Chicago

We just got back yesterday from a quick get away to see our good friends Thomas and Ruthie who recently moved from Seattle to Wheaton (a suburb to Chicago). We packed in a lot of goodness into just a few days. They are such great hosts and fantastic tour guides...look at everything we saw...

Buckingham Fountain

The famous "Bean"

the spitting wall - modern art is weird - it's famous though so we took a pic

Garrett Popcorn - famous in Chicago - at peak time people wait in line for hours to get their popcorn - it was really really good!

:)

Matt enjoying his Chicago style hot dog

The Chicago Theatre

Chicago Cultural Center (home of the world's largest Tiffany glass dome - not the one in the pic)

random cow

United Center - home of the Bulls and Blackhawks

Navy Pier

famous Navy Pier ferris wheel

we were there so we had to ride it!

R & T

so gross but so funny!

anchor with Lake Michigan in the background

Chicago really is a beautiful city with amazing architect as well as many beautiful green spaces to break up the concrete of the downtown

FREE zoo!

lizard, lizard, lizard

John Hancock Building

we went to the lookout on the 96th floor - so cool! you can go up for free if you stop in at the lounge - however - I didn't bring my ID (as if I look younger than 21) so no drinks for us - but for the brief 5 min we were up there is was VERY cool!

LouMalnati's - the best deep dish Chicago style pizza in the city (or so the guide book told us!)

it was really really good!

the four of us!

we so enjoyed our time with great friends! How fun to be able to see T & R's new home, school and city. We had great time of fellowship - it's always great to catch up in person instead of over e-mail! What a blessing we have in lifelong friends!

Ensuite

Decorating our en-suite started with a bath mat and a shelf. The bath mat is beautiful (sorry no pics - it's currently in the dryer!) It's from winners - cheap cheap - DKNY blue, white and grey - love it! The shelf was a gift to Matt made with love from his Grandpa. We have had it since we were married and finally have room to put it to good use!

Beautiful shelf - made with love!

Beautiful shelf - finally being used!

Frames were 0.25 at Sally Ann - I spray painted and distressed them. Willow trees were both gifts. Mason jars were someone else's junk - q-tips and cotton pads were bought and used daily.

Another thrifted frame spray painted above our toilet - in it our marriage covenant to each other - aka our vows. It's a good reminder to have them out - now when I'm brushing my teeth at night I'm reminded of the promises I have made!

the finished product!

A-Dawg!

Two weeks ago (life has been too busy to keep the blog up to date - sorry!) Alise and I met up for a little get away in Kelowna. We had a GREAT time just the two of us relaxing, eating, visiting - solving the worlds problems - it was glorious! I miss this girl!

We stayed at Green Bay - which is fun becuase it is where we first met - working the waterfront together. While we were at GB we went checked out our names in the wood - after each summer of working the waterfront the staff of that year write their names in the wood - it's kind of a right of passage.

This 'SJ' was from 2007 - the summer I got engaged - hence the diamond ring:)

Alise = Cali

Relaxing...

While we were solving the worlds problems we talked a lot about Nathan - Alise's then boyfriend. Alise and I said good-bye on Wednesday and on Saturday night I got a phone call late at night - Alise and Nathan had gotten engaged!!!!! WHOOP WHOOP - my friend has found the one whom her soul LOVES!!!! I feel blessed to have been able to spend time with Alise pre-engagement and I am excited about her upcoming wedding! To a long and beautiful life together - praise be to Jesus for what He has done!

Photography

One of my co-workers doubles as a professional photographer:) She has been kind enough to offer great advice regarding my photography skills. Last week she took a friend and I outside for our first photography lesson and look at the results!

Silhouette Shot!

Baby Bump picture

Heart

Ev was a great model for the shoot:)

I learned so much - I'm excited for lesson #2!

Terrarium

When I was home this summer, my mother in law had the idea that I could make a terrarium and it wouldn't die on me - I'm not good with plants! I am proud to announce that my terrarium is both living and thriving after almost a month being in my home!

