This is why we live here...

I LOVE this time of year. It really makes me appreciate where we live. With the chaos of the house done, we have been able to go back and focus on what is really important. Family! I started last week taking the kids outside after dinner to play for a little while before it gets dark and we need to get our bedtime routine going. I did not realize how much the kids would love doing this! We blow bubbles, draw with chalk, Pumpkin has gotten REALLY good on her roller skates and Critter loves either his trike or his sister's scooter. It has just been nice to relax and enjoy the kids and this weather. :)

He has actually gotten quite good at blowing bubbles...

However, he is always surprised when it works for him!

It is so dang hard to get this kid to NOT pose for a picture. I am not quite sure where she gets it from, but this over the shoulder look has been popular with her for a LONG time...

I had to use most of my tricks to get her to actually laugh/smile. My girl growing up too quick!

This was the look I got when I asked if he was sure he could use his sister's scooter....he is becoming my adorable little stinker :)

I really love this time of year. Even our neighbors saw us tonight and came out to hang out for a little while. It was just so much fun. I realize before long these kids will have so many other things to do. I am soaking up each of these days before they change dramatically!

What we have been up to...

We are done! Not just with sanity...but with the house project. We are still living in a little bit of chaos...but the floors are done! Can I tell you how excited I am about this. We finally moved our couches back into the house after almost 6 weeks today! It was lovely to sit and relax with the kids. So...here we go on a virtual tour :)

When I say we were living in chaos...I truly meant it! This above picture is during the floor installation. Now...I should have realized it but did not. When replacing ALL the floors in a home...you have to move ALL the furniture and stuff in the home. Well, it has to go somewhere! So..our living room ended up being the storage area when it was not having floor put in. I am truly surprised I have not had to start dying my hair :)

The view from walking in the door...the fireplace is a HUGE change!




The lovely view into the kids bathroom...before, during and then after.
Across the house. I did not remember until looking at these pictures today how much I detested the old floors. They might not look bad in the pictures...but I really hated them! Plus, the carpet was this funky shape and the kids and cats had destroyed it!
Looking towards the master bedroom, before and after.



The view into the kitchen before and after. It is a little hard to see the kitchen tile, but MUCH nicer than before!


The hallway between the kids room, before and after...

Pumpkins room, before and after. Yes, we got her closet back in. I just did not take another picture!

Critters room, before and after. Plus a picture of his actual closet. We had this closet built this past July with out construction then. We finally got the actual hanging closet in there last week! Can I tell you how excited I am to organize his clothes...it was fun! :)

So...we are not in the final stages of organizing the house. We of course can not make it easy. We are going through everything as we bring it back in to see if we need it and then clean it. It takes longer this way...but it makes sense. I figure we have lived without some of this stuff for almost 6 weeks, some of it can just go away. It is an easy way to make us simplify things :) So...we are just going to relax for awhile as a family and enjoy this awesome house. It feels like home again. The kids are having fun and I am enjoying our "home". Thank you to you all for being such awesome friends throughout this. I know I have done a bit of complaining. I appreciate you listening and supporting me!

Happy Valentine's Day

From my little love bugs to you...

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know our day will be filled with family, good home cooked food and some fun at the park. Hope you enjoy your day!

Some fun in the chaos

We are almost done with our home remodeling. I have taken a TON of pictures of the before/during/after. I want to wait until it is done before I start posting though. However, here is a sort of sneak peek. Hubby and I were in Critter's room today figuring out what we have to do in order to get everything back in his room. I hear major giggling and some strange noises. We were not sure what was going on....this is what we walked out to see....

Now one of Pumpkins new chores will be to help sweep and dust the new floor...I was going to go get her a nice dry mop but maybe her brother will work just as good! It was so much fun to see them just laughing and having fun. It has been a really hard 6 weeks around here. Chaos has run though the ENTIRE home. By the end of the day tomorrow we can at least get the kids rooms back to full normal! :) We are hoping by Tuesday night to have all the floors done and the fireplace mainly done...then normalcy for all! Or at least as normal as this family can get :)

This scene really was just the laugh I needed today! Hope it makes you smile!