But first, the house...

I'm doing two posts tonight to catch up on things...and of course the house one comes first. Because the house pretty much comes first all day every day right now - scratch that - every minute of every day - right now. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration. But my point is that the past couple of weeks have been sort of like back when we were in the throws of getting the plans done in order to meet neighborhood and city permitting deadlines. That was so long ago, I hardly remember it! But it was a very busy period - a blur in retrospect. All the activity right now is really exciting - all the details are really starting to come together - but it is a lot of work!

Probably the most exciting update is that Luke gave us a rough 60-days notice!!! We're looking at moving in in the first couple of weeks of April. Kyle (hopefully) has off the week of the 15th for us to get settled but we should be in the house before then.

The stressful part is that things are just moving so fast its hard to be there enough (especially Kyle and I together without kids) to watch things unfold in case there are issues, questions, mistakes. And let's be clear - we have an AWESOME builder - but we still feel like we need to check on things as they unfold...

With all that being said...here are some recent photos.

KITCHEN CABINETS!!!

 UPPER CABINETS!

 The island - not in place yet.

 Mudroom lockers and island.

 Cabs in kids' bath.

Our garage filled w/ trim and doors.

  Baseboards. I'll admit I've been a little crazy about trim issues recently. You know how you get - at least I hope others get this way too - when something you've thought about for a while or worked on just doesn't turn out quite like you thought? Well, apparently I get obsessive and crazy. :) These baseboards. Most of the trim in fact - has driven me a little crazy recently. But I'm over it now. :) Big picture, reality check...all of that. And a strong desire to get this deal done and move in. So, I'm hoping I can keep the craziness at bay if - rather, when - there are other silly little issues I'm tempted to flip out over. (Thankful for a patient hubby and builder.)

My first round of paint swatches. DARK. But helped me get to the winner. 

Kyle inspecting the awesome shelves in the garage. Keepin' it organized so we can pretend our garage is actually the outdoor party pavilion! 

Daydreaming about closing those big doors and blocking out the world - mostly just me and the kids - so he can work in his super-duper study. Well-deserved. 

 Trim Trim Trim.

 The playroom corner window all fancified.

 Girls' weirdly small storage bench / window seat (that's what happens when the roof comes into the room). Oops!

 Yay for the cabinet covering the flue!

 The winning paint color: Benjamin Moore "Gray Owl" - it's a nice cool, but soft gray. I've put it up in several large swatches in different parts of the house...and I have viewed it at different times of day. And I have looked at all the pics on houzz.com that feature it. And I like it. Ohhhh, I hope I like it when its on ALL the walls! We don't have any lights inside so I'm nervous. But when it gets painted (probably later this week) I'm determined not freak out - because I know it'll look different when our floors are done and lighting is in, etc. So - no freaking out!!!

Even more stuff has happened since I took these pics - we have more tile going in today. My mom swung by and told me they're starting to put the stone up on the fireplace! I know paint and countertops are just around the corner. So, I'll keep you posted!!! (FYI: I know this is a common problem for most of us - but TRULY - 75% of my to-do list is house related. And as soon as I take one thing off I had about 3 more.) So, thanks for your patience (Aunt Joyce!) when its a while in between posts!

The Lovely Children

Now that all that house stuff is out of the way (and off of my brain for at least the next few minutes)...the kids!

 They really have been lovely lately. Kyle and I both feel like we've hit a really sweet spot with them. Well, actually, with Owen & Rebecca. (More on Maggie in a bit.) They seriously play so well together these days. It's REALLY fun to watch and take part in, and BOY does it make life easier!

We fully recognize that this little friendship we have going on between the two oldest is truly one of God's mercies...because its timing pretty much perfectly coincided with Maggie coming into her own. And by coming into her own, I mean - being a pill. Still a sweet, adorable, want-to-eat-her-with-a-spoon little miss - but, well, we've got some 2's coming.

Without further ado...

MAGGIE

Oh, that face and those huge cheeks and that dimple and those tiny little squinty (when she smiles) eyes! Isn't she just edible? And the fireworks/BamBam hair. Okay, enough mom-gush. (But seriously - it's like looking at a chubby squinty blonde version of myself.)

 Kisses from brother. Starting to keep her mouth closed is a nice touch.

Wagon time at Nana's. 

 But who wants to be in a wagon, when you can pull it...

And who better to pull than Princess Rebecca!

 Toddler Sherpa - the newest trend in wagon travel.

The entire scene.

