Under construction

Some might question our decision to undergo multiple renovation projects right before hosting an open house for Ethan and Kassie's wedding. 

Those would be the smart people. 

But here we are and there's no getting out of it. Let's all say our prayers and hopefully the floor won't look like this as of May 18th. 

After 18 years, 6 kids with a penchant for living room eating and two geriatric dogs....it was time for new carpet. 

The hardwood floors will be refinished and that means the banister will get an update too! Restained to a dark walnut and wrought iron spindles that don't pop out. 

The tick-marks scratched into the newel post have been sanded out. They are still ever so faint...and I'm not sad about it. 

The floor guy came and put down some samples for us, so we could choose which one we liked the best. I didn't realize he was going to sand down a large area and actually stain the actual floor with actual stain. 

I also didn't think he would get the wrong address and put down 5 colors we didn't ask for. 

No matter....back to stain a couple more spots!

We made our carpet selections....and then made them again when we found out that our choice was discontinued. 

In the meatime, we have guys in the back yard replacing our rickety fence with a new metal one.  It doesn't feel as private, but considering a large section of the old one had fallen down, its' definitely an upgrade. 

And guess who will never have to restain that fence again??

It's not all bad. We've been spending lots of quality time in the garage...sitting on our garage couches. 

 

April Art

Everly:

Laney:

Laney's latest obsession...inspiration from Minecraft Story Mode:

Megan:

Wax museum #6

Did you know that Mary Hayes was an American patriot? Did you know that she fought beside her husband, cleaning and cooling the cannons, dragging him to to the doctor after he was shot? THEN....she survived a bomb exploding under her feet and kept going with her clothes in tatters. 

Everly new it. And she remembered every word like a pro.

And I can officially donate our wax museum clothing stash!

 

Last minute details

We are less than a week out.

We are lining up dresses...

 We are buying suits, ties and shoes. We have the wedding jitters!

 

The first of the lasts

It's no secret that I'm ready to move out of the elementary school phase. No more classroom parties, donations, birthday book club, compulsory parent teacher conferences, wax museums, fieldtrips, watermelon feeds, fundraising assemblies, spirit weeks, valentines swaps, birthday treats.....

wait a minute.

I just made myself sad.

No more Sunnyside Singers?? 

*sniff*
 

Killing time

At least 2 times a week I sit for almost two hours in a gravel parking lot in the middle of nowhere, Gardner. Everly is inside that warehouse building up big muscles and I either catch a nap or take a snooze.

Until today. 

I found out that her gym is just a couple minutes from The Flower Farm on Moonlight Rd. 

I think I'm in trouble.

This place is a labyrinth of overstuffed greenhouses. I haven't even begun to scratch the surface! 

Oh...but I will.
 

Stand out

We got an invitation to an award ceremony held at 7 AM.

That seemed a little weird. 

But, wouldn't you know it, it was an early morning thing!

So we were in. And Laney rocked the latest 90's style to accept awards in visual arts and geometry. 

 

Calling home

I love how she calls me just to tell me how windy it is. 

Smells like teen spirit

These kids aren't looking so little anymore.