The front porch has been a big project on our to-do list since we moved in! It was very dilapidated and hardly anyone would attempt to come up on it even though it was plenty sturdy. So many people walk all the way around the house to the back kitchen door to avoid it so it was nice to finally tackle it!
This was another super long project because it was simultaneous with the master shower and all the other stuff life brings. I think we started demo in September, but didn't start putting it back together until October. We were just going to demo the floor, but once that came off the outside walls just kind of fell down. Grandpa came over to help one weekend and they framed it in pretty quick.
It stayed like this for a couple weeks until we were able to get back to it.
Then another weekend they laid down the Trek flooring. It looks SO nice!! And no splinters for little feet!
Jax didn't understand where the stairs went. Haha.
Once the framing was done, everything got sheeted, papered, and then a mesh was stapled all over to give the brick something to stick to.
Grandpa came over two weekends in a row to help, sooo nice!
Little by little we got it up. T worked on it a couple hours on free evenings, and I helped out when I could.
This was back when the flies were in full force. There were literally thousands sunbathing on the side of the house. Yuck!
T put the stairs together the day we went to the pumpkin patch. They turned out beautifully!
I thought there was no way we could possibly finish, but Grandpa came over one day and he and I worked outside in the rain for hours. T wasn't able to take off but we got a ton done. The next day they came back and the three of us worked in the rain all day. Grandma kept the circus going inside, and we brick, brick, bricked.
The next day T and I were able to finish up. The only thing left is the top layer. We have to buy some more bricks and I'm not sure at this point if we'll be able to do it or if we'll have to wait for some warmer temperatures in the Spring. The mortar needs to stay at a certain temperature in a 24 hour period. But it turned out SOOO nice!!! I love it!!!!
Thank you so much for your help Grandpa!!! We for sure wouldn't have gotten it done without you!
I've always thought that I didn't like volleyball, but I guess I just never gave it a chance because I really enjoyed watching Bug's season! They had a fun group of girls and we are very thankful for the opportunity she had to be on a real team!
And I'm really looking forward to watching them grow over the next few years! Almost all of them were first year players so it will be fun to watch them as they get more experience.
The littles stole my phone at least once every game to take selfies and pictures of things. Haha.
Their last home game was the most exciting...they won!!! And not just one of the sets...all three!
They were SO excited!!! I was really happy for them...a great note to end on in their own gym!
We missed the next game because it was during Awana and out of town so she rode the bus. Grandma and Grandpa were able to be there for her though and cheered her on. :)
Her last game was also out of town...two whole hours away, but we really didn't want to miss the last one so Noni volunteered to stay with the others so they didn't have to spend four hours in the car and T and I got a mini-date day. :)
The gym floor was some interesting plastic tile things.
They didn't win that one but they had fun, and I'd say overall it was a great experience for her to be part of a team!
The others had a great time at home with Noni, and learned some new tricks. Haha.
Thanks for letting us make her last game Noni! See you next year Volleyball!
Lou can't seem to catch a break, health-wise. She seems to come down with something every week or so. One Sunday morning she woke up coughing a bit but didn't have any other symptoms so we took her to church. I felt bad later when she started running a low fever and her cough turned into a terrible sounding bark. She ended up being immobile for the next two and half days! :( That Sunday night she woke up crying EIGHT times. She threw up two different times because she was coughing so hard. It was a rough night!
She didn't want to do anything except be carried around. Monday morning I was getting tired of carrying her so I sat down and she promptly fell asleep. Sweet baby.
That's not quite a baby anymore...she's getting so long! :'{
She got extra TV time that day. Boo had an orthodontist appointment and the rest had piano lessons that day. I texted Daddy that she still had a fever so he took off early and came home to stay with her so I didn't have to drag her to town. She fell asleep on the couch while watching TV.
Monday night was better, but Tuesday she was only up an hour before she fell back asleep while we were snuggling. She had barely eaten anything in two days and that day she took a four hour nap without making a peep!
She went to bed early that night and had a good night. The next day she acted like nothing had ever happened and was bouncing around. She had so much energy she played through naptime-in her dark room. Daddy stayed home with her that night from Awana just to make sure she was totally back to normal, but she was good to go and enjoying the last of the sick pampering.
We were listening to Odyssey and it said "Katrina is tutoring a young child." Peaches gasped in shock, "She was tooting on a young child?!?"
March 18th
Peaches was calling Jax a king. "King Jax! Don't bite me!...Mommy!!! He's eating my royal money!"
March 27th
She brings me a Jessie costume and shows me the tag with the washing instructions. "Look Mommy. This says you can sew it." Me: "Ok. Where?" Her, quizzically, "Right here. In the kitchen." Me: "No. I mean where does is need to be sewed?" Her: "Uhhhh, I don't know. Can you sew it?" Me: "Well, if it gets a hole I will sew it ok?" Her, happy, "Ok!"
May 19th
I accidentally got some water on her when I was fixing her hair. "Oops, I'm sorry." Her: "Whoa! That's ok. I still love you. Hmm. But I'm still wet."
