I have been so sick for the last couple of days but the movers came as scheduled and we got loaded, unloaded into the new apartment, then we sorted the bins to the appropriate rooms.

I was exhausted and weak but I was set on getting at least my kitchen done before I went to bed.  The kitchen and dinner table, to me, are the heart of the home.  I wanted that done first.  (well, as I was also getting beds ready too!)

Plus we are trying to budget so we needed to be able to fix our meals here asap.

Well I got everything unloaded and put away then decorated.

Here’s how it looks..

This is on one wall   I love the sweet little picture and the beautiful angel came from my friend, Cathy!  (Thanks Cathy!)

It says, “Friends are Angels on Earth.”

Just beautiful!

The front of the fridge.  Bella Grace’s announcement, a “Friends” magnet and a beautiful notepad are all that’s there.  So fresh.  (Thanks Cathy for the beautiful notepad!!)

This is the upclose of the top of the notepad.

Isn’t it pretty?!? 

The right side of my kitchen counter top area…

(adorable vintage looking sign came from Target for $2.50 in the Dollar Spot.)

(The cute recipe box was in the dollar bin at Michaels – brought all this from the other apartment, of course)

My little teacup set up.  I have always loved teacups and teapots.

Plus there’s the beautiful trivet from my mother in law and our picture together.

This candle was bought for $1 at Home Goods.

I got it because it matches my dinnerware. 

I love the stone on it and the etched glass saying, “renew.”

My canisters and a cute little Hot Chocolate goodie I got at Home Goods for $2!

Yep, I’m on a budget, got to shop cheap and only buy what I love! 

It’s vintage looking and it has a happy little lady smiling big.

It says, “Chocolate!  It’s like Men… the Richer the Better!”  LOL

It came with a tiny chocolate grater inside and a mini whisk.

Yes, I’m going to take it out of the package but I was trying to get things done the best I could.

I’m going to frame the cardboard back because it has the same lady with the saying.

Stove top… salt & pepper shakers and my spoon rest.

My little plaque about a Mother’s Love above my stove.

Love this   it’s hanging where you walk in the front door and head to the kitchen.

It greets you there…

complete right side of tiny kitchen…

complete left side of tiny kitchen…

Little wire “egg gathering” basket on top of fridge.

I’m not sure how to fix it up but I loved it.

any ideas?

Snack time!

Yummy!

The clock I made.  My picture is beside Hope’s only temporarily.

I have to get another picture from her! 

This way I have 2 of each girl..

The girls bed, ready to snuggle in… but had to go grab the pillows, lol

We went cheap on everything, like we even got $1 silverware.  (4 pieces for $1 and we got $8 worth)  But we have learned from apartments before that buying the very cheapest dishes does not pay off.  They chip so easily and break easy, especially with children.

So we didn’t go all out expensive but got some more heavy duty, pretty ones.

I love the polka dot bowls.  This is a picture of the box but the actual dishes have a bit more color to them.  They are sage green and white.

This is what I did first thing this morning.

The table cloth is vinyl so I can easily wipe it down.

The fake flowers vase has seashells in the bottom of it that are gorgeous.

I bought this when we first moved to Florida so it’s been in all of our places to live here.

(used in all different areas of the house, lol)

..and I couldn’t resisit…. my Sweet Hannah Joy after her bath this afternoon. 

Blessings, Cass

The day before we left I had our little Katie groomed.

The place we adopted her from gives you one half price grooming.

Since we were moving, I thought I should get that done.

So, I did… and…

 Here she is!

I love the short hair because I don’t feel like I’m snuggling a fur ball.

I can cuddle with her much nicer this way!

Tho they didn’t cut the front on her face short enough so I’ve been teasing that she is my little “bobble head” doggie the last 2 days, LOL

Ohh she was excited as she saw her bed being moved into the big girls room!

The extra bedroom is the play room.  (Madi and I want it to be her own room but Daddy says “no” for right now….)  We’ll see if he changes his mind, soon..

She started off wanting in the big bed so we put Sarah and Hannah in the big bed.

That gave Madi her own bed, she was pleased.

That smile didn’t last long!!

Here’s Madi Grace in the twin bed..

What happened?  Well, Hannah’s bedding matches ours in our bedroom since her bed was in our room until now.  When she saw her quilt come in and be put on that bed she had a fit to get in that bed and I mean “RIGHT THEN!”

Kenny said, “this is never going to work.”  I reminded him it took the other girls a few days to get used to not being in Mom and Dad’s room and it might for her too.  But, I doubted it because she LOVES to be in with her sisters! 

So here she is in her twin bed.  Happy as a lark!

She is getting a new comforter tho so her bedding will match theirs.

I haven’t had time to decorate their room yet since this was our first night here!  LOL 

I came back to check on her and she was konked out!

So were the other two precious girls!

and their movie wasn’t even finished!!

Normally, it finishes and they want to restart it.

After the big move I guess they were all exhausted, I sure was.

Tho, I was busy as a bee unpacking and they were just playing!  LOL! 

A long day, none the less..

A milestone for Hannah.  She woke up happy this morning and came down the hallway calling, “Mama!” in a cheerful voice.  Madi Grace said she decided she actually likes the bigger bed better because it’s “more comfy.”  So it all worked out well..

I got a good night’s sleep from working my tail off getting so much unpacked so I’m glad I was so exhausted I slept because for one I’ve been having insomnia again and for two I thought I might not sleep without Hannah being in the room.  She’s been there over  3 years!

Happy Children makes me a Happy Mama! 
Cass

This was our last night in our old apartment, no big deal.

I went to bed and was looking at this beautiful “baby” as she slept so peacefully.

