Moving....

{ I was debating to share this pic, because dandelions drive me batty!

Never mind that the roof is falling apart, and the paint is molded and chipping. It's those dang dandelions that I can't stand!}

So this has been the "story of our lives", and has taken up every last second of our time.

WE MOVED!

It was sort of a last minute decision, that I was extremely depressed about at first, but now,  I am absolutely in love with this sweet little country cottage! 

The price couldn't have been better, the space is way more than we were hoping for, and the YARD!?

 I could go on and on about the yard!

I used to play in the field behind this house when I was younger, and me and my little sister called it the Secret Garden House. I have always loved it, and now I am the proud owner!

We have been busy, busy, busy, remodeling, revamping, and refurnishing it! These are all before pictures that I am sharing, and I can't wait to share the after.

Just remember, "Good things come to those who wait." and wait patiently. 

{we still have a lot of work!} 

We bought it in July, and were moved in by December.

{That's right people, 5 months of remodeling and counting!}

We tore every existing wall down to the studs!

If you look closely, that is what true 2x4's are supposed to look like. They didn't skimp on these old houses.

This house was also built with the old lath and plaster, so it was messy, heavy, and extremely hard to remove! A process they used until the late 1950's, and was replaced with drywall.{Just FYI} 

Thanks to my father in-law, brother, and brothers in-law for all of the muscle that was donated! We really couldn't have done it without all of their help!

It's a shame we didn't save any of the beautiful wall paper that was up in every, single room!

I call this one a coral creation sensation!

We updated, and rewired everything!

We cleaned, gutted, and made hundreds of dump runs!

I learned to tile,

tape, mud, sand and texture,

and we became one with our hammers!

{Here is the beam we put in for the new archway.}

We ran into many O' problems!

 Including our water main bursting, our sewer leaking into the basement, cracked & leaking pipes, holes in the roof, and more. Just to name a few.

We were lucky, and had a friendly neighbor offer to dig out our water line for us!

{One of the many benefits to living in a small, tight knit community!}♥

We cried, laughed, barely slept, and got extremely dirty.

The poor kids were confined to a small/semi safe area most of the summer, and watched enough movies to last a lifetime! 

They also had more luncheables than any child should be allowed to consume! 

We are thankful for my sisters, mom and mother in law who watched them on occasion and gave them a break away from all the construction.

Somehow, we survived!

We have the majority of the middle and upstairs levels done, with the exception of  the new staircase, master bath, and a few small projects here and there, but still have a ton of work {inside and out} to do.

We have been so blessed with great neighbors and friends that brought us meals and offered so much help.

And I'm pretty sure we have the best family ever!

The work we did in 5 months should have taken us well over a year, and we are so thankful for all of the help!

We are so excited to start this new chapter of our lives, and just love our little home. 

{Finished projects and rooms to come!}

Fin...

 Finley

{Fin, Finners, Huckleberry Finley, Puppy}

{This may be the only clean faced picture you'll ever see!}

Fin in 3 and is growing up way too fast!

She insists that she is a puppy, and can go an entire day with out talking, except for yelling at us when we call her Finley. Yup, "I'm Puppy" and barks are the only things that come out of her mouth.

I even caught her drinking out of the dog bowl on all fours, {Gag!} and scratching her head with her foot. I am debating on having a puppy birthday party this year if she keeps it up? I dunno, maybe a kennel and some dog bowls for her presents?

Should I be encouraging this behavior?

She loves animals more than any kid I know, and could live up on grandpas farm.

 Helping feed the animals and collect the chicken eggs, are her favorite chores.

{That is one of our baby Bunnies that she is squeezing!}

{Up at the farm}

Fin is Strong willed and sassy. She pretty much has everyone wrapped around her little finger. Especially her daddy!

 I am always telling Chris that I hate it when the youngest in families are so spoiled, and that I am not going to let that happen.

I think I am in denial.

Finley is far from a girly girl. In fact she insists that she is a boy. Even when she is a puppy, she has to be a boy puppy.

She will only wear little boy underwear, {which I have to admit fits little girls way better than little girl underwear}, and she loves when Gabe outgrows his clothes because they become her p.j.'s. She even insists on wearing a tie to church, which gets a bit tricky.

She probably loves camping more than any of us, and asks at least twice a week if we can go. She, like her brother, loves to fish and get dirty. They are two peas in a pod and do most everything together. She looks up to her brother and wants to be just like him.

{Camping at the White Clouds!}

 

Fin is Obsessed with Toy Story everything! It is her favorite movie to watch, her favorite book to read, her favorite underwear to wear, and her favorite p.j.'s and slippers to have on. For Christmas she pretty much got everything Toy Story related, and she was in heaven!

Finley is now in Sunbeams, and misses her beloved Nursery and her Brother and Sister.{That is what she called Brother and sister Gerard, her nursery leaders.}

I can't believe she will be in Pre-school this year.

 It just seems like Yesterday that she was born. She wants to do and be a big "Boy", and it makes me so sad.  Her spunky personality adds so much to our little family.

We love you, our sweet lil' huckleberry!

 

Bubba Binks...

Gabriel...

{Gabe, Gabers, Bubba,  Bubba binks}

Where to begin with this little boy?

He is 7 years old and is in the second grade.

His teachers love him every year, and I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that the kid is a sponge.

He is always spouting out random facts, and teaching me and Chris something new everyday.

"Do you know what schema means?"

 I still don't remember the definition of that one.?

Gabe loves to learn, and loves to read. He complains about the 20 min. of reading he has to do after school, but almost always ends up reading way longer just so he can finish his book.

He also has a great imagination. He loves to wear costumes year round, and although he has outgrown most of them, he still insists that they fit perfectly. It's funny and creepy at the same time.

{This is his favorite picture. He loves that his eyes are red. He says it makes him a real ninja!}{He also told me it makes his Butt look tough! laughed so hard at that one.}

Gabe is a Gamer!

Sad I know, but if I would let him, he would live on some sort of electronic device! 

 His punishments are always Nintendo time taken away. Without it I'm afraid I would have no control over the child.

G is a comedian. {in his mind at least}

He seriously has us laughing everday. He tells jokes and comes up with his own in every situation.

His Favorite..{My least favorite}

G"What's your name?"

Me "Hanna"

G "What color is the sky?"

Me "blue"

G "which way am I pointing?"

Me "Up"

G " Hanna .Blew. Up." hahahahaha

He added this part to the end..

G "what's your enemies name?"

Me "Atlas" {Our new puppy that is NOT potty trained}

G" Hanna Blew Up Atlas"

I'm sure you are all laughing just as hard as we do. Everyday!

Gabe loves sports. He was on a flag football and T-ball team last year, both undefeated!

He packs his dads football in his backpack everyday so that he and his friends can play at school.

 He loves the outdoors, and could fish for hours on end. He loves to get dirty, and would possibly sleep outside if I would let him.

{Camping at Lava}

His best friend is his "brother," Thor. {Our boxer} He tells me all the time that he doesn't need a brother, because he has Thor. He spoils that dog!

Gabe is super outgoing and talks to everyone. He makes friends where ever we go. It is so funny watching him walk home from school with kids twice his size.

He has equally as many girl friends as boy, and it doesn't bother him a bit. 

He has a new favorite color everyday, and he is not afraid to admit if his favorite color is pink that day.

He is Stubborn, loud, and dirty, but is also sensitive, kind, and loving. He is such a special part of our family, and adds so much to our lives.

We love you bubba binks!