Kitchen DISASTER (NOT "remodel"...DISASTER)...

Most of you know, thanks to my "venting" via Facebook (hey, it's cheaper than "therapy", eh?) that we have had a water problem-o...that, has turned into something pretty "major". Well, here are SOME of the pics. If you want to see MORE pics and/or read the "description"...check out the "KITCHEN DISASTER" photo album on my FACEBOOK. If you DO check 'em out on Facebook, you might notice that I describe the layout of the house or whatever in some/most of the pics...that is b/c I haven't even had the chance to post NICE (aka: "normal" pics) of the house. I don't even know if I took pics before all of this happened. LOL. So, for those of you who want to see our house...the way it looks "normally"...well, you are just gonna have to wait a couple of weeks til THIS project is done. We will keep you all posted.

To My Fellow "Bloggers"...HELP!! ;)

Since we have moved, I have made BLOGGING just ONE of my MANY commitments to do on a daily (or should I say, "regular") basis. Even if it is just a post every OTHER day. Back in the day, when Nick wasn't "mobile", I would make a couple posts a day. But, obviously, "life" changes, kiddos grow up and our priorities change. So, once again, since we have moved to Texas, I have decided to keep our family and friends back "home" in Illinois, and even others around the country, updated on our family now that we are TEXANS!

So, since I am updating my (our) BLOG, I want to know if any of YOU are still blogging yourselves. If so, (and you WANT to...LOL), could you please let me know if your BLOGS link or title is on MY BLOG page (right hand side). If it is NOT or if it is NOT THE CORRECT LINK OR TITLE, please let me know and I will update it.

You can contact me anyway you want and/or feel comfortable doing.

If you want to just email me, my email address is:
mrclkd7@yahoo.com

You can also INBOX A MESSAGE to me on Facebook:
Lisa M. (Clark) Mengarelli

Thank you VERY much for "helping" me with this. Also, if anyone has any tips, suggestions, ideas, things to be aware of (good and/or bad), even web pages RE: "how to learn/re-teach yourself to BLOG", etc...I am totally "listening". HA!

Dominick ("NICK") James...He found his feet!!!!

This is ANOTHER AMAZING MOMENT that Nick's Aunt Whitney "caught" and took a picture of. Nick loved lookin' at his toes (once he knew they were there...LOL). This picture was just Nick sittin' on our kitchen floor. Sometimes (even MOST times), the best pictures are those that "just happen" and "just happen to be captured". So, thank you AGAIN, to Whitney for ALL the awesome memories you have "made" for us.

Again, here is her web page/blog:

www.imagesbywhitney.com

Our FIRST Christmas Picture As A Family (2006)

Since I'm JUST STARTING to "update" my BLOG, I'm obviously also updating pictures. So, I thought I would remove some pictures from the "side" of our BLOG'S "main page" and post them. Then, I (and/or others) can just look back on the post to see the picture. I don't want to completely "remove" the pictures from this BLOG. I hope that THAT all makes sense to you. Again, thank you for your patience as I'm TRYING to re-teach myself this whole process. ;)

BTW - these pictures were taken by Whitney (Payne) Clark. She is married to my brother, Bryan, and works as a full-time RN, BSN. But, in her "spare time" she is an AMAZING, TALENTED, GIFTED, AWESOME, WONDERFUL photographer.
You should check out her web page/BLOG at:

www.imagesbywhitney.com

***The "collage" was put together by one of Whitney's friends (who we just happen to know, as well). Her name is Bekah (McLean) Berry...hopefully, I spelled that correctly. Bekah is yet ANOTHER talented, creative person...who we are blessed to of had make this "collage" for us.

Thank you to both Whitney AND Bekah for making our FIRST Christmas Picture an
A-W-E-S-O-M-E one and MOST of all...an AMAZING memory for our family.

OK...please be patient with me here... ;)

I am tryin to re-do (update) our blog...even the templates, colors, etc. So, right now it is what I do NOT want it looking like...but, I have to stop working on it for the moment. Just didn't want ppl thinking this was what it was goin to look like forever. LOL.

Playdate With "Cousins"...

I say "COUSINS" in the title b/c it's technically BEN'S cousin, KRISTA and her two beautiful kdidos, ISAAC & ANNA. Krista (Oban) Wilkes is married to Jeff Wilkes. They are a great family. Anyway, Krista & I decided that instead of tryin to explain it to people...and even to Nick right now. We just call us alllllll "cousins". LOL.

This was a playdate at our house last Friday. It was a fun time...well, after about 30-45mins of one of Nick's "moods". Ever since moving, he's SUPER "protective" of HIS toys. So, we are trying to work on that (sharing). Hopefully, through many more playdates, he will realize that people aren't coming and/or are here to take his items. Ahhh...the "joys" of having a 4y/o, eh?!?! Just teasing.

Thanks, Krista, for coming over. We sure enjoyed it! We look foward to MANY MORE playdates...

Our 1st "Texas House" Problem-o...

Yes...we are experiencing our FIRST "Texas House" Problem-o. I know it COULD be worse. So, PLEASE know that I am NOT complaining. I just wanted to update you (especially the family/friends we contacted about the situation)...

***A couple nights ago, I was re-arranging some pictures that were just leaning up against the wall that separates our kitchen with our living room. So, I walked (with my shoes on...as always) on the dining room carpet, then, went to walk on the tile. Well, I literally about "wiped-out". At first, I thought it was just b/c my pants were kinda long and might of gotten caught under my shoe. A few minutes later, Ben went to vacuum that same area (he was barefoot) and realized that it was SOAKIN' WET. So, then I checked out all the framed pictures, artwork, etc. that I had leaning against the wall and sure enough...the edge that was on the carpet was wet. ARRRRGGGHHH!!!!

***Anyway, we had a plumber come look at it the very next morning (Friday AM) to see if it's from the kitchen, Nick's bathroom that is upstairs & above the "wet area"...or even if it was coming in from outside (since it's been raining here all week). Well, the plumber "had to get back to his boss".

***In the meantime, we had called our FABULOUS realtor...and, she AND her wonderful hubby (who is a builder) took time outta their busy schedule (and on a Friday night) to stop by and check it out. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THEM. Come to find out, it MIGHT NOT be as big of a deal as we originally thought.

***So, right now, the plan is to just TRY to keep it dry right now (fans blowing on it, carpet "peeled" back all the way down to the sub-floor, etc). Then, once the "heavier" rain STOPS, we will dry the floor and then see where it's seeping through. I hope that ALLLLL that ramblin' makes sense.

***I am including some pictures of what our dining room looks like at the moment. We will continue to keep you all posted.