Tuesday, June 10, 2014

mary van's in the movies

wow, uploading videos here is a major pain.  but, here they are after hours of messing with it.  i am really trying to keep up with all the pictures and videos of mv so nothing gets lost or missed.  :)


smiling


squeaking


laughing
5.18.14


rolling over
6.2.14
(she was not happy about this but I was not going to let her give up!)


blowing bubbles/raspberries
6.9.14


splashing 
6.10.14


more splashing!

and some cute pictures we have taken lately...


with her new friend maggie.  we wanted to have kate collins in the photo too but she had already left.


first family walk down to the river.  mv was hanging on tight in her stroller.  ha.


daycare sent me this adorable picture of her outside one day


her first dip in the pool on her baptism day


and her first real 'swim' today!


smiley girl.  her nails are crazy long and she is always scratching herself.


in the vera bradley outfit BB got her.  who knew?!


all smiles with uncle adi


passed out in BB's lap (close-up of the vera bradley)


i love this picture.  eyelashes, cheeks, lips - all so sweet...


cute little swimsuit!!

Sunday, June 1, 2014

christening

Mary Van's christening was this past Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.  It was a wonderful day full of fellowship, friends and family.  We are members at Trinity on the Hill Methodist.  It is hard to go with regularity with a newborn and living further away now.  But, we love it!


BB helping me get MV in her gown.  There is a local lady that made this (including handkerchief and bonnet) for a steal.  It is so sweet.  I didn't get too fancy with it because I would like for it to be a family gown for boys and girls.  


MV was an absolute angel.  Of course, she did throw up right before we walked in the sanctuary.  But, we cleaned it off and dried it as best we could.


In her little bonnet
It was communion Sunday.  That was interesting with a newborn but MV slept through it all.  I dipped Brad's bread and gave it to him to ensure no red juice on the gown!


Daddy holding his angel
BB and Nana are enamored
Side view of the bonnet.  The lace matches the dress' lace.
 

I hate I didn't get a picture of these on her but BB made these for MV and she wore them Sunday.  So stinking cute!
 


Such a sweet girl.  She slept through the entire ordeal, even getting her head wet.  She woke up when the preacher walked her down the aisle to introduce her to the congregation and for pictures afterward (well, some of them).  Not a peep.  :)



Family of three
With Dr Cash
With the Shinglers and Vansants

Sweet baby girl.  Her hair is getting so light!
With Sela and Damir
With the Shinglers and Filipovics
The Shinglers
The VanSants
Sela and Damir got comfy for lunch.  :)

Mark and Seth (F&B director and Exec chef at work) were so very generous and provided their cooking expertise for the lunch.  We had a shrimp and grits cook-off!  Salad was with a fried goat cheese cake and sherry vinaigrette.  Kids had chicken tenders, mac & cheese and green beans.  Both shrimp and grits dishes were amazing.    Seth's grits were cheesier and served with collards.  Mark's shrimp had this wonderful pepper topping with a creamy sauce.  Oh, we had garlic cheese biscuits too.  YUMMY!

I don't have pictures of any of the other food because it all got gone so fast.

Jennifer and MV
Scoggins and Scott kids at church.  (missing a scoggins twin)


Cake that our friend Carrie made.  Delicious and so pretty!


Mandy with MV


Matt with MV


The crew enjoying the back porch.  Along with family, the Bowens, Griffins, Scoggins', soon-to-be Harisons and Doziers joined us for lunch.  The Doziers are troopers to bring two-week-old Maggie to baptism and Memorial Day!

(Thank goodness these tables were still at the house for Monday's pool party.  We still needed them!)

The experts at work.
Loving on Maggie

We are so thankful to have so many people that love MV and that, I know, will be there for her (and us) anytime we need them.  You guys are the best!

home

ok, here is the long-awaited post on the house.  it is now officially our home and we absolutely love it!  however, because we are living in it, it is not spotless.  ha.  so please ignore the stuff and hairballs.  and we still need to add or replace several pieces of furniture.  all in good time...


first off, the kitchen.  definitely my favorite.  i set it up so that i could cook on one side of the island and brad could clean on the other.  he loves to clean while i cook which drove me crazy in the old house.  now, it works perfectly.  i have my own sink and trashcan even.  the door to the microwave closes because i can't stand that being seen.  there is a tv over the fridge and we have barstools but those are currently outside.  


i love, love, love my spice drawer!


and the walk-in pantry


the dining room is in front of the kitchen (that's the pantry through the door)
we have a pocket door here in case we want to close it or keep dogs/kids out.


