Buzz

With having two little girls, as they grow you don't pay much attention to how long their hair is really getting except waiting in anticipation for the day when you can put little pretties in their hair and ponies that looks like an antenna.

Well with boys it is a little different.  Now every momma has a different opinion on their son's hair.  Some have a hard time cutting their hair for the first time.  And that is ok.  But I am different in that respect.  I like clean cut.  Therefore Mr. Harry has had his 3rd haircut already at the age of 7 months.  Yes his hair grows thick and fast.  The first time Aunt Laura did it at the salon.  The next time I just took scissors and a comb and did it with Harry holding him...basically a little trim here and there.  But this time with Grama's help I took the clippers to him and we buzzed away.  No worries...I did an attachment so he is not bald.  But it did help just clean things up a bit.  He is such a big boy, no cries.  Just tried to turn around and see what was making that noise and what was on his head.

Mr. Harry has also graduated out of his infant car seat thanks to Auntie Laurie for giving us Nay Nay's since she is a big girl also like Ellaree and got a booster seat.  We will be trying it out today when going to get my new fridge.  I am sure he will be much happier.  He also graduated out of his high chair and into a booster seat that attaches to a regular chair.  I was just tired of the big thing in my way all the time and I felt like he was not sitting with us and being apart of the family.  Therefore, the booster seat has been wonderful.  And thanks to Grama we have 2.  Lorelai's is more for height rather then needing to be strapped in.

Since getting that 4th tooth in Mr. Harry has been trying out new foods too.  Please note I realize this sounds like a lot of junk food but it is all I can remember so early in the morning.  Cheez-its, goldfish, teddy grahams, mac n cheese, chocolate chip zucchini cake (that is healthy right-zucchini), fruit loops, umm and my mind just went completely blank.  But we are getting more and more into table foods and not so much into baby food.  It won't be long and we will be off baby food and formula...only 5 more months of formula!

Lorelai has blossomed her vocabulary.  I believe I have said this.  Her newest words is Bubba (for Mr. Harry), Nay Nay when she visited, Papa, Sis, LoLo for Lorelai (although I don't think she realizes she is talking about herself), No No (mostly when asked if she wants to go potty).  And again the mind is blank...no coffee yet this morning, can you tell?

Also, Lorelai makes these funny fishy kiss faces.  If you ask her for a kiss - forget it!  But if you ask for a fishy kiss she puckers right up.  She is hilarious.  She is just a riot these days.  Yesterday she was dancing (swinging hips back and fourth) behind Grama while Grama was doing the dishes.  I guess she thought Grama needed some help.  Her new hang out place is the cupboard sitting on my kitchen floor that needs to be hung back up...she is going to be greatly disappointed when it goes away.  When Papa (Grapa but that is a hard word) is around she follows him around like a little puppy saying constantly "papa".  Very cute.  Almost like another cute little girl I know that follows Grapa around at his heals. 

Oh To Be 4 Again!

There are so many new and exciting things that happens through a 4 year olds life.  The newest and funniest excitement for Ellaree is getting a booster seat for the vehicle.  She has been asking and asking and asking.  Well I finally gave in but not until she was 4.  We are so blessed to have cousin Maddie who is 2 years older that has so generously given us hand-me-downs.  Ellaree is actually not like most kids that has a fit about hand-me-downs...every day she asks who gave her this, who gave her that...and she loves the fact that they have shared with her.  So it was no big surprise when Maddie gave us her booster that she would not be over the moon ecstatic about it.  She now has two boosters from Maddie as one was a car seat that could convert into booster.  All we had to do was get Maddie a purple booster that is only the seat...Ellaree needed one with the back on it. 

Ellaree asks everyday who is coming to see us, where are we going today, can I go to school, can I go to swimming lessons.  She is just like her momma...social butterfly that needs to be on the go constantly. 

When she found out that Jenny & Joel had their baby she wanted to go to the hospital right then and there.  She loves babies and she loves Jenny!  She didn't understand why she couldn't go since she got to when I had the kids. 

Donuts, Slumber Party And Much, Much More

Sounds like a good time, doesn't it, donuts and slumber party.  Well somewhat.  Donuts Daddy brought home from Kwik Trip along with muffins after Ellaree asked him about a million times if he could.  With having 4 teeth now Lil Harry is sure enjoying his first donut and muffin.

