Blogolution: Addition Update

This addition has been quite the undertaking. May I advise you to never start a major home improvement project mere weeks before having twins?

Lesson learned on our part.

But seriously, its been fun seeing it come together, and dreaming of all the use it will get once its completed. We've still got a little ways to go but we'll get there.

Let's recall what it looked like in early spring, shall we?

Just your average carport...with a spectacularly cute orange door, if I do say so myself. 

Did you notice that this carport wasn't even big enough to hold an actual car? Well, except maybe a smart car. (Am I the only one who giggles at the sight of one of these on the road? Green or not, I simply cannot take that car seriously.)

What was I talking about?

Oh right.

Carport.

Addition.

Here is Justin doing more demo after the outside frame was completed:

Now here we are today - drywalled, textured and painted, with the electrical and new fan installed.

The mud room bench will go under this window.

My washer and dryer will go here, with some simple shelving above.

UP NEXT:

 1. Flooring - a combo of carpet and hard floors, if we can ever decide which swatches we like best. There will be hard flooring under the washer/dryer and by the exterior door and mud room bench, with carpet everywhere else, including all the stairs.

2. Painting the concrete walls down to the basement. Although Justin wasn't too keen on me painting the concrete floor (How cool are these ideas?), he has agreed to let me do something creative on the concrete walls. Fun fun!

 

3. Trim work. Augh.

4. Paint the exterior of the addition. We have the paint; now we just need a cool-weathered weekend to accomplish it. Oh, and probably a babysitter too. Any volunteers?

5. Name the darn thing! Seriously, we cannot think of what to call this room. The carport? The utility room? The entry? The laundry room? The mud room? We're open to suggestions.

Before I leave you to name our addition, allow me to share this quick highlight. If you've ever seen the remainder of our house you know it lacks serious storage space - no linen closets, no coat closets, nothin'. More often than not our vacuum gets stored in whichever room it last cleaned. Sad, I know. 

Last Monday I was practically giddy as I called Justin at work to share a major lightbulb moment. It had just occurred to me that I no longer have to store the vacuum upstairs in plain sight because we now have an actual attached basement where things are easy to store and access. Yippee!

So maybe Justin wasn't as thrilled as I was, and maybe the vacuum still hasn't made its way to the basement for proper storage, but I'm giddy just the same.

I leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

"I may be in my own little world, but they know me here."

Ten on Tuesday

{1}

Are you ready for some football?!

Our Seahawk fan babies are 4 months old today!

 Pardon the binky but our normally smiley Jack was not cooperative this afternoon.

 

{2}

Note to self:

Next time you lift up your little 'bird of an eater' Cohen in prayer asking God to help him eat better and gain more weight, perhaps consider specifying that it would be preferable for Cohen's sudden growth spurt and hunger fest not to hit at 1:30 a.m.

Justin's comment after a very rough night: "I thought Cohen's cheeks looked a little chubbier this morning."

I'm so very tired, Lord, but I'll take it. Thank you.

{3}

 A typical 20 second snippet of a day in the life of Kendry:

"When I grow up I'm going to be a diver."

"You can be a diver too, Mom."

"Have you ever seen a talking fish?"

"When am I going to grow up?"

"Mom, while I'm resting can you pick up all my toys for me?"

Some day I will miss his nonstop chatter.

And no, I did not pick up his toys for him.

  

 

{4}

We had a short learning session about the letter "H" this week when Kendry asked me to construct a helicopter out of pipe cleaners.

I've got some mad pipe cleaner crafting skills, don't you think?

ME: "This is a capital 'H' and this is a little 'h'. What sound does 'H' make?"

KENDRY: "Huh, huh."  (making the 'H' sound)

ME: "Good. And we're making a 'huh'-helicopter. What letter does 'helicopter' start with?"

KENDRY: "Thpba thpba thpba thpba thpba."  (making a helicopter sound)

Yes, some day I will miss this terribly.

{5}

 Remember that song from the 90's with all the advice about life?

"...and trust me on the sunscreen."

Its a shame that I didn't.

Remember, that is.

To the Lewiston Roundup Board: we fair-skinned parade spectators sure would appreciate it if you would move the parade back to 10am again next year. The afternoon is just too darn hot.

{6}

When all else fails on a rainy day and everyone is feeling cooped up crazy, let your kiddo take a midday shower. Kendry often struggles with playing by himself for more than five minutes, but throw him in the bath or shower and you're good for at least thirty.

Desperate times require creative mommies.

{7}

 Status update on the addition coming your way tomorrow!

{8}

 It may be hitting 90 degrees this week but I still arranged my driveway barrel with some touches of fall yesterday.

Bring on autumn!

{9}

Its almost premiere week!

Is anyone else giddy over the return of Parenthood? I was so worried they were going to nix it.

{10}

This Week's Blessing:

Blue Bloods Season 3 marathon with my beloved.

Later, gaters!

SAHM I Am

The seasons are changing. Can you feel it?

September is upon us and the mornings now hold a slight chill in the air. The pumpkins in our garden are beautifully round and transitioning from green to bright orange. The hubs is spending noticably more time on the computer tending to his Fantasy Football teams...

This week I saw numerous friends post pictures of their kiddos' first day of school and I realized that no matter what month of the year your child celebrates their birthday, September seems to commemorate a child's age in its own way.  

Mary. 6 years old. First Day of 1st Grade ~ 2013.

While Kendry is only four and has yet to begin school, I see changes in him as well. Reminders that our little man is growing up so fast. Next September may find him commemorated. Kendry. 5 years old. First Day of Kindergarten - 2014. (We're still undecided if he will start him at 5 or 6.)  If we based it on his vocabulary he would already be enrolled. With words like "convenient" and "notice" escaping his lips we may gift him with a dictionary for Christmas.

The twins are transitioning into a new stage as well and are becoming more interactive. They are smiling like crazy and discovering their voices. Jack's first tooth has been spotted just below the surface, and just this week, two weeks shy of four months of age, the boys finally did their Momma a favor and dropped a night feeding. Just don't hold me (or them) to this "change" - we all know it may not stick.

I love this time of year, where the stifling heat tapers off and you find yourself in need of a sweatshirt after sunset. Where the casual "Who needs a schedule?" attitude of summer makes way for the return to regular bedtimes and weekly extra-curricular activities.

I love having a schedule. There, I said it. Judge me if you will.

The last four months have been a "fly by the seat of your pants" stage of my life and I am ready for some structure and predictability - or at least as much as can be expected with a preschooler and four month old twins.

Which brings me to a big change in this season of our lives: I will only be returning to my work part time. I have been given the opportunity to be home with my boys Saturday through Wednesday and will work in the office Thursday and Friday. I finally get to test my skills as a stay at home mom, but I also get to keep my foot in the door as paralegal. I couldn't be more elated.

To be honest, I have missed my job. I have a wonderful employer and great colleagues, and I love what I do. But I also know that our boys won't be little for long. My heart does a little skip each time I consider all the things we can do and the memories we can make as a result of me being home more.

More time for weekday morning trips to the skate park (while all the big boy skaters/bikers are in school).

More time for impromptu afternoon walks to the library and imagination sessions in the sandbox.

More time for silly photo shoots.

 

More time cuddling with our little monkeys.

And perhaps more time for blogging? We'll see.

I am so blessed to have this opportunity, so blessed to have an understanding employer, and so so so blessed to have a supportive and hardworking husband.

My prayer is that God will help me live each day intentionally during this season of our lives, however short or long it may be, and that I will be the wife, mother and daughter of Christ He has created me to be.

Wishing you a blessed change of season!