I was tired but compelled to get up and go grab my camera.

I really didn’t want to because I was tired but I just had this feeling I needed to preserve this moement.  She was just so peaceful and precious looking and I couldn’t resist.

Little did I know it would be bittersweet…

Hannah Joy has slept in our room since she was a tiny baby, just home from Children’s Hospital.  She had such a rough start in life and has been delayed in many ways.

I know it made us where we are overprotective of her.

Well, the bittersweet part is this…  that was her last night to be sleeping in our room.

We had discussed that we might put Hannah in with her sisters when we moved but I said I wasn’t ready…  after Kenny thought about it he agreed.  End of subject.

Well, last night as we unpacked and were getting moved in .. we decided to move her twin bed into their room.  She loves laying with them at night until we get her out for them to go to sleep and she was so excited in their room and well, we decided we would just try it.

I went to bed with a heavy heart… yet with contentment in knowing how much Hannah was enjoying it.  She watched the movie in her bed and then she went right to sleep.

I’m so glad I took that last picture of her with us that last night.

Bittersweet but a milestone in the life of my “baby.”

One Very thankful Mommy Cass

(yes, I took pics of her in her new bed for the first night, those are coming)

Well, we officially got the keys today so now I can actually blog the pictures I took! 

This is our bedroom, queen size bed, 2 night stands, and a dresser on the opposite wall.

Our Bathroom…

A few views of the living room..

Those shelves around the TV are going to be hard to decorate because Miss Hannah Joy will be more than happy to play with anything I put there.  Oh me.    LOL

Glass dinner table, leather chairs.

View of the living area from the dining room..

one side of my kitchen

the other side of my kitchen

The girls (Madi Grace & Sarah Faith) will be able to sit at the bar during home school without Hannah Joy distracting them.  Yay for that!

Extra bedroom, really small.  We’re moving the furniture out of there and it will be a play room.

The girls bathroom..

Madi Grace & Sarah Faith’s bedroom, queen size bed, night table, on opposite wall, dresser.

Great for climbing!  We fell in LOVE with this tree.

We have a screened in porch we can sit on.. and it looks out to this tree.

We are going to have great fun with all the yard area (lots more now shown) to play in!

My Precious Girls

Love, A Thankful Mommy, Cass xoxo

The girls LOVE their cousins and relish when they get to see them.

They are adorable!  I can’t believe they just turned FIVE!

Nonna and Papaw met Kenny’s sister, “Aunt Darcy”, and her husband, “Uncle Craig”, and Uncow (Kenny’s brother) all down at Sci Port.

They had so much fun, a pic nic even!!

Omni Max

This beautiful Aunt Darcy is on the far left.  (Kenny’s sis)

lol

both girls, so cute

I wish I could have been there for this!

Doesn’t it look absolutely fun?!

That’s a lot of grandbabies for Nonna and Papaw! 

I simply ADORE this picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nonna, Papaw and all their grandchildren!

Leaving… cute, picture! 

The girls had SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH FUN!!!!!

They had a lot of time with Nonna and Papaw while they were home but I’m tellin’ ya’ that they made use of every moment making memories and having fun with the girls!!!

Their BEAUTIFUL HOME THEY DESIGNED AND BUILT THEMSELVES!!!!!!

Nonna is being a trooper out there with the girls!

GO NONNA!

Hannah Joy driving, scary thought! LOL!

Madi Grace is enjoying the scooter that was Hope’s when she was younger!

LOVE THIS ONE!

I’m not sure which one is having more fun here!?!

…..and now we have UNCOW with us!!!!!!…..

They had a TON of fun with the slip-n-slide.

Uncow is such a trooper with the girls!!!!

They adore him!

Breakfast outdoors in a beautiful place they have created!

Isn’t it beautiful?

Papaw & Hannah

Breakfast, YUMMY!

awwwwwwwwwwwwe, I LOVE THIS ONE!!!!!

Cute girls

I’m not sure where this one was taken but I think it’s at the movies.

I know they did take them to the movies.

The girls LOVED going to the movies!!!!!!

They only go when Nonna & Papaw take them because we never go.

Thank you Nonna & Papaw for a great time!

TONS more posts coming of their time with Nonna & Papaw.

Love, THANKFUL MOMMY, Cass

They spent the full weekend with Nonna & Papaw and some other nights as well.

Nonna & Papaw with ALLLLLL OUT to give them great memories!

Here are some pictures from the FIRST day they were there.

What fun they had!!!!!

Arriving at Nonna and Papaw’s house!

All smiles!

They took them to their favorite place to eat.  A breakfast restaurant.

Either Denny’s or IHOP

Look how long her hair is!  This is before she got it cut while we were home.

Happy to be out to dinner (breakfast foods, they love!)

Sweet Papaw giving lovies to Madi Grace

Sarah Faith got to go pick out her birthay gift.

She chose a police set and has had more fun with it.

Hannah is modeling the hat here, lol

Madi Grace is handcuffed, LOL

She’s so funny and silly!

Sarah Faith enjoying her new presents!!!

“Uncow” (Kenny’s brother) with the girls.

He is so sweet reading to them

They ADORE their UNCOW and AUNT KALI!

They spent one night with them too… I’m hoping to get pictures of that from Kali

Uncow is such a mess! 

He’s such a trooper, always playing with the girls!

He’s going to be an awesome Daddy one of these days!

Hannah Joy konked out in Nonna & Papaw’s bed.

She wasn’t a good bed partner tho, I think she climbed and kicked poor Nonna all night!

SO SWEET!

More posts to come of our trip to Texas… slowly but surely they’re getting posted as I catch up.

We love you, Nonna & Papaw!
Cass, Ken & Girls