Last night Ellaree and I had a slumber party in the living room on the pull-out couch.  Ellaree has started having night-terrors again.  Last night was the worst one since she was like 2.  I finally got her calmed down and when I tried to transfer her back to her bed she woke and started again.  Obviously I did not let her get into a good slumber before trying to move her.  Therefore I pulled the couch out and that is where we stayed.  If you can't beat it, join it...it is my new saying to help keep me sane. :)

All the kids still have the stuffy noses and coughs but it seems the fevers are done.  Although last night was the first night Harry slept through the night in two weeks. 

A big CONGRATS to our friends Jenny & Joel to their second baby girl Ruby Delores weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz and 20.5 inches on Sunday at 1:57 pm.  We are so happy all are healthy, happy and home.  Big Sister is loving her also.

We had our first overnight guests last week.  Aunt Jen was taking a class in LaCrosse so Thursday night her and Maddie spent the night then Friday Maddie stayed with us until her class was done.  They had a ton of fun on the slip-n-slide as Maddie was not able to at Ellaree's birthday party due to having a cast.  We had a blast and hope they come back again soon.

The kitchen is coming along slow but sure.  Monday we got a call that our countertops were in so after naps we loaded the kids up and headed for Menards.  So we got on this trip our countertop with an undermount sink that was placed in the factory, can lights, a jumbo mailbox (sounds silly but growing up on the farm we had one and brings back good memories of the farm) and gardening tools.  Obviously daddy has high hopes for me to get outside and do some yard work and gardening.  He is a funny man!  He got the girls each a shovel also.

Monday we also got the swing set partially up.  The platform with slide is up but not the swings.  We are getting there.  But we did get all the toys out and ready to go.  Yesterday then we got the sandbox that Ellaree got for her birthday in place and filled.  The girls dove right into playing, in more ways then one.  And when they came in they needed a bath immediately.  Lorelai was covered head to toe and in mouth...gross but what do you do...they had fun!

I believe that is all for now.  Come on over when you get a chance and see the improvements as they come along.  Give a shout and let us know when you will be on our doorstep.  Until next time...

Additional Rooms

I realized that the pictures that I had on the other day didn't have all the pictures of the house.  Sorry but the tour is in two parts.  There is no particular order...sorry!

My dining room...look at that table and chairs you have heard so much about before the move.  The kids actually have not been too bad about swiveling, basically Ellaree since Lorelai is in the booster seat for height and Harry is still in the high chair.  My rule is swiveling and they have to go sit at their table in the kids area.  You will see down below.

Furnace Room...there will be our wood burner by the furnace by this winter.

Kids area.  This area is for the kids to do their crafts.  The armour holds all their crafts in a nice and organized manner with puzzles and board games in the drawers down below. 

Storage area....this will eventually be our new bedroom.  Lil Harry will take our bedroom.  We will do this project this winter when it is too cold to do anything else.  Sorry for the mess but I need to organize and put on the shelves and I just haven't made it down there.  I have no idea why not... 

Toy room is connected to the furnace room.  This has been a great place for the kids to go downstairs and play.  AND mommy loves it because all the toys stay downstairs and my upstairs stays somewhat clean!

There you have it!  Our house in a chaotic mess but in a good way and it is ours!  Come visit anytime!

Kitchen Pictures

Ok so this is how tired I am...I forgot to mention that Harry was teething...well not just one like I thought #3 came in and the next day #4 came in...both tops came in just like the bottoms.  Yikes but thankful they are through.

Ellaree has decided that she does not need me to walk her into school to her class anymore.  Maybe I already wrote this, if so ignore!  So I now just stop at the door, get her out and watch her walk into school all by herself.  Which works great for me since I don't have to get the kids out and back into their seats although I would have thought maybe the middle of the school year we would have started this...not 2nd week into summer school.  But if you think about it, she would walk in by herself if she rode the bus.  I am proud of her for wanting to be a big girl and do things independantly...as much as my baby girl is growing up it is fun to watch her experience it.

Ok so now what you have been waiting for...PICTURES!

Ellaree helping daddy put up the towel ring...but of course stop long enough to pose...that is my girl!

You can see how we have moved the bottom cabinets but the top ones are still in place.  It is a nice way to see before and after.

