Quite the Process....

The past few months all we have been doing it seems is working on our basement. I took photo's of every phase that the basement went through so that we could look back and see all that it went through to get its "transformation". This weekend will be the first weekend all summer it seems that Joe and I get to go do whatever we want since all the past weekends have been spent framing, insulating, painting, cleaning, ordering, approving, plus the numerous trips to the Home Depot. After all the work though, we have an amazing finished product. We now just have to decorate. We will be bringing our wrap around couch and big screen downstairs, making it our new family room. I will also be holding a preschool downstairs in a designated section. We also made another bedroom, bathroom, and laundry room. It will sure feel nice to have extra space, and places to go to hide from one another.... ha ha...

These first pics are of Joe finishing up framing, and hanging doors.

Next was the insulation process.... Shown were a bedroom, the preschool, and a bathroom.

Then comes the sheetrock.... What a mess!!!

Painting started, and the wood floor being installed in the preschool...

Taping and painting of the moldings.... I felt like the painting would never end. Not to mention taking all of the doors off their hinges, and spending a full Saturday outside giving each of them three coats of bright white paint!!! At this point, all the lighting is also finished... All the can's in place outlets wired in, and lights to the other rooms installed!

All the tape is removed, the painting done, and the carpet in! Now we just need to get old furniture out... new furniture in... and decorated!

Thanks to everyone who helped or had some part in this basement! We really appreciate friends and family who are willing to take time out of their busy schedules to help us with ours!

A BREAKTHROUGH... (Literally)

Today, at 11 months one week and three days old, Halle had her first tooth break through. I can't see anything, but I can feel the sharp ridges of the tooth coming through her gums! It is about time.... especially with how ornery and sleep deprived Halle has been lately. Now she just needs the other bottom tooth to break through so that she can be happy for a few weeks at least until the top ones decide to come in. Yeah Halle....I guess you may not need the dentures after all!

Straight or Curly...

You decide... When Halle gets a bit more hair, will it end up being straight or having some curl...like her momma? This is Halle right out of her bath tonight with towel dried hair... a bit crazy if you ask me.... and Halle, what a ham you are!

My Handsome Guys...

This is Joe and Damon as they were ready for church on Sunday morning. I thought they had to be the two most handsome boys in the world, and needed a couple of pictures of them. Tell me too that Damon isn't Joe's spitting image. How did I get so lucky?!

$$ Priceless $$

1 GALLON OF PAINT - $15.97

3 PACK OF ROLLERS - $3.27

1 ROLL OF PAINTERS TAPE - $2.97

WATCHING YOUR SON COVER HIMSELF HEAD TO TOE IN THE PAINT AS YOU ARE TRYING TO GET THE PAINTING DONE... AND HE JUST WANTS TO HELP - $PRICELESS!

**Some things money can't buy......

Toothless....

Halle is Eleven months old today....and still has not gotten a single tooth! One month till she hits a year. I wonder if she will have any teeth by then?! Here is to you and your toothless grin, Halle... You are still the most beautiful little baby girl in the world, even if we end up having to get you dentures!

It's a bird....it's a plane....it's DAMON...

We took a trip up to Midway on Sunday for birthday dinner for my little sister and brother-in-law. It was a nice day with eating and talking. Afterwards was more visiting in the back yard. My newest bro-in-law, Travis, was playing with Damon. Damon loves when Travis will pick him up due to Travis being a tall 6'4". Travis will usually let Damon walk on ceilings, and toss him in the air a little bit. Well, outside, Trav started throwing Damon in the air. Damon caught more air and was clearly being thrown higher than what can even be considered safe. He had a blast, and just kept asking Travis to go higher, and to do it again. Funniest thing though.... everytime Damon was way up in the air, he would strike a pose! My mom was lucky enough to catch one of the moments in a picture.

Me, my mom, Alison, Jessie, and Annika the Birthday girl.

Kirstin flying Halle through the air.

The family posing for a pic. (Although trying to get everyone looking decent is impossible.)

Happy Birthday!

Happy 22nd Birthday Aunt Annika, and Happy 29th Uncle Jeff. We love you both so much and hope you both had an awesome 11th day of August!

Hooray for Annika and Jeff!! Love, Damon and Halle.

One Year Ago.....

I was reflecting on last year at this time recently. I notice myself every now and then getting ornery with Joe, or impatient with him and the kids. I really try to keep my cool, but as we all know, that is something that can be hard to do at all times. I remember myself last year at this time saying... "When Joe is home again, I will never take a second of it for granted. I will never yell at him over stupid things. I will just be happy to have him home!" Well those words lasted me about 2 weeks after Joe got home, and I am back to myself, ornery, impatient, and all. I was looking through all of my pictures I had from last year's summer, and it put me in check again...(For a day at least.) Although Damon was a blast last summer, and I wouldn't trade the memories I made, and the lessons I learned for anything..... I also wouldn't ever want my husband gone again...(let alone being pregnant months 5-9 without Joe here and during the heat of the summer nonetheless, and then having a baby without him.) I thought I would just post pics from last year to look back and reflect. It is funny and amazing to look back and see where we were in life just one year ago. I am so happy for what this new year and summer has brought us. Last summer, we sent Joe off to Ft. Bliss Texas to train to go to Iraq. I was pregnant. Damon was 18 months old.... This summer, Joe is home. Damon is an extremely active 2 1/2 year old, and Halle is on the brink of turning one! I will again try my hardest to just be happy and excited with what each new day brings.....Not take a moment for granted!