J Cooper Photography

I’m lucky to call this beautiful mama a friend.  I admire her for a million different reasons.  But I mostly admire her faith and how she amazingly mothers her FOUR adorable boys.  She’s as beautiful on the inside as she is on the out (and that’s saying something), her house is a drool worthy haven for all things chippy and white, and her boys could probably model for J Crew.  So she has every right to be snobby and pretentious.  Except…she isn’t.  She’s humble and welcoming, and full of warmth.

I was fortunate to spend the morning at her house today.  I brought my boys and they played cars, and trucks, and angry birds while us mamas played with the baby

This was supposed to be a mini session.  But my camera wouldn’t stop shooting.  Somewhere between the sweet wispy hair and chubby thighs…and witnessing this mommy’s special bond with her boys…I was smitten.

I’m so fortunate to have friends who inspire me to be a better mom.  These boys are cherished and loved…and prayed for.  And it truly is a beautiful thing!

In the years I’ve had this blog I’ve never done a house tour.  Something about showing every angle of our home with the world wide web seemed a wee bit too personal for me.  But our time in this house has come to a close and I am anxious for a “SOLD” sign in the yard.  So in an effort to spread the love for our house…I’m going to show you every nook and cranny  So grab a drink and a snack cause there’s just a few pictures to share!

Here’s the ‘ol Cooper Casa…with brand new siding, a new roof, new stone, new foundation paint, and new fixtures.  We are still waiting on a few sets of shutters to be installed (we’ve added the shutters on the two bottom windows since these pictures was taken).  I’ll try to point out things that have been changed since we moved in.  And please note…I did not take ANY of these photos!  Our realtor has a photographer who does all the listing images!  Some of the colors seem “off” to me but I’m sure that is the nature of working with multiple areas to photograph.

We’ve been here 4 1/2 years and there isn’t a room that hasn’t been touched.  We’ve added 3 new spaces (attic playroom, guest bedroom, craft room} since moving in and renovated nearly ever room…ripped out wallpaper and odd built-in features….painted…switched out hardware and doorknobs….decorated…replaced, etc.  It has been a fun adventure.  And of course now that it is finally complete…we are MOVING!

The front

The Back

The Deck {newly stained}

The Foyer {new carpet and chandelier}

The Living Room {new paint, new windows}

Looking from the dining room into the living room

Dining Room {new paint, new chandelier, new windows}

The Kitchen {new tile backsplash, new appliances, new faucet, new hardware} – pantry is in the hallway and laundry room is to the right

Eat-in Area {new chandelier}

Great Room {new paint, new window, new tile on fireplace}

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom {new countertops, new shower surround, new lighting, new hardware and fixtures}

The Girls’ Room {new paint – new playroom addition}

The Girls’ Bathroom {new hardware, new paint}

The Playroom {all new!}

Sam’s Room {new paint, new window}

Danny’s Room {new paint, new window}

The Boys’ Bathroom {new paint, new hardware}

The Basement {the toy area}

{the music area – the office area is to your left}

{the family room area – new built ins}

The Guest Bedroom {all new!}

The Guest Bathroom {new hardware}

The Craft Room {all new!}

So there you have it!  This blog is chalk full of posts about MANY of these renovation projects!  There have been too many to count.  If you live in the area and are looking for a new place to call home….we’d love to share this house with you!  Please spread the word around….Nebraska is calling!

Nine years ago this little one entered into the world.  Too early, tiny and a little bit blue…and not breathing on her own.  It was a scary thrust into parenthood.  Lonely nights in the hospital without an infant in my arms.  She laid down the hall with an IV in her head and a thousand machines beeping and monitoring and scaring the life out of me.  But it turned out to be just a bad case of pneumonia and soon enough she was in our arms with healthy, wailing lungs and we settled into life as parents.

Thank you, Anna.  For the gift of parenthood.  You taught me what it is to be a mom.  And I loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you.

You are an amazing kid.  Talking from sun up to sun down…you are full of life like no other child I have ever met.  Somedays the talking just plain wears me out but your excitement for life is always contagious.  You know how to have a great time and you are an amazing friend.  You are a little mommy and always looking out for your siblings.  You are crazy smart.  You are full of useless facts.  You love animals and animals love you.  Someday you are going to discover a new species when you are a marine biologist living in North Carolina.  You’ll have a little lime green house on the beach…full of cats…and you’ll pour over books late into the night while you eat cartons full of blueberries.  You’ll be dressed from head to toe in mismatched clothing and you’ll call me on the phone to tell me your latest joke.

