Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who came and helped us this week and those who will come next week in advance!  We are finally moved in completely and just have some cleaning to do at the old place.  It's been a big move just due to all of the work that needs to be done.  On the other hand, I am taking it just a little at a time since I have to.  So that's kind of nice in a way.  As long as it keeps moving, I'm ok.  

My friends La Rae and the Cushmans came and did a lot this week.  And then my sisters came and really helped us get a big chunk done.  The kitchen is painted with more pictures to come!  So I will be able to put that together now.  And then we just need the floor and baseboards put on along with the cabinet doors.  Then we are hoping to get some butcher block countertops put in with a new sink and faucet.  And THEN  or TA!!! as Ava says for TADA!   We will be taking out a wall!  Can't wait!  

Hopefully this next week we will - 

Finish the kitchen 

Get the bunk beds

Do the bathroom shower and floor

Paint both rooms 

Get started on the living room

All as I go through every box and bin we own decluttering - one of my favorite things to do!  

We have taken a few days off school which Jack is ecstatic about.  Hoping we can get back on this next week.  It's a very overwhelming task and hard to focus on school too.  But we will get there.  

Progress

Down with the apples!  Thanks, La Rae! And Janell helped paint the cabinets.  Didn't get a picture of her.  She also brought lunch two days along with her signature M&MS!!  Not sure why some of the pictures with the new phone look foggy.  Sorry.  

The cabinets painted white

The beginnings of a school room

Green kitchen

The kitchen before

Living room

Kids room - They will be sharing.  We have hardwood floors in a couple of rooms!  A treat!

Our room or rooms - The wall by the door will be coming down to make a master which we hope to connect to the bathroom also.  

Pink bathroom - the room that needs the most work 

The downstairs room that we will use for school 

Guest room downstairs

Lots of storage

The downstairs bathroom - the one room that we are not doing much of anything to - nice to have a good bathroom while we are working.  We will be taking out the carpet at some point.  

Ava's funnies

We are moving in pieces.  A few of Ava's toys came over yesterday, and she said to them, "I miss you!"

She told me the other day that she "didn't want a toenail."  What?!?  She meant ponytail.  Yep I love this phase.  Now if we could complete the potty training.  The move has put us on pause a bit.  She goes whenever we take her, but she just has to jump over the hurdle of telling me when she has to go.  But it's good to see progress.  

Homeowners on Budd Street

We have now bought our 2nd home in our marriage and finally feel like we are a part of Fairmont.  There will be some projects to be done, but we feel it is a good purchase for us.  I am looking forward to all being on the same floor again.  And I'm excited to have a designated school room.  We haven't moved quite yet since we are hoping to do a few things there.  There are walls to knock out, a shower to install, flooring to put down besides painting and removing some wallpaper.  I'm looking forward to making it our place.  There will be before and after pictures when the "after" gets done.  

I asked the kids if they liked the house and they said yes.  So I asked their favorite part about it and Jack said his favorite thing was that they can hide in the closets.  They basically have been running around and hiding from each other which is kind of fun when there's no furniture yet.  And Ava's favorite part was her toys.  Not sure if she understood quite what I was asking.  

Kids crazy faces

Yikes

Ava seeing the Christmas section at Menards 

Ava trying to charm us

A really big deal

Since moving to Fairmont, we have tried to post to the blog more so the family and friends we left can keep up with us, but sometimes it feels a little like we are talking about ourselves too much.  So I saw this quote on Facebook that made me laugh and could describe how it might look on here sometimes.  

"I'm pretty much a really big deal on my blog."  Hahahahaha!  I love it!  See?  I'm even laughing at my own jokes.  Oh sigh. Ha!

Kids Update

Ava has been teaching herself songs and poems that Jack has learned in school.  It's so fun to see her really work hard on those things.  She is also quick to jump up and perform so far too.  I love this stage!  We have taken a few videos, so will try to get some on here.  

She is making progress with the potty training!  Woohoo!  I wondered for a while if I would be able to say that.  But I think something is starting to click, so that's a relief!  She is also stepping up and trying to dress herself; she can buckle herself usually; and wants to do everything herself.  So these are good signs to me that progress is being made.  

One mommy note I have noticed is that Jack doesn't need the little hangers for his clothes anymore.  They hang fine on the bigger hangers.  Aww!  So Jack I feel is on his way out of my favorite stage, and Ava is on her way in.  Of course, they're my two favorite kids in the whole world, so each stage will be special because they are.  But I just love that excitement of learning new things and still learning how to say certain words.  No loose teeth yet though!  And still lots of funny moments.  He still calls watermelon "lemonade" for some reason, but now he corrects himself.  I'm enjoying each stage and trying to take mental pictures of it all so I don't forget.  But that's why we do this blog.