{ sweet serendipity }

Serendipity, definition n.

is the effect by which one accidentally stumbles upon something fortunate,

especially while looking for something entirely unrelated.

All my birthday girl requested after I asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday, was a trip to the park to feed the ducks. Don't you love how easy to please small children can be? The simple fact that she is just as delighted or more so, with a pair of orange fairy slippers from the dollar store than something you spent $50.00 on, thrills me to no end. We were delighted to have Poppy and Nana join us for our little birthday outing and while we were there feeding the ducks at the park, something very magical happened. Like something straight out of a fairytale, the big tower clock above us struck four. She and I both listened with delight as the bells rang out their little tune and I quickly whispered into her ear, " oh honey, let's count " After a short pause it started in...Dong..." one." Dong...." two." Dong..." three." Dong..." four."

And look of amazement on her face was so precious, I'll never forget it.

" Mommy, mommy! The bells ringed four times, four just like me."

And right then I decided something. I decided that the bells would make a perfect new birthday tradition, until they turn thirteen anyway. So every birthday from now on, we are going to find bells, on the hour that coincides with the year of their birth and set apart that particular time of the day to pause, and celebrate them.

You've already heard what her favorite thing about her birthday was.

That was my favorite thing about her birthday.

That and watching my Mom go down the slide with her.

{ Dreaming Up A Kitchen}

( the color palette is inspired by this lady/ creative genius )

Here are some other elements in the mix. We are going for a crisp vintage look.

( Marble Countertops )

( Polished Nickle Bin Pulls )

( bright fiestaware accents )

( Farm House Sink + Open Shelving )

( the lights are going to be very similar to this with polished nickle pendants with the red stripe )

Fun Details:

( one of my most anticpated elements in the kitchen, is a painted red door )

(want to find a vintage tray to hang on my kitchen walls as a memo board )

Paint Colors:

Benjamin Moore, Linen White for cupboards + trim
Benjamin Moore, Soleil Yellow for kitchen walls
Benjamin Moore, Caliente Red for kitchen door ( unless I change my mind and go with a robins egg blue )

{ the befores }

I would like to introduce you to " Humpty Dumpty. " But consider yourself warned. The pictures to follow are not for the faint of heart.

( main bath )

( staircase )

( kitchen )

( upstairs )


( Annabelle's room )


( upstairs, also Annabelle's room )


This post and this post and this post tell more of the
story of our great big 101 year old project house.

There is a whirlwind of work going on this week to get us moved in by Sunday.

David's to-do list for the week:

1. 
   
   Install counter tops + cupboard doors + pulls + kitchen lights + all appliances
2. 
   
   Bathroom(s) needs toilets + sinks + vanity+ lights + bathtub oh and a floor. A tiled hexagon floor
3. 
   
   Living room and dining room need to be completely painted
4. 
   
   Bedrooms need light fixtures + curtain rods
5. 
   
   and those are only the big things

Thankfully David has help. He's complied an awesome team of guys making it possible for us to reach our goal of moving in four months after moving here.


Chelle's to-do list for the week:

1. 
   
   Pack up the house
2. 
   
   Clean this house and the new house
3. 
   
   Run any and all errands and help David in any way that I can
4. 
   
   And most of all in the coming week I am going to try to keep this in mind:

( print found here )

Come to think of it no one has called the

house humpty-dumpty for a while now.

A Birthday Interview with Annabelle Lucy...

What is your name? Annabelle Lucy, same as my Granniebelle's
What are some of your nicknames? Lucybelle, Sweet Heart, Sugar Plum, Sugar Plum Fairy, Twinkletoes, Beautiful, Sugs, Sparkle Pop, Baby Cakes, LovieHow old are you? today is my last day to be three and the next day is my birthday and I'll be this many on my birthday ( holds up four little fingers )Where do you live? with my brother my Daddy my Mommy, my Uncle
What are your favorite things to do? play dress up, snuggle, have my birthday, and play, to make people laugh by saying silly thingsDo you do them alone or with others? with other one people with my Mommy and Daddy and Audrey sometimesWhat do you like to eat? little cookies, shrimp, sushi, rice, pickled herring, licorice, potatoes, honey mustard dressing, rice
What do you think you will do when you grow up? a mommy to my childrenWhat do you do on your birthday? play with balloons, eat cake, and take candy out of little buckets, have treasure hunts, feed the ducks,
What is your favorite color? pink, green, yellowWhat is your favorite thing to wear? dressesWhat would be the best thing someone could give you? a kitten and a dolly, and a dogWhat do you do all day? play and play and snuggle
What is your favorite toy? the little lamb with a black woolly nose from Aunt LynneyWho loves you the most? Jesus, Mommy + Daddy , Poppy and Nana, Auntie Roo + Uncle Boo, Mor Mor, God my whole family loves me
What is your favorite book? Flicka Ricka and Dicka + Snip Snap and SnurrWhat is something that Mommy always says to you: I love you, good morning sunshine

Where is your favorite place to go? the park, library, pet store
What makes you happy? A big huge lollipop from Auntie Roo, my pink gloves, treasures, thinking about the kitty I am getting tomorrow called Creature.
What was your favorite thing about your 4th birthday? my Daddy-date at the pet store.

{ rainshine + sundrops }

Four beautiful years of you sweet girl. And how it has flown. You came to us on a bright and sunny springlike day in February and ever since then you filled our hearts to the brim with your sweet sugar and spice, deep love, spunk and passion for life, followed up by silly peels of laughter. You are rainshine and sundrops to us.

Anniebelle, as the song says, if God made you then He's in love with me.

I am so happy to get to be at your side as you to discover all the delights of being four years old. I have this little feeling, we'll call it a hunch, that it's going to be a grand year for you.

And can I just say, how very dearly I love being your Mommy.

It is one of my very most favorite things in the whole world.

All my love,
Mommy

{ you are almost there }

Gulp. 25 days from today, will find us living here.

I am really not sure that I think that is humanly possible. But he kisses my forehead and tells me to trust him and not to worry about a thing. It would take me pages and pages to tell you how proud I am of him and all he has accomplished in the last 3 months. For now I will tell you my admiration + respect for him has grown in leaps and bounds as I have watched this great man, take this great big project house we bought, and turn it into a beautiful home.

David, to you see you juggle this crazy life that we call ours...to watch you bravely step outside the comfort zone. Okay, so maybe blasted out would be more accurately describe it. To see you rise to the challenge, every day.

And while it has been far from easy, while it's been on many levels, the most challenging year we have faced together, I only have tears to tell you how thankful I am for all that you do, and for the tender way you have not let my/our hearts + needs be replaced by your massive to-do list.

As you, I , as we, all four of us together... learn, stretch and grow.

And those shoulders of yours, well they only get broader.

I know we've still got a long way to go but I had to stop and thank you today.

For today. And for every day you have loved us, for every day you will love us, loved us so well.

And babes, thanks to you, and the perfect grace of God,

I think we are going to come out shining.

{ Reassured }

Last night as I was snuggled up nose to nose with her,

smiling into her pretty twinkle-blue eyes and running my fingers through her tangled curls,

you know, the usual bedtime routine.

The sweet version of it, that is.

She had my face cupped in her hands and she whispered to me:

" Mommy, it's a pretty face that Jesus made for you. "

And I sighed and teared up and marveled at the absolute lovliness of her heart.

And His.