A small house project

We haven't done many projects in our "new" house, just painting Cole's room.  I have 2 projects brewing right now, but when I realized we could tackle this one Joel knocked it out really quickly!

We have a small area between our front entry and our living room where the door to the basement is.  We thought it would be fun to paint the wall opposite the basement door with magnetic and chalkboard paint so Nate could have a little play area!

It came out great!  Nate loves to "stick" the letters and numbers on the wall.  We haven't pulled out the chalk for him just yet (mostly because I haven't had the time to sit with him to do it), but we hope this little wall will lead to hours of entertainment!

Cole's Nursery

I went ahead and drafted this post since I knew once we got home I wouldn't have time or energy to make this post (and I'm sure his room will not be this clean again!)

We will probably forever call this the "room that spray paint built."  After deciding on the blue and brown scheme, the brass hardware didn't really fit in.  I had read on some blogs about rubbed bronze metallic spray paint and decided to give it a try.  Joel painted the ceiling fan, door knobs, hinges, and outlet covers.  Those turned out so well I continued to find things that Joel could spray paint for me to work in the room--the dream sign, backer to the bookcase, 2 lamps, picture frames, trashcan, name canvases....

I did help out with a little bit of the painting with acrylics on some decorative blocks, his name letters and a tissue box cover.

Here is the view from the door:

His sleeping area--we'll move the crib here once we move Nate into his big boy bed.

My new comfy glider!

I love how it turned out!

Finished Deck!

After several months, tedious sanding, patching, replacing boards, picking out a stain, too much rain, and a bout with bats in our attic vent we are proud to announce that our deck is finally finished! Our deck furniture that was delivered months ago has finally found its home. We are looking forward to much lounging out here during our staycation next week!

Nate's Room

Nate's room is finally done!

Mostly...we still need sheets for the crib and a cover for the changing table, but we have made a lot of progress

Sammy is very curious about this room and is wondering what the big deal is...

Joel's sister, Lauren, made this adorable diaper wreath for our shower...it's too cute!

Wrapping up 2008!

Be prepared for a mega-post here!

December was a super busy month for us...preparing for Christmas, parties, wrapping up the year at work, us both being sick for a week and trying to get Nate's room ready!

We had a great trip home for Christmas and were even surprised with a baby shower after opening presents at Joel's parents house.I was able to fulfill my craving for Crazy Fire at lunch with Nelson, Rachel and Adam and we hit a few of our favorite NC dining establishments--Smithfields BBQ and Cook Out. We also got to see Ben & Molly, Rex & Liz and Melissa...always good to catch up with our HCHS buddies.

We returned home on Sunday and have enjoyed this past week sleeping in, relaxing, working on Nate's room, and watching How I Met Your Mother on DVD (thanks Megan!) We went out to dinner on New Year's Eve to California Dreaming, one of our favorite restaurants.

This week I have also been battling a hive-like rash that has mysteriously broken out over half of my body. So, slathering Benedryl cream all over and daily oatmeal baths have been part of my routine this week. I went to the doctor on Tuesday to have her look at it and she said it is just something that can happen to some pregnant women... Thankfully I feel like it is getting better and will hopefully not have to resort to more intense medicine, since it may not go away completely until after I deliver. Here is the 30 weeks belly picture, you can see a little bit of the remaining rash on my hand.

Loving our new couch--

We're loving our new ikea couch--this is mostly for you, Mom--the only one who has a good excuse not to come visit :-)

Spring is Here!

We are so glad that our landscaping overhaul from last year is in full bloom!

Joel's beloved Waterfall Japanese Maple

We got the best deal this week on these path lights...I love them!

Joel being a little artsy...

I can't wait until the trellis is covered!

Back among the living...

It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks at the Penny house! Here's my attempt at a general wrapup--

On President's Day weekend, we hung up the shelves that Joel has been working on for the dining room. I really like them, although I'm not sure about the arrangement of everything I want on them. It is nice to have some more storage space!















I also got to catch up with my friend Kara while she was in Atlanta visiting some friends of her husband. It had been That was the same day that Jackson was born! So I waited a whole long week at work to get to go to visit the little guy. Joel and I had a great time visiting (and Jackson was really good while we were there)...Joel made his first visit to Babies R Us with Josh while Sharla and I caught up. The best part was we were able to get some great photographs of Jackson and his mom & dad--

And we got to love on the guy a little bit too:

On Sunday, I started to feel like I was getting sick. Joel was sweet and let me sleep the whole way home and I basically just laid on the couch all afternoon. I got up Monday and went to work, but threw in the towel after an hour and went home. Some crazy virus was going around our office and 4 other people were sick too! Joel had left for Seattle on a business trip--he went to Pikes Place Market and the original Starbucks and forgot to take a single picture for me! So I was home all alone to take care of myself :-(

Today we finally put together the order for our wedding album (yes, almost four years later). I had previously worked for our photographer and she shot our wedding for free--but we would have to pay for the album. Her work is really great, but also really expensive, so we haven't had the funds to order the album until now. We're sooo looking forward to finally having it! Tonight we're going on a little date to one of our fav restaurants- California Dreaming to celebrate Joel's annual bonus and my new position, which went into effect this week! Our Valentine's dinner wasn't all we had hoped it would be, but we know we'll have a great dinner tonight!

