Making an Airplane

That's right, my Dad is building a RV-12 Airplane! It is something he has always wanted to do. Well, today he needed my help. Yes, MINE! Well, only because I was someone that could fit into the plain to redo something for him. I got the task completed without damaging the plane! Yeah! And, now I can say I helped build his airplane, if even just a little.

Decorating for Christmas 2010

Today we decked the halls inside our home (pictures of the exterior to soon follow). The kids had so much fun! Addison walked down the stairs from her nap and said, "Ah...it's beautiful" when she saw the tree up, lit up and ready to be decorated. Too cute!

Before and After: Painting the Main Level...

After 30+ paint samples, we selected a paint color and got to work this weekend.

First, let me explain the reason for the 30+ samples at $3-$7 each from several paint stores. First of all, I got most of them from Lowes. At least in Papillion, they have no idea what they are doing (you think I would have learned this after the first 2 samples!). The colors never matched the sample card. Seriously, the actual color was always lighter, pinker, greener, grayer, etc. It was annoying. Chris even selected one and painted one wall to find out it was too light and had a hint of pink in it!

After we were invited to dinner at our neighbors last week, I emailed her to ask her what color they used in their home. Before she got back to me, I asked my friend Laura who told me her house was Latte by Sherwin Williams. I ran out and got the paint sample (cha ching!) and loved it! It turns out, that our neighbors used the same color! So, this weekend, we painted the family room, dining room, and the wall leading up the stairs. We have the dining room (which includes the ceiling - ugh), the next to impossible to access entry way, and upstairs hallway that we want painted in the same Latte color. We selected the Harmony paint from Sherwin Williams because of its washability, in an eggshell. We have the kitchen in a semi gloss so we can wash it, and it is just too shiny! Someday...we will probably have to paint that AGAIN! We like the soothing look of the eggshell better. But, the Harmony is $38 a gallon!! versus $19 for the other eggshell SW offers (sure scrub), We plan to use the Sure Scrub by SW in the dining room and maybe the hallway upstairs. It was recommended by the professional painter we had come by, so it should work okay for us. Then...we will just have the basement, master bedroom and the master bathroom left to paint. We have not decided on the color of the master bedroom yet, so that room will just have to wait. Besides, we have to paint the ceiling in there, too!

So, what did we learn? Get paint from where the painters buy their paint - Sherwin Williams or Pittsburg Paints. There is a reason why you never see a pro at Home Depot or Lowes. Sherwin Williams is closer to us and they were quite helpful. Also, spend more on brushes and rollers to have the best finish possible without brush marks, brush hairs in the wall, and roller marks. When it comes to painting, you get what you pay for. Luckily, Chris is an great painter/artist. He made a beautiful perfect line from the rounded wall of the kitchen into the family room (and the same from the garage entry to the kitchen). It's perfect!

So...until spring...it is painting, painting, painting! Isn't winter fun?

"Living" Room (with our HORRIBLE camera!)

Family Room.

Our Home: First Anniversary

Yesterday marked one year since we closed on our home on Ponderosa Drive in Papillion. We closed at 6pm on the eve of Thanksgiving, moving in the evening of Thanksgiving through the weekend. Who could forget that? The excitement of getting our things our of storage (the garage of this home) and finally into the house where it should be! We slept in our home one year ago tonight, fishing out the beds from the garage first. It was so nice to be  in a bed after weeks on the blow up bed in the empty apartment!

Now, there is no looking back. We have tried really hard to make this home our home in the last year. We did not do much to our home in the first month because of the Holidays and commuting Alivia to school in Northwest Omaha. Then, in January, Chris had a job loss scare, so we did not do anything. After Chris secured a job, we got to work in March. First, we ordered plantation shutters and window treatments for installation through the house. Then, we hired someone to install a closet and drop zone in the laundry room. The laundry room turned out to be the first of many rooms to be painted. We painted 3 out of 4 of the bathrooms. Then, we redid the kids' rooms starting with paint. Addison moved into her big girl bed, and got new bedding and accessories. Alivia had her room painted and accessorized. Then, it was Asher's turn for his big boy bed. His room has been painted, but the room is still a work in progress. Next, we had to replace all of the ugly ceiling fans. Seriously, those things were awful! At $250 a set, that was a pricey undertaking in and of itself!

With spring, came outdoor updating. First Chris organized our garage...finally. It is a nice space for storage now as well as a big area to play for the kids on cooler or rainy days. Then, we purchased a fence for the backyard. That was been really nice for the kids! After getting their swingset up, they felt like they were at home! We had our priorities in order (playset and fence first! The kids can care less about the rest!). Additionally, we planted 20 trees and landscaped all around the house. We still have a couple more trees to buy and some finishing touches to do to the front yard landscaping to make it complete. That sounds like a spring 2011 project to me. Chris also has a vision of an outdoor patio area in his dreams...someday. And, I, well, I have always wanted a pool. I am just not sure I want one at this house. Maybe at our next home...that ranch I now want.

With the cooler weather, Chris and I got to the indoor painting. We painted the kitchen and then onto the family room, living room and entry way. What a nightmare that was...but it is nearly complete! We have the challenge of completing the entryway, upstairs hallway, dining room, basement, master bedroom and master bath. Then, the painting will be done. Seriously, really? Painting done? I can only imagine now. Chris says he will NEVER paint again. I believe he is dreaming.

