Photography class

So today I took a photography class and overall...I'm still super confused!  I would love to have learned how (in one day) to take these stunning photos I see on blogs and facebook everywhere but alas, that did not happen.  I did learn some things like how to take neat pictures of still things like flowers and landscapes, but when I got home I practiced on Max and it appears I have learned nada in the portrait category.  I really would like to get into this so I need more classes, and reading the owners manual on my camera might help too.  If Maxsen suddenly turns into a flower then we're good, but until then I shall practice, practice, practice.  Here are a few shots from today

Kitchen updated

Ever since we bought this house back in 2004, we have hated the kitchen.  The cabinets are oak (standard builder grade), the counter tops and floor are laminate, and the appliances were white.  We have done some things over the past few years to try and make it better and until now, we had succeeded.  But lo and behold the addition of Pinterest to my life, that has all changed.  Now I need to redo it again.  Well not really redo but make some more adult changes.  That site has more ideas than I know what to do with, it's overwhelming!

As mentioned we have already done some things which included installing wood floors and we painted the cabinets Navajo White.  We also added brushed nickel hardware to the cabinets and changed all the appliances to stainless steel.  The kitchen looks nice but we've never had any curtains and the art work (ha! if you can call it that) came from the $5 walmart rack. So what I'm doing is I'm actually going to make, yes that's right, make curtains and the new artwork.  I've already started and I am super excited.  My mom is coming over to help (she's like a sewing Queen) and make sure I don't screw it up too bad. 
I also plan on painting (which I totally hate and would have hired someone to do it but were trying to buckle down on the frivolous spending, boo) 
The counter tops will still need to be done but that another project for another day.  Oh and I forgot to mention that I need to find tile paint and paint that strip of blue on the backsplash a different color.

  

This is the window where I will install my home made curtains!

  

This is the art wall!  See ya chefs!
















 

Paint samples.  For now we like the one in the middle




















 

the one in the middle



July 4th

Every outside holiday is usually hosted at our house because we have a great outdoor area for entertaining as well as a swimming pool.  This year was no different, but held a little more "specialness" because Max is older and I thought he would really be able to have a good time with his cousins outside and just get to run around and be a crazy little boy for a while.  Mother nature, however, had other plans for our outside party this year. 
 Of course, if you were in St. Louis that Sunday you would know it was stormy and rainy (as a side note here: Mother Nature has had it out for my parties all year so far.  On Maxsen's first birthday she decided to make it snow, almost cancelling the party) so the party was moved inside.  Not the ideal situation, but we coped and Hubby BBQ'd in the rain.  My house has never reached the decibel level that was achieved on Sunday July 3rd and there were only 3 kids with ages in the single digits. WOW is all I can say.  Here are some pictures



Saw this on a blog and decided it was a must for my party.  Super easy to make!



Max and his cousin who is about a year older




Max and Grandma




uh-oh! Kissing cousins!




My mom is really into making cake pops!  They are delish.  These were carrot cake





When we went outside for fireworks, this is what the sky looked like