October in Review

October has been just as busy and exciting as expected!

We are getting more settled in our new home and having fun along the way.

Benjamin loves a good book

I have discovered instagram and instacollage on my iPhone

Love it!

Benjamin is cruising all the furniture and is getting closer to taking his first steps

Finally got all the boxes out of the sun room which is now the downstairs playroom

All the kids...Benjamin really needs a little brother/sister soon

Ahh....not the bath time monster

This boy loves tags...forget the toy just give him the tag

We have enjoyed our fall walks in the neighborhood

Always exploring

Zoo time with his friend Cole

Hanging out at Ms. Heathers house with Tot

Benjamin and Eli hanging out while their daddy's hunt

(and I got to hang out with my good friend Emily)

Waiting...Watching...Daddy's Home!

My new craft nook

I completed my quilt top this month

Don't look too hard or you will find mistakes

Cherie told me that in some cultures they do this on purpose to highlight the fact that only God is perfect.

That's what I'm going with : )

Early morning at Methodist University

2 days a week is perfect for me - I enjoy getting outside of myself/Benjamin and helping others!

As much as I love my job I wouldn't trade being home for anything.

Frank has had a successful bow hunting season so far:

This year we have our own meat grinder and vacuum sealer to process all the meat at home

Amazing Craigslist Find Just $10!

Our neighborhood has a party every October with a band and potluck food

We enjoyed getting to meet so many of our neighbors!

As hard as it was to leave Palisade we LOVE Harbert.

That's Ms. Edith in the bottom left picture dancing to the music with Benjamin while Frank and I walked around

Frank has had many projects this month:

Fixed the front door locks

Cleaned out the basement

Worked on the guest house

Changed all the kitchen pulls

Changed out front door glass

Cleaned up the driveway brush

Hung 3 light fixtures in the house

Set up my craft nook

Got the rug for the sun room

Got the fence up outside so Valkyrie can be out

Relaxing by the first fire : )

Benjamin LOVES visiting with his papaw

Aunt Chele and Benjamin at Panara

It's been getting colder

11 months

The sign is looking smaller and more crumpled each month

Love my Tuesday night dates with my hubby!

They are the highlight of my week

Fun after hours at Water Works

Benjamin at nap time (above)

Me at nap time (below) 

Although I typically use nap times to be productive I have started this great new book and I can't put it down. Thanks to my friend who got it for me - Our porch is perfect for reading

I voted ...hope you will too!

I'm hosting a Thirty One Party for my good friend Michelle.

You're invited too!

Nov 15th 6:30 at my house

**All orders will be in before Christmas so it will be great for gifts**

Please let me know if you can come so I can prepare for all the guests : )

If you can't come and still want to make an order just let me know and I will get you an order form

Check out their new fall styles at www.thirtyonegifts.com

Also in November:

My mom coming to Memphis (yeah)

Camping with friends

Benjamin's First Birthday!!

Thanksgiving trip to Kingsport

September

I took a beginners quilting class from "Sew Memphis" in midtown.

I really enjoyed learning all the techniques and tools for quilting.

So far I have several squares quilted and hope to finish in October...stay tuned

  

Still taking baths in the sink until we get our bathtub finished

Teaching good habits

Benjamin now has 6 teeth! (4 Upper / 2 Lower)

We shopped till he dropped : )

We enjoyed taking breaks from all the cleaning, fixing, and construction

 at our house by going to the park

First time down a slide (with dad holding on of course)

Meal time fun

He is finding his voice

After dinner stroll in Central Gardens

We have met some of the best neighbors!

They are excited that we have moved in and

that our house is getting much needed TLC. 

First time with all the kids at our house for date night

First Major House Project: Installing Central Air

2 weeks of noise, sawing, dust, and hammering to install a brand new

A/C system -but it was so worth it after sweating for 2 weeks while unpacking

No more window unit!!

A 4 ton unit for upstairs and 3 ton unit for downstairs

Big Project #2: Tree Removal

We found out that the large trees in the front and side yard

were both sick, old, and dying. After having a new roof put on the week before we

decided it was best to take them down. A crane blocked off Harbert for 3 days!

Do you see that branch the crane has (above) it's as big as some trees!

It was a large project but glad it's done and we can sleep better.

After cutting the tree down we realized what a good decision we made

This tree was rotten to the core!

Most of the wood you do see was spongy and had no stability

to support the weight of that 120 year old tree!

We have had late nights fixing...

and late nights cleaning...

But it's starting to feel like home : )

Front Entry

Living Room (above/below)

Sunroom

(Garage sale storage until Oct 20th)

           Dining Room

Office Nook

Our lovely kitchen last updated in the 80's

I can't complain its clean and functional

It's on our re-model list...in about 10 years : )

The "Maid Stair"

Not for our maid (since that's me - lol) but it used to be when the maid lived in the guest house

 and would come in the main house through the side door "maid's entrace"

There is still a shower & toilet in the basement for the maid

Guest Bedroom

(Current Attic Storage)

Our next big project is cleaning the attic and moving our things up

now the A/C guys are finished

Our Favorite: The Master Suite

Master Bath

(Future re-model project)

Sitting Room off the Master

Hall Bath with laundry closet

Excited that our new washer and dryer fit upstairs

The other alternative was the basement...scary!

Benjamin's Bedroom

Playroom

Patio

Project: Restore Guest House

Frank has now stabilized the guest house so it won't fall over

He is currently fixing the chimney and the next step is to start repairs

 October To Do List:
- Iron Gate for Driveway
- Plantation Shutters for 40 windows (wow)
- New Couch Delivered
- Begin repairs on Guest House
- Garage Sale Oct 20th!!!
- Clean/Organize Attic