{gutter bookshelf}

I saw a tutorial of a flat wall-mounted bookshelf created by Martha Stewart a couple months back and have been wanting something functionally similar to house all of our books ever since. However, to make her wooden shelf made out of moulding it would cost me over $60 and a lot of measuring, cutting, priming, painting and building - a lot of work that I don't have time for. So then I decided to just try to find something similar to purchase but the best price I could find was at Walmart, of all places, for $150! No way. Thus, it became an idea on the back burner, like so many others, until i could think of a better solution.

Well, I finally thought of it. I wasn't sure how it would work out but I wracked my brain to think of some u-shaped object already in existence that I could use and eventually decided on gutters. Yep, gutters. And think, they already come in white so no painting! I love the way it turned out and would actually (in smaller sizes) use them in other areas in the house... like a cookbook area in the kitchen. Or what about a photo shelf in a hallway? It looks so "finished" with the end caps/ It really is pretty versatile and INEXPENSIVE since the gutters, in 10' sections, only cost $7 a piece.

{happy thanksgiving with happy people}

We enjoyed Thanksgiving with wonderful friends this year. I wish I would have remembered to take a group photo but, alas, I did not. So these are all I have. But a lack of photos means a lot of fun in most cases, and this was no exception. We spent the day at our friends', Elizabeth and Caleb Severson, home and it was such wonderful fun. In attendance were also the Severson's sweet kids, Sofia and Caleb as well as the Mills family (Barry, Bonnie, Samantha, Jordan), the Straw family (Aaron, Danelle, Evan, Chase), and the Stephen family (Cameron, Ruth and their two boys whose names escape me right now for some reason).

It was such a wonderful day and we have so much to be grateful for: a wonderful family, fantastic friends, a loving Savior, as well as our health, home, and happiness. We are so blessed and always appreciate a holiday that helps to remind us so. We are also always appreciative of a holiday that gives us an excuse to eat, in excess, great food. Yummmmmmmm!

Devin made a mighty delicious ham to contribute to the feast (someone else made the turkey) and it turned out marvelous. He used cloves, brown sugar, butter and some Devin-style TLC. Way to go, babe.

{dean is three and a half}

But he's still my baby boy.

He is really interested in reading books, writing, coloring, playing games, and learning new songs. He loves dinosaurs, monsters, trains, superheroes, superheroes, and superheroes. His favorite movies are anything about spaceships and aliens: Monsters vs. Aliens, Area 51, Battle for Terra, etc. His best buddy is Jordan and he wants to marry a teacher at preschool named Miss Vanessa (or "Miss Banessa" as he calls her). He adores hugs and kisses from Mommy, and despite some occasional time-outs (and truly, they are rare for him) he strives to please Mom and Dad and be a good example for his little brother. He loves making new friends and latches on to any potential buddy (whether his age or older) in sight to play with - he is FAR from shy. His favorite food is peanut-butter and honey sandwiches and fruit. He is cheerful and loving when he wakes in the mornings but many nights he cries briefly when it's bedtime - he loves staying up with Mom and Dad.

Dean is 32 lbs and 3'3" tall. He wears 3T clothing and size 8.5-9 in shoes. And he LOVES hats and gloves, though Houston weather doesn't afford him much opportunity to wear them.



P.S. I know it's a lot of photos, but I just can't choose a couple. He looks so sweet in all of them. :o)