The Play Kitchen

For Christmas this year Tim and I decided to take on the challenge of building Sawyer and Jane a play kitchen. We spent many, many, many cold nights in our garage working on this project. It was a lot of work but we are super proud of the end product. Sawyer is pretty crazy about it too...

Here is our $35 craigslist beauty. Can you see the amazing potential???

The big reveal on Christmas morning...

The play kitchen.

We are thrilled with how it all turned out and LOVE watching Sawyer pretend to be the "cooker." 

Super Sawyer

It is so hard to believe my little dude is three. Seems it was only yesterday...

The party theme was debated for weeks. Sawyer's top three theme choices: Justin Beiber, High School, Super Hero. We opted for Super Hero and went on a Pinterest hunt for great ideas that could be easily copied. The inspiration resulted in some pretty cute decor, if I do say so myself.

Super Silly Sawyer

Cupcakes

I made each kid a cape and the craft was making super hero masks. Cuteness.

Grandma K helping Sawyer with his Super mask. Notice his cute Superman shirt has been replaced by a new Tebow jersey 

(a cool present from Uncle Adam and Aunt Amy). Notice, also, that you will never see the cute Superman shirt for the remainder of the party.

When doing anything of importance, the helmet is required.

Happy 3rd birthday Sawyer. You are the Superest kid I know. 

And we're back...

After a seven month dry spell, I am happy to return to the blogging world.

A brief update on what the Kanallakans have been up to: 

Baby Jane was born June 11th and has added a heaping dose of sweetness to our little family.

Sawyer started part-time preschool and we both agree those six hours each week are priceless.

• Sawyer potty trained. Worst week ever. SO worth it. 
• Sawyer turned the big 0-3 (picts of the party coming soon...).
• Tim and I conferenced it up this past Fall with the "Home for Good" Adoption conference followed shortly after with the "Cleansing Streams" deliverance conference. Both were life changing and I guarantee there will be postings on each event.
• I discovered Pinterest. I am well aware that this discovery is being equated to the birth of a child. 

I'm sure there is lots more but thats all I can think of now as Cars 2 plays on the tube and Janie is fighting her much-needed morning nap. 

The big question now is what to post on first...I vote for Sawyer's 3rd Birthday party. 

Almost Finished...

Here are some updated photos of our baby Jane's nursery. It has been such fun watching it all come together these past few months! We still have a few things to hang on the walls but I am so happy with how it has all turned out so far...

The picture to the left hung in my Grandma Kay's room when she was a young girl.
Original frame and everything! 

The hand-,made brown/coral Moses basket (under the window) was an amazing gift from
 my super talented Mother-in-law. 

We had two of my Grandma Betty's sketches matted and framed.
Both have her signature and are dated 1941. LOVE.

The hanging dress was another gift from my Mom-in-law.  It is made of fabrics that match Jane's bedding. I can't wait to  watch Jane twirl in her beautiful, handmade outfit!

We can't wait to meet our little girl and further complete our little family!

Nursery Projects: Heirloom Artwork

My dad's mother, Betty, spent a year or so in Design School, back when she was about 19 years old (between 1939 and 1940). After she passed away, we found a box of dozens of her beautiful sketches, tracings, and newspaper clippings of her favorite clothing designs. I have always been a fan of vintage anything and for most of my high school years, my bedroom walls were decorated with her sketches. 

As we have been planning and designing Jane's nursery, in the back of my mind has been 4-5 sketches my grandmother did of little girl clothing. Though it had been years since I had actually seen them, I could still picture them.  A few weekends ago I was able to get to my parents house and go through the box of grandma's artwork. I was THRILLED to find the little girl sketches and even more excited that they were even cuter then I remembered. 

 I can not wait to get the art matted and framed for Jane's nursery. These pieces are such a gift from my Grandma.

 

Nursery Projects: Paint and Bookcase Re-do

It has been so very fun to start on our baby girl nursery! When Sawyer was born we were living in a very small, upstairs apartment and were very limited on what we could do decor wise. Getting to paint and design both Sawyer and baby Jane's rooms is such a treat!

A couple of weekends ago we began working on Jane's nursery. We started with painting the walls an adorable, super soft, shell pink. I'm so happy with how the paint turned out and how it pairs with the ceiling and carpet colors.

My awesome husband is a fantastic painter!

So eager to help!

Proud big brother

Once the paint was on the walls it was time to think about how to arrange the furniture. Sawyer has recently transitioned to a "big boy" bed, thus freeing up his crib for sister. We moved the crib into the nursery and got the changing table out of storage.

The next step was to re-do an old oak bookshelf someone had given us when we got married.

First we sanded

Then came a couple coats of primer

Then came the super cute yellow paint

 

We primed the back of the bookshelf

 We used our bedding fabric to line the back of the bookshelf and the result...SUPER CUTE!

 

We are so happy with how things are turning out! Can't wait to meet our baby Jane!

To Lent or Not To Lent

This is actually a post from a year ago...I don't know how re-posting blog excerpts fits into blog etiquette but rather than re-invent the wheel, I figured I'd share what my thoughts were on the observation of Lent this time last year. We are excited to participate in Lent again this year and are, once again, saying "adios" to sweet treats until Easter. It has been such a blessing to investigate this tradition. My prayer is that as we approach the Easter season, God would begin to prepare our hearts to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior.


