Downpour

This morning it is just POURING here.  Maybe it was my procrastination in not wanting to start school today, or maybe it's b/c I know my girls love to play in the rain, but I had a crazy bone and let them all out in it.  I was having fun just watching them from the porch and then couldn't resist any longer, got the umbrella and took some shots.  Certainly not my best camera work, but a fun memory for the kids.  Right now they are all (yes, ALL) in the tub together warming up.  I really don't want to go in there. I'm sure my bathroom floor looks a bit like my front yard right now.

A few more

It doesn't feel like fall

Today it was so hot, in the 90's.  I actually love this hot weather.  Steve is out of town for a couple of days and I was really debating what to do with the kids tonight.  I thought about taking them to the local fair, but the idea of battling crowds with 4 kids didn't appeal. Thought about a movie, too beautiful to stay inside.  So Claudia pulled together some outfits for me and we had a little photo shoot outside on this gorgeous fall evening.  We'll soon be trading these shorts and tanks for sweatshirts and boots.

Undies: Day 1

Third pair in 1 1/2  hours.

One year later...

It has been a little over a year since we started our house remodel.  It has hard to believe how much has taken place since then.  Our house is a completely different place, we have so much more room and it is so much more functional.
This past weekend Steve finished the last "big" item left on the list.  He installed and grouted the tile backsplash in the kitchen.  A few weeks back, he got his final inspection in the garage (fire wall) and from the "official" end of things, we are done and completed.  The township permit is in the garbage!!
My sweet husband has worked so hard.  I am so impressed with his vision to turn our home into what it is. He saw what we needed and made a way for it to happen!!  He sacrificed much over this past year.  Really, he worked 2 full time jobs, his days at church and then every spare moment on the house.  He lost sleep and had very little leisure over these months.  Thank you, Steve, for all that you have done for us.  I love what you have done...and I love you!!

I am kicking myself for not taking better "before" pictures.  I kept telling myself that I needed to do it, but then some sort of destruction would happen and the time was passed.  I was searching back and found the best that I had.  Here's a few...

This was our driveway and front door entrance.

Same view now.  On this side of the house is the new living room and above it a bedroom for the girls.

The "front" of the house (we rarely used this entrance).   Don't you love my little dude??

New view.  Coming this direction is the garage.

The one pic that I'm really bummed that I am missing is the view when coming in from the original front door.  This was taken after Steve knocked the wall out.  The wall separated my kitchen and living rooms.

This was taken from the other direction pre-wall being knocked out.

Mid-construction

view today

also mid-construction

View looking in from new living room.  This door way was my original front door and where the island is was the wall.

New backsplash.  I'm loving it.

Got some new baby boxwoods.  We have a looooong way to go on our landscaping but it's fun to have a little start!

 All we have left is a few of the windows that got replaced during the remodel.  They need trimmed and all my rooms will need to be repainted.  This will take some time I'm sure.  Aaron is anxious to move into the girls old room and have his big boy bed (he's still in a toddler bed.)  Gotta pick the paint and get it done.  Maybe by next year??