You have a compassionate heart and are quick to tears.  You love completely.  You are insanely creative.  You have the craziest teeth right now but somehow they seem to suit you just fine.  You run like Phoebe (but darn you are fast).  You work hard.  You play much harder and I love you more than I ever thought possible.

9 years ago you made me a mom.  9 years ago I fell head over heals in love.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY little Brainiac!

When things settle down a bit we will go for our annual photo shoot (you know you are thrilled!)

Sometimes we long for something so long we forget that it is even possible.  And sometimes God shows us very clearly that He has a purpose and His timing is perfect.

That happened this weekend for us.   And now we are going home….to NEBRASKA!

Many of you know that Mr. P has become a world traveler over the past few years.  He has actually really loved his job at Garmin for the past 9 years but as his responsibilities increased there…so did the international travel.  And over the course of the past 18 months we have been increasingly uncomfortable with what that has meant for our family.  Too many nights as a single mom.  Too many nights with little ones crying at bedtime.  Too many missed soccer games, and violin concerts, and family movie nights.  So we began to look.  And look.  And look some more.  We’ve thought we had it “in the bag” several times….called a realtor, painted and organized (remember all those spring cleaning posts?) But God wasn’t ready to blow our minds yet.  We needed to complete another season here in Kansas City.  We needed to bring Daniel home.  We needed to fix our house.  We needed to see a friend through the ups and downs of cancer.  We needed to be here.  And NOW…the going home is just that much sweeter!!

We are frantically working to get our house ready to hit the market on Wednesday.  If you are local please spread the word!  I will post pictures here on the blog soon!

We have over 15 years of memories here.  The leaving will be hard.  But we are looking forward to more time together, memories with grandparents in the same town…and a simpler life!!

September may just be my favorite month.  It is a close tie with October.   They are both glorious!!

So here is my September contribution for some FUN CRAFTY GOODNESS!

1.  herringbone wreath with vintage hankies.

2. metallic accordion photo holder.

3. leopard journal.

4. pretty little hair clip

5. framed butterfly print.

6. embellished fall tote.

I’m REALLY digging mustard yellow, aqua, and coral right now (when am I NOT digging those colors?)  I hope this collection makes you happy and excited about my FAVORITE SEASON!!

{I must add that this collection has a bit more “life” in person.  It is DARK, DARK today but I was determined to get this up before my trip this afternoon!}

YOU KNOW THE DRILL!  Leave me a message – ASK ME A QUESTION (that will give me something to blog about next week)…ANYTHING is fair game…and I will try to answer them!  OR…tell me what month is your personal favorite if you already know everything about me!

* PLEASE REMEMBER to leave your contact information so that I can get your prize to you…and CHECK BACK on the blog.   I have four little people to corral and won’t waste too much time tracking you down

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!!!

I’ve been keeping myself busy making new quilts for the girls.  I saw some images on Pinterest of quilts using vintage sheets…and I got completely sucked in.   It’s a deep, dark hole…and there is only one way out.   High tail it to your nearest Goodwill in search of funky old sheets and stitch yourself up a quilt…or a bunting…or a new skirt, whatever!

The girls are at tricky ages at almost 7 and 9.  They’d really prefer purple and lime green peace signs.  I’d really prefer tiny pink rosebuds.  So this was a compromise.  They still get the super soft fluffy quilts they wanted…I get my vintage fix (I tried to throw in as many 60s and 70s prints as I could) and we all go to bed happy

I’m working on the backing for the quilts now and will hand tie them next week.  I don’t really plan to re-do their shared room in any other way….these quilts should tie in nicely with all of their existing furniture, drapes, rug, etc.  Just a little breath of fresh air.  They have made quite a few compromises over the past year going from having their own rooms to sharing (in many ways).  Miss Middle used to lament not having her OLD QUILT on her bed weekly (it was a full size quilt and they are in twin beds now) but I’m hoping this one will become a new favorite!

So who else has jumped on the vintage sheet band wagon?  Come on…everyone is doing it

Or how about a crazy thrifted afghan?  I fell in love with this one the other day and it only cost me $4.  Hoping it will make its way into a few pictures this fall.

I’ve also been going through all the kids’ closets.  We’ve been trying on outgrown clothes…making piles… and organizing.  I think I’m nesting.  Too bad I won’t have another adorable baby when this is all said and done!

Miss Middle is the Queen of Hand Me Downs.  Being just 2 years younger than her sister, it’s a no brainer.  The problem arises when the “I’ll wear anything you ask me to wear” older sister passes down adorable clothes to her younger “I’m ridiculously picky with alarming Goth tendencies” sister.  It is no secret that we love Matilda Jane in our house.  I’m ALL for clothes that make little girls look like LITTLE girls while they are still LITTLE GIRLS.   But Miss Middle has a seriously hate relationship with peasant sleeves.  She HATES any elastic at her wrists.  It’s just a complete no-go for her.  So what does a desperate mom do?   She cuts off the sleeves of several Matilda Jane tops to apease her picky 6 year old and save herself a few bucks   THIS TOP used to have long sleeves but now it has cute little puff sleeves (they met approval by Miss Picky Pants) and a matching headband to boot (made from the leftover fabric).

