My Beautiful Pottery Barn Bedding

I remember getting a lot of spankings as a child- no surprise to those who knew and know me, right? But one spanking in particular happened at my grandmother's house. A few of my cousins, who will go nameless, because I would never want to embarrass them, right, girls (you know who you are), were caught in the act of jumping on my grandmother's bed in the back room. Not her bed that she slept on, but on the one that was in the "add-on" area in the back. The add-on area that was more of an outside room than an inside one. The one where I slept on a mat on the floor. That room. Yes, the three of us were jumping on the bed, and I got spanked BIG TIME for it. I still remember it, even today.

When we moved to Springdale two years ago, I wanted to get new bedding for Keith and my bedroom. We had my sister's bedding, which was beautiful, but not me. I wanted something that would reflect my tastes. And I knew when I saw the Pottery Barn Matine Toile espresso bedding that I had found what I had been looking for all these many years of marriage! It was beautiful!

I asked our family to get us the comforter and pillow shams for Christmas. They did and I was so elated. I actually made the bed up for a few mornings, which is a rare event in my house.

So imagine how I felt the first time I saw my babies jumping on my bed. Memories came swarming all over me. I immediately heard "Thou Shalt Not Jump On The Bed."

"Babies", I said in my sweet, loving mother voice, "Please respect mommy's beloved bedding and do not jump on it."

Actually, it was more like "Get off my bed!"

I have completely lost that battle. For one, Keith has a game that he plays with the girls every day when he gets home from work. It's called "Daddy, throw us on the bed." The game consists of him picking them up over his head and throwing them high into the air and letting them land on the bed. This occurs over and over and over until he has to take a break due to pure exhaustion.

Every Saturday morning all three Kilmer kids declare that it's "family time" and jump and roll all over us in our bed. Even Eve the puppy joins in "family time". That beautiful bedding has been kicked on, vomited on, rolled in and on, jumped on, used as Kylie's trampoline and used as Kylie's landing mat on the floor. Many times I come home from work and see Eve the puppy asleep on my bed.

The bedding has been washed so many times that the color has changed from dark espresso to light milk chocolate.

Whenever one of the kids is sick or sad, they want to cuddle up in our down comforter. Clay, especially, loves to wrap the comforter all around himself after he comes inside from playing in the snow. Every night both girls go to sleep in our bed. We move them before we go to sleep, but Kylie seems to always make it back into our room. Yesterday morning I watched her as she woke up, sat straight up in our bed with a huge grin on her face and sighed contently as she stretched herself awake. Then she looked at me and said matter-of-factly "Good morning, mom."

This may sound silly, but I hope I never forget these precious memories that God has blessed me with. No, I don't have the picture perfect Pottery Barn bedroom, but I wouldn't trade my reality with that picture for anything in the world. I have it much better than that!

Here's Your Christmas Card!

Well, it's New Year's Eve eve, so it's the perfect time to get my Christmas card together! Better late than never, right?

Here is what has been happening in the Kilmer house during 2011.

Highlights of the year:
EVE THE PUPPY: This January we welcomed a very sweet, special puppy into our home. Eve, named after my mother who did NOT want me to get a dog, has turned out to be the best puppy that we could have ever asked for. She plays very well with each one of the kids, cuddles up with me and watches TV with Keith. She is one smart puppy dog and loves to be outside. Poor thing! She really should be with a family that hunts, camps and lives in the woods, but she has us instead. We love our Evie!

GFCF MENU FOR FIVE: In May our whole family went on a Gluten Free Casein Free diet. We did this because a geneticist who sees Clay and Kylie thought that they may have intolerance to these two proteins. McKenzie also had stomach cramping after meals. McKenzie was the first to feel better on the new diet. Then we noticed significant behavioral changes in Kylie. Clay's eczema has completely cleared up. I feel better when I do not eat gluten and can tell that it affects me when I do. So we have adopted this "diet" to be less of a diet and more of a lifestyle. Once you have gotten use to preparing the GFCF meals, you realize that it is not all that bad! I am so thankful for all of my friends and family who have supported us with this major life change.

