New Year!

2012 came and went didn't it? And we have A LOT to be thankful for! From becoming a great Aunt, to Omar's 2 promotions this year, to Landon starting school and excelling, to Ava getting to spend one on one time with me, participating in my first 5k, buying a car AND a house!! WE were are so blessed and grateful. The holidays were very different this year for us... Thanksgiving we were homeless and living with my dad while we waited to close on the house. And by our anniversary we were painting and preparing to move in! By Christmas, we only had boxes in the garage and the house almost ready for company and by New Years Eve we had our first family get together. We had 23 people in my house and we fit! I don't have any pictures from it though, I was on hostess duty.

The kids rooms are coming along... there is still a TON that needs to be done. While we wait on Ava's bedroom set, here's what its looking like:

Her temporary dresser set up. I may consider moving this into my room as she likes to empty her drawers completely and try on EVERYTHING and then it all ends up on the floor. Typical girl.

Here is Landon's room: Both of the kids got new bedding from my dad and Debbie. :)

Notice a bookless bookshelf. All the books are under his bed where he conveniently tosses them after reading.

Yesterday I decided I needed to take down the christmas decorations because if I left them up any longer I'd turn into a hoarder and make excuses for it. :P Omar took the tree out to the back and then went to work with his saw and burned it in the fire pit. Bah humbug kids! I should have snapped some pics but... well I didn't.

Here's Boringville

Looks like a trip to Ikea and Kirkland's are in my near future.

Before we had the family over, Omar and I scrambled to get last minute things up. Like this shelf... we couldn't find a place for it at first but it ended up here, along with this lovely 1980's chandelier. Lamps Plus here I come.

We tried to make the backyard look somewhat presentable and did what we could. We also banked on the fact that it would be dark and no one would see it ;)

This little beauty was left behind by the former owners (along with 10 tons of dog poo, endless dog bowls, 3 dog igloos, a charcoal grill, 2 scooters, and 2 shovels, thanks.) It was a rusty white but we made it pretty-er.

New fire pit already broken in and some chairs that need spray painting.

Neighbors got a lemon tree right next to the fence... and some branches that come over to MY side making them MY lemons. I had already grabbed them which is why there is none ;)

Side yard with all our lawn stuff/tools? And left over boxes that Omar wants to burn. He wants to put a basketball hoop here.

This is the view from that lemon tree...

This is my sliding door from my master bedroom.. notice that gate there? Ya, thats more yard.

View from sliding door

Beyond the gate, this is where they kept the dogs AFTER they destroyed the sprinkler system, the grass, all the screens, and the door frame.

Oh ya, there's a dog kennel too.

More mess.

Ya, its a lot of yard. A lot of work. But it's ours. I can see green grass, a garden, party lights going up, more trees and plants.. the possibilities are truly endless here folks. Feel free to send me your suggestions.

Here are some before and afters from the kitchen cabinets that I was so sad about because it's REAL wood people!!
Before: a nasty greasy mess

And after:

Before:

And after:

It was this way with ALL the cabinets and drawers in there. I really love that we can basically do whatever we want to anything in here. I've already begun a list which I'm SURE Omar just loves! 2013 is going to be a lot of work for us but we are so excited about it. Looking forward to more before and afters!