Labor Day Weekend

On the way home from Church on Sunday we told the kids that tomorrow (Monday) was a holiday. They got all excited and asked which one...our response: "a work holiday. It's labor day which means we celebrate our ability to work, so Daddy is going to stay home and we are going to take care of the house inside and out." They weren't exactly thrilled, but that is what we did on Monday. Well mostly John and I-the kids helped with the house and then were off to play. The girls mostly in their room with their Polly Pockets and Barbies and well Tate....he was everywhere. He refused a shirt and was basically our Lil Lost Boy, all covered in dirt.

Can you see what he found? A HUGE SLUG! He couldn't have been more enamored with it.

Daddy was a little antsy to get some projects started and so he worked on the sofet (sp?)

We let the chickens out and I discovered that they really liked the leftover mac'n cheese.

Shiver, Rainbow, Lollipop and GoldiLocks

(I've been working on knowing their names)

At 4:30 Dad came down the ladder and declared it was time for some fun so we headed to the DQ for Chocolate dipped Ice Cream Cones and then we made an impromptu visit to the Tom & Helga's and had a great evening with them. Their daughter and grand-daughter were there and the kids loved playing with Sage.

The topic of the night was McKenna's loose tooth that was literally hanging on by a thread. As we were leaving she showed John who quickly reached in, pulled it forward and it fell out. McKenna couldn't have been more surprised-she was so afraid it was going to hurt. Surprise quickly turned to anticipation and excitement for the big visit from the Tooth Fairy.

It was a fun day and night for all!!!

Benches-check!

Just an update of the benches-installed.

They look fabulous and so...comfy? Tried them out and love them!

Thanks & Good Job John!

The Man Cave Reformed-Barn Room

Wish I'd taken real Before pictures with all the junk, the exposed wood and that made up this little room.

As you can see not much room for much else besides John and his saw.

We then brought in the Big Dog to do the Decorating. We always put our guests to work and this time Grandpa had his work cut out for him.

The finished product:

The Artist: J. Don Payne aka Grandpa Payne

The Signing

Thanks Grandpa-it's better than anything we had ever imagined and the kids LOVE it!

While our cousins slept in their room the girls were able to break-in and enjoy the barn room as their sleeping quarters creating the perfect sleepover environment. They were soo excited!

After taking out the sleeping stuff and putting in Tate's Toys-he hasn't left the room and called his Dad up to show him his new play room and to have him play with him.

Like I said-the room is a HUGE hit and we Love it!

Tate's Room-Paint...Check

I pry shouldn't post until the actual decorating is done, but anyone who knows me knows it will take a while before the finishing touches are complete...

I've been itching to paint Tate's room since he was born and before it was his room. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I started looking and with the help of a friend came up with exactly what I wanted to do. Jorelle taught me what you do when it comes to decorating-starting with picking the bedding to find the colors for paint. We found some great fabric samples that hopefully I'll be turning into a quilt in the next couple of months and from there we found our paint colors & a willing husband to make the wainscotting. Both vital factors for a a fun, happy room.

Tate's New Space

At the top of our Stairs lies a little door, half the size of a regular door. It was home to various kitchen things that rarely if ever got used and boxes of picture frames and Cd's. With the girls room upstairs they are often playing there, and Tate wanting the company often goes after them upsetting them and everything in sight as he dumps everything on the ground.

The other day as I was helping to clean up Tate's wake he'd left behind I heard a door open and closing and found Tate in the lil room, on top of a box turning on and of the light and opening and closing the door with a big mischievious grin on his face. Inspired we have decided to turn the little room into a playroom for Tate's toys allowing him to be closer to the action. The room is clean, now if we can figure out where and why there is moisture in the room we can move forward with our plan.

Tate helping Dad assess the situation

Home Renovation update

Ask and you shall receive-Mom this one's for you. ;)

While in Utah John was home busy finishing the kitchen. He put up crown molding, base molding, finished the island, the rest of the cupboard fronts, shelving, and the new kitchen light above the sink. He mentioned several times how much he loved being able to leave a project...tools and all and when he came back everything was just how he'd left it.

He not only finished the kitchen, he finished the molding in the bathrooms.

He also finished the door fronts for our carport entryway.

The list continues...he fixed the stairs (no more creaking), he fixed cracks in the walls and painted the upstairs stair and hallway, rehung all the doors so they easily open and latch closed.

This is the transfer into the bathroom-It's been a BIG Crack for 6 years.

Thanks Honey I love my newly almost completely finished house. :)

House Re-model Update

Ahhh I breath a sigh of releif as I look around at what has been a long process, but boy is it beautiful! There is still more to be done, but my house is beautiful. Not so clean or organized but to me it's very lived in and did I mention beautiful!? I'm just so happy!

John's schedule at work changed on March 1st. He now works 5 days a week, his shift varying between 7-4, 8-5 and 9-6. Before the change the other therapist owe'd John an extra day off and so he took a 3rd day and spent Tues-Thurs putting the finishing touches on our home. He had a March 1st deadline (that he gave himself) to get everything done...on the main level inside the house. :) There's always something to work on isn't there? It's what a homeowner does.

He worked hard and I'm proud to say doors are painted and hung, trim is painted and hung, all the windows are framed in and all but the 3 kitchen are painted and we bought our 1st blinds (that aren't paper/temporary) since moving in almost 6 years ago and hung them. I no longer live in a fishbowl.

Upon finishing this window John made the comment to McKenna

we'd been wanting to change the trim and the curtains

on this window since the day we moved in.

We've come a long way baby!

The only thing left is carpeting the stairs, a couple of drawer & cupboard fronts in the kitchen and fixing trim upstairs and in the bathroom. Then it's the personal touches in the way of decorating.

Thank You John and all the many friends and family who have helped to create such a beautiful place to live!

Evolution Painting

This is a picture of the house the day we came to look at it, before we bought a lil over 5 years ago.

Last Tuesday & Wednesday John took work off and painted the house. It's been sunny and hot everyday except the days he paints, then it rains. Luckily it wasn't enough to stop him, plus he's a fast worker!

We now have a green house-the trim is almost done and wouldn't it be just my luck to lose the battery charger to my camera-so guess you'll just have to wait for the finished product.