K's Seventh Birthday Party

We celebrated K's seventh birthday last Friday at a familiar location. Chuck E. Cheese's once again won our kid's vote for the birthday party venue. Games, pizza, tickets, and cheap prizes abounded as the guests celebrated K's birthday.



The birthday girl with her cupcake. On top was a pink ballerina and a number 7 candle.




K and one of her friends




The boys making some noise




K receiving her crown




Blowing out the candle




K receiving her medal




Dancing up front




K and Chuck E.




H enjoying the chocolate cupcake




K in the ticket blaster. She got over 300 tickets in there.




H enjoying himself on a ride




H on his favorite ride with my new friend, Vickie

This party was a little less chaotic than AJ's had been. We had no major meltdowns, and everyone left happy. I still don't care for the place, but my birthday girl was happy. In the end, I guess that is all that matters.

Remodeling: Part 3

Last week, we started to remodel our bathroom. We moved all of our personal items out of the bathroom, and we moved most of our daily necessities to another room for the duration of the project.

This bathroom sorely needed some change, and our plans include adding more light and opening up the space a bit.



The floor before: poorly laid stick-on tiles.

Looking toward the door: shower and toilet

Vanity before.

Vanity gutted

Looking into the bathroom: before

Looking into the bathroom: gutted

To add light, we plan on adding a bay window. This means knocking a hole through the side of our house.

A hole in the wall

Building the bay window

The difference is already fun to see. I can't wait until it is done.

Remodeling: Part 2

The bathroom and laundry room remodeling project is coming along, and I am pleased with how it looks.

Bathroom tub -- it is full of trash here, but it will be nice to have a tub in the boys' bathroom

Finished floor. I love it.

Bathroom. The toilet will be on this side.

Laundry room side.

Now we are waiting for the cabinets to come in so we can get those installed. Then we can put in the countertops, sinks, and faucets. While we wait, we are focusing on the master bathroom remodeling project.

Funky Hair Night

Last night at AWANAS, it was Funky Hair Night. I think my kids looked the part. The picture isn't great because dropping them off is always kind of chaotic. I was trying to get a quick picture without being in the way too much. There are just so many kids there. AJ had spikes (he wanted to be called a "spikasaurus", and K had a cone head.

A Visit from the Tooth Fairy

The prize

Last night, we experienced our first visit from the tooth fairy. K lost her first tooth yesterday, and she excitedly put it under her pillow in anticipation of the reward she would receive for such a feat. She was not disappointed. She found a dollar under her pillow this morning, and now she wants to lose all of her teeth. I told her that would come with time.



K happily showing off the new hole in her mouth



Remodeling: Part 1

We recently started to remodel part of our house. Our laundry room was part of a bathroom that the boys use, and it was a less-than-ideal situation. It was also outdated and poorly laid out. We decided to divide the room and use space in the adjoining hallway to expand both rooms.



Bathroom side before



Bathroom, mid-demolition. That linoleum was below a layer of tile.





Bathroom side with framing



New tile, before grout






Laundry room side before

 Today, the tile guys put the grout in, and tomorrow, the walls are supposed to be textured, then painted.

I am anxious for my washer and dryer to be hooked up again. My hampers are overflowing, and my kids have a way of creating more laundry than necessary. The good news is that I should have my laundry facilities available by the weekend.

About a week and a half into the project, I am pleased with the progress that has been made. The construction dust has been annoying, but the final product will be worth it. 

Back Yard Campout

Last weekend, we set up the tent in the back yard for a little campout with the kids. Timo set up the air mattresses and sleeping bags, and we got the kids tucked in as cozy as we could. They were excited at the prospect of sleeping outside, and it was hard to get them to settle down.

Once they were all in bed, Timo and I snuggled together on our side to watch a movie on his iPad 2. When the movie ended, we checked on the kids. H was squirming around, so we took him inside. We decided that I should sleep inside while Timo slept outside with the other two kids. AJ was sleeping well, but K got cold shortly after 2, and she sleepily stumbled inside to finish the night in the warm house. Timo followed shortly afterwards with AJ, and we finished the night in the comfort of our beds.

It was a fun idea that we would like to repeat, but next time, I think we will wait for a warmer evening.