Cocoon

Lounging

I didn't expect to see this when I looked outside to check on Jack. He told me that he was watching TV.

My First Party

Yesterday my mother-in-law hosted my first Pampered Chef party. It was a huge success and I really think she and her friends had a good time, as well as earning her over $200 in free stuff!! I even got some bookings off of the show, so I'm feeling optimistic that I made a good choice in getting into this business.

Frustrated!!

I have more pictures to post, but I am going to have to try again later because this website is having problems. Urrghhh!!

Choo Choo!

Last week we went to the zoo with Grandma Eastland. I knew that Jack would like the choo choo train, but wasn't quite sure if Paige would like it or not. She acted pretty excited about it so I took a chance. She of course loved it. I guess that's a second born, for ya!

Our Visit with GG

A couple of weeks ago, my Grandma Rausch (aka GG to the kids) came to Colorado for a visit. My mom, Steve, and Deni, and GG came up one Sunday to visit us here in the Springs. Jack and Paige absolutely love her--all kids love her: you can definitely tell she was an elementry school teacher because she is so great with the little ones! We had a great visit, and my mom and grandma let me try some new recipes on them, since I have now become a consultant for The Pampered Chef.(!!!)

Sailing

Grandpa Eastland brought over some life vests for the kids because we are going to spend a day on their boat later this summer. The kids new exactly what to do with them, and many tears were shed when he left our house with the new gear. Don't worry, Rich eventually calmed down :-)

Productive Weekend

For my mom's birthday (back in May), I offered her a weekend completely devoted to cleaning out and organizing her sewing room. A little background of this room: it used to be my sister's room when she was a baby, but then after I moved out and Denise moved into my old room, my mom got her own "lady cave". It was always meant to be a room to store and produce crafts (mostly quilting). She has a lovely quilting table that I drool over, a cabinet that was purchased but never was in the room, because there wasn't room for it when they bought it, a dresser, a shelf, and even customized closet organization. Sadly it became a dumping ground for miscellaneous projects, her school books and planners, music, UFOs, and junk with no home. It needed to be dealt with! She couldn't even use her room for its intended purpose.Can't see the floor!

A bit overwhelming

Some fun distractions

What makes cleaning fun? Wigs make cleaning fun!

We're not related (note sarcasm)

Found my MC Hammer pants from the 7th grade--they're meant to be parachute pants, but now they're just shiny pants

More distractions--are we ever going to clean that room?

Deni finally joined the fun

We did some work after all!

Holy Cow, that carpet hasn't been seen in year.

We got the cabinet out of my parents room!

Drywall!

Bedroom

Looking down the hall from bedrrom

Entertainment Center

These photos were taken last week, and already the basement has progressed even further than these pictures show. The sheet rock is up, mudded and taped, textured, and even painted. As I am typing this, Billy the tiling guy, is laying tile on the family room floor. I'm so excited!

Dancing Days

Here are some funny videos of the kids. Yes, I did actually push Paige down when she was getting close to me. Also the video of Rich and Paige may not last too long, as he may ground me from the computer if he sees it on here!

Basement update

The guest room

In the guest room towards its entrance

Entertainment center

Bathroom at the far end, and utility closet

Facing the future bar

Bathroom

Playgroup at the zoo

I didn't take too many pictures at the zoo, but I did get some cute ones of Paige and Madi snuggling, Jack on the Choo Choo, and he even got on the Carousel (but he insisted on sitting on a bench, not a horse).

Going to the Aquarium

Before we went to the aquarium, we stopped for lunch, and Paige barely woke up in time to eat.

At about this point, my batteries in my camera died. It's probably a good thing, too, otherwise this post would never have ended!
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