Random pictures for Friday.

Charish loves Art class.  She is working on her Art all of the time at home.  

A little fuzzy.. but oh so cute!

Gavin, you are adorable inside and out... your mom apologizes for this hair cut.  I will never do it again!

Kids sleeping.  I took SO many pictures of Chanse sleeping when he was young.  

Can't you see the fire in her eyes?  She is full of spunk.

I think he has the pout perfected.

Speechless.

I get very few pictures of Chanse anymore, but he was happy to let me take some of him with his A.  Newly painted and some other work done.  I have no clue about these things.  He is ready to pull this summer!

One last look

All ready for paint!  

Dave got the ceiling painted on Tuesday, and he also painted the kitchen ceiling which was patched up and textured.  I can't believe how good it looks.  We thought we would have to gut the kitchen when we replace the cabinets, but now it's looking like we won't have to totally gut it.  

He also painted two walls in the craft room.  That room with the book shelf... you know the one...  It's a small room and full of book shelves and desks and tables so we'll move everything to the other side of the room and he'll paint the other two walls.  Hoping to get all the paint finished on Monday and Tuesday!

Spring

Gracie lost her first tooth today!

She dropped it on the ground a few times before I got a shot of it.

I think she is too young to lose her first tooth! My baby girl!

These flowers are always the first little patch to bloom in our yard.  They look really silly where they are.  Every year I tell myself I'm going to move them - but then they're gone and I forget until the next spring!

Charish got her birthday present a couple months early.  She hasn't had a bike for a couple years... can't wait to take it out on the new path!

Day 6

I'm starting to get weary of all of the dust on everything...

and terribly dirty floors...

But, I was excited to learn that paint is on sale at Agri Center.  Buy one get one free!  Gotta love sales fair!

Texture goes on today!

I got to go out on a date with Dave last night.  All the way to Madison!  We picked up a waffle cone iron for Dave's.  And then we went out to eat.  Of all of the choices in Madison guess what we picked?  Pizza!  I know, that is crazy.  We ate at The Roman Candle.  The food was good, and I liked the atmosphere.  The waiter was awkwardly funny.  It was a nice time.  Seems like we've spent lots of time together on trips like that in the last 12 months.

So yesterday I was reading Luke chapter 10.  At the end of the chapter Jesus is at Martha's house.  Martha seems to be doing what all of us women do when we have company... get busy serving.  You know how that looks.  Her sister Mary on the other hand just sit's at Jesus' feet and listens to him.  So Martha starts complaining to Jesus about how she is doing all of the work by herself and here is how the chapter ends:  "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." 

Wow.  Did that speak to my heart.  It might as well say "Carrie, Carrie..."

I know many friends suffer from this, and when there is much to be done it feels like there is no time to sit and read God's word and pray.  No time just to be in the presence of Jesus and not distracted by all of the stuff going on in life.

But we need it, and we are better for it.

Thankful thoughts

I had a great day today.  I got to go to La Crosse all by myself and have a nice lunch with my sister at Piggy's.  They have a great soup and salad bar.
Do you know my sister?  She is awesome.

This is what she looks like after running a half-marathon.  Unbelievable.
I love her.
I don't get to spend nearly enough time with her.

I also did some shopping... nothing fun, though.

Charish and I started in on the lawn until it was time to go to Awana.  I got to listen to 3 second grade boys recite their verses tonight.  I love that.  There is an Awana program in Westby and Viroqua (and probably any city near you).  If you haven't heard of it you should check it out.  It is non-denominational, and an exceptional program to help you lead them to trust Christ for salvation and grow them in enduring faith and service to God.  (taken from their web site)
My kids have been going for 8 years and I have been serving there for 4.  If you want to know more about it ask me!

All sheetrock has been hung now.

It doesn't look like much progress has been made, but Ben has been (haha - it's late and everything is kinda funny) mudding for 2 days.  There is no electricity in the room so I'll have to take new pictures in the morning.

I am glad to catch my two shadows in the shots.  They were following me around.  Gracie is always singing a song and doing a dance.

With no help from you I have chosen a color.
For shame that you all read this but don't talk back to me!
It's okay.  I'll get over it.

Carpet is going to cost much more than I had expected :(

No school tomorrow and Friday and beautiful balmy weather means that my yard should get some more attention over the next few days.  I am hoping to prime, too but who wants to be inside with weather like this?

Praising God for it, and for all of these blessed moments.

Progress

We're making progress on the living/dining room...

it's gotta get worse before it gets better, right?

The piano couldn't really find a different home, so here it sits.

The hole across the middle of the ceiling shows us that this was once two rooms.

We were told that this house was the first one on the block, it was owned by the first Governor of Wisconsin's wife, and it was made out of wood from an old school building that was torn down.
I love houses with character.  There are houses with a lot more character than this one... but it has some cool history.

So next we need to pick out some paint colors.  What do you think?

I'm back!

Here's what has been going on here the last several weeks...

Yes, that was back in January...

... and this is all I have to show for February.

My Eli turned 4 today.  We celebrated his birth last night with grandma, grandpas, aunts, uncle, and cousins.  I am so thankful that our family lives near so we can spend these special occasions together.

I am bummed that I didn't get to blog at all in February, but sometimes life just doesn't allow.  I look forward to getting back to it.  I'll have pictures of our dining/living room remodel that is underway now.  Here is what it looked like this morning....

What is sweeter than a 5 year old with bed head and an outfit she picked out all by herself?

Yes, the final sheets of paneling are now gone.  This stuff has been in here too long!