Laura on the Roof

No one asked me if this was OK

Ava's Birthday

 Back in September, Adam decided it was crime that we don't celebrate Ava's birthday. So I indulged him and we declared the next day, September 5th, to be Ava's official birthday. She had to stay 4 this year though, so she would still be younger than Adam (that is very important to him). Next year, she can turn 5. 

We chose a day that Jim was out of town, because I don't think he'd be down with the doggy birthday thing :)

We baked and decorated a birthday cake.

She even had candles!

And she didn't even have to share.

Happy Birthday Ava!

stuff and things

Laura again...

hello?....  I just started the percy jackson books and it is kind of creepy...  but still very cool! It is very much like harry potter series ( witch mom won't let me read the next one)!


I am also   learning:

• cursive 
• how to write number-symbols in hieroglyphics,and Chinese. 
• a clay pro. 
• a new karate class 
• some more piano

 My piano teacher just got a new dog : a 7-week old black lab puppy!!! and we get to let her out when mrs.Wood ( my teacher ) is at work!!!! her name is  Nikka and she chews on  everything, even my hair!

 

Kitchen complete, for now...

Here's the final countertop and backsplash. 

We just couldn't decide on tile for the backsplash. We knew we wanted color back there, but felt like all the tiles we could find were so...dated? People will look back in about 20 years and say "oh, that backsplash is from 2014." They are all the same. And also too busy. So, we just painted it the same color as the accent wall, which leaves open the option of tiling later if we find something just fantastic.

The countertops are plain white Corian. I like the feel and look of it. It does stain easier than I would like, but is easily cleaned with Bar Keepers Friend. I think the sink is great, although Jim is struggling with that change. It is also Corian and integrated with the countertop. He feels the classic stainless steel sink just look the way a kitchen sink should look. And we have a new faucet that I'm loving. 

And that's the end of the remodel. New lights were considered, but that has fallen off the radar for right now. Maybe someday...

busy bees

At some point this summer, the kids and I had a very productive, at-home day.

I don't remember when it was or everything we did, but I found this pictorial evidence:

I had the kids oil all my wooden kitchen stuff

We made bread

We made cookies and had a tea party

And we canned some jam and did some drumming

Jim's birthday 2014

From last June...

Melt Your Heart

So many years ago...

Time Out

and a sweet hug

Stuff

Adam and Jim made me a fun snack plate

Laura made me a hot pad

Kids wanted to practice knitting

Adam playing with the camera timer again.

Messing around while waiting for the bus

1st trip to OK pics

Some last pictures from our first trip to Oklahoma this past summer

Pretty midwestern sky, storm rolling in 

Golden silk

Riding the train in Independence, KS

no teeth!

Grandma & Papa!

Quick stop on the way to OK

Laura made her own corn husk doll

Silly mustache car fun