I'm not going to go back and re-write the whole summer. This will sum it up:
- we bought and moved into our FIRST house. Yeah!! But before we moved in, we washed down, painted EVERYTHING, ripped out and replaced carpet and padding and cleaned some more. It has been fun and rewarding. We are grateful to be here and pretty settled now. I am NEVER moving again. ;0)
- Luke and Ryan celebrated their birthdays (4 and 2). Luke got a bike for his birthday and has been riding it sans training wheels ever since. Inspired by their younger brother, the girls also took off their training wheels and are now zooming up and down the street with him.
- we became a biking family. By the end of the summer, we had all acquired bikes and a bike trailer. We enjoy it. It's a lot of fun.
- Grace and Audrey attended Musicmania at UNI for a week and preformed in "101 Dalmatians" at the end. A few weeks later they also got to go to Horse Camp, where they learned how to take care of a horse, how to clean up after a horse and of course, how to ride a horse. They loved it!!
- Luke discovered the joy of being a tiger, lion, cheetah. He loves to create lines on himself, his brother and his cousin. I've decided not to mind - they're washable markers. Now, just to teach Ryan to ask first....
- Ryan has become much more chatty. He loves to talk, point out "tractors" (anything with wheels), and loves to say "Ors" (horse). We love it too! He is also so much boy. Luke has been a boy-boy, but I think Ryan will even surpass him. Heavens help me!
- School started back on August 16th - it seemed like the summer couldn't be over yet! The girls started at a new school due to our new house and are loving it! Luke returned to Small World and after a few days of sadness over moving to the big kid class is so excited that he gets to go every day! Me too! Ryan and I continue to be home with Dublin in the mornings. It's nice and relaxing.
- I began a
Wellness Challenge and am loving how it pushes me. Joined by my good friends, Charity, Melissa, Krista and Lindsay, I began working out in the mornings at the local high school track. We started with just walking but quickly implemented the
Couch to 5K program. We've doubled up each week, so we are almost finished with Week 6, 22 minutes of jogging! I can't believe it!! Michael and I are going to run the Centerville Pancake Day 5K at the end of September. I'm so excited.
Our bedroom, prepped for painting (above and below) There is nice wood floors under the carpet but I'm done with hardwood floors for a while. :0)
Our bedroom after we've moved in. The walls are a really nice soft green. I love it!
Main bathroom (there are 2 water closets upstairs and the basement too!). We removed the wallpaper, took out a storage above the shower, textured the walls, painted and put in a new light fixture above the mirror.
The "L"ivingroom. It's an "L" shaped room, with doors that go out to a enclosed porch we use as a toy room. The stairs to the 2nd level are right off the livingroom as is the hall to our bath and room and the front door.
Darcy and Niki helped me rip and carry out the older carpet. We had so much help! Thank you all!
A view of the finished project: nicely painted "Fresh Guacamole" paint. We had the ceiling fan you can see, moved to the center of the ceiling and Michael patched up the previous hole. So proud of him!
The kitchen was were the most smoke "damage" was (previous owners smoked). We scrubbed down the cabinets and appliances and walls. All the walls and trim that was painted got a coat of oil-based paint first followed by 1-2 coats of paint. The kitchen got 3 because the first color I picked out was just not the right color! It turned neon green in the sun light! NOT what I wanted in my kitchen. So we went with a blue instead - Nantucket Sound to be exact.
Happy Birthday Luke & Ryan! We love you!!
Lions, Tigers, and Bears! Oh My!
Tractors, tractors, tractors - EVERYWHERE. Ryan learned to say "tractor" very well. He loves tractors but it has also been his word for everything with wheels. But we still love Poppa's tractors the best!
So that was our Jolley summer. Hope you enjoyed the photos!
