NSFJ: Going Halfsies

Like, as in half bath.  Did you think we forgot about getting our house presentable?  Not quite.  We actually have been busy, busy around here.  I'll try to do a few catch-up posts to give mad props to the folks who are helping make this house a home.  With any luck Emery & Julie won't be totally embarrassed when we host events for them here in March.  First item on the list?  Our half bath.

If you have ever been over to our house you are likely aware that I had an extreme distaste for our little bath which I semi-affectionately refer to as the smallest bathroom known to man.  I think that everything in it was probably original to our house, which was built in 1989 and has been home to at LEAST 3 different families and 3 different children that we are aware of.  These facts equated to a toilet that would never get clean and a pedestal sink which offered no storage but did offer a bruised hip if you didn't turn in sharply enough.

Sometime in October, hubs and I devoted the better part of a weekend to hunting down a new sink, new toilet and a cabinet to hang on the wall.  Finally on December 21st, my Dad and Ryan made my little half bath dreams come true.  They gutted the existing stuff and replaced it with our new purchases.  Oh, did I mention this is the day the mama got a stomach bug?  So sweet Nonnie came over under the impression she, Em & I would be making Christmas cookies.  Instead she made Christmas cookies while parenting my child as I lay in bed in the fetal position sweating bullets and feeling like the end was imminent.

When the stomach bug passed, I woke up to a kitchen smelling of my favorite Christmas cookies and a half bathroom with a CLEAN toilet and as much room to maneuver as phsyics will allow.  It was like a double dose of triumph!  I am so, so very blessed to have family and a husband that will pour their blood, swear, tears and a healthy dose of caulk into making our house function.  Thank you to Mom, Dad & Ryan for keeping our house (and Emery) a float- we LOVE you!

Let's go back in time, shall we?  The walls in this bathroom used to be brown, the fixtures gold and the accents black.  I think this picture was taken the first night we moved in.

Hey, old toilet!

In March of 2011 we had the bathroom painted mint green when we had a lot of the house re-painted, but somehow I neglected to take pictures right away.  Probably because this bathroom really has been the red-headed step child.

I asked Ryan to take some befores.  Apparently he focused on what he deemed the most important part.

Ripped the mirror down pre-before, obviously.

I could not tell you why the wall color looks so lime-y here.  It's still minty, never fear.

Also, forgive me for the lack of staging.  I'll get things together better in here.  Some day.

Holiday Happenings

Hello, hello!  I'm taking a temporary break from the land of spreadsheets, ten keys and cursing Houston traffic as I frantically try to get to Em's school on time to try to catch up on our little life story here.  So, close your eyes and imagine back to about 4 weeks ago.   Do you remember what was happening?  Red cup time at Starbucks, that's right.  Do you recall what the signifies?  Mmmmhmm, correct- the most magical time of year... CHRISTMAS!

Since this year was the first with our tiny Princess, I really wanted to go all out- like Elf-style decor, Christmas caroling, Clark Griswold type things.  Luckily Ryan reined me in a little bit.  Something about Emery only being 9 months old and us setting our standards too high.  Pish posh, right?!  Anywho- he won that battle and we compromised on only 2 Christmas-y events.

The first was going to see Santa.  Much like the pumpkin-patch pictures, how could I call myself a mother without forcing my poor child to sit on a stranger's lap so that we could take pictures of her looking uncomfortable to cherish for a lifetime?  I really couldn't.  On Friday December 20th, we swung by the Bass Pro Shops at Katy Mills to check this item off our to do list before embarking on a little last minute gift buying.  We arrived in Bass Pro at about 9:30, meandered over to Santa's Wonderland at about 9:38 and noticed no one was there.  So we wandered around seeing if any Bass Pro items were beckoning to be wrapped up and given to our family for Christmas.  Around 9:47 we decided to go get in line and boom- there were, I kid you not, like 15 people in line.  So lesson learned- if you see no line, you MAKE that line, people.

Santa, in all his glory, surfaced at about 10 and all the kids and parents in line started smiling and getting themselves gussied up.  At about 10:05 Santa's elves were starting to look a little nervous and children started getting a little antsy.  At 10:09, an elf started handing out candy canes and we knew we were in trouble.  Apparently elves are better at building toys than they are at decoding new fangled camera technology.  Around 10:15 or so the elves gave us permission to just get a snap on our camera phones as they still couldn't get the camera up and running.  Smart little elves because I think they were on the verge of witnessing a Walmart/Black Friday situation.