See the sofet...yeah we thought it would just be drywall up there...well when Harry went to it we found out that there was plywood up there also that led to the attic.  Therefore we have a lot more drywalling to do.  It was either do sofet all the way around or take it down.  Either way there was drywall involved.  Might as well do it the way we want.

Sofet after down...see those wires that are coming down in the wall (upper left hand corner).  Yeah one of those is the main telephone line and if you cut that, you all of a sudden have no internet service for a couple days until you finally call and ask why your internet is not working and they explain that a main line has been cut...oops!

This is my kitchen as of right now.  Waiting for Sunday to come (Harry's next day off)!

Miss Ellaree helping with the vacuuming...oh wait-POSE!

Miss Lorelai helping by picking up nails.  Yup she has been watching her sister...POSE then back to work!

Will send more pictures as we continue on!

Summer School

Today was Ellaree's last day of summer school.  It doesn't seem possible that only in a month and half I will be going to school every day.  I have to say that Ellaree came home every day exhausted but was very persistent in not taking a nap (except for yesterday). 

Every day she had a different color they learned about and so she had to dress in the color of the day.  It was quite fun for her and she usually was picking out her outfit for the next day the minute she got home. 

We now have a week off and then we start up our second round of swimming lessons.  Then two weeks of that, two weeks off and school starts.  Wow there is our summer!

I will give you the heads up that I finally am getting around to pictures of the kitchen remodel.  That will be for tomorrow.  I had to do it in pieces and the pictures were not coming up right away so there is some stuff on there that might be irrelevant by now.  Just go with it.  Harry isn't sleeping at night for whatever reason and then when I do get him down it is time to get up and Lorelai's inner alarm goes off as well.  Like I said, humor me and go with it. 

Sniffles

Well we have been hit with the summer time colds.  It started with Ellaree and now is onto Lorelai, Lil Harry and Harry.  Sniffles, sore throat, cough and fever...Ellaree actually missed Monday school due to this.  Which I might add that she was not very happy with us for keeping her home. 

Some have asked about Lil Harry's bedroom. Eventually we will build another room downstairs by ours.  That will become our bedroom and Harry will get ours.  This will probably happen this winter when no one wants to be outside in the cold.  I will get more pictures posted once I get more then 1 hour of sleep.

The kitchen is coming along nicely.  The cabinets are moved, sofet is down (that was a pain) and cement floor for tile has been placed.  Now for Harry to have another day off ad we will get more done.  We went Monday afternoon and ordered our counter tops, island and miscellaneous items.  Those will be in at the beginning of the month.

Other House Updates

I apologize that these are pictures before we purchased the house.  I have been horrible with taking pictures right now as I am just trying to get organized.  I thought that I could give you an idea of what it looks like right now and our plans down the road for each room.  A lot of it is just a makeover with some paint, curtains and our little touches.

This is the kids bathroom.  It is a woodsy theme with deer.  Yeah not really our style but will live with it right now.  We did purchase a new toilet as the seat is broke and old.  So eventually we will need to replace the matching sink.  We did go ahead and purchase new vanity lighting as there were some pretty ugly white balls...I believe they were from the 70's.  Got a towel ring, toilet paper holder that latches to the side of the cupboard so Lorelai can't walk off with it and a 3 hooks for the kids towels.  Eventually we will go ahead and get a new vanity, take wallpaper down and paint.  Would like to add a big whirlpool tub/shower...but that will be one of the last things that will be done.  Also, when we do this bathroom we will need to gut it completely as there is no green board.

This is "mommy's bathroom".  Kids not allowed!  This also will need a face lift with paint and green board.  I already took the frilly shower curtain down and put up our farm one from the other house.  This too got a new toilet seat...eventually will need a new one all together but for now a seat was sufficient.  Also the shower is a very small standing shower.  We would like to make this bigger somehow.  I will leave that to Harry to figure out.  There is a linen closet right when you walk in which I love.

This is Lorelai's room.  You can't see the top but there is stenciled stars and moons.  As cute as it is...it is not girly.  I would like to paint her room a light pink with accents of brown.  Otherwise her room will be complete.

