Kid Update... Mom @ Gray Gables here

Yesterday something happened...a Milestone in our home that I want to document and share as well. 

My Kiddo! 

My fabulous five year old LOST her tooth!  It had been loose since before Thanksgiving and we honestly can not believe it didn't fall out sooner..but she came home yesterday from school...off the BUS with a Tiny Pink tub that held her very small tooth!  She was beaming with excitement and could not wait to tell her Dad! 

I guess the story goes...she was in school...after Gym getting a drink of water when it fell out and was "flopping around in my mouth" so she raised her hand and told her teacher the news.  She got to go to the Nurse's office (which the school nurse if my Aunt) and get a treasure box for her lost tooth, to keep it safe until she was able to put it under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy. 

There were phone calls to Nana and Papa and talks about what the Tooth Fairy looks like- but we nestled that tooth in its treasure box...in its TOOTH PILLOW under her pillow...a place she was sure to feel the Tooth Fairy lift when she was trying to get that tooth...and she awoke today to glitter all over her room/bed/pillow... and a $1 bill covered in GLITTER! 

I am so surprised by the excitement!  She was not thrilled on her first trip to the Dentist last year and I thought for sure she would be the one who would shy away from loose teeth and such things...but she embraced this and can't wait for more teeth to fall out...EEK!

So, Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014.. my Kiddo lost her first tooth!  Congratulations kid!  I am so proud of you and love your enthusiasm!!

~Kel

Love notes of yesterday..

As many of you know by now...if you read my Blog, I have been married to my Hubby for Eight years.  That is a considerable amount of time. (Let's face it, I am just glad we made it past that seven year mark...looks like your stuck with me Hubby!) But, that is only Married years... We have really been together.... wait for it.... wait for it... for thirteen... Now that is hard to believe!  (Yes, we seriously were dating wHeN we bought a house together....) 

But, time has flown by and with that we have had our share of Changes! 

I mean...seriously, take notes... when they say "A baby changes everything" GUESS what people... THEY MEAN IT.  That was the biggest hurdle we had in our marriage.  It was bad.. Let's just put it out there.  






I mean there is this person...you have to take care of, no sleep...money is tight because formula is outrageous... diapers are scary and you would never believe that you could go through a whole pack in one day..until YOU DO!  Then there is the whole NO SLEEP...did I mention...NO SLEEP- oh my goodness!  I know that I was told on more than 1 occasion to get my sleep now before Baby...but seriously.... It rocked my world, that is FOR SURE!  



My babies were not even bad. I mean, I think I would rather NO SLEEP than when you reach that four month mark and baby sleeps but wakes up through the night...UGH.  It brings back memories that is for sure.  It is so hard to be asleep...awake....asleep. It messes with a person's MOJO !  

Our Zombie Kids...

Our Zombie Kids...

With this BIG change...comes a change in your relationship with your spouse...a change in your Marriage because basically for the first year...or so.... you walk around like a couple of ZOMBIES!  You are both just going through the motions of life. 

On a side note...IT GET'S BETTER! It really does...it just takes a couple..years. But don't focus on THAT...just focus on the IT GET'S BETTER part! 

The only thing is...then... you are pregnant again... But, good news...with Baby #2 it is so much better than Baby #1- it is almost like you know what to do..wait.. maybe because YOU DO! Hooray.

Really, I am making this sound terrible and it had it's moments...but it was fascinating...obviously because I did DO IT AGAIN after all!  I am in that stage of my  life where my oldest if in school, my youngest doesn't really need me anymore...Ugh Three!  And I miss those nights, rocking these precious girls to sleep in the antique rocker, in the dark. It had moments that I knew then I would never get back...which is what kept me going.  Guess what...I can't get them back and it is sad... But, at least I enjoyed them when they were happening, because even though I was zombie-fied....I would not have traded it for the world... Lack of sleep and all. (That is saying a lot kids...I LOVE SLEEP) 





Besides kids, your relationship goes through ups and downs.  It is strange but sometimes I feel like I don't even know the person standing beside me and I know he sometimes feels the same.  

We get lost...

Sometimes we just need to be alone to figure things out...sometimes we just need each other and to almost date again. Kind of like we have to Get to Know One Another after all these years spent together.  Odd.

But, there are money hardships that happen... then parenting styles, which is a trigger at the Amstutz house!   There are times when we are so busy with work and kids and this old house that we seriously seem to disconnect from one another. 


Then...this happens:

Love note from Hubby 12/3/14

Love Notes... They are rare, but when they are given/received...they are the little things that can make it all better.  Sometimes it is just knowing you are not forgotten that can change your whole day.

There is no secret that holds all the answers to keeping your relationship going- Lord knows I wish there was... I think that in my own home, it is just the little things that keep us going. It's making Hubby lunch and remembering to throw in a Granola Bar because sometimes he needs the extra "perk" that it helps him with.  Or, remember to pay that speeding ticket he got that was due...TODAY... And even just making sure his beloved work clothes are clean and ready to wear. 

Maybe we are just simple people too.  But, having a night out with him is a dream, one that we experience every great while and it is so worth it.  TO date my Hubby all over again is like Groundhogs day and I know that person I will end up with...doesn't stop me from wanting that first date....again.  Hmm... that is weird...

What do you do to keep the romance alive when LIFE happens?  What are your secrets to connecting with your spouse?  

The way I figure it...I have a few more years of Home Remodeling...which is a big stress producer btw... and with that my Hubby gets BUSY...like he disappears...BUSY- so if it takes leaving a love note in his car before he heads to work.. or on the juice that I know he will drink when he gets home...I'm game!

We both working for the same GOAL...This house!  L O V E

Tips are always welcome...encouraged and loved!!!


Thanks all!  Happy Love Noting!

~Kel

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!