So, I apologize for the lack of quality of the photo, I'm just impressed she didn't throw a total fit.  Memory: made.

Sir, Daddy said no one except him can hold my hand until I'm 45.

Dad, you seeing this?  Mom?  Little help?

Last on that same day, we embarked on another McMartin family adventure.  We took our motley crew down to the Houston Zoo to get our Zoo-light on.  I was convinced that despite it cutting slightly into her bedtime, that Em would looooove the lights and the people-watching.  If there's one thing our crazy lady loves, it's watching herself some people.

We arrived with bells on and anticipation levels nearly as high as the humidity factor (please excuse my hair situation).  I think the kiddos were underwhelmed.  Like, as underwhelmed as I would be with a block of cheese for my birthday.  Nonetheless, we had an amazing time with the kiddos as always.  You know this Mama is up for trying again next year.  Thanks for a great time anyway, Melanie, Jonathan, Jake & baby guuuuurl.  We love you!

Taking a pic with the entrance lights was a hot commodity.  You take what you can get!

Tell me that isn't the best looking family of 4 you have ever seen?

The pictures really don't do this justice- I highly recommend going if you can.

Just a giraffe and purpley blue zebra doing their thang.

Obviously Mama was mistaken when she thought the boogie would dig this.

Hippos, elephants and light pools- oh my!

Monkeys? Nah, not my thing.

Purdee tree.

Still unenthused.  Why should I look good in this pic when you're working with that hair, Mama?

Ahhh, this was seriously ah-mazing.

Love me some McClain!

This was probably my favorite part of the whole thing.

Can't wait to see what new Christmas adventures Emery & I can come up with to drag Daddy along for next year!

60 & Sensational

Editor's Note:  Happppppy New Year!  This is the last post from 2013 that I meant to get in during the year.  Obviously I failed.  I blame it on the stomach bug that took me down right before Christmas.  SORRY! 

On Saturday December 14th, Matt, Julie & I threw a surprise birthday party for my parents.  My beautiful mother turned 60 on November 17th and my handsome papa bear turn(ed/s) 60 on January 1st.  About a year ago, Julie & I decided that we wanted to host a joint party in between their special days.  The two of them do so much for the three of us, and our significant others, and they never let us do anything for them.  Usually our only hope for attempting to repay them is by blindsiding them with it.  So despite the difficulty in people's schedules, we forged ahead with a December date for maximum suprise-ocity.  (I'm sure that's a new word that will catch on.  Look out Merriam Webster!)

After much searching for a location, we finally landed on Clay's, a restaurant right outside of the neighborhood we grew up in.  It wound up being an absolutely perfect spot both for sentimentality and proximity reasons.  Julie did the legwork on that and she did ah-mazing!  Not to mention that the seasonal decor made the place feel so cozy- completely perfect setting for a gathering with close friends, as you'll see below.

Julie & I worried so much that no one would be able to make it given everyone's hectic schedules during the holidays, but luckily my parents have landed themselves some fantastic friends that nearly all made it!  If there is a greater tribute to what you mean to the people surrounding you, I really don't know what it is.  Not only did their friends humble us with their attendance, but my Mom's Dad moved his schedule around and flew in from Indiana for the weekend to surprise them.  I think he was truly the crown jewel of the entire surprise.

The whole event came together seamlessly, and I would say that our plan to have it in December to really throw them off was a total success.  For the first 45 minutes of the party, after exclaiming to everyone there that he wasn't pregnant, I think my Dad STILL had no idea the party was for him and my Mom.

I had such an amazing time and am so, so grateful to everyone who took a part in it- from our long-time family friends, the Gautheys, who got them there, to my remarkable Grampa who flew all the way here, to all the guests that fit us into their busy lives- this party wouldn't have happened without you.  So thank YOU!  Thank you to my husband for dealing with me in my frazzled state and for playing photographer. Oh, and a VERY special thank you to my talented co-host, Julie.  There's no one I would rather sit in Panera and plan events with.  Start on 61 soon?  And lastly, of course, THANK YOU to the birthday stars for all you do for us.  We adore, cherish and look up to you more than you could ever imagine.  We love you, Mom & Dad- happy 60th!

Who knew Julie had a Martha Stewart side to her? 

Grandpa may have bit the superstar of the party, but these cupcakes were a very close second.

Julie has an inner Martha, Ryan has an inner Ansel Adams... oh, the things you learn.  (Pic in the foreground is my Dad's huge family.  See how much he looks like his Dad?!)

