Early morning Breakfast

Alan comes home from work about 10:30 or 11 every night.  So the kids had a couple of days off from school, and Sid wanted to wake up early and fix Alan breakfast, she put arrows all over the house and than right above our bed she wrote, "Sleep in on Thursday ok?"  So I woke her up at 6 on Thursday morning, and she fixed the family waffles and eggs.  I thought it was pretty cute, and very generous knowing she had the day off and still wanted to get up that early and fix breakfast for her dad!

Kitchen Re-do

Kitchen before Pic

Kitchen Before pic /started tearing down wallpaper

Kitchen before pic/back door

Kitchen-after pic, grey blue walls, and grey green door (stained)

Kitchen - after pic, back door, mazy yellow w/blk stain

Kitchen-it looks fab, I must say! Before the re-do it was just an ordinary kitchen in an old farm house (1890's)... The walls were a cream color with trim and in need of a paint job.  The doors were painted white with a matte finish, and were horribly dirty, (would not come clean)  I just thought eeewwhhh [all of those previous renter germs)...so by painting and staining, you will never see the dirt or grime again, and it adds pizazz to the kitchen.  (it is recommended that you use a glaze... But I love to use gel stain-glazes are much easier clean-up)

My new Music/Office Room

So, here is the story of the Black walls, a little different than the norm, but it turned out beautiful.  There is a lot of white trim and windows in this little room.  I told Alan I was going to paint this room black, and he said, "Don't do it..." but I listened to my inner self and went ahead and did it anyway.  I failed to mention to the owners what I was doing.  They showed up on the day I was painting it, EEEKK and I just about died... They said it was okay, but I made them a deal, when we move out, I would paint it over (on my own time, and purchase the paint)  They agreed.  But they never saw the finished product, they walked into my house when it was a complete and a total disaster, and I had stuff strung all over the place, as did the kids.  I was slightly embarrassed, and I braced myself, waiting for their reply... Turned out it wasn't so bad, I asked Carman (the owner) if she liked it? and she said, "Of course, but I have to." (because the paint was already purchased and on the wall).  I think it came together magnificently.. Just purchased some material & at some point in my day... week... month... I will make some valances and hang them.

Brit

Lil Brit, misses his sisters, they are his lil' mothers, They spoil him rotten, if he screams because he wants a spoon instead of a fork, they run to the kitchen to get him the exact color, size, shape he wants.  He is definitely my most spoiled child.  The saying,"when he's good, he's real good, and when he's bad he's real bad.  That fits him to a "T" 

Briton 3 yrs. Old, My little shadow

Picture Day- wanted in on the action ;- )

First Grade School Pic, Mrs. Pankukk

Addy is doing really well in school she is at the top of her class when she was tested a few weeks ago.  She uses big vocabulary at home, and she does her best.  She is a great friend to everyone, but doesn't mind speaking her mind to those around her.  The other day the neighbor boy "Soren" (who lives across the street)  was walking down the sidewalk past our house, and Addy saw that he was not coming to knock on our door to play with her.  She ran outside on the porch, jumped on the swing, and yelled, " SO, your not coming to play with me, HUH?!? She is my tomboy/princess;  I asked her if she wanted to try out a dance class, and she looked at me with her face all scrunched up and said, "Oooh, no!"  We have about 4 boys who come around daily to play with the girls, I look out on the side walk, and they're all on their scooters, and Addy usually is somewhere in the middle of a bunch of boys... with her little bro in tow!

School Pics

 School Picture day.  Life is good in fourth grade, her teacher is Sally Druffel.  The Name of Sid's school is Lena Whitmore Elementery.  Most days sid rides her bike to and from school.  She is really starting to love reading, her favorite subject is music.  Her music teachers name is Mrs. Edwards, she keeps asking if we are related to her... She just joined a band called "All City Band"  She is going to play the piano in the band.  When they perform she will play the drums, bells, or the Meranga.  She is really excited about the band, they are playing at the U of I homecoming in a few weeks.  She is also taking piano from a wonderful piano teacher.  She is very knowledgeable, and she is sweet, but she pushes Sid to do her best.   

First Day of School- A bundle of nerves

Poster reads:  1st day of school "1st Grade"

Poster reads: 1st day of school "4th Grade"

First day of school, here we go!!! We are a couple of about 5 blocks from the school, so the girls hopped on their bikes & we were off the day!  they were excited and ready to go, but once they hit the playground and saw everything around then was unfamiliar, they extrovert instantly became introvert... which is par for the course.... Addy left her little assignment home- and so she just about had buckets of tears, but Alan dropped it off to her before he left for school this morning.  Sidnee was headed into an unknown world of 4th grade.  She is almost the biggest kid in Elem. school, their sixth grade class just moved to middle school.  She has her own locker, and she knows a few kids in the other 4th grade class.  She is so shy, and she was really scared this morning, but I think she will grow to love it. Addy has several kiddos she knows in her class, I think she will get along famously- if she can just remember where she goes, and if she can remember to take her homework to school, and where her shoes are, and where her backpack is... and where her jacket is... the list goes on and on and on.... Hugs and kisses to my girls, I have thought about them all day.... can't wait til 3