Fun Fall Happenings

Some pumpkin patch lovin...

Halloween goodness...

Thanksgiving FUN! First year hosting in our new house.

So fun. I felt so grown-up...

Julius and Geoffrey, two of our Kenyan friends,

came to have pie with us on Thanksgiving night

I LOVE eating big boy food...

GO BUCKS!!!!!

some before and after

Just a few before and after pics of the downstairs of our house. :) We obviously didn't de-clutter before taking many of the pics. Oh well! Also, we've done a bit more re-arranging and "decorating" since several of these pics have been taken. But you can get the general feel for now...

Let the wallpaper show begin!!!

BEFORE (downstairs half bath)


AFTER (downstairs half bath)



BEFORE (Downstairs half bath)

AFTER (downstairs half bath)




BEFORE (laundry room)
AFTER (laundry room)

BEFORE (kitchen, excluding the eat-in area)



AFTER (kitchen, excluding the eat-in area)

BEFORE (Living room): AFTER (Living room)

BEFORE (Dining room):

AFTER (dining room):

BEFORE (family room):

AFTER (family room):

been awhile

So I realize that I haven't posted on here in FOREVER. I read my last post just now...that's why my blogging has been pushed aside to some degree. Ha!! Our lives have just been on super speed. I'm gonna get a few pics on here for me to remember the month of October 2010, but also to show how much we've gotten down around here. It's been nonstop. We're tired, but we're so excited. We love love love this house. It's home now, and that's pretty awesome. We're comfortable here. Praise God for that.

Here are a few highlights from the last 5 weeks...more pics soon...

1st night hangin out back...no furniture...just pizza, a beer,

and some family to check it all out!!

1st family dinner in our new house!!!

Girls and some friends...still no furniture!

Happy 3rd birthday Miss Emma!!

My biggest challenge is to make sure that I give my kids the best of me. That's been my goal this past month. Do the house work when they're sleeping, or when someone is here to help with the kids for a minute. But I've gotta feed my precious babe. Gotta get school work done with Ellie. Gotta smooch Emma as much as I possibly can...she's the one whose little life as gone through the most change. Her world was ME, Ryan, and Ellie. Her bed was below Ellie's bed. Her needs were met immediately whenever she had one. And mommy's baby was in mommy's tummy. Now...Griffin is alive and well, and demands much of me. :) She now sleeps in a queen size bed in a room by herself. And often when she needs a drink or a snack, I am tied up feeding Griffin and simply can't help her. It's hard sometimes, not gonna lie.

But we're plugging away. House projects are being checked off the list, slowly but surely. Another week of pressing on and then we'll probably take a break for awhile? Maybe? Ryan is a machine...doesn't stop. We both just say we want our normal lives back SOON, so whatever it takes to get us to that place--we'll do it. I guess that means I should stop blogging and go unpack some boxes from the garage. I'm out!