The HOLIDAYS are the times when you are SUPPOSED to MISS people...right?

Yesterday was kind of out there for me. 

I mean, I have been suffering from migraine for five days now...going on six (stress...weather?)  and I was just kind of down and out.  Plus, we have the SICKNESS that has inhabited our home.  Feeling like crap all around here.  



But, then, something strange happened.  There was a person who popped into my head...I was thinking of her all day for some reason or another and at the end of my day, she posted on Facebook that she had the WORST DAY EVER.  Strange that she was on my mind.  I guess...not though. We are coming to the Holidays and the realization that this year I will not have a Work Christmas party to get in order or have to decorate the Office (unless you could my home office)  or even have to buy holiday cards/gifts for fellow employees.  

I work at HOME...

my employees are virtual and live half way a crossed the USA. Kind of crazy, if I can say so myself!

After wishing my friend a better day, and letting her know that I miss her and was thinking of her...it kind of way weighting heavy on me.  I guess maybe the fact that I ran into a woman who works where I used to over the weekend on our trip to see Santa might have triggered some of this feeling also. 

My friend is a person who is like a twin to me.  We are not the same age but we grew up in the same neighborhood...which is not by work.  We went to the same High School...she even was bff's with the girl who owned the house I grew up in before we lived there- freaky!  Plus, her Dad is a retired Police Officer...My Dad is a retired Firefighter and I worked for 9-1-1 for said Police jurisdiction.  Weird..right! 

So, maybe it is natural for me to think about that old job...those people I worked along side of for five years and miss...eek I said it...can't take it back now.. MISS them, miss the parties that I always felt SO awkward at...MISS the gifts I would get for those co-workers and MISS the holiday ...uh Cheer...Ba Hum Bug that would echo through the halls!

But, holidays are the times you are supposed to MISS people...right?  

I mean, that is the time of the year when the rest of the Family get's together and when someone is missing..it just naturally happens.  Or seeing something that triggers that memory of what once was...makes you remember something positive about that moment and therefore the MISS begins...

Everything is as it is supposed to be...that much I know, but I will always miss those who are no longer with us...and those who I have left behind.  

You might be behind but you are never forgotten.

Happy Holidays to my Old Peeps at MMO and of course to those who have been in and out of my life!  

May the lights twinkle and the merry surround you and your family during this time! ;)

~Kel

Christmas at Gray Gables... Things are happening inside...

Gray Gables... A work in Progress...

Well...it finally happened...  No, I am not talking about the SNOW (seriously, it is all gone already)...Christmas threw up on good Old Gray Gables!  I managed to beat my own personal best this year and ALL our Christmas stuff was UP (inside) before Turkey Day...

I know that many of you don't know ME- but let me tell you...this is ODD!  I am NOT a slacker...I have just always been pretty adamant about the fact that Christmas should not happen in a house until AFTER Thanksgiving...and usually...I wait until the long weekend of Thanksgiving to get the ball rolling.  That being said, I have no excuses...I honestly do not know what happened.  A mild concussion????

I don't know if I have shared in a while, but here is a picture of the island that the Amish made for us!  They used doors from our house and trim from the Spitzer building, where the original owner (man who had house built) worked.  Kind of sentimental!

Kitchen coming together at Gray Gables.

As you can see, we are still "working" hard at this little dream of ours.  We have a To-Do list that is as long as Santa's list of good boys and girls!  It has been hectic and crazy, stressful and there are so many days where we just need to walk away- but then something else gets finished and we get a little clean up and BAM...a tiny accomplishment is met!  

That is the crazy part. 

Well...that and the fact that people can not believe that it is not done yet... That is annoying to say the least.  This is truly a Labor of Love.  I mean that in the most earnest of ways.  We are trying to raise a family, both of us work full time and when we do have time to put into this house...my Hubby more so than myself...it seems like something else goes to hell and the house gets "Sidetracked" here and there.  It never fails either!

Or...we get sick.  Or...the car breaks down.  Did I mention that this is not what my Hubby does? He is a mechanic.  This house has been a battle for him...and I feel like he gets a harsh critic- which is not fair.  I am so proud of him and what he has learned to do and what he does and harboring all the stress that has come with this project.  I guess it is the end of the day things that matter...when you look at your life, your accomplishments..what you have that put everything into perspective for US.  

