Basement Update #2 (364 Updates left)!

The plumbing dudes were in last week -- a very worthwhile investment in my book because we hadn't a clue what we were doing! Plumbing is not something you want to "almost" get right!

Ready to wire and drywall

Um . . . yeah . . . that would be sheetrock coming through the egress window in the basement. Because our stairwell has a landing/turn in it, this was the only way to get the sheets in!


This is Mark our neighbor . . . classic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just as Bryan pulled up in the driveway with 40 sheets of drywall, Mark came out his door . . . . One hour later . . .
they were in the basement! Bryan calculated that together they weigh 200 lbs. shy of a ton! No wonder hubby was a little (understatement) soar the next morning! This looks like a lot of bonding time in the very near future!

one more thing . . .

We had a very momentous occasion this week . . . we changed from being a "one chair I'm helping Mommy in the kitchen" to a "two chair we're helping Mommy in the kitchen!" Kayla let me know (in her own way!) that she didn't think much of Joshua being my only helper. I figured that since she's a little monkey anyway, that it would be ok to put her in the corner on the chair. Happy Baking!

Last Week

Joshua BEGGED and BEGGED to run through the sprinkler . .. and after 5 hours of begging I let him. He got dressed by himself, turned on the water himself, got 2 drops on water on him, and decided it was too cold (barely 70) and came inside. Mission accomplished!

BTW -- how do ya like our brown back yard? THE ENTIRE BACK YARD was like that about a month ago and slowly, but surely, the green is coming back. Anyone with any ideas of what we did? Someone said it is warm-loving grass? Someone said it is because our grass was too new to fertilize last year?

Freya and the boys came for an afternoon this week -- a very nice change of pace for me!

Last night the whole fam went to Chuck E Cheese -- where else can kids have fun, and adults act like kids? Max, Kayla, and Henry (& Grandpa) riding the car!

The boys!

Determination at its finest!

Happy B-day Bryan!!!!

Wow -- Bryan hit the mid-way point between 30 and 40 this week . .. I'll let you do the math! We go all out for gifts at our house . . . he loves these kinds of granola bars (they actually taste like candy bars) but they haven't been on sale for a long time and I haven't bought them recently. So. . . for his birthday, I paid FULL PRICE for them! (Can you tell neither of us have a love language of giving gifts????!)

We went up to M/D Varner's since my bro and sis-in-law were there. Fun times!

And, to be dumb, I thought I'd include the recent pics of the basement on the same post as his birthday since I'm sure he was delighted to spend so much time there this week! This is the bi-fold closet opening for some MEGA STORAGE! Wa-hoo!

My storage tubs can't wait to have a new "home!"

We think the previous owner must have purchased all of his lumber from "Twisted and bowed 2x4's R US." Let's just say that it has taken a lot of creativity and patience to "fix" the modern art he had going in some places. One time, we held the level up to the soffet (sp?) and the bubble was COMPLETELY on the side . .. um . .. probably wouldn't have worked!

Hope you had a wonderful birthday week, dear!

Ryan's graduation

I can't believe it . . .my "little" brother graduated from high school last week! (He's the one on the very end).


My g/g varner came up for the occasion -- although they might have reconsidered if they knew the ceremony was 2 1/2 hours long! It was fun to see them over lunch and during the ceremony.


The boys did great . . .considered the ceremony was 2 1/2 hours long! (Did I mention it was 2 1/2 hours long????) Thank goodness it was super easy to go out and walk/get a drink/walk/get another drink!

Mama catching all the action -- can you believe this is your 5th child graduating from high school ????

Happy Graduation Ryan! (I think there were 300ish graduating seniors during the 2 1/2 hour ceremony!)

PS -- it was worth it,though!

This and That!

We never have pics of just us anymore! This was at Ryan's band concert -- it was great until the cannons went off for 1812 overture . . . Joshua didn't think much of it!

"B" is for binocular . . . Joshua and I are doing one letter/week (arts, activities, food, Bible verse, etc) and this was last week's activity! Such a goober! (yes, those are toilet paper tubes, why?

Don't remember where we were coming from, but I think it's safe to say they crashed! I will admit that I love carrying them inside, though, because that's about the only time Joshua will be "snuggly" with me anymore :(.

