How Much Do I Value My Marriage??

I will tell you how much...apparently $172 a yard-how much. I recently fell IN LOVE...ABSOLUTE LOVE...with a fabric I saw in a bedroom design from StudioTen25: It has both of my favorite things: the color turquoise and the Moorish trellice design. SIGH. So I began the quest to track down this pretty little stuff. Well, it is apparently available "to the trade" only. I talked with a few designers and our local design company. And I almost fell out of my chair when I was quoted $172 A YARD...oh but don't worry, our local people will give me a 20% discount! HA!! Actually, the designers from out of state I conferred with were going to give me a heck of a deal (well depending if you are me or Chad on your definition of "heck of a deal"). But I knew that even what they were talking would cause Chad to fall over right on the spot. So, do not worry...my new home will NOT be sporting $800 curtains (might I add that was the cost for just 2 little 3 x 5 windows?!). The quest continues...also if you have any source for something similar that is NOT going to require me to use my pole fitness class skills for monetary gain, it would be greatly appreciated :)

Updated Tour

Now that the weather cooperated long enough to get the framing done, the house is really moving! Today there were roofers, plumbers, HVAC people and others all doing their thing. It was so great to see all sorts of work going on out there! So here is the front now: This is standing in the foyer area looking at the stairs up and down:
If you ever wonder when you build a home, why your lumber bill is so ginormous...I will show you:

LUMBER GALORE:

This is the doorway between the dining room and kitchen:

I was so excited to see that there are even bathtubs now!

The kid's bathtub:

Standing on the catwalk upstairs looking down to the family room:

The toy room (currently serving as the tool room!):

The archway to the dining room:

There will be two columns there as well on the archway.

This is standing in the living room, looking back at the kitchen:

Hmmm, this worker is clearly working very hard holding up our bar...

Just a view standing in the dining room looking all the way to the back of the house:

Next week we meet with the electricians and "techie" people! Pictures are becoming a lot more fun to look at! Well, at least from my perspective :)

Over It

This was the view out of our office today right before the sirens went off: Spring is welcome to head on out anytime now. Given the industry I work in, spring is an AWFUL time. The tornado that struck Joplin Sunday night was horrific. That storm was on top of another tornado in Oklahoma, then there was another tornado the day after Joplin in Oklahoma. AND TODAY there was a tornado in Sedalia that headed right this way. If you think I was busy before, HOLY CRAP, it's going to get busy now!! Luckily there were no tornado touch downs in Columbia, but there were many funnels spotted that didn't turn worse.

So COME ON SUMMER!!!!

Just in Time!

Progress made as I hear the thunder rumbling!! Let's hope for some sunshine tomorrow!

Cruisin'

It was a great weekend! I have lots of things to post, but to hold you over here is Aidan driving Elin around in his dump truck. She LOVES riding with him :)

On a sidenote, Aidan was driving around with Grandma and I talking about planting some apple trees (not sure how he decided we needed to do this, but oh well)...This is what Aidan had to say:

"I am going to plant so many apple trees that it will BLOW YOUR MIND."

That is clearly some intense apple tree planting.

Ice Road Truckers: Midwest Style

I have slowly been embracing our new redneck country future and looking at things for the new place. We have a lot of land (well, to me it's a lot of land at least!). Clearly we need some sort of vehicle to maintain a bunch of it. Much of the land is wooded, but there are many clearings and the lake to take care of. Chad being the sensible Simon that he is, has been on a search (more like quest) to find a four wheeler or something to be able to do various land things. I believe this involves brush hogging and moving trees. Beyond that, I have no idea...guessing to screw around with on all that space :) Well he has been looking at tractors and ATVs and God knows what else. BUT! His very rational wife has found something OH SO MUCH BETTER... Let's take a look:

Chad wants this: Exciting? Yes. Practical? Absolutely. But to me?? Totally not embracing the magnitude of rednecking I am ready for. Enter my BRILLIANT IDEA:
I KNOW! THAT MY FRIENDS, IS A GO-KART!! A semi-truck go-kart. I about died when I saw them. Screw the four wheeler, Aidan needs one of these babies!! And that isn't even the coolest part...

OH YES! You can buy a trailer to pull with them!! Only the most practical thing I have ever wanted!!! So now, how do we convince Chad that this is a great idea???

STILL FRAMING

And yes, we are STILL framing. Well, Leroy is. Lordy this is a LOOOOOOOONG process. Good news is he will be done next week and we can move on! These framing pictures are getting boring!

Hi there Leroy! He is also wearing such snappy hats :)

So what happens next? We move on to plumbing and electric then we get to put up drywall!! Woo hoo! I say "we" like I have a part in it, but we all know the real deal.

Elin's 1 Year Stats

At her 1 year appointment, this is what we learned:
WEIGHT: 23.7 lbs (90th percentil)
LENGTH: 29.75 inches (50th percentile)
HEAD: I can't remember the actual measurement, but she is in the 90th percentile (of course! )

She got 3 shots and had to have her lead test. TRAUMATIZING. For me. And her. 3 sticks to the arm and they still couldn't get her tiny veins. It took 3 of us to hold down my little muscle baby and then they finally had to just prick her finger. I must have sweat off like 10 pounds during that ordeal. If I wouldn't have gone back to work, I would have been heading to the bar. Poor baby. She zonked out right away and is snoozing happily in Cheryl's arms now.

We won't be going back until her 15 month appointment.

Some Random Birthday Photos

We got the photos that Chad's parents took of Elin's party. I thought I would just post some more kid pics since that has sort of been lacking lately here :)

Elin hanging out in the dining room

Testing her musical skills

BFFs

Enjoying her water table...in the kitchen

All 4 grandparents took the kids downtown to the train station and governor's garden. They ended up with some fantastic pictures of the kiddos

My big boy (also note: he is wearing his swimming trunks LOL)

Playing on the rocks

Grandma and the kids at the "statues"

More posting to come later. Just wanted to get these up real quick!

Happy Birthday Elin!

Today our baby turned 1! It is crazy to think a whole year has gone by already. Our little 6 lb 14 oz baby girl is now a busy toddler. She has her one year appointment on Monday so we will see how she sizes up to Aidan :)

May 6, 2010 Happy Birthday, Elin Grace!
The proud big brother and his sister

Our baldy

Sorry, I couldn't resist putting in one of my favorite pictures of my boys from this summer:

Elin and I were lounging on the patio while my men would "swim" in our classy blow up pool (with their Kool sunglasses mind you!). That picture is in the same folder as the Elin picture above it so I couldn't leave it out :)

Daddy and his princess

7 weeks old

Aidan LOVES having a baby sister

Getting hair!!! It's light and blonde but it's there!

Almost 1:

Our big girl

Happy birthday Elin! We love you!