I don’t worry too much about re-sale.  Because quite frankly…after the two of my little people wear this stuff we pass it on to the Peruvian Princess.  And if it somehow survives all three of those rowdy girls it can’t be worth a whole lot!

It was a little scary cutting in on the first top.  But I was able to “alter” several outfits to meet her approval.  YEAH for MOM!  Yeah for Matilda Jane.   YEAH FOR SCISSORS!

I am heading out of town tomorrow evening for FOUR FULL DAYS with some of my BESTEST friends.  I can’t even begin to share my excitement.  I’m going to try really hard to get my SEPTEMBER GIVEAWAY listed tomorrow before I leave so please check back!

And don’t be too jealous…I’ll only be shopping JUNK BONANZA and sipping hot chocolate by the fire side of my dear friend’s Minnesota cabin….we’re roughing it

I know I have fallen off the face of the planet a bit here in blog world.  I have a ton to share…I just always seem to find myself busy with homework, violin practicing, soccer….etc.  So in an attempt to get back on the bandwagon I’ve dumped the images off my phone to share.  Someday soon I am going to get a MUCH better phone so that my pictures aren’t so scary (hint hint Mr. P….twelve days til my birthday!)

{Super Sam at the cardiologist today receiving the good news that the hole in his heart has closed on its own and won’t require surgery!}

{how Danny felt about being at the cardiologist today during his nap time}

{Of course my kid doesn’t pick the Lightning McQueen race car…he chooses the PINK CADILLAC!}

{The Brainiac is obssessed with a piece entitled “Chardis” so during her sister’s lesson this week she composed “Chardis II” .  It’s hard to see in this fuzzy picture but the ending of her piece does indeed include the very Italian term “El Paso de Fine”  – only funny I guess if you have a music degree

{Super Sam’s favorite meal.  Yesterday he came into my room and we had the following discussion}

Sam: “Hey Mommy…remember when we went and brought Danny home from Noodles??”

Me:  “No Sam…Danny came from Ethiopia…not Noodles and Company.”

Sam:  “Are you sure?”

{only funny if you know me}

{lunch date with Daddy}

{Girl’s nights out should always end with Dairy Queen.  Unless you are lactose intolerant and you ask the 12 year old boy working the counter for a Mister Misty and he has to get the manager to ask what the heck that is…then you’ve just dated yourself because now it is called an Artic Blast.  And that 12 year old boy looks at you like you just stumbled from your grave and your Artic Blast doesn’t taste nearly as good as you remember the Mister Misty tasting when your mom used to take you to Dairy Queen on the way home from the orthodontist.  Good thing my company was cute}

{Whasssup Baby? How u doin? I saved you a crumb.}

{Cute naked baby alert!}

Ok…that’s all that’s worth sharing (and it wasn’t all that great).  Tomorrow I’ll be back with a few projects and the SEPTEMBER GIVEAWAY!!

It must be the dip in temperatures (FINALLY) that has everyone thinking about FALL PICTURES.  My favorite time of the year is quickly approaching….time to get out my running shoes to start chasing families around the park!  If you are thinking about setting up a session this fall please call or email soon as I only have a handful of spots left (I’ve had five calls today for sessions) and I am limiting my schedule this season to maximize time with my family!

It was still warm when we took these shots.   But fall was in the air….the morning sun was bright…the grass was wet with dew…and I had my camera trained on three of the most adorable kiddos!

Are they cute or what?

I didn’t have to stand on my head or make bodily noises or anything (they even taught ME a few new jokes!)

Talk about a FUN morning!!

A certain 3 year old FINALLY started preschool today.  He was over eager.  So much that he was up half the night in anticipation of his first day as a big man on campus.  We packed his snack and his crafts (am I the only mom out there who finds it ridiculous to have a craft due before the first day of 3 year old preschool?) and off he went.

Some day when I design a church preschool I am going to be kind to all of the picture taking Mamarazzi out there and face the preschool sign the CORRECT position for morning exposure

We hung up his Paul Frank backpack and I tried the obligatory “stand by your name hook” shot while my 15 month old wiped his morning boogers down my sleeves and I tried to balance my ridiculously “oversized for morning preschool drop off” camera with one hand.  Super Sam was shouting and pointing at me to “hurry up already as I have a class full of new friends waiting on me”.