We love this old house... 

We love the country (like) adventure that is OUR backyard.  We love how happy our kids are!  That is the kicker, isn't it!!!

So, today, I am trying to motivate.  I know there are a lot of people out there with "Fixer Uppers" who get discouraged, stressed out and beat up!  Hang in there.  We are not doing this for anyone but US.  This is not a Museum, this is OUR HOME and I, for one, will not lose sight of that.  We are going to make things work, put our love, sweat and tears into it and be grateful for the task that we have been handed. I, personally, feel so lucky and blessed to have this big old house, to try to find its story and also create my own within these walls. 

Please share your story!  Share your pics and let me take a part of your adventure as you do mine!

Thanks all!

Happy Christmas Decorating and Fixer Upping!!

~Kel

Walking Dead -Mid Season Finale.... CODA

Now what?

I mean, we wait and wait...build up the anticipation of the next season and it seems like it is here and gone in the BLINK of an eye.


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SPOILER ALERT!  If you have NOT watched AMC's Walking Dead episode last night- DO NOT READ any further- go to your TV, turn on your DVR and WATCH IT!


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Last nights episode had me on my toes. My Hubby had heard that whatever was going to happen made Daryl cry...He immediately thought the loss of Carol...I called Beth.  How it happened was crazy, but along the lines I was thinking.  I feel that everyone thought the Carol would die.  I mean, she was still in a Coma state and not doing well...then TWIST!  That whole situation was great.  I mean Rick is ruthless and I literally YELL at the screen and tell him to kill...how terrible of a person does that make me?  He makes the play and immediately it is a Game Changer..right!


When they entered the hospital, I had a feeling something was going to change.  You could feel it in the characters.  How Beth passed was terrible.  I mean, eye for an eye happened because Daryl's was reeling, but that it even happened was nothing more than a tragedy.  I just immediately thought of Maggie and watching her relive the experience of losing her sister...again.  Watching the closing scenes was really sad for the group and I think the best left impact was Daryl carrying Beth away from the hospital.


Who would of thought that the crazy cop lady, who I immediately DID NOT TRUST (of the three that Rick was holding) would call a cease fire.  I mean, I was not expecting any good to come from her, she was sneaky almost.  It was nice to see them leave at their own free will and surprising...but not.. to see that not one of the patients from the Hospital left with the Rick Grimes crew.

‘Walking Dead’ Fans Take to Twitter to Mourn Series Regular's Death in Midseason Finale

I included the link from Yahoo about last nights episode.  It was an episode that I wish was LONGER...You know, to keep us going until they come back..but I can honestly say that I can NOT wait for next season.

And Talking Dead was so hard to watch.  I mean, Emily Kinney...you are so adorable!  Seeing her emotions and tears was so heartbreaking.  Realizing that the family they had was being broken was so sad and a side that we really do not think of in the real world.

Emily Kinney

Until February.. fellow Walking Dead fans!

~Kel

Day 30 of our MOM Challenge- WE DID IT! (almost)

Today is all about L O V E

Love your kids, show them love, teach them love and most importantly Love them and be loved by them!

Thanks for taking the MOM challenge with me!  

Today starts a NEW month and lots of fun stuff going on as we start the countdown for Christmas!  I can't share TOO much- but we will talk great gifts, stocking stuffers, crafts and wish lists!

We will also talk about his little Elf named Elfrick who comes back every year on December 1st. Of course, he made his debut today and is already causing all sorts of trouble in Old Gray Gables!

Don't forget to check me out on Twitter  @KelleyAmstutz

and I am also on Pinterest: Kel Amstutz

Thanks all!

~Kel

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

From ~Kel  at Life at Gray Gables!

Day 29- Technology POWERED OFF

It is time to TURN IT OFF, I tell you.  Put it down and watch, listen, talk to your kids.  

Unfortunately I had to talk to my Hubby about this the other day.  It hurts to know that I am hurting him by blabbering on about his short comings, but it really needed to be said. When you truly LOVE someone, I feel like you tell them when they are coming up short and hopefully instead of being angry, they use that KNOWLEDGE to change their actions.  