Now for individual family members:

KEITH, THE ETERNAL MAVERICK FAN: The highlight of Keith's year happened in June when the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Championship. He has literally watched repeats of the Finals so many times that I have lost count. I mean, he watched the Finals series as recently as last week! Keith has actually had a great year, with the MAVS win being the icing on the cake. He is very excited about the work God is accomplishing through our church family. He loves being the preaching minister at Robinson Avenue. He is a part of an amazing staff and we are blessed to be a part of such an amazing church family. He has also enjoyed this year as it is the last year in his 30's. Keith turns 40 this coming February. So if anyone wants to celebrate a very dark, morbid Super Bowl weekend with us in 2012, feel free to come on over and have a piece of GFCF cake!

MICHELE CAN"T STOP: Recently Keith and I watch a documentary called "Conan O'Brien Can't Stop". As I watched it, I thought to myself "Man, I understand how he feels!" This year has brought about new challenges with their ups and downs, and, glory be to God, He has been faithful and gracious in His provision in my life.many things have happened to me this year. For one, I changed jobs. God provided an amazing job for me that is right down the street and is at the place where I have always wanted to be. I love working in pediatric pulmonolgy, and am so grateful to work with such amazing people. I am also so proud to be a part of the women's ministry at Robinson Avenue. Women's PowerWALK Wednesday night is an amazing ministry, and I work alongside some Godly, Spirit-filled women who I admire greatly. I love worshipping with the WALKers every Wednesday night. I mean it when I say that I feel close to each and every one of them. I can't wait to see what God has planned for WPW next year! Also, I have been able to be in the kitchen a lot this year, mostly thanks to the GFCF diet. I love cooking. If I had just a little more time, I would open a GFCF bakery. I have thoroughly enjoyed trying out new recipes and making new family favorites. And I have a new love: pinterest. I love trying out new crafts and learning new things that I can create. I find a great sense of accomplishment in making things, whether it be a cute cupcake or wall art. Finally, I find that I have grown to love and appreciate the Lord more this year. I am so grateful to Him for His grace, love and mercy that He constantly bestows on all of us. May I see Him even more clearly and know Him even better in 2012!

CLAY, ASPIE ON THE EARTH, AN EMERGING SON IN THE HEAVENS: Clay was officially diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome on April 25th. While we were not surprised at all, in fact, we were a little relieved, that diagnosis set our little family on a completely different path than we expected. Clay has done amazingly well with all of the testing that he has had to undergo this year. He has embraced his autism as a part of who he is, but it does not define him. What does define him occurred in March when he was baptized into Christ Jesus. Our precious baby is now a baby Christian. But he is no ordinary baby. His autism allows him to understand some of God's truths in ways that most of us do not. God has blessed Clay with a deep sense of spiritual purpose, which I believe helps him as he is coping with some of the difficult aspects of autism. Keith and I are so proud of him and thankful for the Godly lessons that we have learned from him.

MCKENZIE THE KIND FASHIONISTA: Our middle baby is growing up. Don't worry, though, she is not in her big brother's shadow. Quite the contrary! McKenzie knows more people at her school and in our church than I think is normal for a 3rd grader. She continues to have the same kind, gentle spirit that she had as a toddler, but now she has added some "flare" to her attitude. She loves the bling! Jewelry, hair fashion, pedicures (that I do at home, another hat that I wear), and searching the Internet for the latest style trends has become a big part of her personality. She has also developed into quite an artist! This has actually been a little surprise to me, as Clay was always artistic, but McKenzie has developed quite an arsenal of art skills. She is still beautiful and has freckles this year. She still brings me much joy and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching her mature into a fun-loving, precious young lady this year.

KYLIE THE GREAT: Of all the changes that have occurred this year, all pale in comparison to the change that has occurred in Kylie Grace! She has now tested out of PT and Speech therapy. She can sit still and play by herself, using her imagination. She has better eye-contact and communicates with us. She knows other kids by name and has lots of friends. She is adored by so many people. Her personality is outgoing and infectious. She is still adventurous and, yes, a little bit dangerous, but you can't help but smile when she is in the room. She likes everything from dinosaurs and trucks to Peppa Pig and Tinker Bell. She still has some progress to make, but we are so grateful for what God has done this year to improve her health. And thankful for all of the health care professionals who have dedicated themselves to her and are just as proud of her as we are.

I could go on and on about the blessings that God has given us this year. I can't name them all, but I am so grateful to Him for each and every one of them. May He continue to reveal Himself to and through us in the upcoming year!

Grace and peace, and much love,
Michele

"We Did It!"

The girls both went through a Dora the Explorer stage. They sang the "We did it" song over and over at the top of their voices. They went around high-fiving whoever was in the room.

