Some Beginning Notes for 2015

Please excuse the continued blog layout construction.  I think it is worth noting the primitive conditions in which I endure to blog.... for instance, my internet connection is through smoke signal and my computer is actually a typewritur.... oh lemons, where's the white out.....
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All that aside, we are off to a busy and exciting start here.

The basement is under construction: stud walls are up, next will be installing all the electrical.  This area is going to be the new playroom and storage.

 A meeting is set for THIS WEEKEND to see, for the first time, and review the design plans from our landscape architect.  We are super stoked and somewhat scared.  We look forward to having a nice outdoor eating area but fear the price tag that's going to come with it.  She is actually re-laying out all areas around the house but we plan to complete it piece by piece over a span of time (we try to pay for everything with cash).

Here she is doing some land surveying, and yes I took this picture of her secretly through a window (which is completely ok, if you are the one taking the picture)-

Other projects in the works or soon in the works:

• Completing the finishing details in the dining room (yawn, old news)
• Putting on window trim in the kids and living room
• Taking my Christmas decorations down (its on the list, but probably not blog worthy)
• Transforming the back entrance closet to a more function space
• Operation kid's rooms (more details later)
• Fence building/spring homesteading planning (we had this area cleared behind our property, see what happens when you are nice to the power company, it also helps them out)

 On the family front, the youngest turned 1 recently.  Since I like comparisons, here is the line up of each kid on their 1st birthday stuffing cake in their face.

Little man-

Little lady-

Baby girl-

All the above photos were taken with a 35mm camera and film developed at the one hour photo at Walmart (play along that it still exists).  How they got on the blog is magical, that is all you need to know.
:)

My Babies' Daddy

With our newest daughter's birth day still fresh on my mind I have to write a short piece about my husband and his role during the process (the birthing process that is).

This probably sounds very cliche.... but I literally don't know how I could go through labor without Jonathan.  I know the baby would still come out, but the experience would not be the same.

I remember when he was made fun of by his co-workers for attending birth classes with me before our first child.  Thankfully he didn't care what they thought.  I also remember him taking notes in that class... such a good student.  And those classes (Bradley Method).... were well worth it.  They prepared both of us very well for my tough first labor.  Jonathan knew just where and how to rub my back through the back labor I was having.  I had not dilated to 4cms yet so drugs were not an option, but the discomfort was very real and the early labor was very long.  He rubbed my back with tennis balls through every contraction all night and part way through the next day.... without eating or sleeping since I wasn't able to.  The midwife even commented on Jonathan's supportiveness.

I remember with our second child Jonathan holding my hand through every contraction and coaching me through the pushing and breathing.  With every push he would tell me how much progress I was making.  He knew that encouraged me.

Baby #2 getting swaddled by the best swaddler in the house.

Nap with Baby #2

I clearly remember just a few weeks ago Jonathan rubbing my hamstring since there was a huge knot in it while I was laboring.  Tense muscles in labor are not a good thing.  I told him I was sorry if my water broke on him to which he responded he didn't care (I would've cared).  He held my hand just as with the others.  I am not a touchy feely person... but I guess during labor I am.

All three times, his wanting to be involved meant alot to me and made the process, in my mind, something we went through together.  He's pretty awesome. :)

Cooking so I can rest

Some other pics of the new baby and family-

 

Big sister looks really big next to her little sister-

My Son, Ricky Bobby

I'm on a roll of posting nonsense.  Here is another random rambling about the kids-

Little man has two speed loving parents.  Daddy ran track in college and was the winger/sprinter on his college rugby team.  Momma still likes to get her run and race on.  Past credentials.... two words- Field Day Greene County friends, Field.Day. ;) (this is a joke if you are not sure).

So our first born seems to be speed loving too.  Like, REALLY into speed.... or maybe the competition.  So far we are not sure which it is.  Unfortunately he seems to have inherited my stumpy legs instead of long Trexler ones.  That doesn't keep him from trying to run fast.

Life's a.... practice track-

Race against younger sister

Race against clueless cat

Race against chickens

Race against people who let me win

Race/practice Eric Liddell style.  Chariots of Fire opening scene, amazing movie.

Race in the dark

Race in a car

A real race

Well.... at least he enjoyed himself

A soon happy birthday to our little man.  Who is growing up fast, like its a race.

Top Secret House Update

Well it was top secret until last night.  Here's the story.....
If you remember we had our basement worked on recently to fix our excess moisture problem.  To prepare for the work, Jonathan had to rip out moldy shelving around the parameter of the basement all by himself.  (Since I am pregnant we decided it was best for me NOT to hang out with flying spores).  I felt kind of bad (emphasis on kind of) he had to do all the heavy lifting on his own so I wanted to help in some way.  The opportunity arose early this week when he was traveling for business.  I set out to conquer his work bench area, organizing and neatening it up for his birthday.
Here was the work bench area before I went to work-

Full disclosure, I am not afraid of much.... EXCEPT spiders and even their webs.  Though very useful beings... I just don't like them.  I would hold a snake any day before a creepy, leggy arachnid.  Bleh.  I bring that up to show my dedication.  There were spider webs everywhere.  Anyway, I made SOME progress and jump started the basement updating-

Home Depot sells a peg board organization kit for around $11.  These hangers are all from one kit-

I painted the lower board with magnetized paint.... for tacking up 'napkin drawing' plans and such.  That's how we make plans around here, on random scraps of paper.  I first saw magnetized paint in my friend's playroom (the Hallidays) and thought it was a great idea.  You can paint blackboard paint (for a chalkboard), dry erase board paint or just regular paint over top and it still works as a magnetized surface.  Just FYI, I think a large area would be an absolute BEAR to do with the sludge-like magnetic paint.... but its obviously do-able.

To birthday-it-up, the kids helped me make a sign.

Little man helped taste test the cake (red velvet if you're wondering why its as red as my canisters).

Somehow it all came together.  I am not on top of my game these days.  Momma is more tired than normal.  Happy birthday husband!

Happy Birthday and a 2 Year Old On Cake

Quick post to share a few of Jonathan's birthday pictures with family.

Jonathan's big 30th birthday was last week.  Happy birthday handsome husband.  Maybe one day you will look 30, probably when you turn 40 :) which is not a bad thing.
Of course we made cake and of course the toddler wanted to be involved in the process (taste testing) and cleanup-

We all dressed appropriately for his arrival home from work-

Ate dinner and cake of his choice.
Opened presents-

Then the cake kicked in-

Then clothes were removed and he ran laps around the house-

Reminds me of the time my Jack Russell got into my roommate's Easter basket in college (still sorry about that girls).