I tried to get him to look longingly at me from his perch at his desk.  One last mournful look…at least a wistfull glance.  But he wouldn’t make eye contact for fear I would kiss him AGAIN in public.  So off I went with one more snuggly planted on my hip.  Danny and I ran home just in time for our morning therapy session with Miss Laura.  And then it was back in the car for pick-up and smiles all the way around.

Also.  Note to future self:  Please schedule hair cut appointments for Sam the day BEFORE preschool starts!

This afternoon a HAPPY package came in the mail.  I might have squealed out loud as I opened it and ignored my children for a solid half hour as I fondled each fabric square.  Might have.  Maybe.

Really excited about this project.

And already playing around tonight!

All around a good kind of day here at the Cooper house.  I suspect our preschool time of 2 hours twice a week might leave us all wishing for a bit more!

We have lived in this house for 4 1/2 years and slowly over that time….we have made it our own.  It was a “blank canvas” when we moved in.  Lightly decorated with neutral paint (except all the bathrooms which all wore hideous wallpaper) and plenty of space.  I immediately loved how fresh and airy the house felt.  The light in our house is amazing and is one of my favorite things about our home.  But there were a a “few” things we hated from the get go.  The biggest was the explosion of BRASS throughout the house.  Now I LOVE an old home.  And I can deal with some measure of out dated-ness.  But BRASS?  Um…1989 called and they want their shine back.

First we stripped off the Hollywood light fixutres and solid brass dome lights.  Then we changed out the kitchen hardware.  When we re-did the master bathroom we had a MAJOR brass Exodus which was extremely liberating.

And only ONE thing remained.  A house FULL of brass doorknobs.  Now I would probably never notice the doorknobs in your house.  If I’ve been over for dinner don’t question me…I’m sure I won’t remember.  But in my own home they were taunting me.  I swear they could talk in their ugly, shiny voices…”look at me…I’m so solid gold…I dare you to price out replacing me!”  And finally I had had enough.  So on this weekend meant for relaxing at the lake or picnicking at the park….we loaded up the van with all four kids in tow and crashed Home Depot.  We spent 3 days chasing that ugly brass right out of our house.

Take that 1989.

We waivered between satin nickel and oil rubbed bronze.  But in the end the bronze won out as we just couldn’t imagine NOT tying it in with the front of our house (now that we have a whole new look!)  We have a mix of bronze and nickel throughout….nickel knobs and pulls in the kitchen, stainless appliances, and nickel faucets….but plenty of bronze too in our lighting fixtures.  So we’re hoping that Stacy and Clinton’s rules about “mixing metals” carry over to our house

We originally tried spray painting our front door hardware.  People are doing it all over Blogland.  In fact we read and CLOSELY followed John and Sherry’s advice on their blog about how to get a great finish.  Their end product seems to be holding up nicely…but in reality it just didn’t stick for us.  Maybe it’s the addition of 4 sets of grubby little hands.  But after about 10 days of handling we were beginning to see signs of slight chipping.  So we abandoned plans to remove our old brass hardware throughout the house to paint…and just went with NEW.  It was more costly (obviously) but in the end I think it will hold up better.  Our house takes some serious abuse

{Wow…I really need to clean my door…amazing what you see in a picture!}

I’m still looking for the best time of day to give you an accurate shot of the front door without the glare.  In a perfect world I would have ditched the screen door.  But it is really convenient for letting light into the front of the house and we love to leave the front door open when expecting company…so it has to stay.

Kind of ironic I guess that I traded out all that solid gold for a giant gold front door.  Hmmm…

And the cooler weather today had me in the mood to bust out the fall decor.  I didn’t get farther than the front door…but it was a good start

I’ve been pinning ideas for my planters for the cooler weather.  Do you waste insane amounts of time on Pinterest like I do?  Feel free to follow my boards and join in on the craziness if you do!

I’ve had a few questions regarding the COLOR OF THE FRONT DOOR.

It is LA805 Cowslip 5 from Laura Ashley’s Valspar line from Lowe’s.  Except I had it color matched at Sherwin Williams because I am a SW self professed snob.  The color looks quite a bit different on my door than it does on my sample but I still LOVE it so I’m not gonna complain.  I DID prime the door as I was covering over a dark brick red and didn’t want anything to bleed through.  I primed with KILZ basic primer and then added 2 coats of paint.  There are lots of good tutorials out there on painting doors…but basically frame out each panel and then lay out the cross pieces staying with the grain (or faux grain for us!) and you will be fine!

So it was a LABOR FULL weekend.  But I am thrilled to say HASTA LA VISTA BABY boxes of brass!