Front Closet Makeover

For over a year now, I have wanted to makeover our front closet.  It's this little closet in our living that was not functional at all for us.  There was a bar for hanging coats and a super high shelf. What we discovered is that we only stored coats in the closet, but never ones that we were currently using.  I hated getting the crate of mittens/hats/scarves down because it was so tough (for me) and every time you opened the door, you risked a broom or something falling on top of you!

While browsing online I discovered someone made over their front closet by taking out the bar that holds clothes.  It seems like a no-brainer, but it never occurred to me!  From that point, I wanted to do that with ours.  I pitched the idea to Uncas awhile ago and he was on board, but finally this fall we had time to make this a reality!

Here is the before picture:

Uncas really helped come up with the final design. We took out the shelf, repainted the closet, and then Uncas installed the new shelves.  Here is the after:

As you can see, there is a lot more shelving space, which I love!  The very top shelf has our iron, light bulbs and a little tote of misc items. Below that shelf are two hanging baskets.  One has our kitchen garbage bags (it's very important to keep them out of reach of little hands). The other one stores my gardening gloves and lighters/matches.  The next shelf is devoted to diaper changing stuff.  I look forward to the day that we can fill it with other stuff. The hanging baskets below that shelf hold Sammy stuff (leash/poop bags) and the other one has batteries and some tools.  The side shelves hold our hats and gloves.  The top one is a big basket for mine and Uncas' stuff.  The lower shelf has two baskets - one for Eddie and one for Edith.  They can reach the baskets and they know (well, Eddie does) where their hats now go which is great.  On the floor below the side shelves I have a clear tote with some umbrellas and Eddie has a little blue stool.  The vacuum cleaner has a nice home and hanging on the left wall is a step stool.  The broom, dustpan and mop I use for the floors hang on the door.

I know that it's not super "pretty" to look at, but I love how functional it is!  I have been able to clean off the top of my dresser as well as some of the clutter around the house.  And it's really nice to actually have space devoted for our diapers on the first floor!

Our home improvements haven't stopped there! Coming soon I hope to devote some posts about rearranging our basement, our living room and of course, once my new stove comes, I'll be sure to post pictures of that!!!

Pictures

 Last fall we did family pictures for the first time. It was a really hard month and in hindsight we should have just canceled the photo shoot.  I was disappointed with the pictures and whenever I look at them, I just think about that tough fall that we had. Truthfully, I don't even like looking at them.

This fall I had this great idea that we should get pictures taken of the children. I longed for some good pictures of the kids and hoped that they would be more willing to look at the camera when someone else was behind it, because they certainly never looked at me when I took them! I look around because I know many people who take pictures professionally, but I was really hesitant.  Then, I remembered an old friend from high school who recently started to take pictures on the side.  I contacted her and we worked out a time when I was going to be in IL for the photo shoot.

I was still pretty nervous because it was November and we would need an indoor location.  I was also worried that Edith would not smile and that Eddie would just run around.  And then I needed to find some good outfits . . . I spent a fair amount of time worrying.

The plan was to take the photo's at my friend Lisa's house.  I knew she had a great living room with huge windows, so there would be some nice natural light. Of course going into the day, I knew that the kids were sick. I made sure I had lots of Kleenex handy and hoped for the best.

Luck was on our side.  The weather was amazing! It was 70 degrees, so outside we went! It was a great idea to stay at Lisa's because she has the most amazing yard! We were able to use so many different spots. And the kids - well, they did pretty darn amazing too!  Edith looked at the camera, showed her silly side and Eddie came across as his fun loving self too!




I would say that November has been a tough month again for us. We have been so sick. It's been exhausting and stressful. But yet, I look at these photos of the kids and I forget all of it.  All I see are these wonderful little kids. I mean, I really see them.  I see the love they have for each other and the love they have for life.

And they do love each other. I had them hold hands a few times because they had trouble understanding about standing next to each other.  But they do get holding hands because they do that quite often.

And they had fun that day outside.

They played in the leaves.

They played with sticks.

And they got to sit in a big swing, together.

I love these pictures. I could look at them all day. I can't wait to get some of these framed and on the wall!

As a special treat, I surprised Uncas with a few pictures of the kids in Vikings shirts.

And of course I have to recommend the photographer! Anyone in the Chicagoland area, please check out Bethany B. Photography. The kids loved her (I did too), and that's saying a lot because Edith isn't always quick to warm up to people. Thank you Bethany!!!

