Cake Eater!

I couldn't resist posting pictures of Melanie with her cake. I ended up buying one at Wal-Mart since I'm currently without a kitchen. No offense, Wal-Mart, but my cakes are better. :) I plan to make it up to her next year.

Happy Birthday Melanie!!

It's almost hard to believe that one year ago today Melanie joined our family. I still remember anxiously awaiting for the phone call from the hospital to let us know they had a room. When we arrived at the hospital we prepared for induction. Who would have guessed that there was enough room in my belly for her to flip around during the epidural. She came into the world via c-section, much to mommy's chagrin. Even weighing in at 9lbs. 2 oz. she seemed so small, but boy could she wail!!! She has a voice that carries, and she's not afraid to use it. I have thoroughly enjoyed this first year of her life. So many things I forgot about since Anne and Naomi were that young. She loves to laugh. She will even laugh during TV shows when you hear the studio audience laughing. Too cute!! I can only imagine what this next year of her life will hold. God bless you Melanie! You certainly are a blessing to anyone who comes in contact with you!

These were taken the weekend she was born. She was a little jaundiced, but nothing a little sun time couldn't cure.












These two were taken yesterday, Oct. 26. She is wearing an adorable outfit my mom and dad gave her for her birthday! She's starting to figure out the whole smiling for the camera things. :)

A Wall Going Up!

Andy helped the framers stand up one of the outside walls, so I took advantage of the moment. :)

Framing has started!!!

Framing has finally begun. Our framer, Mike, came out and inspected the footing and pier work last Thursday. Thankfully it passed his inspection, and he sent his crew out to begin framing on Friday. They have been busy ever since. We aren't supposed to have any rain until early next week so they should be able to get all the framing done! :) The flooring is done, and today a couple of the outside walls were put together and stood up. It's awesome to be able to watch it take shape. We have been deconstructing for so long. It's great to see the construction!

New Driveway!

Our new driveway was poured today!!! The gray part is the new driveway still wet. The white part is the old driveway. This will lead into our two car garage when all is said and done. The first picture is taken from the road directly in front of the driveway. The next is an angle to see that our house is still incomplete. :) Lumber is being delivered soon, and framing should begin Monday. With every step of progress I get more and more excited!!!
















We got to put our names in the cement before it dried completely.

You Say It's Your Birthday!!!!

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY, TOO!!!!! I'm 34 years young today! It's almost hard to believe. Turning 30 didn't really bother me much, but I'm finding the closer I get to 40 the more apprehensive I am about it.

I had a pretty good day today. I had to be at school, but the students didn't. We had in-service, and the headmaster let us go home at lunch. I opted to stay for a few more hours to get 9 weeks tests graded! :) Andy took me out for dinner after the girls' gymnastics class. He had arranged for a sitter a few weeks ago. Any evening together without the girls is ALWAYS a treat!!

In Arkansas it is craft show week--which is huge in these parts! Mom and I are going in the morning. I made a request for stopping at Starbucks first. I absolutely LOVE their pumpkin spice lattes--venti of course! :) Tomorrow evening the rest of my immediate family will gather at mom and dads. We were going to have a cookout at our place but the house isn't much further along than the last pictures I posted. Framing should begin next week. Lumber is supposed to be delivered on Tuesday, but then it's supposed to rain on Wednesday. I keep telling myself that God's timing is perfect! :)

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Costume Idea!!!

Anne and Naomi have been princesses for the last three years for Halloween. This year, I wanted them to be something different, but I wasn't sure what. I hadn't really discussed it with them, yet, because I was a little fearful of finding out what they wanted to be. I just can't stand the thought of spending a large sum of money (in my opinion) for something that they may only wear once!! Plus, I figure there will be enough Hannah Montana's, Miley Cyrus', and girls from the High School Musical cast running around that night! :)