That was the scene in my house today, only it wasn't a four-year-old little girl cheering her accomplishment, it was me, a thirty-eight-year-old woman, high-fiving my Keithy and my babies as we celebrated eating our first GFCF Thanksgiving meal.

It was a great success for the first GFCF Thanksgiving! We had turkey, we had dressing, we had DINNER ROLLS, we had sweet potato casserole, we had mashed potatoes, we had green bean casserole AND, most importantly, we had PUMPKIN PIE!!!! Yes, GFCF pumpkin pie that actually tasted like pumpkin pie. It was awesome. It was thick, rich, creamy and pumpkiny, It was perfect. By far it was my favorite pumpkin pie recipe.

The dinner rolls rocked, too. That was another part of the dinner that had to work. Keith loves bread. He loves dinner rolls. And he loves to eat. So, the rolls had to be perfect. And they were.

I'll post pictures later, along with websites that have the recipes.

But now, I must watch the movie Elf with McKenzie. After all, it is Thanksgiving night- the beginning of the Christmas season!

Thanksgiving Day Showdown

Well, the holiday season is upon us, and this year we will be celebrating Thanksgiving completely GFCF. I am so nervous! My mom, my sister and her family will be here with us, and they are completely supportive of our GFCF lifestyle. But I want to rock their world with how great the meal is.

Isn't it funny how strongly we attach food to the holidays?

I have searched everywhere for ideas and recipes that will become our new favorites, and for some that will replace the old non-GFCF favorites. I have the turkey, sweet potatoes, praline pumpkin pie, green bean casserole and cinnamon rolls recipes all lined out. Still looking for dinner rolls.

I also don't want to spend the whole day stressed out in the kitchen and away from family. I am going to start making some things tomorrow.

I know the holiday season is about more than food, but, my perfectionism is kicking in again. It really is a curse. No, seriously, it's an insecurity. Would the day be a failure if we ate peanut butter sandwiches? That may be an exaggeration, but you get the point.

I hope you all have a very happy Thanksgiving Day! Remember to watch Santa ride in on his sleigh in the Macy's parade. Remember to hug your family members. Remember to thank God for all that He has done for you, and all that He will do in the future. And remember to thank Him for His great love for you!

Happy Turkey Day!

Halloween Pumpkins

No need for words, only pictures. I loved this project!

One pumpkin to represent each one of my babies. I picked pictures that represented their personalities. It was so fun!

McKenzie

Clay

Kylie

My three little pumpkins found their happy home on my front porch.

I loved going outside at night and looking at my front porch. I felt as if I was living in Eurkea Springs, which is the exactly how I want to feel when I sit on my front porch.

Pinterest-Worthy

Pinterests has fueled my creative side. Here is another proud project.

I took an old furniture piece that we had sitting in our garage and decided to sand it, paint it and put it on the front porch. I got the idea from my sister and got advice from my friend Julie. I have never done anything like this before. I was excited and nervous.

Here goes another adventure!

I like the finished product!It is the start of the front-porch project. The next step....a porch swing!!!

Homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in Halloween Shapes

I have a new obsession- pinterest. It is awesome. I have gotten so many cool ideas from it.

Here are some pictures of my first pinterest project.

I am so proud!!!!

I was craving Reese's peanut butter cups. They have casein, but not gluten, so Kenzie can have them, but not Clay or Kylie. It's just not right- growing up without Reese's.

So you can imagine how happy I was when I found a recipe on pinterest for homemade Reese's peanut butter cups! The original post shapes the cups into Easter eggs.

Here is the link to original post for DIY Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs:

http://thewhimsicalprincess.blogspot.com/2011/03/diy-reese-peanut-butter-egg.html

I haven't met the Whimsical Princess, but I can't thank her enough. This is one great recipe.

However, it is Fall, and we were about to celebrate Halloween, not Easter. I didn't need egg shapes, I needed spooks.

Thank you Hobby Lobby!

My arsenal- peanut butter, powdered sugar and Halloween cookie cutters from Hobby Lobby

Check out the recipe on the Whimsical Princess's blogspot. It is SO worth it!!

My little peanut butter shapes: witches hats, ghosts, pumpkins, skeletons and more!

They look even better dipped in chocolate!

A close up view of our new Halloween favorite!

Needless to say, the kids were beyond thrilled! They LOVED these peanut butter/chocolate ghouls.

And all was right in the world, because Clay and Kylie will now know the joys of a Reese's peanut butter cup- without the casein!