Ellaree's room is considered the master bedroom. We opted to take the downstairs room so that Harry could sleep better and so that I could have my own bathroom.  So this is Ellaree's bedroom.  Remember these are pictures before we moved in.  So Ellaree just needs a face lift of paint also.  Not sure if I want to go with purple walls or do a light green like I did at the other house. 

This is our bedroom. Again not much needed but some nice paint....dog not included!

They considered this the family room.  We took our desk and credenza that we got from Grandfather for our wedding and turned this area into our office.  The desk comes out flush with the corner of the wall and the credenza is up against the wall by the patio door.  I really like this area as my office except that Miss Lorelai likes to get up and punch buttons so I have to make sure my computer lid is shut at all times.  See those nice red curtains...yeah I tried to wash them and ruined them...too bad, so sad!  So I found some nice green ones in a tote that we had at our Bangor house and I washed them and ironed them (don't tell anyone I am domestic in ironing...he will get ideas) and hung them up last night.  Paint is needed in this room also.

Laundry room.  This is right as you walk in the door from the garage, out in the open and right next to the girls rooms.  At first I wanted it put downstairs in the unfinished part as I don't like having my laundry out in the open.  I like sorted piles too much.  But then my friend Sam introduced my to the divided bins and it fits right around the corner of the wall.  Thanks Sam!  Also, I have discovered if I do a batch of laundry right before Lorelai goes down for her nap and/or bedtime this provides white noise and she sleeps better and I am keeping up with my laundry.  Therefore I have decided to keep my laundry where it is.  We will use a cupboard from the kitchen that goes over the fridge and will put it in the laundry room so that my stuff does not have to sit out in the open and will look a little more organized.  The only other problem was having our laundry upstairs and with Harry and Lil Harry always sleeping, I have taken the coat closet next to here as our additional closet, good thing we have a guest coat closet by the front door as well.  At least our clothes are hung up! I definitely will need to paint and have already started looking at ideas as to how to decorate as I have never been able to decorate a laundry room.

The living room.  We had to do 3 configurations before we got our furniture to look nice but we did it!  TV in corner where their curio cabinet is on my Great Grandma's fold table.  Snuggler chair where these is.  Pull out sofa on the left wall and reclining sofa diagonal where there sofa is.  Works great.  We also purchased an area rug for the kids...basically for Harry so that he doesn't bonk his head too many times when he falls over....Lil Harry that is!  This room will need a face lift also.

Well that is most of it.  I will continue on as soon as I have more time.  If you have ideas or opinions on paint colors and decorating ideas ~ throw them my way.  I will love to hear what you have to say.

Kitchen Remodel Starting!

Today is the day...we are starting the kitchen  remodel.  I am so excited.  We are moving cupboards, putting tile down, getting new sink, island and counter top.  Here are before pictures...

Here is the kitchen from the dining room view.  The cupboards that are coming out are going to be moved to the wall. We will put an island in the middle.  Where the corner cupboard is, Harry will put a dishwasher in for me.  I will never take a dishwasher for granted again.

This is considered the breakfast nook.  You can see on the left side the cupboards from the other picture.  So those cupboards will be moved to the wall where the pantries are at.  Not sure where the pantries are going to go.  We will have cupboards that will wrap around and end where the window begins.  The baseboard heat will come out as we will have wood heat...that is another project before winter.

On the right side by the fridge is cupboards.  We will be taking half of them for the wall in the breakfast nook.  The bare section will hold my new stainless steel french door fridge that I bought off of craigslist for a steal!  We will swap the cupboards and fridge around so that there is more room to walk when the doors are open. 

The tile will go from this doorway straight across to the window using the fridge wall as our divider.  Do you see the nice, almost beautiful-just kidding chandelier...that will come out.  There is a matching light in the kitchen part.  We will put up can lights throughout the kitchen.  Two pedestal lights coming down above the island.

This part is not about the remodel but do you see in the corner the ottoman...that is to my glider.  There was open space with nothing there.  I thought back on all the times we have went to Kentucky and Aunt Beth has a rocker in her kitchen area.  We can sit there and chat while doing food preparations.  I thought what a great idea and place to rock my babies.  I have to say that I am loving it...even if I am spoiling them by rocking them!

