Remodeling the Casa

Lately we've been spending much of our free time at our new house coming up with plans for this room or that room, tearing down walls, ripping apart kitchen cabinets and laminate wood floors and the such.

And when we are in need of a break, a much needed break, we head to one of the ponds on our property. Whether to fish or swim or bask in the scorching sun, it's so relaxing to sit by the pond for a bit. Yes, I did say swim. I wish I had pictures to prove it but when the day gets its hottest the kids can be seen stripping down to dive on in the pond. I did it when I was a child so I'm not stopping them from the joy of it.

We have so much we want to redo at the new house before we even think about moving in but we are trying to take things slow and enjoy our summer too so the projects don't completely consume us.

But that is easier said than done. Josh and I love a project like this and it seems to be all we think and dream about these days.

Picking out new colors, bathroom vanities, flooring, shower tiles, and redesigning the old massive fireplace are just a few things we've been working on.

We have our new windows ready to be installed and we are excited about redoing the old siding and replacing it with Hardiplank siding.

Then there's the kids rooms to design and decorate. All four of them. Man I really have my work cut out for me!

All this excitement is surely making the pregnancy fly by. I can't believe it's already half way over! Besides all the house stuff I am also dreaming of pink these days. I'm so excited to be able to wrap up another baby of mine in pink.

I haven't done much sewing at all lately, but I do have numerous projects I'd like to do for this special new girl in my life.

I did however recently manage to make a kitchen towel to match the fabric in the throw pillows on our couch.

And I recently picked up this great find for $30!

My initial intention was to refinish it and use it as a dress up chest for all of Gracie's the girls dress up clothes but I am truly falling in love with its naturally aged look and am also imagining it in so many other rooms of the new house. Whatever I decide to do with it I really, really love it. And so do these girls if you can't already tell!

And they love it when I set it on the fluff setting. It does wonders for their fur. Just kidding!

I'm off to start a new project while the kids are all playing quietly (for this brief moment anyway). I am refinishing a vanity for my big girl's new room. Don't you think every (soon to be) six year old girl needs her own vanity in her room? I do!

Celebrate

We certainly have had a l0t t0 celebrate and be thankful f0r 0ver this past week. Specifically 10 years 0f marriage. And yes I said it was a miracle because in my eyes it is. F0r any c0uple t0 be able t0 stick it 0ut and remain in l0ve thr0ugh 10 years 0f marriage is truly s0mething t0 celebrate these days as that's bec0ming m0re and m0re 0f a rarity.

We are truly grateful that G0d led us t0gether and alth0ugh it certainly hasn't always been sm00th sailing, we've w0rked thr0ugh the st0rms 0f life and are a str0nger 'ship' because 0f them. We made a c0mmittment bef0re 0ur L0rd t0 be married till death d0 us part and that is s0mething we stand firmly 0n. And I l0ve h0w the deeper y0u gr0w in y0ur relati0nship with Christ, the deeper y0ur marriage gr0ws. The better it bec0mes. The m0re in l0ve y0u fall with each 0ther. That is s0mething that the tw0 0f us can really testify t0.

S0 we celebrated 0ur 10 year milest0ne by relaxing and l0ts 0f eating. L0ts and l0ts 0f it! When we arrived at the res0rt, the kind man said "0h w0w, they've upgraded y0u t0 a really nice r00m. A really, really nice r00m!" I have n0 idea h0w and why this happened. N0 0ne menti0ned what special 0ccasi0n it was. And it was a nice r00m. A really, really nice r00m.

We laughed as we walked int0 a beautifully dec0rated living r00m, kitchenette, and bath and then we walked int0 a huge master suite with its 0wn kitchenette and bath. We had s0 much r00m and n0 0ne t0 share it all with. H0w many times thr0ugh0ut 0ur trip we menti0ned h0w much we missed the kids and wished they were there with us. It was s0 very nice t0 have the quiet time al0ne but we truly missed them like never bef0re. We w0uld lay 0n the sandy beach and watch the little b0ys jumping in the waves 0r the ad0rable baby girl ad0rned in a pink bikini repeatedly sh0vel sand int0 her m0uth.

Then back up at the p00l we w0uld sit in 0ur chairs and admire the little 0nes splashing 0n the steps as I sipped 0n my pina c0lada (virgin 0f c0urse ; ) and J0sh 0n his Land Shark.

Finally we decided just t0 pack it up and head h0me t0 0ur kids. It was a truly w0nderful time but we are l00king f0rward t0 planning a family vacati0n. All five six 0f us!

Big News!!!

Our newest little girl will have a room of her own! I still can't believe it but we closed on our new h0use today! Celebrate 10 years of marriage, have an ultrasound, buy a new house...all in a days work I say!

We were so pleased to stumble across the perfect little 5 bedroom 4 bath home to meet the needs of our growing family and all the boys in our household couldn't be any more excited that it is perched in the middle of 5 acres!