view from the front door.  that's the great room straight ahead.  the dining room is to the right.  i love that light fixture but it is a pain to clean!

i am on the lookout for an antique church pew for the wall to the left.  and i'm getting a slab of cedar from dad for the wall to install some hooks on.


upstairs is the guest bedroom


'junk room' bathroom.  


junk room.  we still need to consolidate and store all this.


storage off of the junk room.  i'm loving all our storage!


guest room bath.  we have linen towers in both upstairs baths for additional storage.


playroom.  still needs to be put together but it will have a daybed, desk and playthings once mv gets older.


this unfinished space is off of the playroom.  this is a closet for when we transition the playroom to a bedroom.


this is a jack and jill bathroom that will connect with the larger playroom over the garage.


this storage space is behind the unfinished closet and bathroom.  for christmas stuff!


future playroom for pool table and game/tv area


storage off of the future playroom


these steps go from the future playroom to the mudroom off the garage


more storage off the playroom


view from the top of the stairs.  guest bedroom to the left and junk room straight ahead


on the other side of the upstairs foyer (to the left) is the playroom


this storage space is in the guest bedroom.  i would love to build this out as a little playhouse for mv.  it is storing the wood blocks removed from our beams and mantels for now.


our breakfast room.  we got this table and chairs from merry's trash and treasure - love them!


laundry room.  it has a sink and tons of cabinets.  there is a small closet on the right and a long folding counter with space for baskets underneath.  the iron and drying rack are in the back.  we installed a small ceiling fan to help dry those clothes.


view from the garage.  the laundry room is to the left.  that is a half bath at 2 o'clock.  the door straight ahead has a pocket door and leads to the great room.  breakfast room on right, kitchen on left.


view from the laundry room.  half bath on the left.  little mud bench by the garage door.  the door on the right goes to the future playroom.  the glass door leads to the back porch and outdoor kitchen.  we love our brick floors.


the great room.  the mantle came from a tree on my parent's property.  and we love our beams in the ceiling.  all of this furniture needs to be donated to the playroom or pool room and we need to buy more for here.  


wet bar under the stairs in our great room.  the icemaker makes restaurant-style ice and brad is obsessed!


hallway to the rooms downstairs


first on the left is mv's nursery.  it still needs stuff on the walls, a rug and some organization.  :)


second on the left is brad's office.  still in progress as well.


straight ahead, full guest bath downstairs.


master is on the right, behind the fireplace in the great room.  we got this bed and nightstands from merry's too.  you'd think i'd make the bed and get the laundry off before taking pictures.  sorry...


solid cedar triple dresser of my grandmother's.  i want to refinish it to match the rest of the furniture.  that door is to the bathroom.


from the bedroom.  my vanity is to the right.  linen closet to the left.  tub and shower straight ahead.


view from our walk-in closet.  brad's vanity on right, mine straight ahead.  glass shower and jetted whirlpool tub to the left.  


view from my vanity.  closed door is to the toilet.  open door is to the closet.  it does have a pocket door.


once you enter the closet, to the right and straight ahead is brad's side. 


through the door and around the corner to the left is my side.  i had these shelves built for both of us to store shorts, pants and shirts.


one end of the back porch.  there is a door to the great room down on the left.  this is where we need the most furniture!  i want a couch and table down near the swing and a large dining table where the wrought iron table is now.


other end.  we have a gas hookup for the grill, sink, fridge and plenty of cabinets outside.  plus a bar.  the door to the mudroom is on the right.  i want more chairs and tables in front of the tv and fireplace.  that cedar mantel came from the thomson property too.


we built a small pool room off the porch (glass door next to fireplace).  i envision using this for kids.  if they don't want to be outside, we can let them play or nap in here without being in the house by themselves.  again, much furniture needed!


it also has a full bath for changing or showering.  no need to go inside while wet!  there is an outdoor shower as well for rinsing off river or pond water before getting in the pool.  or dirt/grass.  :)


the 3-car garage.  we need to add an extra fridge and freezer in here.


view from the driveway.  we wanted to turn it a little more so you saw the front straight-on when you came in.  our lot didn't make this the best decision so you kinda come in from the side. 


front of the house.  we still need to stain the front porch but can't decide on a color.  probably black to match the shutters.  the recessed spot from the front is where the laundry room and mudroom are.

we have ten acres and the house sits in the front middle.  out back are lots of woods and a creek.  we are loving the quiet and privacy!