Oops, I did it again!

Maybe I should change my name to Brittany Spears.
Or not.

I honestly do have good intentions of keeping this thing current, but life just seems to have other plans.  And really, that's a good thing.  Plus, I know a lot of people who read this also follow my facebook or instagram, which I am much better at keeping current, so maybe this blog is unnecessary anyway...  not sure on that one.

So here's my quarterly update ... maybe that's a better goal?  Or not setting goals ... that's the best idea yet.

The kitchen is FABULOUS!  I love every little detail about it.  All that's left is to re-do the flooring (in the same pine, but it'll be new boards) and a few plugs that's don't have power.  It's the one for the pantry light and then the plug above the cabinets (for Christmas lights!) that are missing ... not too big a deal right now.
Dustin got the back splash in shortly after the cabinets were installed, along with under cabinet lighting ... again, looooove it! It's actually fun to keep this kitchen clean, because it  COMES CLEAN! What a weird thing after years of a kitchen with mystery stains. 



The hall is ripped apart and has been for some time (which is why the kitchen floor will wait, it ties in to the hall, which also needs new boards). It will likely be this way for a while yet as with the nice weather we've switched gears to work outside on finishing the patio stone walkways.  C'est la vie.  I think we're all used to the "it's a work in progress" feeling already, and are just wanting to enjoy life a bit.
I mean, it's been 3 years solid of working on this place, and we've done SO MUCH!  So when we get down, we need to look back on how things were, not necessarily on what's left to do.



Work for Dustin and myself is really busy this summer!  I've got lots of sessions happening over the next few months and am constantly taking calls for information as well, so more are sure to come.  I've advertised in a few local magazines (have you seen them?!) and I can tell it's bringing in fresh faces, which makes me very happy!
And with road restrictions off (or will shortly be), the new digs Dustin is overseeing seem a weekly occurrence!

I cant remember if I blogged about my recent hobby, which compliments my photography well.  Crochet!  I seriously love crocheting!  Mainly hats for babies and toddlers since it's so perfect in the studio, but I'm thinking I may branch out into booties and diaper covers if I can figure them out alright.



The boys have both signed up to play football this year.  Some of you know that already since i pestered you to buy the cookie dough they were selling to fund raise.  Thankfully, more than enough of you bought and I'm not stuck with $500 worth of cookies in my freezer! (there was a minimum they HAD to sell, EACH!), so a BIG thank you!
Although the season doesnt' start until later in summer, they were able to get their pads and helmets early from the football club, and Dustin took them to get new cleats, so I've had some jock looking kids running around the house and yard most evenings. Even for watching tv!  lol!



Probably the biggest and proudest moment of my life as a parent (so far) happened a few weekends ago when Brad was baptized.  He asked to be back in March, and the event happened at the end of May.
I thought watching him ride his bike without training wheels for the first time, write his name, or even take his first steps was some pretty fabulous stuff, but nothing prepared me for watching him be baptized.  I shook with anticipation for him, and then I cried.  Dustin cried.  My mom cried, and I'm sure lots of others we invited cried as well (but I was beside my mom and Dustin).  There are no words for how amazing it is to know that the most important decision in his life, to follow and serve Jesus, is on the right track.
Zachary had lots of questions about it, and is thinking he would like to be baptized when he's a little older as well (something I'm encouraging, waiting isn't a bad thing).  I am seriously one proud proud Mama here.  I'm so thankful they are seeing what an amazing God we have, and that they are learning to look to the Word every day, and seek a relationship with Jesus.  The skies are the limits for these two, and I get choked up thinking about how awesome their lives will be by letting God be in control!!

At home, after the lunch we had with our guests on baptism day.

So that's been our life for the last while ....  I certainly hope to be back on here sooner than later, but I know you've all heard that before!  haha!

The Chaos

I can honestly say, we're still smiling... most of the time.  I will be very happy to have a clean house again and know where everything is (besides the general location of "in a box in the sunroom"), but I think we're doing alright.  No massive breakdowns at least, except for the day we had to take everything out of the cabinets and I had no boxes, and no idea where to put it all, but it's all good now! A few tears from being overwhelmed, a pepsi, and a hug from my hubby fixed it all.  Oh, and going out to get boxes. haha!

I've got a date for the install of the new kitchen (SO excited!), so I'm feeling better about posting photos of the reno process, knowing that it will not be like this for much longer ... I wont post the date yet, just in case.... but trust me ... you'll know when it happens!! lol!