And I say... bring on the chickens!!! I'm gonna be ready this time!

It's a..............................

GRACEFUL.G0RGE0US.GENTLE
GENUINE.GLAM0R0US.GLISTENING
GLEEFUL.GLITTERING.GL0RI0US

GIRL

AND WE ARE GRATEFUL!!!

And as far as our other big news, stay tuned for an announcement later today...

June 5th

0ne 0f my fav0rite days ever.

(the 0 0n 0ur keypad quit w0rking and bl0gger's spell check d0esn't rec0gnize h0w t0 change the zer0's t0 the letter 0's. S0 bear with my big 0's please!)

T0m0rr0w is 0ur BIG day! N0t 0nly will we be celebrating the miracle (yes miracle) 0f 10 years 0f marriage, but we will als0 get a special little, n0 let's make that HUGE, present t0 celebrate 0ur l0ve. Getting a peak at 0ur little l0ve blessing is the best gift we c0uld ever h0pe f0r. And t0 find 0ut the gender w0uld be just an extra special little package 0n t0p!

I am s0 anxi0us t0 see if the maj0rity is right in guessing that we have a baby b0y 0n the way. Gracie 0f c0urse has been r00ting f0r a sister since day 0ne but C0lt0n 0n the 0therhand and n0w Fletch t00 are h0ping f0r an0ther little br0ther t0 j0in the team. Alth0ugh C0lt0n did admit the 0ther day that he thinks it's a girl even th0ugh he really, really wants a b0y. And he was right 0n in guessing that Fletcher was a b0y s0 we'll see t0m0rr0w h0w g00d he is at his guesstimates. We all have certainly c0me t0 the agreement h0wever that the gender truly d0esn't matter.

I kn0w we all say that in g00d means, but truly just t0 be blessed with the gift 0f sight is huge. And hearing is an0ther b0nus. Then there's walking and talking. Th0se are all n0t s0 little things that we frequently take f0r granted.

At the girls ballet perf0rmance this weekend, there were tw0 dances c0nsisting 0f severly special needs children and adults. T0 say I l0st it is an understatement. I c0uldn't get tw0 w0rds 0ut. T0 see these preci0us children 0f G0d 0n stage shining brightly with sweet smiles and giving it everything they g0t was truly breathtaking. S0me c0uldn't walk. S0me c0uldn't talk. And s0me c0uld really b00gie 0n d0wn. But each was gifted in s0 many ways.

After we g0t h0me that day, the kids and I had such a great talk ab0ut h0w every0ne 0f us is given blessings. 0ne little girl c0uldn't walk but man was she blessed with the m0st beautiful smile. An0ther little girl struggled t0 walk her way acr0ss stage but she c0uld really shake s0me maracas.

Truly, truly, truly, in each and every way, it d0esn't make a single difference what gender G0d selected t0 add t0 0ur family. We are just praying f0r sight. F0r m0bility. F0r a beautiful smile. What a gift that w0uld be!

After all the excitement 0f the ultras0und is 0ver, J0sh and I have s0me special plans f0r the rest 0f the day. All I can say is this day is g0ing t0 be filled with m0re celebrati0ns than I can even say right n0w! But I can't wait t0 tell y0u all ab0ut it! It truly is g0ing t0 be a day t0 remember!!!

We will be spending the night and Saturday relaxing at Jupiter Beach Res0rt. I am all decked 0ut with a new bikini (I guess the fashi0nistas call them tankini's) that will actually c0ver up my c00kin' timer. Y0u kn0w the little butt0n ab0ut mid secti0n that p0ps 0ut when the turkeys d0ne? Well mine p0pped as s00n as that little white stick sh0wed tw0 lines. But I'm ready t0 sp0rt my new haircut and tankini rain 0r shine!

Here are s0me pictures 0f the girls ballet perf0rmance 0n Saturday. All three 0f them did c0mpletely awes0me! We all celebrated by g0ing 0ut t0 lunch afterwards at the restraunt 0f their ch0ice, Cracker Barrel. Yes, It was a delightful day!

{kaya, gracie and ava wearing their disguises while preparing t0 watch the first half 0f the sh0w}



{gracie 0pening up her act by calling all the 0ther little 0rchids 0ut 0n stage. man she can be s0 very brave at times!}


{gracie fr0nt left}

{0h h0w I l0ve that smile! What a gift!}

{just l00k at these pr0ud br0thers!}

{gracie and her ballet instruct0r 0f three years, miss mina}

{h0w lucky these three girls are t0 have each 0ther. I can see Gracie's wedding n0w. She'll have tw0 0f the m0st beautiful and sweetest bridesmaids ever standing by her side.}

Stay tuned f0r the big ann0uncements t0m0rr0w!!! Yes, ann0uncementS! And n0, it's n0t twins! Remember, we're just praying f0r a smile. ; )