New Kitchen Lights

My parents decided a few years ago, when we moved into our new house, that they were going to buy items for our home each holiday and Birthday. They have been so amazing and furnished us with some of our finest things.

Here are some of the past gifts we have received:

Our dining set and plate rack

Our wood floors

Our lovely granite

My sofa table, which now is our console table

And the latest......

New Kitchen Lights, we got two of these red lights to hang over our island.

Of course a Baker project doesn't come without it's set of challenges.

My husband and brother have a standing joke with every project. 

My husband always says "I bet it will be pretty easy, and not take very long". This has become a joke because my husband started saying it when we revamped my brothers house, and of course it was difficult and took a very long time.

So here are the details of our easy and quick project HA!

These huge boxes arrived Tuesday, which was perfect because I had the flu and it brightened up my day just a tad.

The boys started the project Saturday afternoon by removing our old light fixture. This baby was screwed in securely to the ceiling and then caulked around the edge. I guess the builders in 1993 thought this would never go out of style and remain attached forever.

I unscrewed the screws while the boys held on tightly, in case it fell. We actually ended up prying it off with a scraper and hammer.

Then we were left with this. Notice the large gaping hole on the left where said builders thought the light would never come down, therefore no need to patch the giant hole they made.

The boys started removing the fluorescent lights by disconnecting all of the wires. My brother said he felt as if he was some sort of circuit board genius.

Then we were left with this lovely look

Here is a shot of our kitchen mid project. It was a mess!

Next, my husband cut two holes into the ceiling for the new lights. He and I spent about 45 minutes discussing how far apart we should hang them and how to precisely measure that. We had to take a break because we were getting nowhere. So off to the hardware store we went.

Once our heads were clear we were able to measure, cut, and my husband started to rewire.

Here is a work in progress photo, at this point is was probably 11:00 pm

Here is the finished product. This photo was taken at 1:00 am, once the counters were cleaned off.

Here is a shot the next morning, notice we still hadn't patched the ceiling. As of now the ceiling is patched and textured but we still haven't had time to repaint. We will also add four can lights to the ceiling later for more light. I will post a photo as soon as everything is complete. But for now, aren't they lovely!!!!

I love them, so cheery!!!

Grandpa Son

I am heartbroken, my sweet Grandpa passed away last night. He had surgery during spring break to remove a kidney stone. Little did we know that it was not a kidney stone, it ended up being bone cancer. After that he grew weaker until he finally took his last breath last night. His passing is particularly hard for me because I was so close to him. He was a hard working man, 78 years of age and in very good shape. He was a cattle rancher, a tile setter, and a pecan farmer. He got up early each morning and loved every second of it. He and I had a very special connection, I was his tomboy granddaughter. We fished, rode horses, shared inside jokes, and much more. I keep thinking that I will go to his home and see him sitting in his recliner welcoming me with "Hey big A" (his nickname for me). You will be missed more than I can express Grandpa.

Me and Grandpa Son (his nickname was Sonny)

Teaching

 I hardly ever talk about my work life on here but I am today. I am a Kindergarten teacher for a school that I love. I have taught there since the school opened 5 years ago. 

I love teaching Kindergarten but this year has been very difficult at school for many reasons that I will not get into. I know most people think that teaching is probably extremely easy and so fun because we get the summers off. In fact I bet most people think it looks like this.

6 sweet children hanging on every word you say.

It is actually the opposite. Now that technology has come into the picture teachers practically have to do a song and dance to keep the students attention. Along with this issue there is the greater issue of class size. What once was 15 kids in class is now 23 and up to 30 in the older grades. Also, now that kids are raising kids it usually is up to the teacher to give each child (23 of them) love, attention, social lessons, and state mandated curriculum, all while smiling every second. 

Like I said I do love it but this year has been HARD!!! Now let me step down off of my soapbox and give you one of the reasons why I love my job despite all of the things I just mentioned.

THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH!!!!

I was honored this school year to receive the Teacher of the Year Award for my school. I was truly shocked and taken a back. I still cannot believe it because I work with the best teachers out there. I kind of think it was God's way of telling me not to get down on myself this year and keep teaching those little ones who might not get all of this love when they leave the school.

Tuesday night there was a reception held for all of the teachers that received this award. Lots of my coworkers/friends showed up to support me and it meant the world to me. 

Here are some of the sweet people I work with.

At the reception: From top left Leslie (our counselor), Caleb (our AP), Danielle (my Kinder teammate), 

Monica (my Kinder teammate), Angela (my Kinder teammate/friend), Me,  Cecilia (our principal), 

and Keisha (3rd grade, and a good friend of mine)

Susan (left, 1st grade, and a good friend), Me

Yes, this was school related

How fun is it that I get to work with my bestie Katie (left), Me

I work with two of these ladies and they are good friends, Courtney (right) and her Mom, Ramona (our school nurse)

Lauren (left) so fun to work with and hang out with. 

And today is her birthday!!!

Here are two other ladies I haven't mentioned Lisa in blue (my teammate and co party planner), and Zetta in the middle (she retired last year and we miss her sooooo much!)

Thanks to all of my co-workers/friends that I get to spend everyday with, you make work so much fun!

SO GO HUG A CO-WORKER MONDAY!!!!

Sock Monkey Baby Shower

A couple of weekends ago we hosted a sock monkey baby shower for our friends, The Greens.

They are expecting their first child in a few months and we are so excited for them.

Here are the details:

Sock Monkey from Target, the wagon was a toy I used with my dolls as a child

I bought these sock monkey ornaments after Christmas for $.99 from JCPenney's 

I made two of these buntings out of scraps that I had in my craft room

This was the same gift sign that I used at Courtney and Bryan's shower

This is not a real shoe, as most people thought. It is a ceramic garden sculpture that I purchased at Hobby Lobby. I have two of them and thought they would be cute for the little boy theme. The silverware caddy is from Home Goods

Sorry the picture is so dark. This is the table scape before I put the food on the table.

The dessert table

This was one of my best finds, I found this packaging tape at Target. I was so excited. I know that sounds crazy to be excited about tape but its chevron people!!!

I borrowed the drink dispenser from my Mom and added the chalkboard tag.

I was so excited to use my Happy Everything platter. 

I already had this large jack, I purchased it from Hobby Lobby as well

The baby Toms were a gift from us, they are so cute and tiny

Like father like son

The happy parents

Congratulations Green family, your baby boy is so blessed already!