From Feb. 26, 2010
"Last year Tim and I were blessed to attend a presentation of the symbolism and significance behind the Jewish tradition of the Passover meal. We were both fascinated by what we learned and discussed the beauty of ancient cultural and religious traditions and how so much of that Old Testament reverence is lost in our "what ever works for you" Christian culture. At the end of the presentation, the Jewish missionary who spoke, ended his time talking about the tradition of Lent. Having grown up in non-denominational and Southern Baptist churches, Lent was not something we observed or really spoke about. This novel idea excited Tim and I and last year we decided to fast away desserts and sweet treats for Lent. 

This year we have again given up all things sweet and delicious. Lent started last Wednesday, Feb. 17th and continues until April 3rd, the day before Easter. Though giving up sweets may not seem too big a deal, let me tell you, it is tough. Its not so much the big treats (pies, cakes, cookies, etc.) because we don't eat a lot of those foods. Its the things we eat without thinking about it (a chocolate covered strawberry at Bible Study, a handful of M&Ms at the office, a mocha from Starbucks) that are hard to say no to. 

I was reading about Lent earlier this week and really liked the following description from churchyear.net:

The purpose of Lent is to be a season of fasting, self-denial, Christian growth, penitence, conversion, and simplicity. Lent, which comes from the Teutonic (Germanic) word for springtime, can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning: a time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our corporate and personal relationships with Jesus Christ and our service to him. Thus it is fitting that the season of Lent begin with a symbol of repentance: placing ashes mixed with oil on one's head or forehead. However, we must remember that our Lenten disciplines are supposed to ultimately transform our entire person: body, soul, and spirit. Our Lenten disciplines are supposed to help us become more like Christ. Eastern Christians call this process theosis, which St. Athanasius aptly describes as "becoming by grace what God is by nature."

(That last quote from St. Anthanasius makes me so excited and fills me with hope!) 

Observing Lent has become a new tradition for our little family and I am very excited to incorporate it into our Easter celebration. Though giving up chocolate donuts does not seem like a spiritually transforming act, our decision to remove yummy things from our menu for the 46 days until we celebrate Christ's resurrection, allows us to be reminded of the huge act of self-denial our Savior made on our behalf. Thinking about His ultimate sacrifice makes putting down that cookie much easier."

Cranberry Salsa Recipe

I haven't shared many recipes but I'm so excited about this one I had to spread the joy.

I am blessed to be a part of an amazing group of women who meet every Thursday evening for dinner, Bible study, and accountability. Between the 20 of us, there are some amazing dishes brought each week. A few weeks back (at our super fun baked potato bar), my friend Bethany laid out an amazing spread of chips and cranberry salsa. I was apprehensive at first but after one bite I was pretty much glued to that spot on the table, guarding my newly discovered, ruby treasure.

I found a similar recipe online and made a batch of the salsa for a small Super Bowel party we had the next weekend. I was not able to find fresh or frozen cranberries and attempted the deliciousness with a canned version. Though it was still delicious, it was a bit too sweet (the canned fruit has a fructose additive). I can't wait to make it again with fresh or frozen berries and really party with my taste buds...

Last Thursday night Bethany gave me a super cute recipe card with her version of the cranberry salsa.

Enjoy:

Bethany's Cranberry Salsa

1 bag of cranberries
2/3 c. sugar
1 1/2 limes for juice
1 bunch of green onions
1 bunch of cilantro
2 jalapeños (more or less depending on how much spice your craving- seeds optional as well)

In food processor, blend cranberries and place them into a mixing bowl. Add sugar, lime juice, and chopped green onions to cranberry puree. Place cilantro and jalapeños in food processor and chop. Add mixture to cranberry mix and stir well. Allow to chill in fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.

-Here is an added bonus-

Before placing the salsa in the fridge, poke holes into the top of a block of cream cheese and pour the salsa over the top. Place this into the fridge for a couple of hours to allow the salsa to seep into the cheese. Serve with Ritz crackers and tortilla chips.

Thanks Bethany for the amazing recipe!!

Etsy Favorites

The "world of girl" is such fun. As we prep for the next big project of putting together baby Jane's nursery, I can't help but scour the world wide web looking for all things pink and floral and vintage and poofy.

Etsy is a favorite shopping spot (if nothing else, it provides amazing inspiration and motivation). Here are some of my recent finds:

Anything made with Amy Butler fabric is a winner...

From JMBthreedesigns's Etsy shop

Just plain cute...

From Bonniebluebelle's Etsy shop

I can't get over the rufflidge. I'll take one in every color!!!

From Dressbabybeautiful's Etsy shop

Along with perusing the clothes and accessories, I have begun the ominous diaper bag search. With Sawyer, Tim and I decided to go with a gender neutral messenger bag so that both he and I could get away with carrying it (and he could maintain his man dignity). I loved our bag and it has held up quite well but now that there is a girl on the way, I am craving a more feminine piece. This beauty has caught my eye:

From Kolobags

The search continues...We are definitely getting excited about our little lady!!