Resolutions for 2012...

I feel like as far as blogging...and possibly making dinner for my husband and maybe keeping the house spit spot... I was a total slacker in 2011.  I will try to turn over a new leaf in all those areas this year.  I have been focusing on my other blog alot recently, so come visit me there too at www.portobelloroadnw.blogspot.com.  I have also been much better about a clean house and dinners.  I think partly because Boston is finally great at playing independently and I am cutting myself some slack on purpose.  I am trying to focus on making just 3 meals a week instead of 5 or 6. And I try to keep the kitchen clean as much as possible.  Somehow in my brain, when the kitchen is clean, my house is clean.  Or maybe it just motivates me to clean other parts of my house, cause the kitchen is done. 

I wanted to post a few pics of last year that I may have missed :)

My little boy, is not so little anymore...

My all time favorite picture of the year!

Tractors are a big deal for this little guy, he was so excited to (fake) drive it!

Wow, Ben was so excited (well as excited as Ben gets) to see the Star Wars gang downtown at Christmas.  Since that game came out, I have not seen him much.  J/K!

Turning 2, very traumatic!  He wanted that Thomas on the cake really bad.  Last time I do that!

At Grammy's loving the fire truck and tractor he got for his Birthday!

Testing my button...

I think it works!

Organized Player...

I just had to take a few pictures to show you how my little boy plays.  I have been noticing over the last few days how he lines things up.  Cracks me up!  First, he doesn't like to be dirty.  Now he is organizing his toys!  Love him!

My nephew Bryan came home from his mission.  It was so fun at the airport with the whole family there.  He came home to a new foster brother and sister.  A 14 year sister that grew into a teenager.  And to Boston, almost 2 years old and he had never met him!  Of course we all grew a little in some way, shape or form.  Glad he is home!

Bryan returns home from his mission in Brazil!

At it again!

I would not be a Gemini if I did not have 50 different projects going at once. Some get left in the dust and never get finished (this drives Ben crazy) and some are a complete success!  My sister-in-law Valerie hooked me up as a group leader for a craft kit company called Makia.  I was addicted.  It was so easy and it gave me an opportunity to throw a party every month.  We all know I love to plan parties!  Then sadly Makia went out of business :(  But that did not stop me, I have inventing/copying crafts for my group every month.  I have 14 people coming this month, so I decided I need to keep it organized better, wha-la...Christie's Craft Night blog is born... and has now been merged with my furniture one.  Easier to manage one blog than two!
http://portobelloroadnw.blogspot.com/. 

That is what we have been up to around here.  Well, we have also been camping, swimming, riding bikes and growing too...at least Boston has been!  Yep little Ben number 2, he is looking just like him but a little cuter because he has some Corley in there too somewhere.  Love you honey (both of you)!

A little home on the river...

We have been working on a little project over here in Portland and Salem.  My mother-in-law just moved into the most beautiful place right on the river.  It was a clean slate just waiting for me to get my hands on.  So I offered to help put some finishing touches on this lovely riverview retreat.  First...

The River

We did not have much for a budget, so off I went to Goodwill, the fabric store, Home Depot. DIY projects here we come!  Now we need some before and after pics...

The bedroom before

Not much change here, just a $3 shutter painted green, a garge sale wreath and a new duvet cover.

The hallway before

I seriously think that Sharon thought I was going to throw away all of her pictures.  Well I kinda wanted to throw away a few dozen empty frames cause she has way more than that.  But I neatly arranged them on her walls and then threw this wagon wheel up there...big lots special for $8.

The bathroom...no before pics, but hey it was a bathroom :)

She likes shells A LOT!  Well really she just likes the beach a lot...who wouldn't!  So needless to say we have a beach theme in here.   This was bathroom was extra special because it came with a washer and dryer.  We had to hide them behind this curtain so they would only be revealed when they perform.

The riverview room/family/dining room

 

Ben painted this beautiful wall, it took him all day and we had no air conditioning.  Needless to say he was a little grumpy.  Nothing a little mexican food and the funniest call to citibank (long story)would not fix.  It was a fun two days without Boston and he was in good care with his grandma :)

Portobello Road

Have you seen Bed knobs and Broom Sticks?  K well you would know that cute little song about Portobello Road if you had seen it.  This is my new venture...It is a little stressful but you can read all about it here.
http://portobelloroadnw.blogspot.com/
Ben does not love my new projects.  But maybe when I make a little money here and there he will.

Love,
Christie

Boston's shirt...

I did not think he would be in this shirt so fast! My brother David got it for him soon after he was born. But my little 18 month is already in 2T and growing quickly.

Love this video, sorry it ends on a cry. But that is kind of how our days go lately...some fun, some smiles and laughs, happy then sad and then well you may know...arched backs and tantrums on the floor :) Yay for toddlers...