Looking back on the last year, it seems like a long time ago. We have done so much to this home that we are vested (or invested) now. But, Chris and I are still on the 5-7 year plan. Our next move...a modern ranch. Yes, we are already sick of our stairs!

Visit us on our Austin Crib blog where you can follow our home updates...the good, bad and the ugly. I will be beginning the journey from the beginning shortly.

Goals for the second year: Finish landscaping, look into the patio (MAYBE, and that is a BIG maybe), wrought iron spindles inside, finish the painting, and maybe replace the basement carpet. Whew...that sounds like a lot after what we have already done!

We are finally in a place where we can say this is home. Home Sweet Home.

Alivia...Happy Half Birthday!

Yesterday, along with it being Thanksgiving and the anniversary that we closed on our home in Papillion, it was also Alivia's half birthday! With the business of the day, we kind of forgot! But, Alivia was excited to hear that she was now 6 1/2 years old and got another Junie B. Jones book (and a cupcake from Aunt Marsha!).

At 6 1/2 years old, Alivia is growing up. She enjoys playing with friends, preferably away from our home. She loves having friends over, usually having at least one playdate a week with a special friend. She has several BBF's at the moment, but she likes to play with our neighbor Zoe, her class mates Emma, Sydney, Gabby, Nyah and Aryn. At home, she plays well with Addison and Asher. She has an active imagination, playing babies with Addison and active sports with Asher. She continues to like to draw, journal and is now reading much better. It is amazing the progress she has made since summer! She loves Junie B. Jones books, but has many other favorites, too. She is rarely seen without her silly hands and special puppy dog friends.

Alivia likes to watch movies with Daddy and still likes Scooby Doo. At 6 1/2, Alivia Grace does have her bad moments. When she is tired, she can turn into a terror! We are shocked by what comes out of her mouth when she has had enough!

But, she is and will always be our baby girl Alivia. We love you, Alivia Grace.

Happy Half Birthday, you toothless 6 1/2 year old!

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving this year was celebrated at my Aunt Marsha's in Iowa. My cousin Dave was in town from Chicago, and Alivia and Addison just LOVE Dave. He is a lot of fun for them. Aunt Marsha had her home looking so festive as usual, and the food was wonderful. We missed family that could not make it this year, especially my Grandma Marci. Asher and I took food up to her on our way home. She was so happy to see us, roses from Marsha, and the food we brought her. 

We are thankful for our blessings. I am thankful for my wonderful husband, our 3 beautiful kiddos, our home, and the family that loves us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

November at the Omaha Children's Museum

Alivia, Zoe & Addison

After a morning to recover, I took the girls to the Omaha Children's Museum (Alivia, Addison & Zoe). Asher stayed home and took a nap since he is suffering from a bad cold. Alivia had not been to the Big Backyard yet, so she was excited.

We stopped and picked up the Allens to come along with us...so we had a car full. And, we met my friend Heather and her 2 kiddos, too! We were hoping that it would be a quiet afternoon at the museum as they usually are after lunch, but we were wrong.

The kids had fun at the Big Backyard to over an hour. Then we hit the downstairs for another hour maybe. Alivia was exhausted (Zoe spent the night last night and the girls did not sleep much) and her friend had a belly ache. So, we made our way home.

Gotta love the OCM, especially on a cold and sleet full day on Thanksgiving Eve.

Alivia lost her first baby teeth!

The kids with Alivia's friend Zoe

Today, Alivia had the day of school, so it was a good day to head to the dentist. Alivia had what is called, "shark teeth," where the permanent teeth are coming in behind the baby teeth. In order to fix the problem, her dentist removed two baby teeth today.

We arrived at the dentist with her friend Zoe tagging along for support. Alivia stepped back without a problem at 8:26 AM. She had some idea what was going to happen, but we were not to talk about it. After a little laughing gas and some numbing, the dentist removed the teeth. At 8:55, we were in the car going home! She did an amazing job!

Tonight...the tooth fairy comes. We heard that she will be giving Alivia $5 for the first tooth, $1 for the second tooth, a note and the Junie B Jones book "Toothless Wonder." We are hoping she will be excited upon waking in the morning!

Here is our Big Girl!

Before

Before...Shark Teeth with the Permanent teeth coming in behind the baby teeth

All Done! What a big girl!

Asher's 3rd Birthday...

It is difficult to believe that it is nearly 3 years ago that we were blessed with a son...Asher Wade. Here's to looking forward to his Spider-Man Party!

And, thanks to Chris for creating such an amazing invitation!

Cleaning out

It is that time of year again. You know, the time of year when you walk into the storage room and it looks like a closet of clothes just exploded. What do you mean, that must just be us. :)

Well, with 3 kids who are constantly outgrowing their clothes, I have to stay on top of getting rid of things or the things just take over! Well, we are at a point of takeover at the moment. We have old baby toys, broken toys, old electronics, just a lot of stuff, that we need to part with along with the many stages of clothes from the kids. So, I posted a bunch of stuff on craigslist, selling some, but mostly selling nothing. Seriously, I post on there and an hour later, my post is like 3 pages in! No wonder nothing is selling.

So, I reopened my EBAY shop. Yes, it is a total pain. But, I hope to get rid of some of the stuff that is just too nice to give away. My kids had nice things! It would be nice to get some return on our toy/baby clothes investment.

I will see if all of this work is worth it. Chris told me enough is enough...the stuff has to go. I better get to it!