Kitchen Progress

Scott's dad helped us start on the kitchen paint prep project. Using drywall compound he filled in the ridges in the paneling. I filled in nail holes using wood filler. Today I finished (except for one spot where we had to add some) sanding and wiping down the walls. It was super dusty. My already greyish stripes blended into my white plaster dust hair. Scott has taken the old window trim out, filled the cracks with insulation to keep the cold and creepy crawlies out, and is about halfway finished with putting up the new trim. (It's square stock instead of traditional ranch.) These pictures are before the sanding was nearly complete.

I'm anxious to be done with the sanding. The noxious dust has managed to invade the entire house so that a full cleaning will be in order for the three main rooms--dusting, vacuuming, and mopping. Sara, if you read this, know that this project might not be complete before you arrive. And it will be nice to eat a real meal instead of constant sandwiches made at the table or a bit of plaster dust in the food. Bleh.

Lots of Creative and Imaginative Play!

I love when the days go like these did. After we got a few errands out of the way, the boys got along splendidly and had some great times of independent, creative and imaginative play.

Here's Bradford and the awesome car carrier he built with Legos. He had a little engineering help from Scott, but it was his idea and most of it was independent.

McCance decided that his rain boots can also be cowboy boots and that Tigger can be a horse--so Cowboy McCance it is.

And I'm not sure what he calls himself here. He carries around my purse (not one I'm currently using), all his necklaces and our house key on a lanyard. It's funny and cute nonetheless.

And Bradford's self-made tent.

Thursday's Fun and Excitement

I had big plans to join in the Water Play Day at the home of our church nursery coordinator, but my lack of energy to drive to her home changed my plans. Instead we still had a very fun morning with the Seuser boys while Leslie went to her doctor's appointment to check on the progress of number three. We started out inside, but fairly quickly moved outside since the energy was refusing to be contained.

Scott (Scooter that is--not Daddy Scott) helped me load yesterday's holly branches into the wagon for dumping on the brush pile. Roo and I played catch. Then Bradford played some catch with Roo. McCance returned from a Lowe's trip with Daddy Scott and he joined in on the play. There was car, mower, sandbox, slide, hammock, and swing fun. All in one short morning. We ate a large container of carrot sticks for a snack, only to come inside and have a little lunch about an hour later. Hard play makes hungry boys. And mommies too.
And as our playdate often ends, tired boys tried to disguise themselves as wild banshee boys. Mommy Alisa and Mommy Leslie have them figured out though. We know when to call it a day and head home (or to the stacks of books in the den) for some quiet storytime before nap.

The other excitement of the day is that the door is up for good and just waiting for us to buy one more piece of trim to fully finish. And the kitchen work has begun. Even though you think you've prepped, it seems there is always more painting prep work. Larry and Marcia spackled the walls; Scott used the router to round off some of the sharp edges; I hand sanded the edges that couldn't be routed. (And I didn't finish my job. Persistence is escaping me on this task presently.)


Last, but not least, we went to Mellow Mushroom for a bit of tasty nourishment--since the kitchen was too dusty to deal with food prep.

Grandma H and the boys

Me and my boys
(Note to self--don't try to smile closed-mouth again)

Wednesday's Outing

To Memorial Park to feed the ducks and visit our little zoo, otherwise known as Bear Hollow. The boys were excited that Dill Pickle the Alligator's home is finally being built. We saw the men and a Bobcat at work (which was as much fun as the animals themselves.)

Feeding the ducks

Trying to catch Ugly Duckling Duck

The real reason for bringing the boys here.
You must come visit!

Looking at the animals

Bob The Builder

Bradford and McCance thoroughly enjoy Bob the Builder. I'm not big on characters, but if my children are going to like a character, Bob and Friends are good ones. They are always polite and respectful and industrious. I wish more characters would be like that.

They watched Bob the Builder Meets the Real World (from the library, of course) which showed how roads and bridges and such were made. Bradford put what he learned into practice out in the garage.

Work Week = G'ma and G'pa H Visit

Grandpa H offered to help us with some of the projects we have lined up and in progress, so both Grandpa and Grandma H arrived yesterday afternoon. Their first project was installing/hanging the new front door. (Thanks, Cindy and Mike!!! You guys are a blessing to us!) It's still in the works, but we might have more than a sheet for a door before the night is over.

To get the boys out of the work area for a bit, Grandma and I took them to the library to get some books and movies--our first library trip this summer. So we signed both Bradford and McCance up for the summer reading program. And the boys favorite thing about the library before we even get to the books. . . .The Bulldog!!

