New Home Project

Last year we almost put our house on the market in order to upgrade to a larger house (we even signed a contract for building the house, which we were able to get out of easily and without any penalties), but we were not comfortable with how much money the banks were willing to lend us, blah blah, blah. We still had the problem of outgrowing our home. Luckily our neighbor, Jarrod (Megan's daddy), finishes basements (and other home repair needs) for a living. He actually turned our loft into a third bedroom for Paige when I was pregnant with her. Anyway, we have hired him to finish our basement--YAY! When all is finished (hopefully in early July) we will have a fourth bedroom/office, a great room with entertainment center, a fourth bathroom, and a potential for a wet bar. Here are the before pictures (but after we emptied it of all of our "stuff").

This is taken from the top of the stairs on our main level

From the landing of the stairs down into the basement

Looking into the what will be the bedroom from it's entrance

In the bedroom looking towards it's entrance

Looking into the great room after coming down the stairs

Looking down into the great room, and that back wall will be able to have a wet bar at some point, but not this summer

The right part will be a utility room, and the left will be a bathroom

Different angle from the great room; the right part will be the built in entertainment center

So now Jarrod is framing (as we speak, actually), and we've had some plumbing done. As progress is made I will take more pictures and keep the blog updated (really, I will!).

More Quilts!

Our good friends, Allan and Michelle, are expecting twins (a boy and a girl!), and their baby shower is this weekend. I thought, what could be more appropriate than some baby quilts, so that's what I've been doing for the last three weeks (and why I've been absent from my blog, as well).

I love the fabric I chose for the little boy quilt. I machine quilted both of them, and on this little blankie, I quilted some leaves in the sashing. That was pretty hard, and I had to redo some of them. I'm thinking that next time I try to be so artistic I will do it by hand.

Camping Bears--is there any other kind?

I put the little boy quilt together first, so by the time I got to the little girl quilt, I had learned some good lessons, and I think I did a much better job on this one. (Hopefully only a quilter would notice the difference--I think the little boy quilt is still good enough to give as a gift.) I kept the quilting more simple, and I think it looks better. All in all I'm really happy with the way they both turned out, though.

Rich took this goofy picture of me, and I'm not really sure why I am posting it...

Pictures from Mother's Day

Here are some pictures from our Mother's Day brunch that we had at my mother-in-law's house. My sisters-in law prepared an absolutely fabulous meal, and even my little sister Denise was able to help us celebrate.Jack seems to have lost his finesse at taking pictures, but luckily, his Grandma Rosie has not!

This is Paige playing with Michelle's puppy, Monroe, who is a "Golden Doodle". When Michelle first got her, Miss Monroe quickly fit into the family--she is a fantastic dog! (and pretty cute, too)

Post Script to Crow Creek Links

This picture was taken when Jack was eleven days old and my dad and Donna had come to see him for the first time. Guess whose idea it was to pose Jack like this with his little clubs? I'm not a golfer, so it wasn't me...

Crow Creek Links

Well, Dad, this post is for you! To let everyone else in on this post, I need to do a little explaining. When my dad, whose favorite hobby is golf, found out I was having a boy when I pregnant with Jack, he got him his first set of golf clubs (before he was even born). Ever since the little man was born, my dad has been asking me if we have started him golfing yet. It started as a joke, because the clubs weren't meant for children under 3, but lately he has continually been hounding me without much humor (you know it's true, Dad). Yesterday was a beautiful day, and I actually remembered about the clubs, so we broke them out. I don't know, but we may be looking at the next Tiger, here!

Some advice from the Pros

I love this picture!

Don't count out Paige!

Refresher course with Daddy

Ring-Around- the-Rosie Anyone?

As the weather is getting warmer and warmer, we've been meeting outside after nap time with the neighbors. I couldn't resist taking these pictures of the kids playing Ring-Around-the-Rosie. They're all just so darn cute!

Halloween in April?

Last weekend our little friend, Max, celebrated his 4th birthday, and he wanted to share his day with his friends by throwing a costume party. (Apparently, one of Max's favorite things to do is play dress up in his favorite superhero costumes.) I wasn't sure if Jack would be up for it, but he totally was, and in fact he wanted to wear his costume the next morning (and we let him). Paige was a little unsure of her borrowed Tigger costume, and I don't think she was ever quite comfortable in it, although she never cried.

Fairy Princess Megan

Typical Madi

Birthday Boy, Max, in the first of many costumes

"Now here is how you make a sandwich!"

Dancing Fools

Mr. Incredible/Darth Vader...that seems about right!

Cake time

Grabbin' candy after the pinata broke