I cant say why, but this particular renovation has been the most stressful.  We've been here 2 years (yes, already!) and it's probably because I dont think anything we've done has had this wide of spread over the house.  Literally, our entire main floor feels affected. If not by being chopped apart and in disarray, then by the dust and dirt from the other parts being so.  Or the feeling of being incredibly cluttered because of items moved "for the time being".  Thanks goodness the upstairs has stayed mostly clean and dust free.

I'm lucky I've got such an amazing husband through all this.  I posted a photo on facebook when we started a few weeks ago of my "temporary" kitchen, and I'm posting it here too.  He is so wonderful, taking the extra hours to reconstruct a work space that honestly makes this whole process much more tolerable.  He plumbed in a new washtub sink in the middle of the room and reconfigured the upper cabinets into a rectangle to place the dishes and cooking supplies we need daily in, and he cut down the old countertops to fit on top so we have a work space.
Seriously.
Kind of blew me away.
He did this all after spending all day gutting the kitchen, dealing with gross mouldy cabinets, and heavy boxes that needed moving and throwing out.  As though he wasnt tired enough right?  But he wanted me to have a some kind of "normal" the next day... a place to plug in the coffee maker and microwave and such (thank the Lord, I need my coffee in the morning!)

So, here are some photos of the work he's been doing (I say "he" honestly, I'm not going to attempt to take any credit for any of this!), the mess we've been making, and hopefully the memories we'll both smile at some day looking back.

Emptying the cabinets before we had boxes was not the best idea ... a lot of this will got to charity.  I couldnt' believe how much "stuff" we have that we never use!

My temporary kitchen.  Unbelievable.  I married a keeper!

What was behind and under the sink cabinet.  The only one that had any water damage, which we had thought was from a junky window, but it turned out to be bad plumbing.

Replacing the kitchen window.  Wish I could keep this view of my hunky hubby always :)

New drywall in the kitchen

mudding the bulkhead, stilts are so handy!

So what's new?

The famous question ... what's new?  Probably a lot since my last post was in NOVEMBER.  What can I say?  Only what I said on that post ... life is busy, and I'd rather be enjoying it than blogging it.  But, with that said, I DO enjoy writing, so I'm not ready to give up on the blog either.

Let me see .... Christmas was great, as usual.  Lots of food, gifts, and time with family.

My work was CRAZY busy in November and December, which was fabulous and fun, but also exhausting.  I told my friend Ashley that come February,  I'd be bored again since they are naturally slower months for photography .. and true enough, I did and am saying that.


I cant say I was bored in January though.  We took a really nice family trip to California again, and we just rested at home the other weeks.

Disneyland!

Characters at Universal Studios

Transformers Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood

Dustin has kept going on the renovations .... the boys (studio) bathroom is now completely redone and new.  And we've figured out how to improve the entrance from the garage.  It involves moving the basement stairwell.  Pretty sure our sanity is officially gone out the window when Dustin and I both shrugged at that thought and said, well, then that's what we'll do.

Before

After

Our kitchen is in shambles right now.  My husband sweetheart handyman champion hero and knight in shining armour has made a temporary kitchen for me, complete with a washtub and running water for the few weeks we'll need to have this chaos in the kitchen.  Life is surprisingly "do-able" still with this temporary kitchen. 
The goal is for our new kitchen to be installed and working by March 31.  My birthday, and also Easter this year.  The plan was for us to host Easter for my side of the family, but my mom is happily on stand-by if we dont make it in time for that.

Kitchen photos to come when it's all done ;)

Ya, it's been a while again....

So, life is busy!  But, I guess that's already been guessed since my last post was in the summer!
Work is booming (yay!) and renovations on our house are continuing.  The boys are doing well in school, and we're looking forward to Christmas and yet another trip to Disney this winter! (I know, our addiction to Disney is slightly disturbing, but what can I say?  WE LOVE IT!)

Here are some highlights (in pictures, naturally) from the past few months ....


Fall is family photo time.  Not only for my own little family, but my work becomes crazy as well.  I joke that it's like tax season for Accountants.  October and November is sooo busy for photography, but I definitely love it!  I've had a chance to meet a lot of new people, and work with some great past clients again.  So awesome!

Here's a couple photos from my own little family "shoot" that my mother in law snapped on my camera quickly in September (beat the rush! ;)

 

Zach's birthday is in October, and my handsome man turned NINE this year!  Here's a few shots from his actual birthday (gifts and cupcakes at home).  I didnt' take many photos of his friends party since we held it at the pool.

And of course, a couple shots from his 9 year photo shoot.  Absolutely love them!!!  Did I mention I bought a new camera?!  Well, that's a whole other topic, but I did!  Lots of work and saving paid off.  I really love the quality I can get from it!