This pic was taken in the basement when Daddy was working and I was on kid patrol. Joshua HATES the nail gun -- hence he's holding his ears!

I heard Kayla saying "uck, uck" from the hallway . . . she had fallen backwards into a bin and couldn't get up. I thought it was rather humorous! She is talking like crazy!

Trip to Houstonia

Last weekend, we made trip to Houstonia -- a very bittersweet, emotional trip. My grandparents are going to be moving soon to be closer to my aunt/uncle. A very good thing -- but hard to process, too. Anyway, the kids love going upstairs to the "big" toy room and seeing what awaits them!

Great grandma playing with Kayla -- Kayla wanted to sit next to grandma on the bench, but did NOT want to be held!

I missed the opportune time with this pic . . . I looked up to see my 93-year old grandma carrying Kayla, but it didn't last long as Kayla had bigger and better things to do!

Grandma loves her cards!
This was right before mother's day and she loved going through the mail!

One last picture on the porch -- I'll just leave it at that :(.

Few weeks too late!

I meant to post these last week -- but better late than never, right? We're (um . . . actually Bryan :) is working on finishing the basement bathroom. First item on the list was to knock down the existing framed wall because we needed a door in the wall.

Done.

This was our status two weekends ago. Last weekend we realized how incredibly slow the progress is when you actually have to use real hammers and real nails . . . so . . .

. . . some wonderful people loaned us their nail gun and air compressor!

Bryan worked most of today, but the bathroom is framed and ready for the plumbing. Stay posted . . . to be continued . . .!

MS Walk

Today, we participated in a MS walk in honor of a friend from church -- it was great! Started out kind of chilly, but was beautiful as time went on. The course was 4 miles (2 there, 2 back) and it was LONG ENOUGH for the kiddos! The picture above was everyone on our team.

Unfortunately, Kayla spent most of the time in the stroller . . . :(

A little "rest stop" at the half-way point!

Approaching the finish line! (Don't ask me what in the world I was doing . . .)

This and That

Went to the zoo with MOPS group this week -- Kayla wasn't too sure what to think of the goat!

The kids definetely got an up close and personal look!

Riding the train for the first time this season! I was a little nervous not being right next to Joshua, but he was fine! I'm sure he had more fun being next to the "guys" than next to Mommy!

Using the "fishing rod" (out of Tinkeytoys). Notice also the "boat" (pillows) and the "lake" (blanket.) What can I say? The weather was yucky outside!

Morning at the Zoo

I know, I know . . . two days of posting in a row . .. it's amazing! We had some beautiful weather today and headed to the zoo. We're going to try the zoo pass thing this summer and see if we go enough to justify the cost. I must admit that we're not huge "zoo" people, but we'll see . . . This is Joshua with a friend from church. It was a challenge to keep both of them from racing ahead. I wish I had $1 for every time I said, "Joshua, Keep one hand on the stroller" -- I would be rich by now!

Kayla -- the vantage point from the stroller isn't
nearly as good as when you're walking . .

Lookin' at the big cats!

This pic really doesn't do it justice, but there were 5 strollers (3 of them double) and 7 kids 3 and under -- wow!

One last picture . . . we had so much fun this morning. We'll have to go again!

Exciting Times At Our House . . .

Two weeks ago, Mama decided that time had come to give potty training ANOTHER try (mind you . . . we started almost 1 year ago!). So, early Monday morning, I got out the candy, quarters, trinkets, EVERYTHING, and most of all new "Cars" underwear. Kayla was checking it out . . . and believe it or not, Joshua TOTALLY figured out the whole potty thing -- like in a couple of hours. Amazing. People have been telling me just to wait until he's ready . . . I guess they're right!

So, one of our "incentives" was Chuck E. Cheese -- and he was THRILLED to be able to go! Aunt Bem joined in the fun -- nice leg brace, sis!

The only way Kayla knows how to go down the slide . . .head first!

Last week, Kayla had a little, or shall we say big, run-in with Joshua's bed. No, she wasn't jumping on it, but just fell onto the headboard. We took her to the dr. -- no stitches (thank goodness) but just a little super glue. Even a week later, it looks so much better. Guess that's about it from the home front!