Um, April?

Lovely weather we're having here in the Arctic Tundra, no?


It's nearly mid-April. About 2 weeks ago we had 80 degree weather. When the hot, sunny weather was here we had no appropriate clothing because I hadn't yet unpacked it. So I made the bi-annual switch. I packed away all the snow pants, coats, boots and mittens. Up went the sweaters and corduroy pants. Then to laugh at me, Mother Nature ordered 4 inches of snow and once again we didn't have the appropriate clothing, because I had packed it away and pulled out the short-sleeves and flip-flops. We now have piecemeal clothing, and my laundry is totally unorganized with some shorts and some long underwear. Now we've got both wardrobes out, mostly spread out over the boys' room. I sure wish Mother nature would make up her mind.

I did get a chance to take a few more pictures of our progress. The big window is still not framed and many of are walls are lacking decor. Slowly but surely we're working toward collecting things we love. Our masons will begin in about 2 weeks on the exterior. As much as I love the Tyvek look, I'm eager for it to get done.

No flash - natural light


With flash


Einstein shows off the school room


Einstein wants to know if his toes will get cold in the snow if he wears his new Disney Crocs out there.


That would be an affirmative, young man.

Scourge of the Neighborhood

First, I need to brag on a grammar, writing, language program we just invested in about a month ago. It is a phonics-based spelling program that also focuses on cursive writing early. I have to show the beautiful work that 6-year-old Einstein did today. He writes more beautifully than I do, and MUCH more beautifully than Handy Man, who thinks the only difference between capitol letters and lower case letters is that the former is taller. He writes like an architect. Oh, wait... hee hee.

Oh and guess what?! Masons are coming to my house soon, very soon, and that means... TA DA... we won't be the scourge of the neighborhood for too much longer. Our house will not remain forever wrapped in Tyvek sheeting. (If you're one of my neighbors, we're really sorry. We blame Mother Nature entirely!) Soon our house will have stone on the lower half, up to the windows, Hardy Plank siding on the top portion and cedar shanks in the dippity-dos (that's wife-speak for in between the pointy parts). Pictures to come soon. In the meantime, I'll post our neighborhood scourge pic of our house. Too bad I didn't get a pic of the dirty looks my neighbor gave us last weekend while he was picking up sticks in his perfectly manicured lawn, because he looked like he wanted to light our house on fire.




And even though those pictures were taken last summer... the exterior really doesn't look much different. The back still looks like this, only muddier, with windows.


Wait'll they find out we're lousy landscapers, too.

Halleluia Pantry!

I have a pantry! Can you hear the chorus of angels?

Normally I wouldn't show anyone the contents of my panties,uh pantry... but since it's all been sitting on my kitchen countertops and kitchen table for 3 months, it's up for the lookin'! Didn't Handy Man do a good job?!

That's 80 linear feet, folks. And yes, those are my Girl Scout cookies. If you ask nicely, I'll share.