June 5th
Me: "What's wrong?" Her: "Somethings wrong with Octonauts! (tv show) It's awk-weird!" I looked at it a moment and realized she had somehow put it on Korean. :P
June 6th
Her: "Did I derrupt you?" Me, trying not to laugh, "No you didn't interrupt me."
June 14th
Peanut, talking about cookies being passed out to everyone, "Why did they get two and half pieces and we only get two?" Peaches, happily says, "Here A! Just break them in half and then you have more!"
I can't believe our baby is three!!! I truly have tried to enjoy every moment, knowing she is our last baby, but it has still flown by! This sweet girl is SUCH a joy.
In my head I think of her as a wild child (knocking out your front tooth, and killing a cat before age 2 will do that, lol), but really she is a very easy toddler. I can let her go off an play for a long time...even an hour at a time, and not have to worry about anything being destroyed. Messy, yes, but ruined, no.
She is such a sweetie. She loves to snuggle and give hugs and kisses. She often runs through the room on her way to something else and pauses to kiss my hand, arm, leg...whatever is most readily available. :)
She loves her sisters dearly and always wants to play with them and be included in their activities. "My turn?" is a common phrase. She thinks she is just as big as them and can do anything they can do. :)
She is very independent and we just have to tell her to go get ready for bed and she will run upstairs to gather a pull up and pajamas. She can take everything off and get everything on except shirts. She also can get her socks and shoes on by herself.
Sometimes she will decide she doesn't want to do something and uses the excuse that she is "tiny". It cracks me up. I'll say, "Can you please pick up these toys?" and she will respond, "I can't! I'm tiny!" Once we were at the playground and a bigger boy (probably 5) came running up the slide when she was about to go down. She scowled at him and said, "I'm tiny!"
Some of my other favorite phrases are "bottle water" instead of water bottle, "cereal pancakes" instead of pancake cereal, "Yes Sam!" for Yes M'am, "Mon! Show me!" for C'mon, I want to show you something, "Me scuse?" for may I please be excused. If someone says, "You're so cute!" she answers, "Yes! I am!" She used to say, "Cue Ma-ma, me eat" for Thank you for my food, but that one has gone away.
The one that needs the most interpretation is "I need cut my baby shark" because I always let her watch the Baby Shark video on YouTube when I'm cutting her fingernails. Another funny thing she does is to sigh dramatically and with perfect exasperation say, "Again?!" at random times. Like when I say, "Ok it's time to take a nap!" she will droop her shoulders and hold her hands out with her palms up, "Ugh! Again?!" Most of the time she is totally happy to take a nap or go to bed though. If we've kept her up late for some reason she will keep telling us, "Time for bed!"
Here is her first birthday interview:
1. Favorite color: Green
2. Favorite toy: Stuffs an-mals
3. Favorite fruit: Blueberries
4. Favorite TV show:Cocomelon
5. Favorite lunch: chicken nuggets
6. Favorite outfit: pajamas
7. Favorite game: Beds
8. Favorite snack: monsters apples
9. Favorite animal: this one (elephant)
10. Favorite song: Jesus, Lullaby
11. Favorite book: Belly Button Book
12. Your best friend: Peaches (they do everything together!)
13. Favorite Cereal: Peanut Butter Capn' Crunch
14. Favorite thing to do outside: Mud!
15. Favorite drink: hot chocolate
16. Favorite holiday: Birthday (she's been asking every day for two months)
17. Favorite breakfast: cereals
18. What do you like to take to bed: Bun-bun, blanket, doggie
19. What do you want to be when you grow up: Four! 20. What do you want for your birthday dinner? frosting pink, chicken nuggets
Dear Lou,
Happy Birthday sweet girl! I think if I loved you any more I would burst. You fill our lives with such joy and laughter. You make every room brighter just by being in it. You are too darn cute, and you know it!
There is nothing better than watching you grow and change every day, learning about the world around you and taking it all in with bright eyes and squeals of joy. I love how excited you get about the smallest things. You jump into the air, hands doing a double fist pump and you shout, "Best day ever!" You remind me to find joy in the little things and to always look for the good. Your sweet hugs and kisses make my day.
You are amazing sweet girl. I can't wait to see how God uses your life for His glory. I love how you love to pray, read bible stories, and learn your Awana verses. Church, "School" (Sunday school), and Awana are your favorite places to go! I pray that you keep seeking after Him as you grow.
I love you more than I could ever say my precious baby. Thank you for being you. Thank you for all the joy you bring to our lives. Thank you for the thousand ways you fill all our hearts. Happy birthday. I hope three is your best year ever!
Noni brought Mama to one of Bug's games! She has quite the cheering section. :)
One of her games was played at the school that T and I graduated from! It was so fun to go back there and see the old school. It is actually a different Christian school now, but the building is still very much the same as it was 21 years ago. It was really fun watching her play in the gym where we logged so many hours!
It is fun to watch her play anywhere! She is a great little player! It's hard to believe it's her first time!
I did find out that it's definitely not as comfortable to be the one sitting on the bleachers. Thanks Noni and Grandma and Grandpa for all the many MANY hours you all logged sitting on those hard bleachers! Haha!
