FROM BLAH TO TA-DA!As our friends and family know, we love home improvement projects. In fact, we seem to be addicted to them. We bought our current house because we'd just finished the remodel in Seattle and wanted something that was in "move-in" condition. It was great, but we started changes things shortly after moving in - replacing the blinds, painting the walls, refinishing the kitchen cupboards, etc. etc. We just can't stop. Last summer we - uh, "we" as in Rob and his paint sprayer - painted the exterior of the house, changing it from blue and burgundy to "Cafe Ole" with white trim and black shutters. This past winter the focus was on transforming the basement from concrete and cinderblock to in-law worthy guest space. And this summer's project was what you see above - our Grand Pergola. I know, you're wondering if it really took a whole summer to construct it. We spent hours poring over deck and garden books, making sketches, and arguing over size and layout. Finally we had a plan and I told Rob that when the project was finished he could have the I-Pod he'd been drooling over. What dedication! What hours spent in the 90-degree sun! What determination as the sun set and the nail gun continued its stacatto pa-chunka! Of course, like every project there were some snags along the way: Do we need 2 supports, or 3? Do we paint it before it's constructed, or after? Is the concrete stain too pink? (As it turns out, yes.) Will it hold up to our climate's frequent 60 mph -plus winds just because our toothpick model seems secure? After much hemming and hawing and nailing and sawing it was complete. A little too late in the season for plants, but we needed a project for next summer anyway...
MUG SHOTS
Our children seem to like having their pictures taken - pull out the camera and they're all smiles. I'm sure it has nothing to do with my constant monologue of "Say cheese! Wheeeere's Mama?! Helloooo!" I seem intent on filling up our hard drive with pictures, and our bookshelves with photo albums. Here are a few of my latest favorites of Haley...
MOBILE AT LAST!
After months of frustration at only being able to inch around, Jake is truly crawling. He is so happy to be able to actually get somewhere! He seems to be hitting the milestones so much more quickly than Haley, but it could just be the lack-of-sleep haze we're still in. This kid does not seem to need much sleep and often wakes up at 2 a.m. ready to play. It would be cute if it wasn't so exhausting. I thank my lucky stars several times a week that my wonderful husband is willing to get up with Jake and coax him back to sleep. We often daydream about the good ol' days when we used to sleep the whole night through, and wonder if we'll ever do that again...I'm not sure if we will...