Here's Bradford doing his usual. He picks out a Richard Scarry's book and proceeds to read it (while I pick out more books to take home.)

And McCance's favorite library activity--playing with the Plan dollhouse. He even flushed the toilet for the little person.

Isn't It Pretty?

I had never thought I was a real silverware kind of girl. But, I was wrong. My cousin, Melissa, passed this set of silverware on to me. I believe she said it was our grandmother's, which makes it even more wonderful. I polished it all and put it in the drawer to use everyday--along with our stainless. I don't even mind washing it by hand! And notice the teeny spoon. It is a little lapel stick pin.

Special Visit

Our dear friend, Kimberly, came back to Athens for a visit (from Denver, CO) before leaving on her mission trip to Montenegro. We all walked to the taqueria for dinner. The boys were sad to see her go home afterwards.

Tah-Dah!!

Duck loves his newly painted cradle. Here's some of Bradford at work. Amazingly enough I was able to keep most of my advice to a minimum--without duct tape--and just hold the paint can.

Duck Gets A Cradle

On our ride home Friday, Bradford told McCance the idea he had for making a cradle for McCance's Duck. Monday was the day the idea was implemented. Bradford had drawn out his version of a plan. Scott fine tuned it and "helped" Bradford make it. This translates to Scott doing the majority of the work, which involved many a power tool and Bradford helping a bit. B did paint it on Tuesday, all on his own with a bit of supervision and demonstration from me.

Playtime while Daddy Scott works. They were making potato chips with the leaves and the cone. Aren't imaginations wonderful?

And duck in his unpainted cradle, with McCance resting next to him.

Tired Traveler

Our trip really took it out of McCance. Sunday, two days after we got back, he fell asleep on Scott's lap--sitting up as Scott was working at the computer! (At 5:15 p.m. of all times. I had decided to let him skip nap so I could tuck him in bed early, of course.)
And after I moved him to the red chair. We woke him after he'd slept about 45 minutes. He ate his dinner without a word. Literally. Silent. That has never happened. But he did get his second wind before finally succumbing to sleep sometime after 8:30 p.m. Lesson learned. Early nap or none at all.

Midwest Tour--Days 13 and 14

These were our departure and travel days. A sad and exciting time. Sad to leave those we love, but exciting to get home to our own beds, our dogs, and the boys their toys. We drove to Nashville after a stop at a Metro East Target and Dierberg's for some travel munchies and such. We stayed at the Radisson and thoroughly enjoyed their pool. Another wading pool for our boys to splash and expend their energy. And note the speed limit sign around Opry Mills. 24?

The boys each had a good nap on Friday before we arrived home. And not at the same time, which means more quiet driving time! Of course, Bradford fell asleep reading--his favorite pastime.

Midwest Tour--Evening 12

When we returned from the excursion to Carlyle, Dad set up to have one of his famous fish fries. I sliced some potatoes for homemade chips, for they are truly the only ones worth the greasy calories, and some French fries for Bradford, because he needed to taste what real fries are supposed to taste like. (I'm not a fry or chip lover, but a few like these are wonderful very occasionally. Try them dipped in mustard. Dijon is best.) The fish was wonderful as always. We'll be ready for more in several years.

Midwest Tour--Day 12

We began the day with a swim. Or play in the water for the boys. Papa Terry walked around the track at Fusion, the local hospital's gym, we got wet in the pool. No pics due to the wet factor, but here's the best online pic. There was a wading pool with two slides and sprinklers for the boys. It connected to the lap pool where I swam about 4 laps of the pool. (I used to do 20 laps every morning of my last year of college.) Scott enjoyed walking against the current in the other section of the pool. We thought McCance would love the water, but he was the most hesitant in the beginning. Of course, by the time we were ready to leave, he was distraught about leaving.

After lunch, we all loaded in the van and drove to Carlyle to check out the dam and the town as a possible future place to live. Here is the General Dean Suspension Bridge. Dad told us that my uncle, Monte, played in the band when they re-dedicated the foot bridge in 1952.

Driving around town, we found ourselves (Scott and I, that is) dreaming about remodeling (more like gutting and re-building from the inside) this house from 1905. It even has an extra lot. Has anyone ever seen The Money Pit? Not the greatest movie, but you get the idea. The house and property are only $59,000, but take into account the plumbing, wiring, fixing the leaky cellar, insulation, and so forth. Oh, and I nearly forgot--the new garage with living space above it so we have a place to live during the remodel! Dream on, baby! And we will, because it is fun and I'm a sucker for an old house, even though my dream home is more contemporary in style.