• We don't have any safe high places left - you know, the places where you can put stuff so that littles can't get to it? Maggie is now quite fond of climbing up onto the piano (the top) to push Owen's priceless lego creations and other masterpieces (that were there for safekeeping) off the bag side, only to be rescued when we move. 
• Where's your tunmy? SHIRT UP. HUGE, DOUBLE-HANDED PAT. Where's your _____? Same response. She will point to eyes and nose and toes her babydoll, and say eyes. But we think she actually thinks "Where's your" is part of the name of her tummy! 
• The tummy fascination continues w/ other people. She LOVES to lift my shirt up (always appropriate and never awkward) to pat my tummy, which unfortunately looks a lot like hers. I am positive she sees the similarity. :)
• Loves to make the "woof" sound a dog makes. It's very breathy. Will hear a dog bark and immediately get wide-eyed and doing her little impersonation. Still working on other animals. She hears them and just smiles. Good enough for momma. 
• Other new words - the almost 2-year old's favorites: MINE. NO. In full force. 
• Best application of NO: We were talking about time-out in front of her (not even about her) and she started frantically shaking her head from side to side and says NO NO NO. We were dumbfounded. And because we laughed, its now her favorite little game/joke to play. (We figured out tonight a dinner she also does the head shake/No combo if you ask her if you want a cookie...so we may need to work on the understanding of "do you want?"...)
• When she throws a fit she spins around in circles. Like a psychotic ballarina. To each her own.  Also sits down when she doesn't want to go somewhere - such an old trick.
• LOVES graham crackers. Steals them from the pantry in fist-fulls. The big kids turn her in. 
• Still loves her baby. 
• We're working on gentle hands. Still loves to swat at R and pull her curls. 
• Still keeping a very predictable schedule - to bed at 7:30, up at 6:15, naps from 1:30-4:30. I will not complain about that!

REBECCA

Enjoing a little trampoline time and some close-ups. 

 Enjoying the wagon ride - courtesy of Maggie.

Mad at me for taking pictures (left), but then deciding to show off Puppy - in her matching outfit (right).

 Fussing over Puppy's many accoutrements.

Wearing puppy as a crown.

 Giving puppy some lovin'.

• "Venga aqui, Maggie! Venga aqui!!!" Rebecca - do you know what "venga aqui" means? "YES! It means go to time out!!!"-hysterical 3 year old laughter. 
• After a discipline moment that involved some (fake?) crying...she pointed out to me (in a voice that communicated innocence, shock, sweetness) - "look! I have a little tear". Dra-ma.
• Has snuck out of bed a few times to get bandaids from the bathroom. To put on her sleeping brother's forhead. They're still there in the morning. Has been caught red-handed and can't understand why we won't let her proceed as she planned, even though she tiptoed.
• Is obsessed w/ "my (hers) pretty stuff" - which loosely translates to everything she likes - a bucket where we keep all her clips and headbands, all of her favorite stuffed animal friends,  sheets of stickers, etc. Wants to take whatever fits into the category of "my pretty stuff" with her wherever she goes. 
• Informed me out of the blue that she wants to go to Lululana to see crocogators. 
• Has never watched an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants but has seen the advertisement/intro song and now its a favorite. But just the part where they yell SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS over and over again. Not pretty sounding. 
• On the other hand, she LOVES to sing the doh ray me song. It's not always exactly right but I think its just about one of the sweetest little sounds she could make. Have to get that on video!!!
• Is obsessed with stickers. Beyond the pretty things. She has confiscated the box of stickers I have had since middle school - no exaggeration. Some of those stickers date back to early/middle Camp Buckenr years. Some from high school. Some from college. (Why was I buying/using stickers in college?) They are hers now. And she is blowing through them faster than Kyle eats a bowl of pecans. We will need to start working on a sticker allowance of some sort. 
• In conjunction w/ the pretty things and sticker usage, she spends most of her quiet play times "making parties" in her room...that means decorating w/ stickers and pretty things and usually involves things strung up and draped and tented, drawers partially emptied, stuffed animals (wearing bows) all lined up "in a pattern" (that's really not). It's messy, but cute. She even lets Owen come in and take part in the party once QPT is done. I honestly think he enjoys it too!
• Still likes to be wearing next-to-nothing is possible. Unless its her pink party dress (featured above). It's also been called "school clothes" in an effort to get me to let her wear it to school, "church dress" - you can figure that one out, and "jumping clothes" - because she likes to jump on the trampoline in it. It's pretty, but she still might rip it off. The other day on the trampoline after taking off all of her clothes she informed me that it was THE HOTTEST DAY E-VER. It was a lovely 82 degree February day. August baby, August!
• Preferred hairstyle - piggies w/ 1 bow. Fashion Innovator. Also, loves to put her hair in her mouth and then wrap it around her finger to "make turls" - I keep showing her she already has curls, but she likes to be involved I guess.
• Thinks that you should decide before a game whom should win. She's very generous - YOU can win this time Owen! or This time I'LL win Owen! But it should be predetermined.
• Has been very very affectionate recently. Just in a sweet mood. I won't try to over think it. Just take the hugs and kisses. And the I LOVE YOU MOM. Yes, she's started calling me Mom. Not sure how I feel about that - mixed really. She also calls Maggie "Mag" so maybe its just a temporary nick name?

