Where has the time gone?

So its been awhile since I have been on here a year and 3 months actually. So much has changed Graham continues to grow to fast despite my protest, the salon is very different and still a work in progress and have come to the conclusion it will always be. I have changed as well life has a funny way of doing that to you and sometimes not so funny. Initially I thought I would do a recap but as I look back through the pictures there are too many important events that need individual attention and to as many details as I can remember and if I can't remember I will make some stuff up. So here we go...

Certifiably CraZy

So its a self diagnosed issue but I am afraid it is true. I am certifiably crazy and my husband might be as well. In the last year we have had our first baby, a major career change, and oh we bought a 2800 square foot salon and spa in the middle of a recession.

I have wanted to own my own salon since well since I became a hairdresser so for 18 years. I knew it was something I would do eventually. When I got pregnant with Graham I decided I needed to make a change and ended up going to booth rental. The salon I went to was Casas Adobes Salon and Spa. The location was great. I loved the space and I thought the layout of the salon was great. Of course in my mind I was always thinking of what changes I would make if I owned it how I would rearrange, what colors I would use, and so on. In November Rita the lady who owned it approached me about buying it and as it turns out it was something I couldn't turn down. It took months and months to get all the details worked.

February 8th was the day we officially took over. First thing I did was move all the furniture and clean. Then we started with the painting and restyling. We have spent a lot of time painting, cleaning, and working on the design. I am loving it. Its an unbelievable amount of work and responsibility. I love the way the changes are coming along but the process has been slow. I have to remind myself Rome wasn't built in a day. As my to do list gets longer and longer even as I cross things off its official I am a salon owner. Luckily I have lots of help with my crazy.

Holiday Wrap up.

Its official the holidays are over. The tree came down today. It was a nice holiday season. Graham really enjoyed his first Christmas. It was busy of course with lots of activity. We did Christmas with Nonnie, Papa, Uncle Dave, Aunt Teri, Dakota, Dylan early on Christmas eve. Aunt Sara and Uncle Julian even were able to be there thanks to skype. Dylan and Dakota got a train table which all the boys loved to play with.
Graham got a great toy from Aunt Teri. He thought it was great fun. His real gift from Aunt Teri was delayed but he also got an adorable growth chart. Nonnie got him a crib toy which Mommy and Daddy think is the best thing EVER.
Dylan looked so cute in his holiday attire. I promise Dakota was here as well. I just have not pictures of him for some reason. Later that evening we all went to Byron and Alma's for tamales and a gift exchange.
Christmas morning Graham looked so cute in the pajamas Nonnie got him. Dylan and Dakota got the same pajamas too. We had a nice Christmas breakfast and leisurely opened gifts and played with them.
After that we headed up to Phoenix to Aunt Natalie's for christmas dinner. Lots of food and lots of family. Graham got lots of clothes and books from the Coovers and Grandma and Grandpa.


So overall Christmas was good. Busy and hectic but a great first Christmas by all accounts. Graham must have been a very good boy Santa even brought Graham a Thomas the Train started track.

The Best Gift of 2009

There were actually a lot of great things that happened 1n 2009. Tyler changed jobs. We did some remodeling in the kitchen. We landscaped the front yard. I had got an amazing offer for a long time dream to come true. Of all of there great thing Graham Dixon is still the most amazing thing that happened in 2009. He changed our lives and family. Our life is so much richer because of him.

Schrute Baby

One morning I went in to get Graham and his hair was parted down the center and slightly puffy. It instantly made me think of Dwight Schrute on the Office. That show completely cracks me up. I laughed so hard that morning over it I am pretty sure Tyler thought I was losing it. I referred to him all day as the Schrute baby. Its happened a few other times that he gets up and his hair is like this. Its always a surprise when the Schrute baby shows up sometimes he stays all day sometime it doesn't last long but it always makes me laugh.

The Cutest Boys Ever

I didn't actually think these pictures would ever really happen. Teri and I had tried to set up a time 2 or 3 times and no times seemed to be working out. The craziness of planning for Ornament Exchange was in full effect and left little time for anything else. I really wanted to get them done after all we had found these totally adorable shirts for the boys to wear. I didn't think we were going to be able to find the time. Late Thursday afternoon call from Teri asking if I could make it to Phoenix to do the boys pictures at 10:30 on Friday morning. The Dodd cousins were going to have their pictures done but one of the boys had ended up sick. As much as I had to get done for the party that was it Graham and I were headed off to Phoenix to have pictures done. They turned out so cute and how could they not since the cutest boys ever were in them.

We also got some cute pictures with Mommies. No wonder those boys are so cute.

These are a few of my favorite ones

We had our 2009 Christmas family photos taken. One of my friends sisters Jamie took them. I think they turned out pretty darn cute. The one that is on our Christmas card has not been posted. Hopefully you will get to see that soon in a mailbox near you. So here they are in no particular order some of my favorite holiday pictures of 2009.

Ohhhs and Ahhhs

Graham is already loving the holiday season. He loves to point out the lights on the tree and the house. He ohhhs and ahhhs over them all the time.

He loves to get the bows and ornaments off the tree.
Even the packages under the tree are fair game.Enjoy little man. You have already made this holiday so much more special just by being here.

2009 Christmas decorations

Every year I try to do something different decoration wise. Different colors, a new tree, new decorations. This year the color scheme ended up being brown and blue with an accent of gold. The blue ended up being teal but I really like it. The tree its self turned out elegant with a touch of whimsy and fun.


Of course this is mainly how the tree looks with all the bows and ribbons tucked up and out of Graham's reach. The bottom has a few decorations which spend most of their time decorating the floor around the tree. I am however glad that Graham is so enjoying his first Christmas tree.

The center piece I think turned out amazing. I did all white flowers with a few pieces of greenery. The gold sprigs added a bit of whimsy to both the flower arrangement as well as the tree. I took dried mesquite tree branches and spray painted them teal to tie in with the colors on the tree and did a chocolate table cloth. Hanging candles were added to the branches. It looked just amazing. The best part is I did not manage to burn the house down with them which was a bit of a concern.

Helping Hand

Sometimes a baby just needs a little help from an older, wiser cousin. Thanks Dakota for taking such good care of me.

Who needs toys?

For about two weeks after halloween. Graham had a new favorite toy. His trick or treat bag filled with Reese's and Snickers bars. He would carry them all around the house, toss them, chew on them, sit on them, and pull them all back out as soon as I put them away. Luckily they started to slowly disappear. (Daddy and I have no idea how that happened.) Next year I am sure you will get more toys and you can help make them disappear. Till then maybe you can play with your real toys or your food jars in the kitchen.

The Force is With You

Deciding what Graham would be for Halloween this year was pretty easy. He makes this face that totally reminds me of Yoda. It is something he has done since he was just a few weeks old. He looked pretty cute in his costume. I loved his little green face even if I had to sneak in the bathroom to put it on him. Poor little guy was pretty tired though maybe next year he will be able to stay up later and enjoy it a bit more.

Jack-0-Lantern

Obviously I knew Graham would not be able to carve the pumpkin with us this year but I never imagined he would sleep through the whole production. I drew the pumpkin's face on it and Tyler did the actually carving. I think it turned out cute. Graham did really like it when he finally saw it all aglow.