Blueland and the weekend

We went to "Blueland" to see the Atlanta Thrashers play their home-opener on Friday. The most exciting part was getting to see their first banner raised- the Southeast Division Championship banner--we even got our own little replica banner.

On Saturday Joel went on the annual church golf outing, so I used the day to do some "fall cleaning", try out a new apple pie recipe and catch up on some laundry. It seems like we're still catching up from being on vacation. That and we're still coming down from vacation high. ha ha

Sunday was pretty normal--church and then we picked up lunch at Bojangles (sorry Josh, we had to) and watched the Panthers game--they finally won!

For now we're looking forward to our weekend in the mountains, Christmas and planning next year's vacation to Yosemite. We made a trip to REI last night to check out their fall sale, and Joel picked up a few things. I'm keeping an eye on online sales--there sure is a lot we will need! Oh, and Joel's planning on tiling the kitchen sometime in November (you knew we couldn't resist taking on a new project!)...so stay tuned for some before and after pics!

A Whole Lotta Nothin

Not too much to write about...desperately awaiting the long weekend and our trip to Savannah :-)


I've spent the last two days out riding with wholesaler guys and have decided that I definitely prefer my desk job! Driving around for 9-10 hours a day, counting beer in 20 degree coolers and not even stopping for lunch is not my idea of a good time. Definitely ready to go back to the office tomorrow!


Last weekend we ventured down to Atlanta to IKEA to pick up some bookcases for the office. Of course, we got caught up looking at everything and by the time we got to the area where you pick the stuff off of the shelves, they were sold out of the bookcases we wanted (they had an accent shelf and this extender kit...oh, and the doors that we decided to put on the bottom after we saw a display...yeah, they reeled us in). They just got a shipment, and Joel has gone to pick the rest up. Who knows when we'll get to putting it together though.


Saturday evening we took Sammy to Petapalooza...this pet party thing that a radio station puts on at our local park. We did snap one picture

Sorry, Mom, haven't been able to catch him going in/out the doggie door. Maybe I'll have to lure him with a treat.

Before and Afters

We've received the most feedback on the trellis....all the neighbors want Joel to build them one. Here are the fruits of our labor...

Another delightful weekend....

Well, let's just say it started out delightful...

I scored some free tickets from work to see Norah Jones (aka drag Joel to see Norah Jones) at The Tabernacle. We were both glad to get out of the house for a date, since it's been all work for the last 4 weekends. First, we had to pick up some files at his old office and decided to grab dinner at a restaurant at Lenox Mall (since it's right across the street). It's only been 2 1/2 months since I started my new job in the suburbs, but driving back to Atlanta already seems like a trip to the "big city." We got to the show around 8:00 and found that our tickets get us VIP access to the "Bud Lounge." Free drinks, a nice view of the city and comfy couches were making the night much more appealing to Joel. Norah went on around 8:50 and she was amazing in concert. It was nice to enjoy a more relaxed concert in an intimate venue--much different from all of our prior concert experiences on the lawn at Walnut Creek. We also realized that we hadn't been to a concert in about 5 years...if that doesn't make you feel old I don't know what will. Here is a picture that I found online from the show (very cute dress!)



And then the weekend took a turn...

We got up with the sun on Saturday and took a trip to our favorite nursery. In about an hour... and with the help of the retired owner, who we asked for help not knowing who he was...we had picked out all the plants for the 2 front beds, ordered mulch and compost, and one beautiful japanese maple that Joel had to have. We scheduled the delivery and headed home to prepare the beds. What fun lay ahead! So for the next two days (intermingled with several trips to Home Depot, Lowes, Target & Linens N Things) we both worked diligently to try to get most of the work finished. Joel has taken the week off and has gotten a lot done already...but he's getting some help today to finish the planting and to spread the mulch. Hopefully when I get home tonight I can take the after pictures to post.

I still have some planning to do before the big Cinco de Mayo party, but I am really looking forward to a relaxing weekend and a fun time with friends!

The Floors are done!

But Joel and I can not take all of the credit....

Last week Joel found out that he was getting a promotion (he will now be a Trust Advisor, with his own book of clients) and gets to work in an office that is 9 miles from our house (his commute was 28 miles). After much celebration he decided to give our contractor/neighbor a call and have his guys come finish the floor. They finished the remaining 400 square feet in half a day. Whew! Joel is willing to give up some of the more labor intensive jobs to contractors in the future, and would like to more actively pursue woodworking (which he is currently doing in the form of a trellis for our front yard).

Most importantly---Sammy thinks the hardwoods are just as good for napping as the old carpet.

A few before and afters:

These are a little dark, but you get the idea

We are really pleased with the way they turned out!

We are...

still a little sticky--from all of the glue that got

e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e

when putting down our hardwood floors this weekend. We must have washed our hands a hundred times each! And our joints are still a little sticky too, from manuevering all over the concrete floor. Probably need to get a new bottle of Advil so we can make it through the rest of this project!

Here is Joel laying out some of the dreaded glue...




























And the finished product (I still need to wipe them down since we tracked dust in on them)

Finished!