OWEN

 Enjoying trampoline time - where did everyone's shirts go?

 Favorite trampoline games - chase, dodgeball. Does NOT like crack the egg.

 Showing off a pretty good busted lip from bonking R's head on the cousins' trampoline a few nights before.

In for the close-up.

 His new favorite game: Chess. Say, what?

We started playing this GREAT game called Goblet Gobblers (highly recommend it - quick, fun, easy enough for someone Rebecca's age, challenging enough so that even parents have fun). Owen loves it. Ms. Laurie from preschool recommended it and in the same breath told me we needed to teach Owen to play chess. Literally later that week my dad and Pam started talking to Owen about chess. Then so did my mom! (Side note - how is it that both of my parents know how to play and I hardly have a clue beyond what direction each piece can move???) 

 These pics were all from an evening just after Maggie went to bed (more than 1/3 less chaos). Rebecca was "on Kyle's team". I cant't remember if it was this exact game or not, but Owen has had a true, decisive win over Kyle. Kyle literally yelled with excitement, pride, shock. Great daddy moment.

• Had his first play date where I just dropped him off at a school friend's house. Felt really big to me. They had a great morning. 
• During a morning when we had our buddy Nathan over for "guy time" - they discussed med school (where his mom Christal met Kyle) and they both shared all sorts of interesting bits of knowledge like: 
• -med school is for really old kids. like high school - yep, you have to be 8.
• -my mommy is in med school now. i think so. -mine too.
• -doctors get to eat lots of donuts. -do they get kolaches?
• He has suggested voting on several family decisions. (They have votes at school to learn about the process - but its usually on things like - what kind of apple is your favorite - let's take a vote, or how do you think goldy the fish died - let's take a vote.) Kyle had to inform Owen that while democracy is great for countries, our family isn't one. 
• As part of the theme of O & R playing really well together these days, Owen has kindly offered his drawing talents to Rebecca. She yells - draw me a mermaid! And minutes later she has a mermaid - they even discuss whether he should color it in, or whether he should just do the outline so she could color it in. He really should charge her. There have been a few instances of Owen's feelings getting hurt because she was less than complimentary of his work and it ended up in the trash.  But back to how they're playing so well together...

Alright, that's enough for tonight. Hopefully more updates before we get a-movin!

Stilts and a Giant Saw Chainted to the Porch

So, the house continues to move along at a nice clip. A few weeks ago we got spray foam. (A nasty process in case you're curious.)

 Then the Men On Stilts arrived to put up the dry-wall. (Luke told me that they don't like to get off the stilts once they're up, so its common for the workers to pee in the master shower from up on their stilts.) I will never be able to look at my master shower the same. And now you won't either.

 Ceilings, then tops of walls. Then bottoms of walls.

Bye bye insulation!

 Stilt Guy in the kitchen.

 Big piles of sheet rock in every room.

 And piles of the scraps (and dust) everywhere!

 Then the cracks are "taped and floated"

 Then the walls are textured (light orange peel) and it starts to look sorta finished. Sorta.

 Then a giant pile of tile arrives!

And waterproofy wall stuff goes in the bathrooms under where the tile is going to go (backerboard?).

 Then tile starts going in....wherever its not affected by cabinets. Since we don't have cabinets yet. (This is the wall behind the sink in the powder bath - no grout yet.)

 Then more pretty things start appearing - the "waterfall" in the master shower.

 The giant wet saw chained to our porch.

Don't get any ideas about stealing this bad boy.

 And a microwave appears inside our front door. ??? I am pretty sure this is not the model we picked out. Feel free to steal this one.

So, that's where we are. Cabinets and more tile are next (I think). Will let you know an anticipated move-in date as soon as we have one!