Summer School

Today was Ellaree's first day of summer school. She was so super excited that last night she had a hard time going to sleep.  And this morning every 5 seconds she asked if it was time to go but very much ready to listen to me so that we could leave sooner then later..."don't want to be late" she kept saying.
Ellaree was doing great on the ride over to Kickapoo until we hit the bottom of the hill right before heading into Viola and then she said in a sad little voice "I wanna go home".  Oh it broke my heart.  I explained to her that she would meet new friends, Mr. Harger would have tons of activities for her to do and that she would come home with lots of stories for me.  That seemed to make things better. 

Once we were at school she gave Mr. Harger her folder and got to go and find her very own locker to put her backpack in it.  Oh yes and I don't want to forget to tell you that I had to run to Walmart at 9:30 last night as her backpack we were hoping to use was not big enough.  So she was excited about her new backpack also.  Once we had put her bag in her locker, she turned to me, gave me a hug and in a little sad voice said "bye mom" and went into her room.  She never looked back.  That gave me reassurance that we had instilled in her "big and strong" and she was using it to her full potential today.  I am so proud of her. 

It was a bittersweet moment for me as I did not cry but it was sure hard to see my baby girl walk into that classroom and not look back.  But I am glad that she has the confidence also to do these things without crying. 

Daddy went to get her, so I am excited to hear how her first day went. 

Ellaree before leaving for school.  She would not take her new backpack off.  We had to take the picture inside as it was raining outside.  Maybe the 1st day of school this fall we can get it outside. 

Settling In

Thanks to so many who helped us over the weekend we are most of the way settled into our new house.  We could not have gotten this far in our project had it not been the generous friends and family who helped unpack, move furniture from one wall to the other until I made up my mind and watching the kids.  I think the kids had the most fun as they would leave for the day and each night they came back something new was put up or rearranged.  They have had a boatload of fun these last couple of days. 

The kids really have done an amazing job settling in.  We wondered how they would do the first couple of nights so we waited until Harry had off which was Saturday night so he was here to help me.  They went down with no complaints and slept through the night.  I could not have asked for a better first night!  Of course Harry was exhausted as he went 3 days on basically 3 hours of sleep.  What with Thursday packing and working, closing on Friday and working, Saturday got home and started in moving and got an hour nap in the afternoon and then finally sleep Saturday night around 10:30.  He did get Saturday through Monday off which helped but I know he did not get caught up on sleep like he should have.  The vacation is done as he went back to work today.

My new dining table and chairs arrived today.  We finally have internet (as you can tell since I am writing) and hoping that our 95 gallon tote dumpster comes sometime today.  All in all everything has went smoothly. 

I will try and get some pictures up soon of the house.

Pictures

Well I have finally got the cousin pictures, Ellaree's 4 year and Harry's 6 month pictures back.  I got them scanned into the computer so I can share with you.  Some have asked and yes Lorelai did not want her picture taken that day but no that is not why I did not get hers done that day.  She will turn 18 months in August and I will do hers at that time.  I am just funny like that.  Every 3 months for the first year, 18 months and then once a year after that. 

Can we say 4 going on 16...she looks like a glamour girl!

This shot is so Ellaree

Oh my little farmer...isn't he just too cute!

And he wonders why I kiss him all the time on those cheeks!

The cousin picture turned out really good.  Lorelai would only sit still with holding the flower....whatever works!

And how do you not get a picture of this...Harry crying because he's the only boy, Lorelai consoling Harry, Madelyn looking to see what is going on and Ellaree posing for the camera.

Miss Madelyn...I can not believe she is 6 1/2 already!

Today Is The Day

Today has finally arrived!  In just a few short hours we will be the proud owners of our very first house.  Oooo Yeah!  After we get done with the bank and the closing at the attorneys office we will come back and get a trailer and take it over.  The kids are excited to show their house off to Grapa, Grama, Papa Harry & Nonie.  Then Harry will go to work.  At some point he needs to get more then an hour of sleep that he is getting right now but the good thing is that work is giving him Saturday through Monday off.  That relieves my mind that he won't be driving with his eyes closed.

Well enough for now.  Gotta get the kids ready for the day to spend with Papa Harry and Nonie.  Last day of swimming lessons which they will take the kids for.  Ellaree has enjoyed swimming lessons that she has asked to be signed up for another session.  So starting the first of August we will be doing another 2 weeks of swimming lessons.