9 September

This weekend and today....I have three measly pictures to show for it.

While our little boy still lay in bed with fever and weakness.....we lay too.  And watched movies and listened to music and tried to comfort as best we could.  He's mad at the world right now and I don't blame him. He says, "Mom, I'm all done being strong and brave..."  So that was my cue to force him to get up a little today as his fever goes down a little because at this point it's more about the not eating and constant laying in bed that's causing him to feel badly more than the illness.  This has been the worst, but I'm hopeful that it will be over soon.  We've canceled school, and all activities and adjusted out expectations for this fall, big time.   We will still get out and do all our fun fall stuff, , it will just be starting a little (a lot) later than usual.  In between resting and relaxing and comforting, we've been cleaning, out the attic, basement, bedrooms, every drawer, cabinet  and nook and cranny.  Cause if we can't control when illness comes and goes, we sure can control how our kitchen drawers look!   We have filled half out garage for donations and a yard sale (not sure how one family accumulates all this stuff!)  But Since I'm a fan of only keeping whats beautiful, nostalgic, or useful.  It all has to go.  Progress on both fronts.

2 July

Family vacation Tuesday involved a very large stump grinder on another Rainy Day.  A Long Run with a neighbor and friend, a Rock-n- Bowl and arcade day with some new Friends (and surprisingly seeing some old friends there too!) and a Fixed washing machine.  Fun!  Life is good!

17 June

So the backyard, Final stages are coming together, bit by bit.  on Saturday, Dad helped us take down like 10 trees (after J removed the back fence)  to clear the way for a bigger lawn area, and possibly A POOL!  It's exciting, but there is so much more work to be done to get it all cleared....Nothing like a Man with a chainsaw!  (Chainsawing and outdoor fires.....two of J's Favorite things!)

30 April

As Promised......

The Front door photos.  Maroon and white changed to black (and we stripped the orange stain off the front porch too).  J usually doesn't  trust me with these types of projects (and he's not shy about letting me know..) and the gel paint didn't quite turn out as I expected, but overall....I like the look especially from the road :)

21 January

MLK day,  Favorite Quote:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness;only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.   MLK Jr.

We were all off for the Monday holiday (usually we go skiing, but this weekend was just too busy with the swim meet).  On the way home, we stopped by Lowe's to pick up some cedar boards to build the boys a new GIANT shelf in their room for all their lego creations.  Kids today, want to build all the legos from the kits and save them and play with them like models.  No more boxes of legos to free build.  Lucas was of course right in there helping his Dad build with the tools.  In the dead of winter, there's nothing like a little home improvement project to help keep the walls from feeling like they are closing in on us.  It came out so awesome!!

19 July

5 times 12 July:

The other night we slapped together a gathering for our friends after a long day at work and christened the new fire pit.  It was hot and humid and I think it even rained a little.  But we did it, and had a grand old time....as we will gathering with friends, family and neighbors for years to come.  I think the kids even made smores:)

15 July

Ok, so after two weekends in a row of backbreaking sweaty work in 90 degree temps on this patio, this weekend involved moving leftover bricks, cleaning up and planting plants, we are at a place where we are done and are ready to enjoy this new space for the rest of the summer!  Every night w literally fell into bed after doing all this and all the regular chores (and cleaning up after kids, cooking, laundry etc...etc...) And looking around at everything still left to do for regular chores makes us well........a little grumpy.  Someday, it will be nice to just get to a place where w only have to do regular maintenance chores I say.   But onward and upward and onto enjoying the fabulous memories that are yet to be made by family and friends and neighbors in this backyard.  Stay Tuned for the Tuesday night Christening of the new fire pit!

8 July

It was a family affair.....everyone helped one way or another over the last month move and place the bricks, and now after a marathon weekend, the patio is finally complete.  Through our blood, sweat and tears (yep, all of the above but mostly sweat) we all had a hand in making it our own.....all ourselves, with a little help from our friends.   Years later, I hope they always remember what their little hands could do.  Where they stand back and say, "I helped make THAT"  And that's what life is all about.  There's still a lot of cleaning up to do, so say tuned for the before and after shots.

1 June

Hello June.....And cool temps and lots and lots of rain, UGH!  But the story of today is our new backyard drainage system being installed by two very hardworking guys, one machine and one very helpful little 5 year old boy who has his own "tractor".  Yep, there's a lot of mud and dirt to look at right now, but with time, patience,  and a lot of work, it's going to be great.

22 January

Our Master Bathroom.....Before and after......Josh has some amazing tiling skills (and he won't admit it, but I think he likes it!)

Our new....

dining room, or should I say, kids homework/reading and craft room. Our old dining room went to live at Gammie's lake house and we got a new table (LOVE craigslist). Now we are just looking for the perfect reading chair for the corner (and maybe a couple of daddy made built ins in the future) to complete the room. I love decorating:)

11 April

Inspired by Ali , my latest home decorating creation. This little collection of favorite photos and poetry is right at the top of the stairs in the hallway. The frames were literally on sale for a dollar each at AC Moore last week, the collage frame I found in the office closet, and the canvas print was free. Now all my favorite pictures EVER are out of my computer and on my walls. Someday, they will all have a story written down to go with them. Love this.

The poem in the collage frame is by Bonnie Mohr:

"Life is not a race - but indeed a journey. Be Honest. Work Hard. Be Choosy. Say "thank you", and "great job" to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord givith and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental ~ search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you inspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself ~ Plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment.

16 February

Our upstairs kids/guest bath is finished! Someday we will change the countertop and faucets, but for now a little paint (in my favorite color) , some new medicine cabinets and some little details look wonderful:)

365::363

Our newest little home improvement project. A tile backsplash in the kitchen. I LOVE it:)

365::143

Taking down our old deck (well only 4 years old---Josh said that the person who built this deck shouldn't even be building a birdhose..)

Project 365::269

Today: Two kids to the doctor's at different times (they said at the office the record was 3),

Lucas stats at 18 months: Weight:21 lbs 10 oz (4th percentile), height 32 inches (65th percentile) and head circumf. 19.5 inches (90th percentile!).

Picked up some new pants for Trevor and some new jeans for me at Old navy (pre-kid size--size 8!), picked up the antibiotics for Bre and Lucas at Target and headed home to see the new pellet stove. I LOVE, LOVE it more than I ever thought I would. It's going to be a REALLY cozy winter here in this house:)