little helpers

Sometimes we wonder just how far along we would actually be if not for our little helpers! They're so dependable... such hard-working young men!! Not a day goes by that they're not in the mix helping us (especially their daddy) every step of the way! Guess it wouldn't be a family effort without their hands touching every little piece of it!

We're finally finished painting, YEAH! We painted it all the same color (pretty close to the paint color upstairs) except for the bathroom and my closet. Jim let me go out on a limb with some green! Justin and Ty pulled some long hours this past weekend to help finish up this stage! Jim finished the flooring in my office and it's beautiful! Dirty in these photos, but beautiful. He did such a great job. He's about finished with flooring in the pantry and hallway. We're getting carpet installed on Friday... the boys think they're moving downstairs! Still so much to do, but we're grateful we're as far as we are!

a different kind of surprise

I wouldn't say I really like being surprised, as in startled but there is something to be said about really being surprised! The kind I like are mostly things being done without asking... dinner on the table... clean rooms... tulips and roses are always nice too! I decided to surprise Jim today. He had to go back to work- something he's not too happy with. Actually, it's the only thing we're not liking about Kansas. We decided yesterday that it we really wish we were already at that retired stage in life... to just do projects together every day! (I'd even build another basement if I got him home full-time!)
Anyhow, today's surprise... see how far I can get with the painting while he's at work! Don't you think he'll be excited?! Now that our life revolves around this stinkin' basement... our priorities and things that make us happy have adapted! I'm even starting to think that I might get some trim for our 5th anniversary in January instead of the anniversary band I've been planning for the last few years! Time to paint...

our front porch

As Jim and I have planned out our "dream house" we always knew we wanted a big front porch! Now that we have it we LOVE our front porch. Anytime anything is going on... the boys head to the porch... it's great! They watch the lightening, listen to the thunder, watch the trains, wait for daddy to come home, look at the moon, play ball with Dahli, watch the sunrise... It's the best entertainment. It's also a nice place to sit and enjoy the quiet! Come visit us... try it out!

paint

We're still smiling in spite of hours of painting this week... Of course, I have the most pictures of Caden (again) since he always seems to be right in the middle of the action! This stage of painting has really been a great reminder to me of how much I need my husband in my life! I have a tendency to like to jump around. It's hard for me to finish one wall before moving on to the next! I trimmed it out, then he came behind and rolled the walls. Luckily, he keeps me on task and the job will get finished! I was ready to put color on the walls before the ceiling was even finished... he has to slow me down, remind me to follow our plan! Our bones are aching, and we're ready to enjoy it... but, all in all it's been a good experience! We should be done (painting, that is!!) by this weekend and flooring is next!! Can't wait!

Our baby is 2!

What a sweet birthday boy! He didn't even know it was his birthday... and spent most of the day wanting us to hold him while we painted downstairs. We had his birthday dinner, then "dirt" cake served in his new dump truck. He was most excited about his new puppy book and the worms in the dirt! He was very sweet... ready to play tomorrow! Time to potty train!!

texture

Coleman knows the routine. The other day, he woke up ready to head to work downstairs! He asked for his "pile of dust" which makes the perfect race track for his cars and trucks! His racecars do all kinds of flips in the dust... his trucks tow trailers through it. While sanding, we had so much dust it was easy to give him a pile. It would keep him busy for hours. I had to tell him... THERE IS NO MORE DUST!!! Yeah! We're finally through the sanding and finished texture in two quick days! This weekend, we're painting... trying to get our first coat of primer finished today! We'll see how far we get before doing Caden's birthday this evening! Our little guy is 2 today... how appropriate to make him work downstairs all day for his birthday! He doesn't know the difference, thankfully!!

Caden's at it again...

It seems that weekly, Caden has something major happen! He's a wreck!! This week, while playing cars, Coleman and Caden had a little argument. Caden called it a back hoe, Coleman said it was a front-end loader. Somehow, the track hoe ended up making tracks across Caden's face. Ouch! Poor little guy... for the majority of the time, he's pretty sweet!

Today, he scared us like never before. Jim had just gotten home and was bringing in some groceries. While making his first trip in, Coleman and Caden were hangin' out in Daddy's truck. No keys... it was off. Well, Caden decided he wanted to drive and put the gear shifter in neutral causing the truck to roll back into the neighbor's ditch. I looked out the window and SCREAMED... in a panic to see where my babies were! Luckily, they were both sitting in the front seat in the ditch full of mud. Coleman told us he said, "Caden, STOP! But, he wouldn't stop." We're afraid this isn't the last time that Caden's going to drive them both into TROUBLE!

We know we're lucky neither of them were hurt... It was a bonus that he didn't hit anything, and that our neighbors weren't upset with us!

A Simple Impression

I've just started getting serious about our vinyl lettering business. I'm still working on my prices, but happy to take any orders. I am selling it ready to apply as you'd like in your home, or as a finished product on a tile or wood plaque. The possibilities are endless!

Check out my link to A Simple Impression for ideas and some of the personalized vinyl I have created. It's a work in progress... sort of like life, right?

More Fun

From open room to framed... to sheetrock!

child labor

First you sand, then you have to feel it to make sure it's smooth... Caden knows the routine! He's watched the HOURS and HOURS we've been working down there! This weekend, we're hoping the sanding is just about finished!

Last weekend, we had the big boys sand their own ceilings... neither of them has complained that their room is too small! We haven't seen either of them downstairs since... Hmmm...

Some may call it child abuse... we're just working on life's lessons... keeping them humble!

Goin' for a Ride

The little guys were excited to see G'ma & G'pa & ready to go for a ride with them! Daddy pulled the tractor out of the garage... and everyone had the chance to take it for a spin. Coleman made sure Gramps had his seatbelt on... what a crazy kid!

What a Nice Surprise!

Before heading back to Alaska from visiting new baby Connor in Texas, G'ma & G'pa decided to make a quick visit to Kansas! They flew in to OK, then drove up just in time to make it to Thursday night football! Both boys were totally surprised! Jim & Gramps went to Ty's game. G'ma & I drove south to Justin's game, then made it back in time to catch the end of Ty's game.

It worked out perfectly! We already miss living so close to G'ma & G'pa... they need to get OUT of AK!