(This is what I have learned to do with my criticisms)

Anyways, it became apparent that, since Hubby has been HOME more, with his Vacation days and eating dinner with us, that all through dinner he is on his phone.  He is not engaged with us at all, and when he is...he wants QUIET.  (sorry Honey)

I kind of feel like I am in some 1950s TV Sitcom when he is present, because our table is stone cold quiet and when he is not home, we have fun, we eat, we laugh, we talk and we connect.  This is always how my table was growing up.  We always ate together and unloaded our days, which Hubby is not used to- so I try to cut him some slack. 

Yes, the talking does get out of hand and more talking happens then eating- but with some help on FOCUS, I manage to put it right.  It is important and I am NEVER on my phone during this time- it is SACRED.

So, I had to bring it up. IT wasn't even dinner time that I was referencing- but my youngest adores her Dad, she wants to sit on or by him at all times when he is around.  She wanted to sit on his lap and READ to him.  While she was reading, he was disengaged- COMPLETELY.  I was responding to her because he was ignoring her.  It hurt me.  I don't even know if she noticed, but I did.

I think it is kind of powerful to go up against your spouse, I mean to basically "Call him out" about his behavior and it is even more powerful that the usual reaction that I get....I did not get this time around.  Stress is ugly.  I get it.  I know that my Hubby is a hard working guy, he works hard at his job, he works hard on our house and he tries. I totally get that.  I guess for me, it is showing him how Proud I am of him, showing him how much I appreciate all he does for US, but also trying to get him to STOP and enjoy LIFE too- because I just feel like he is missing it.  This life that we are building is sucking the life out of him and it hurts me to see it happening.  I know there is always something to be done in this old house, and I get it that he is trying to do this, that and the other thing...but I try so hard to get time with him and our family and just relieve him of the stress.  

Obviously, I am failing! 

So, we had  a talk. It was not intense, it was not an argument, it was a talk.  Shows how much we have grown.  He listened. I listened.  We were one and all was good. 

Guess what happened the day after this talk- he slowed down.  He smiled. He stopped yelling at the kids all the time and took a breath.  It is so important to remember that they are kids, something that I stress a lot between us both, so we don't forget!  He sat on the couch with my youngest on his lap and they talked, they watched Wall-E and it was calm, relaxed and they were both beaming!

Funny how we can lose sight of things so quick!  Now, it is time for me to tell the girls to power down their devices!

What ways do you turn off the electronics and come together as a family?  

Share on Twitter!  @KelleyAmstutz

~Kel

Day 28 of our 30 Day Mom Challenge...Let's learn a new word

Challenge Day 28:

Teach your child a new word.

Since my oldest is all about learning new words and reading and understanding sight words, we are going to work on vocabulary.  

Today has been full of teaching moments.  

We have been reading books and comprehending words that she did not even know existed and essentially becoming her own little book of knowledge. 

What better word to teach than Knowledge.  

Especially since I told her that she was full of knowledge and she said, "What?" 

knowl·edge

ˈnäləj/

noun

1. 1.

   facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.

   "a thirst for knowledge"

   synonyms:

   understanding, comprehension, grasp, command, mastery; More
2. 2.

   awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation.

   "the program had been developed without his knowledge"

   synonyms:

   awareness, consciousness, realization, cognition, apprehension,perception, appreciation;  formalcognizance "he slipped away without my knowledge"

First we talked about what she thought Knowledge was?  

Her answer was a fun one.  She said she wasn't sure but she liked it because it started with the Letter K.  (OH boy!)

We defined it by saying that knowledge is what she is learning from school.  That they are facts, not stories and that they let her know things by trigger words- which she understands because she often will interrupt when she hears a word that reminds her of something else.

My youngest tried and tried again to say Knowledge- but it is going to need some more work. 

It was really fun to teach them, to see their faces light up when they understood what it meant and my oldest even used it in a sentence, which was impressive!

Try to teach your kids a new word!  I think next time we are just going to grab the old Webster and pick at random!

Let me know how it went with your kids!

Tweet on my Twitter Account @KelleyAmstutz

~Kel

1.