Thanksgiving - Take 2!

Even though in the last post I stated that we were having guests over for Thanksgiving dinner - it was a lie.  I didn't mean it to be, but I wrote the post earlier this week.  Then Wednesday happened.  After a call to the doctor's office, we decided to put our dinner on hold until everyone in the house was on the mend. Yesterday the kids had dr's appointments. Both are on meds for ear infections. And it seems after a week, our tummies might be finally settling down from the stomach bug that we had.  Through it all Uncas managed to come out with just a minor cold.  Let's hope it stays that way!  We have declared today, Saturday - Turkey Day!  The bird is in the oven!  It's going to be a scaled down dinner, but I am looking forward to some turkey, nonetheless!

In fact today we have been feeling so well, that we went out of the house to do some shopping!  I think it's Mama this year who won out on Christmas so far, since today's purchases include a new oven and some new window coverings for the living room!

And since I don't want another picture-less post.  Here is a sneak peak of the pictures from the kids' photo shoot when we were in IL.

Thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving!  I am one of those corny people who loves to make everyone say something they are thankful for around the dinner table today. Unfortunately Edith and I will be outnumbered by the boys (we are having my father-in-law and my cousin Tyler over for dinner later), so I doubt this will go over very well. So instead I'll take to my blog and list a few things that I am thankful for right now!

• my husband - he has been nothing short of amazing while the rest of us have been sick!
• E and E - the other day they both came up to me to give me a hug - enough said!
• Sammy - the best nap cuddler a person could ask for!
• storage baskets - our living room finally looks "adult" again thanks to the addition of a nifty new bench and some baskets to hide all the toys!
• chocolate - really, do I need to say more?
• the hopper - it's this new dvr device and I love it more than I probably should.  This doesn't mean I have any more time to watch tv, but when I do, I love it even more!
• coffee - I seriously only have one cup in the morning, but it's great!
• my parents - they are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this weekend!
• my health - even though it's been a tough month, I am super grateful that it hasn't been any worse!

Hope you have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

Sick!

We started the month being sick. We got a little sicker, went on vacation sick, came home sicker and then somehow, still got sicker!!!  Through it all Uncas has managed to stay pretty healthy (knock on wood!) Unfortunately this has resulted in very few pictures taken this month (even on vacation) and just in general.  It's probably not such a terrible thing, because then you don't have to see our snotty noses!

Despite everything we had a fun vacation.  We saw lots of family and friends. Our hosts for the week couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating, so thank you Lisa, Brian, Caiden and Ezra!  Eddie and Edith loved meeting and playing with Caiden and Ezra each day!  They played so well together and Edith held her own with all those boys!  We also got to see my sister Elaine for dinner, saw my cousin Alison and met her new (like 3 week old) son, Sam, went to my friends' Kevin and Jimmy's to meet their 5 children and have dinner (which went shockingly well with that many kids!), and I had a friend from high school take pictures of the kids!  It was a fun fill-week!  Here are a few pictures from the visit (the professional pictures of the kids will be posted in the future):

Edith running around with the wheel barrel.

Eddie and Ezra watching tv

Riding Aunt Elaine's rocking chair

Edith wants a turn too!

Aunt Elaine and the kids

Cats watching Edith and Eddie from above

New mama and Sam!

He's so cute!

Cousins!

One more pic of Sam!

Kids eating dinner!

Halloween - the recap

We had a good Halloween - it was a crazy busy week and all month Eddie was ready for a "Halloween Party!"  Fortunately we were able to go to one through our MOMS Club.  And then there was the trick or treating . . . Eddie LOVED that!  Edith did too, but I think she was slightly confused.  While Eddie was all "Trick or Treat" when he got to the door, she pretty much just held out her hand to take (grab) the candy and shove it into her pumpkin! I don't think she understood why we were walking around, but if Eddie got something for his pumpkin, she wanted it too!  We actually "practiced" at a local grocery store the day before at their trick or treating event.  Both kids loved that as they got to decorate their own cupcake along with a bunch of treats!

Wendy and Bob

Witch Mama and her little builder

Fire Fighter Daddy with his little builders 

Probably the best thing about their costumes is that they love them!  Daily they wear their tool belts and Eddie loves his hard hat.  He has also been asking to wear his overalls every day!  Edith, who hadn't really liked her hard hat has been more interested each day.  And multiple times they play with their tools.  We couldn't have picked a better costume choice for them!