So Long 2014...

With mere hours left in 2014, I finally sat down to write our year in review post... only to realize that I have almost no photos from January or February.  Thankfully Facebook bailed me out of this one.  SO, here we are at last - the Gockley Family 2014.

In January we attend parents' night for the Warwick class of 2027.  Then realizing how close school really was, we booked a vacation.

 



This made us impatient in February as we counted down the days.  We booked our trip about 6 weeks in advance; I can't imagine how families who book a year plus ahead do it.  So to kill time, we did things like date night:

 

 

Even as the remnants of a stomach virus went through the family, we weren't going to be stopped.  Nearly 17 hours and 1,000 miles of driving later, we had the best week ever.  Then when we got home, mommy got her first new car EVER!  I am 7,500 miles in and still loving my Subaru. 

 



 

 

When we got back, there were many things to do.  April brought us egg hunts (at one of which Kayla won a new bike), a visit from the Easter Bunny, and the Crazy Days of April at daycare; both crazy hair day and mismatch day were big hits:

 

 

 

 May brought warmer weather, Derby Day, our annual trip to Dewey Beach, and the start of more big things.  We start renovating Kayla's bathroom a little earlier than expected, and Mommy interviewed for and was offered a new job. 

 

 

I started my new job in June.  This was a big adjustment as my commute time increased a lot, but we got through.  Not a lot else happened in June, but July is always a big month for us.  Our little Monkey Butt turned 5 years old in Ocean City.  We have a party for her at our newly painted (finally!) house.  We go to Avalon, and I cut a ridiculous number of inches of hair off. 

 

 

 

In August, Aunt Paula turned the big three-oh.  Even though she couldn't be home to celebrate, we wished her well in this big year.  Kayla goes bowling for the first time at her friend Laykin's party, and we count down the days...

 

 

Then September arrives.  With a mix of pride and sadness, I watch my baby girl walk through the doors of her new elementary school for the first time.  She also starts soccer this month. 

 

 

 

October brought us another wave of Frozen Frenzy as we go to Frozen on Ice and take our little Elsa Trick-Or-Treating. 

 

 

In November, we take a trip to Philly, Kayla learns about the democratic process, finishes up her soccer season, and we host our first two Thanksgiving meals in our new house, one with friends and another with family. 

 

 

 

 

Finally in December, we celebrate our favorite season, and Kayla loses her first tooth. 

 

 

 

Although this year also brought us some bad news and hard times, we are fortunate that the people we hold most dear to us are in good health and so are we.  As always, we have everything we need and a lot of what we want.  This year has been kind to us, and we are very much looking forward to what 2015 has in store.  





 



 



Third Project - The BIG ONE

Looking back at the dates on photos, it's hard to believe that we started this project a little over a year ago now.  When we moved into our house, the basement was already finished, which actually gave us a sizable leg up on this project.  It also presented some unexpected challenges. 

When you come down the basement stairs, there was a workout room and salon (the previous owner was a hair salon owner) to your right, and a powder room and larger room to the left.  We turned the larger room into our office, but left the other rooms empty, knowing their future was as the home bar we've always wanted. 

So the before:

The salon:

 The "gym":

 

 And the Powder Room:

 

First we had to scrape about 80 mirrors off of the walls in the workout room:

 



 

Then we replaced the ceiling tiles with a flat white version, installed some recessed lights and tore down a wall:

 Then we installed cabinets, patched the walls, built a bar and painted:

 

 

 

Then we laid down a wood laminate floor and had countertops installed:

 

Then came the appliances:

 

And the tile backsplash and hand made shelves...

 

We redid the powder room with a new vanity, mirror, light, toilet and a granite tile floor:

Finally we put in the furniture...

 

And the big-ass TV

Then we put up the bottles and called it done!

 

It took us four months of nights and weekends to accomplish this whole job, but the work was well worth it.  We finished the bar just in time for our annual Christmas Party, and we were so proud to show it off.  We've made a few small changes since we did the original build, but that will be the topic of a future post. 

Happy 5th birthday!

Dearest Kayla,

It's hard to believe that another birthday has come and gone.  This year has flown by - it's been a fun filled one.  You're now a teddy bear at school and looking forward to starting Kindergarten in the fall.  We've been to Disney world and the beach.  You love swimming in our pool and playing with Mackenzie.  Last night was your first in your big new bed - an exciting transition. 

You love to make art projects and crafts, you still love puzzles and watching shows on Disney Junior.  Although some things seem the same day to day, I see so many changes in you.  I look at you sitting in your booster in the back seat of the car and I'm amazed that you are so much more little girl now than baby.  You have long legs and are chatty like me, but your smile still reminds me of your daddy.  You have so much spunk, attitude and curiosity.  You want to know everything there is to know about the world and everything else around you.  I love teaching you and it thrills me that you still love to read books and snuggle. 

You bring so much joy to our world, little one.  I look forward to your Frozen themed birthday party this weekend and celebrating everything you.  I hope someday you know all the love that we have for you and how special you are. 

Happy birthday, little angel. 

Love always,

Mommy and Daddy