Before and After

Let me just announce publicly yet again that my husband is an amazing, talented, incredible man! I am awed when I look at what he's done with our home.

(For orientation, look at the stairs going up and down over the next few pictures)

Dining Room and Stairways Before:

Formal Living Room During:

Dining Room After:

Formal Living Room After:

Reverse View of Formal Living Room After:

Kitchen Before:

Kitchen After:

Master Bath Before:

Master Bath After:

Ahhhhh! Looking at these pictures makes me very thankful...and relieved. :-) Now we're working on transforming the outside. In a few years, I'll try to remember to post pics of that transformation. :-)

January, February, and March Update

Q.: What do you do when mealtimes frequently end like this?

...or how about when Mommy finds you with an empty lipstick tube, looking like this?

A.: You spend a lot of time like this.

All Clean! (That hair clip stayed in for about 15 seconds, but I managed to record it.)

During the winter months, we spent a lot of time indoors. However, we managed to go on several fun outings despite the rain.

We went bowling.

Aric's technique is called "the throwdown."

Can you tell from this picture that our firstborn is a perfectionist? Hmmm...which one of us does he take after?

Ascha loved bowling, too. Specifically, she loved the "hair dryer" effect.

We went to the Children's Museum with great friends.

When we had breaks from the rain and cold, we went outside every chance we got. We have really enjoyed biking with all the kids. On this adventure, we rode trails by Moulton Falls. Apparently the back of Mom's bike is as good a spot as any to take a nap, but it was a little scary for me to ride the bumpy trail with Ascha slumped forward, her head cradled in my hand behind my back. At the end of the day, she was none the worse for wear.

We also finally started letterboxing together, which is something I've had on my to-do list for a few years. We go out and find hidden stamps to put in our "passports" and leave our mark with our family stamp in the log book that's hidden with each box. It's great fun!

Taylor also played basketball with a bunch of his friends during the winter months. Surprisingly, his never-make-a-scene dad was one of the most vocal parents. I enjoyed watching both my guys during the season. :-)

Taylor earned some bragging rights when one of his (very loose) bottom teeth got knocked out during a game.

Taylor's class went on a field trip to a local restaurant, the post office, the fire station, a bank, and city hall when he finished up his classroom unit on communities. Aric and I accompanied him.

In addition to sitting in the driver's seat of a fire engine, both boys were selected for rolls on the mock city council. They grappled with the pros and cons of fireworks within city limits. It was a great hands-on exercise in government.

Taylor's Teeth

In mid-November, Taylor lost his first top tooth.

We really thought the second would fall out before Christmas, and kept encouraging him to pull it so he could sing "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." However, it hung on a few days too many. He did lose it while we were still in Montana, though, and somehow the Tooth Fairy made her way there. Maybe that was the dead giveaway that convinced him once and for all that Mom is behind the title. :-)

I loved that toothless grin! It didn't last long. As of this (extremely belated) post, his top teeth are both nearly grown in. All the vestiges of little-boyhood are fading away too quickly for this mama.