 Here's a major event (for me at least) that happened in October.  The weekend after Zach's birthday, I flew down to San Antonio to visit my friend Ashley for a few days.  It's the first time Ive ever travelled without Dustin or my kids.  It was great to see Ashley, hang out, and live a few days in her life (man, is mine quiet compared! ;).  Next time she'll have to come here! :)

ready for church

last photo as she dropped me off at the airport

Halloween was fun as usual.  The kids dressed up as Clone troopers (they'll tell you specifically which ones if you ask, but i cant remember).  We did a little trick or treating, and then went to church for a party there as well.

Loss struck our family as my Grandpa went to be with Jesus late in November.  It was the first death in our family my kids have ever experience. I was super proud of them for how they handled it and the questions they asked about heaven and death.  Having them (and Dustin) with me at the funeral meant the world to me. 

Renovations!  Here's a shot of Brad (yes, my 11 year old!!) helping carry drywall into the gutted and re-plumbed and re-wired bathroom.  I'd like to tell you his did all the sheets, but I ended up filling in.  Not that I blame him, it's heavy stuff and it had to come up a flight of stairs too!  This gave me a glimpse into my future though, when my BOYS will be stronger than I and able to help dad.

Disneyland got booked for winter holidays.  We're really looking forward to it (yes, again!) Disney is something we never tire of, and it's only the second time to California.  We're hoping to go to Universal as well this time, which will be completely new for us.

"Movember"!!  Need i say more?!  I love this pictures of him with his "chops!" lol!!

The house is all decorated ... mainly by these two! Love it!


 

Until next time .... and hopefully not as long in between!!!

Catching Up ....

Wow, time sure is flying!  Blogging just seems to be something "time" hasn't alloted a space for either.
So, here's a quick catchup, through pictures (because that's my favorite part of other people's blogs:) to see what we've been up to the past few months.  Leave me comments, I love to read them!! :)

May long weekend, we did a one-nighter to Grand Forks where the kids enjoyed a lazy evening around the pool (water park).  We ordered food from the hotel restaurant and ate in the courtyard.  The next day, we did some shopping before heading home.  It's amazing how one night away can be so refreshing!

 

Baseball started at the end of April and went right through until the end of school (end of June).  It was Zach's first year playing, and Brad's second (although he took a few years off in between).  They both loved it!

 

 

 

 Brad had been saving his money for quite a while already, and after reading the Hunger Games, he bought himself this bow set.  I was AMAZED at how accurate he was with only a few practice shots!  He must be a natural!

Brad's 11th birthday was mid-June, and we celebrated with some of his friends at the Aquatic Center for a few hours of swimming, and then had snacks and played some baseball at the park next door.

Also in June, my Aunt and Uncle (and cousins) came out from Alberta for a visit.  We were able to meet them for supper one evening, and went back to my grandma's for dessert after.  It was a great little visit!

 

 

Projects around the house have continued ... in the dining room, we replaced the octagon window with a door that goes out to the new patio.  So far we've only got the main pad down, and after using it for a month or so, we're feeling like it should be much bigger.  It's a very nice change from weeds back there though!

Progress has kept going in my studio space as well.  Walls have been torn down to make 2 odd rooms one large room, wiring has be rerouted, the ceiling scraped of stipple and patched and repainted, as well as the walls.  Flooring will be coming soon!

Honestly, this has taken up most of our time.  We have become pool bums, either at home or another outdoor pool.  It's been such a hot summer, pools are just so appealing!

Bon fires in the evening ... the boys always ask if we can have a fire.  Brad loves to build them, and Zach loves the marshmallows! :)

We "celebrated" Abby's second year anniversary of being with our family (what we've chosen to call her birthday since we dont know the actual day) with a bath!  She did quite well for having such a strong aversion to the hose being near her (we think she was abused as a pup with one, poor baby:(
We realized it was her first bath in TWO YEARS! .... and boy, she is so nice and soft now ... Abby's birthday will be a reminder to have one yearly, now that I know she can handle the hose with me.
She got TONS of love after with brushings, pets, treats, and a new raw-hide.  Hopefully bath day wasn't too bad for her.

 

The weeds have not totally won with my garden.  I'm wishing it wasn't quite so hot so I could keep up on the weeds more, but I just get too ill leaning over when it's over 30 degrees without shade. I've managed to keep the rows pretty clear (weeding those in the evenings) but between the rows is another story.

We're loving the fresh produce coming from it!  I just made a mock lazagna from all garden veggies! (Zucchini strips as noodles, with peas, beans, and onions in the tomato sauce!)

And that's the summer so far at a glance .... it's been great so far .... looking forward to more fun days!

How has your summer been so far??