A terrarium is a simple little project - you just need a plant, small amount of potting soil, moss, rocks and a vase.

The finished product!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Hard to believe it, but our little baby girl Meg turns 2 years old tomorrow! She is such a miracle and is truly a living example of God's faithfulness and grace. I am so thankful for the time that I was able to spend with her - I am forever grateful. I miss her, often, but need to remember to be thankful for the time I had. I pray for her and hope that someday we will be able to meet again.

Happy 2nd Birthday Meg - we love you!

Painted Curtains

The idea of painted curtains probably sounds a little strange to all of you, but I am working on a very strict budget and pretty window treatments are crazy expensive for big windows - I needed a cheap fix to my dilemma and thus painted curtains sounded great!

I went to Walmart and bought $8.00 twin flat sheets, paint, a small foam roller and painters tape.

I ironed the sheets - you don't want wrinkles in your paint stripes.

taped out my stripes - my sheets are 96 inches and so easy math gave me 12 stripes even

and then I painted - two coats

important to peel the tape off before your paint dries completely

and voila - painted curtains - a window treatment for $20!

Chalkboard Mirror

Matt went to a skills Canada competition when he was in high school and made this pretty mirror - isn't he talented? I loved the look of it, but had some ideas of my own to do with it...

I painted it white and then chalkboard painted the mirror portion of it

now we have this great ever changing quote board - it's been very fun to have

Gallery Wall

I have been crafting:) We had a awesome summer, but were away a lot and therefore our apartment has taken some time to fully come together.

our new gallery wall

in process - all of the frames were either previously owned, given to us, or thrifted for $0.75 or less

one of my thrifted frames - on sale for $0.25

the same frame spray painted white with some crafting wire strung and a few clothes pins added - makes it easy for picture changes to happen - how often to we stick a photo in a frame and leave it for years?!

we found this beautiful antique mirror at our local flea market

we took the mirror out and spray painted the frame. then my very crafty father-in-law made this BEAUTIFUL K for us!

and the end result - I will explain it all starting at the top left...

1. clock - previously owned (PO'd)

2. small white frame - PO'd and received a fresh coat of paint

3. prairie scene - painted my Matt's Grandpa Kaminski of the house he was raised in

4. frame with wire and pics - see above

5. BEAUTIFUL K - see above

6. small white frame - PO'd by my parents - loved the curves - spray painted and just placed in a sheet of scrap-booking paper that matches the color scheme of the room

7. black frame - PO'd

8. feet washing painting - a perfect wedding gift painted by our extremely talented sister-in-law!

9. Africa LOVE pic - a gift from a very special friend of ours that we shared our lives with in Uganda - her sister painted it for us - I found a frame at a thrift store that fit it perfectly!

C.O.W.

Matt just finished running C.O.W (Columbia Orientation Week) at CBC. He was in charge of the three days events. He has been planning this all summer and had quite a team working under him to make everything run smoothly! It was a great orientation...I have heard the best one CBC has ever had:)

Here are just a VERY few pictures of some of the events (of course no pics of the fun games etc but these few will have to suffice).

EARLY Sunday morning before the excitement began. Matt designed these shirts for all the orientation staff.

Welcome and Registration.

C-Groups

Sunday evening Welcome/Worship Service.

I wish I had pictures of yesterday's C.O.W. challenge - a huge relay type race for the c-groups to compete in. The entire event was cow themed - let's just say Matt bought a lot of ice cream, butter, milk, rubber glove utters and a cow tongue for the event. The weather was AMAZING for all three days and everyone looked to be having a great time! Today classes start at CBC and Matt is back to work at his other job:)

Camping

We just got home from a glorious weekend camping at Hick's Lake with friends - the washing machine is currently running at full capacity! We had fun times of fellowship, great food (everything tastes better when your camping) and AMAZING weather!!! We did a lot of relaxing! It was a great way to cap off a GREAT summer!

BC has so many beautiful places - we spent all day Saturday and most of Sunday floating:)

(So sorry for the lack of pictures - I guess I was to busy relaxing my face off!)