Julie, Jen & I laughing at college pics of Mom & Dad.  Good thing we were all so responsible, good looking and well-behaved so our kids will never be able to do the same.

This about sums the waiting game up.  Me nervously texting, Julie making sure table decorations were perfect and Jen giving Ryan the look.

Julie & I put together a book of photos for people to sign.  It almost didn't make it in time and I had a severe panic attack.

More Ansel Adams.  (Pic in the foreground is my Mom, her Mom, Aunt Jean & Aunt Jan.)

Julie, Grampa & I.  Matt wasn't there yet- we weren't leaving him out.

Ryan, Grampa & I.

Jules, Grampa & David.

Seriously, he may be making a play for a career outside the Corporate world.  (Pic in the foreground is my Mom as a baby.  How awesome is that old time-y crib on the porch?!)

Ryan took a lot of pictures before guests arrived.

My parents' friends know the way to their heart.

Guest book action shot.

Grampa mingling.  I told you he was the superstar!

Here Ryan is channeling his inner-Jimmy James with these candids.  Sadly, this is the only photo we have with Matt in it!  #fail

The grand entrance.

They turned around to try to get Gautheys to go before them because they had no idea what it was for.

The reveal part 2.

The first words Mom could piece together - "Who got you from the airport??" 

Mike, Grampa, Matt, Jen, Me & Melanie.

Mr. Zacharias, Mrs. Zacharias, Mr. Weise, Mr. Lucht, Mrs. Lucht, Mrs. Weise, Mom, Dad & Mrs. Howarth.

David, Julie, Mrs. Herndon & Mr. Herndon.

Mrs. Kerlick, Mr. Kerlick, Ms. Brenda, Mrs. Benincasa, Mrs. Corbin & Mr. Corbin.

Donnie, Megan, sweet baby Dean, Ms. Brenda & Mr. Tom.  The very best second family a girl could ask for- we missed you, Pedens!

Sprinkling Baby McClain

On December 7th I helped throw a sprinkle for Melanie & sweet baby girl McClain with Melanie's good friends Savannah, Meredith & Melissa.  After much back and forth about the locale and some trouble finding a suitable place during the holidays, we wound up having it at Melanie's house.  It was so kind of her to open it up to everyone.  It made the whole setting so personal and cozy- plus it made Jonathan's fatherly task of hauling the loot home much easier.  It was a win on all fronts!

Melanie had the house looking faaaaabulous, as always.  Savannah came in town the day before just in time to escape the crazy ice storm that broad-sided north Texas.  She & I hung out on Friday decorating and gabbing under Melanie's watchful eye while Mel's maid got the joint super spiffed up.  Thank heavens for great company because while it was supposed to be work, it actually wound up being a ton of fun.

Saturday was the day of the shower.  Chef Savannah whipped up two incredible breakfast casseroles and the resident pastry chef, Meredith, cranked out some delicious brownies and cupcakes.  Lots of Melanie's loved ones showed up and we all enjoyed noshing on the aforementioned goodies, discussing Jonathan's hair future and planning Emery's sweet BFF's future.  Oh, and of COURSE, baby girl scored some fantastic goodies.  She is going to be one sharply dressed little femme fatale!  Over all it was a wonderful time and I'm so happy to have been a part of getting to celebrate the sweet little nugget I've already come to love like my own.  Can't wait to meet you tiny angel!

Shawna, please teach me how to take pictures.

What's more welcoming for a tiny lady than a table full of sweets and elephants?!  Nothing that I can think of.

Meredith's masterpieces.

A very small fraction of Miss McClain's wardrobe.  Hope she doesn't expect her whole closet to be displayed in the living room regularly.

The gift table before people arrived.  Sidenote: how incredible is that chandelier?  I am obsessed.

Baby Mel, Baby Jake...

... and Baby Jonathan.  With genetics like this she's destined to be a baby model, obviously.

Those napkins were the cutest!

Real men wear pink bandanas when they're excited about their sister's arrival***

Melanie and the beautiful Savannah.

Pretty Mama with pretty Meredith.

Savannah & Eva.

Julie, Beth & Miss Harper, another future BFF.

Heather, Melanie & Meredith.

Real pregnant women eat straight out of the dish.  Sweet Baby McClain & Baby Patrick are only due 10 days apart!  Soul mates?

Adorbs.  The elephant lovey isn't bad either.  (Do you get it?)

Voila!  We love you Mama!

*** and when Dad isn't home to keep Mom from doing this.