House Progress - The View Today

I've been catching up on my ironing this afternoon.  Thank goodness for audible books, I've listened to so many good ones lately - "The Chosen" by Chiam Potok is what I'm listening to now and I am loving it.  I have always been fascinated with Hasidism.  Last week I listened to "Unorthodox" by Deborah Feldman which was very interesting.  It really helps the monotony of housewife duties sometimes.  

As I listened and ironed, I also got to look out my bedroom window and watch the workers over at the house.  I feel so in over my head lately with the process of choosing tile, countertops, finish work, etc.  I think that's why my audio books have been such a nice escape for me, it forces me to take a break from obsessing over all of it for a while being productive at the same time.

This siding has been up for a couple of weeks.  We've been waiting and waiting for them to come back and get going again but I guess they've been finishing up another job.  I was glad to see the siding people back today but they were working on the soffit so it doesn't look like much happened from over here.

Hailey and Indie got a little outside play time today, it's has been such a nice day for here - above freezing, sunny and not windy, a rarity for these parts.  I'm sure Indie was ecstatic that she convinced one of the kids to go outside and play with her.  She sits and begs by the back door every day when they get home and they rarely have time to play with her between homework and all the after school things we have going on.

House Progress

There has been a lot of progress in the last couple of weeks.

Crown molding in the master bedroom is up.

Window and door casings are all pretty much done.

Coffered ceilings in the living area and crown molding is going up.

I was really excited to see one of the columns in the living/dining room built!

And the front door and sidelights are in!

The pergola is finished as well.  This is over the back porch where the outdoor wood burning fireplace is.  The siding is not going as fast as we would hope it would but so far I am really happy with the color. I can't wait until that part is done!

I have been picking out tile and countertops for the last few weeks.  I definitely underestimated how hard this part is.  Hopefully things will come together in the end.  We shall see.

Hailey's Turns 10!

My first born entered the double digits this week.....I can't believe it.

Now that she's 10, she's pretty much over toys (or at least she says she is). 

She was really excited to get a new Abercrombie sweatshirt since her old one got stolen at the gym while she was at swim club.

Indie watched all the early morning action while dying to be let out.

After presents we had her favorite breakfast of crepes with strawberries and whipped cream and then we sent her off to school.  I picked up Subway for lunch and took it in at lunch time and we ate with her friends and took doughnuts for her classmates.  My mom drove up and got there in time to go pick up the girls from school.  It was unseasonably warm that day so we put the top down on her convertible on the way home from school.  The girls loved it!

For dinner we went to Texas Roadhouse with everyone - Grandmommy, Nanny and Papa came as well.  They sang "Happy Birthday" to her while she sat on a saddle with a cowboy hat on.

There happened to be this amazing face painter there that night so Paige and Crew their faces done.

Paige's eye is the eye of the elephant.  How cute is that?

Crew's cheetah face was fantastic!

I was sad we had to wash them off just an hour later before bed.

We came back home for cupcakes.

She opened presents from Grandmommy - a beautiful scarf that she had knit, she loved it.  I need to get a picture of it.  She also gave her a little chicken that she had knit with little wire-rimmed glasses.  Need to get pictures of this as well.  It's so cute.  Nanny and Papa gave her a beautiful red headed collectible Madame Alexander doll and a journal to write her very creative stories in.  Nanny also wrote her a wonderful birthday message.  She always writes the most thoughtful and lovely cards.

I am so proud of Hailey.  She is such a wonderful daughter.  She's a tremendous help, she's naturally caring, empathetic and intuitive.  She's a loving and caring older sister.  Not to mention absolutely beautiful on the outside as well!  We love her so much!

House Progress

Our first piece of siding went up today!

We were over looking at it last night after it was delivered and held a few pieces up to get an idea of how it will look with the contrast of the white trim.

We also got garage doors a couple weeks ago...I'm a little behind on updating.

The stuff for the rope lighting is going up in the master bedroom.  The crown molding is up too....I need to go take more pictures!

Everything has been taped and stuff (I don't really know what they call it...mudded?).

In fact, everything is primed, but like I said, I'm behind.

Paige's Baptism

Paige was so excited to get baptized and she took the plunge this past weekend.

She was excited to have Grandpa there for the big day.

We attempted a family picture afterwards but could never really get one where everyone was cooperating.

Nanny and Papa were of course there too but while we were taking pictures after the baptism, Crew accidentally hit Paige in the nose and things sort of all fell apart.  The drive home was.....loud.

So, here are Nanny and Papa back at the house.

Our friends the Griggs came and the kids all had a great time playing.

Indie even got into it.

Jim gave Paige a very beautiful and thoughtful blessing in her confirmation.  I think Paige really felt special.  Of course, it wouldn't have been Paige if there hadn't been a few meltdowns but all in all, it was a really nice day.

House Progress

How incredibly boring this must seem to most people....drywall, insulation, heating ducts. But so exciting for us and I hope, fun for our children to look back on someday.

And, for some reason, when I sign in under one of my other accounts, it won't let me edit the pictures or resize them so they are huge.

The Good and Beautiful

I'm not usually a quote sharing kind of person but I read this today and it really spoke to me. I need to be better about focusing on the good and beautiful in my children (and all people) more often.

When we focus on what is good and beautiful in someone, whether or not we think that they "deserve" it, the good and the beautiful are strengthened merely by the light of our attention.

When we choose to see and appreciate what is good and beautiful in our children, the goodness can't help but grow, and their beauty blossoms forth.

Katrina Kenison, The Gift of an Ordinary Day