Anyway, Anne was invited to a birthday party a couple of weeks ago. You can see from the picture it was a "ballerina" party. Anne is wearing the long pink tutu. Actually, the party was at a dance studio that the birthday girl attended on a regular basis. The instructor was there to teach the girls a dance to perform for the parents at the end of the party. It was very cute, and the girls had a blast wearing the tutus. I started to examine the tutus more closely while the birthday girl was opening gifts. They were made very simply!! In fact, there is basically no sewing involved with these tutus--my kind of costume!!! :) They were made with a circle of elastic. I can hand stitch two ends of elastic together!! Then strips of tulle were tied to the elastic. I can tie!! I asked the girls (Anne and Naomi) if they would like to be ballerinas for Halloween--SOLD!! This next week I plan to let them pick out their color(s) of tulle for their tutu. They already have leotards from gymnastics and house shoes that resemble ballerina slippers. I might even let them help me "tie" the tulle for their tutus! This was such an exciting discovery!!! It ranks right up there with the fleece blankets you can make by knotting the "fringe."

Then there's Melanie...I still have the pumpkin outfit from Old Navy that both Anne and Naomi wore. If it's too big for her, then I'll make a little tutu for her as well. She has plenty of long-sleeved onesies and tights to wear with it! :)

This Year at the Corn Maze!

This year we made a family event of the corn maze. I took the girls last year when I was about 8 1/2 months pregnant with Melanie. It was nice to have her in a stroller this year and not in my belly! :) Anyway, Andy went with us this year as did my mom, sister-in-law and her two children, sister and her son, and my niece, Aspen. We spent the entire afternoon there and had a great time!!! I think next year we're going to bring stuff to grill supper there and make a longer day of it.

Andy got in on the slide action with Naomi. The kids could go down these as often as they liked.

Aspen shooting the corn cannon. She is one of my niece's from Andy's side of the family. I was glad that she tagged along with us.

Here are the kiddos enjoying jumping on the hay bales. They are all pretty close in age. Melanie is in the stroller since she's not walking, yet, or able to climb on hay bales. From left to right: Garret, Courtne, Naomi, Jonathan, and Anne.

Going through the corn maze. I'm standing on a bridge in the middle of the maze for this picture.

We had such a good time. Everyone enjoyed the hayride as well. The weather was perfect--not too hot! We didn't get pumpkins this year because, well, we have no place to keep them! :)

Construction Phases!

These pictures might astound you. When I first saw the house with the demolition complete I cried. This process has been a little traumatic for me. But I know that when all is said and done it will be AWESOME! I can hardly wait!

Home sweet home--before destruction begins! Seems quiet and peaceful, but not for long!














The windows are gone, and demolition is going on inside the house. You can get an idea of the addition from the new footing that was done.














The roof is gone along with a couple more walls on the inside. We let the framing crew come and finish the demolition Andy had started.















This is what our house looks like right now! Just when I was about to shed tears Naomi announces, "Look, now we have a big stage!" That helped me quite a bit. Black plastic was put over the exposed portion of the roof because of the rain that we have had since then.

They are supposed to start framing very soon!!! I can't wait to post those pictures!! The slab for the garage has been poured already. The addition should start to take shape Thursday or Friday, hopefully.

New Footing and Blockwork

These are not the most recent pictures I have, but I wanted to try to give a little idea of the addition we are doing. The first picture is the front view of our home. The new garage footing is what is sticking out front. You should also be able to tell how much we are adding to the side of the house. I might not look like too much, but it will make a huge difference!

The second picture is taken from the front of the sun porch (where it used to be). You can see that the roof is gone as well as the walls that were separating the living room, kitchen.

The third picture is of the door that is leading to the rooms that we are currently living in. We use the 5th wheel for kitchen purposes and in few days shower/bath/hot water needs. It will be awesome to be able to spread back out from those rooms when the house is done! Feel free to email questions. I'm sure I'm leaving out many details.

More of Anne's Birthday!

These pictures were taken at my mom and dad's house on Anne's actual birthdate. I love the picture of Anne and Noami. They are two peas in a pod most of the time. I'm just now realizing the 7 is backwards in the picture! LOL!! Mom purchased the birthday cookie for Anne. My parents' house serves as a refuge for us from time to time while our house it in the shape that it is in. Thank you mom and dad! I appreciate all that you are doing for us during this time. Thank you for allowing us to use your home from time to time as an escape from the chaos.