Housewarming!

This past Sunday, my family came over for a little housewarming party for us, combined with my sister Cristina's birthday. It was my first time 'entertaining' in the new house (though my mom brought all of the food!) and I really enjoyed it! It was like Christmas with all of the gifts for our new home! My parents gave us a gorgeous mirror-top table from Urban Barn for the entrance as well as a painting for each of the kids' rooms! Cristina gave a pretty table runner and dish towels that match my decor perfectly, and Jenna gave us a gift basket from her salon with little Aveda products, an aromatherapy candle, flower seeds and even cookies for the kids.

I really enjoyed having my family all here and getting the house all 'fancied up' for them. I was never able to do things like that with our house in Morris, because Cristina wasn't able to get in with her chair, so it was extra special that way. Since the kids have come around, we've tried to have our special occasion celebrations without going to restaurants because it is so much better for enjoying time as a family. It takes a lot of pressure off to not worry about how much noise the kids are making or if they will be able to sit still at the whole meal, plus I think kids are always more fun to be around in an environment that they are comfortable in. So for the past couple of years we have always had our parties at mom and dad's and it was such a fun change having one here that it almost felt like we were going out!

I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story . . .

My new dining set all decked out with my Kate Spade china, watiting for the party to start!

The presents waiting to be opened (most of them Cristina's birthday gifts)

Proudly showing off their own presents for their new rooms

Our beautiful table! The kids think it's a great little hiding spot, but I want to get some nice baskets to put at the bottom. The front of the table is a nice big drawer where we can put papers, keys, and other such things!

THERE we go!!

Poor mom - all of these pretty candles, and I couldn't find our matches anywhere! They must be in a yet-to-be-unpacked box.
Mom and Dad gave Cristina a cell phone for her birthday, and dad called it while she was opening it, so the present was ringing. It was pretty funny. Dad rolled up a piece of paper and lit it with a car lighter, but it didn't really work out. I think only 2 or 3 of the candles got lit up before he gave up.

The beautiful birthday girl!

Kalia testing out the new phone for Cristina.

And of course there had to be time for stories before they left!

The men enjoying the new 50" tv on the couch after all of the good eating!

Today is Wednesday, isn't it?!

So I guess I missed my Wednesday blog post this week! It was just busy busy busy around here. Yesterday for example, we spend the morning in Winkler at a Dr appointment and doing some errands, then headed off to Altona for a B Jewelled delivery, picked up stone for the house in Rosenfeld, came home for a nap, and then headed off to Winnipeg to replenish stock of jewelry in a store I sell at, out for supper, and oh - did I mention the furniture shopping? We snuck the purchase of an entertainment unit for Scott's new 50" plasma tv into that day somewhere! WHEW!

Even our days at home have been full. I have been working very hard on getting the basement unpacked and organized so that we can set up a playroom, an office, and a craft room for me. Then I got a new order in of jewelry supplies and so any spare time has been spent filling orders and creating new pieces. The kids are so great with playing together (most of the time!) and they love 'helping' me with whatever I am working on. Scott got the garage mostly in order this week too, so now we can actually park our vehicles in there - BONUS! Here are a few pictures from the week.

Yay! This is the small pile of boxes that I have left to unpack or put away! It feels SO good to have accomplished so much!

I really should have taken a before picture here. Just imagine no floor, and in its place, boxes, garbage, building materials, and scraps!!

The kids are playing computer games together while I tidy up the house in the morning.

Little poser. She can hardly ever be seen these days without a dress-up necklace on. She loves making herself all fancy.

Of course Oliver sees his sister posing for the camera and wants his chance to shine too! He was shouting "Mama! Picture!"

I was taking a picture of this necklace I made before I brought it away, and Kalia asked so sweetly "Mommy, can I be in the picture with the necklace?" Well of course!