop touching him. Stop this, Stop that. 

-Eats like there is no tomorrow. I've found myself forgetting to feed his appetite. I'm used to the girls who never eat.... He, on the other hand needs snacking in between meals. I find that he gets very very fussy when he is hungry.

-Loves to help with chores around the house. Helping unload the dishwasher is his favorite. 

-Loves and adores Payton. They have  always clicked.

-He is just a sweet, sweet boy. Loves to love. Always happy. Always has a smile on his face.

-Adores his daddy, and when Nat gets home from work, he acts as if he hasn't seen him in months!

-Has the most beautiful, curly head of hair.

 -Will not, refuses, absolutely wont sit in a highchair/booster. Wants to be like his sisters and sit at the big table.

-Sings the "clean up" song when asked to pick up his toys.

-Is an AMZING listener. Another thing I think he picked up before the girls. You can tell that kid anything and he will do as you say!!

-I might be biased, but I think that he is the most handsome little 18 month old that i've ever laid my eyes on... and I think its safe to say he still holds his mama's heart in the palm of his hands.

Love you little dude!!

1 year.

  I can hardly believe we're coming up on 1 year of owning our home. It just doesn't seem real that we've actually lived here (in NM) more than a year! Its been a wonderful first year of home ownership, and we have enjoyed making it our special place, just the way we want it!! 

 We've done a few updates in the house.... but nothing of great proportions... Nat loved the wood cabinets and the "older" feel to our home... I, on the other hand.... well, it just wasn't my style. So he suggested we wait a year to do any major updates (i.e. painting the wood cabinets that he loved.) Other than the girls little house remodel that I never blogged about. (oops).... When we first moved in, we replaced the bathroom sinks and faucets and the toilet handles. We've replaced a few light fixtures here and there and thats about it.

cabinets

hardware....... 

I always call it castle hardware cuz it looks like it needs to be in an olden day castle.

AKA. Ugly. I hate it.

On Christmas day, our kitchen sink completely stopped draining. I knew the day was coming, as slowly but surely it was taking longer and longer for water to go down. 

*Note to self: Don't take apart the plumbing lines under the sink on a holiday when nothing is open* 

So without going into deep detail on the disgusting sludge that completely filled the pipes........ they HAD to be replaced. The next day, to Lowes we went.... long story short, we got a new dishwasher, new plumbing lines AND a garbage disposal (my ultimate dream in life!!!!!!!) so began our (my) little kitchen remodel. 

The kids stayed back in TX this past week so that Nat and I could tackle a few projects. I painted the living room, kitchen and the kitchen cabinets. Nat, with the help of a paint gun, (is still in the process of) painting the cabinet doors and drawers. 

Thats the easy version of that story. 

I wont tell you of the 5 gallons of wasted paint sitting in the shop after painting 2 different colors on the wall that I absolutely hated.... the frustration that comes along with driving to town to pick out a THIRD color, late at night. The frustration of painting primer after each *horrible* paint job. The hours and hours of sanding the cabinets/doors/drawers. The time took to take ALL the hardware off to replace it. The hours and hours I had a paint brush in my hurting, carpel tunnel stricken hand. The staying up till 2 AM and getting up at 7 AM so we can get finished before the kids come home. The disaster of a mess that comes with doing stuff like this. The fact that I was sick. Nat was getting over being sick and that If I ever have to paint again.... I might cry the whole time. Oh and in the midst of all this, we took Aussie to the vet to get spayed... so not only was I dealing with a DISASTER in my home, I was tending to a dopy dog recovering from surgery and vomiting everywhere because she got into some food late at night after she was supposed to NOT eat.... 

When it was all happening, you look around and think this is NEVER going to end, but after cleaning up and looking around at all you did to make your house just the way you want it.... it all just doesn't seem so bad.

Kinda like childbirth. You're in labor, or in my case, sitting in the OR fixing to get a needle jammed into your back and then proceed to be cut open and a wee little baby gets pulled out of its little cacoon home.... and you sit there and think I am NEVER gonna do this again. Then you hold that wee little baby in your arms and you think.... well, that wasn't so bad.... and I WILL have another one. Anyone know what I'm sayin?!?

Sorry, that was quite the analogy. 

Anyhoo.... the before and after:

The mess

You know someone loves you when they show you the innards of their cabinets. ;) 

*interruption* 

 Ya, we kept one. Meet our new pet, Harley.

To answer your question.... 

YES, we've had a dog named Harley in the past.

YES, its a no-no to rename a dog from a previous dog.

YES, it could come across a little hearltess.....

BUT, when your married to a man who doesn't like any name you throw out, and has no desire to think of a name.... and you take the dog to the vet and they need to know the dogs name, you tend to go with the 1 and only name you have agreed on. 

Primer.

 Nat painting the cabinet doors.

Which are not yet finished, so technically, I have no "after" photo of the cabinets completely done.

Nat had plans to come to Angelo this weekend to hunt so, against my will, we left the project unfinished.

Cabinets after paint. Its like a pearly white. I know, I'm not a risk taker and I was a-ok with just going white with the cabinets.

The living room. 

Here we have layer 2 over layer 1. It was simply not easy to pick up the real color that it turned out to be in a picture. My goal was a grayish/tan. Layer 1 looked too purple for me and layer 2 looked to blue for me. 

 It looks grey, and when painting I thought It was the perfect color... then after sleeping on it, and letting it completely dry, it was BLUE.

and here is the final color (thanks to my amazing SIL who was 4 hours away and still managed to guide me and help me pick out the color I was wanting)

Like I said, hard to pick up the actual color in a picture... but trust me, it looks better than purple or blue.