Princess then and now

I snapped these pics with my phone the other day of my big, almost-five-year-old girl.  Just found out the date of preschool graduation! What? I guess it would be ridiculous for her to stay there another year, right? Right? Here she is, finally with enough hair to braid and pin up: Anneke's hairstylist used to live in Holland, and I think she loves making Anneke look as much the part of the little Dutch girl as she can.

And here she is in same dress, almost exactly three years ago.  I don't know what to say--I'm so glad she still loves dress-up! I'm so glad my big girl is still little! My heart hurts in a good way just thinking about it.

Mamas, don't letcher babies grow up to be wedding singers

Our guy, getting ready to sing the heck out of some "Panis Angelicus."

A Remodling Milestone - Hosting Thankgiving!

After starting in late June, moving temporarily into an apartment, moving back temporarily into the basement, and after watching hopeful completion date after after hopeful completion date pass us by, we finally negotiated a "its done enough" date with our builder and finally slept in our own beds on Sunday night. After four days of moving boxes and cleaning later, we hosted Thanksgiving for our local family at 2:00 p.m. today.

We have lots for which to be thankful. We are lucky to be able to improve our house like this, and we have to keep reminding ourselves of this as the schedule keeps slipping.

After moving in and cooking like mad for Thanksgiving, it is now quite apparent that we do indeed have a kick ass kitchen.

Pictures below of some highlights.

Result of missing a stud while homeowner tried to hang pot rack himself.

Let the expert do it.

One use for the built in iPad dock

First meal cooked in the new kitchen - Pancakes!

Attempting to keep turkey breast cool while warming dark meat to room temperature.

Thanksgiving 2012

Tarchia is Enormous!

Tarchia is Enormous! by Anneke and Daddy.

Not sure what a Tarchia is?

Ben retrospective

 April: Easter with cousins!

 May: put this one up in your locker

 June: in our old kitchen, just before the demo!

 July in Arkansas: hot in herrre

August: in Manzanita

 September: First M&Ms communion

October: Hey girl.

Retrospective: Anneke

First: I don't understand this janky way blogspot has me upload photos, so pardon the ridiculous formatting/layout. 

Second: Finally have my photos organized, which makes blogging a pleasure again! Since it's pretty much been since March, here is an Anneke retrospective--Ben retrospective to follow! Things have been so stressful since the remodel, but clearly fun was had. One nice thing about being so uncomfortable in our space was that the weather was nice, and it forced us to get out and have adventures.  That said, I am about out of positive reframes and ready for it to be done (which it more-or-less will be in the next three weeks? please?)

April: Easter at Grandma's, with cousin!

May: hot day with baby brother

June: at the Zoo

July in Arkansas: why I don't worry about the princess phase

August: hike to Indian Beach

September: Hotlips pizza: tailgating

October: pink and purple-icious!

Blogging guilt

Blogging guilt is silly. Ladies, should we shirk our blogging duties, let us squelch that wheedling little voice that points out said shirking by drinking a beer.

Done. But I miss the connection with my five other readers and reading their blogs! This is true, and this is why I'm back. 

For now. Man! This summer has been a crapstorm of first world problems! We're in the midst of a major remodel, for one.  It's all I can do to get through the day. Plus I haven't uploaded photos to my laptop in months. 

That said, there's been lots of hot fun in the summertime around here. Maybe I can slowly recap. The kids are lovely. Ben is still Mr. Sweet-n-easy with a face that scrunches into a million creases and dimples when he smiles. Re: Anneke: I have decided that being four is much like being in a foreign country for the first time. So much to learn and experience and adjust to and soak up!  And I feel like her tour guide, which is deeply satisfying and...okay, tiring.  

Dave and I are basically taking turns melting down. But taking turns is good, right?