Before/After

 

We redid our downstairs area in a few phases. We always wanted to put in a fireplace but we had to save and save for it. Which helped when the tax refund this past year came in! I like being debit free. We always hated the tile and were so thankful when we put in carpet. Charlotte had a terrible head injury from falling down the stairs and her head stopped her fall on the tile. Seriously people. TILE at the bottom of basement stairs?!

This is what the house looked like when the previous owners lived here.

The reason we finally got onto changing the tile.

The start of the removal of tile. Curses to tile!

This project lead Wade having carbon monoxide poisoning. I had it too but not as bad as Wade.

The dust is settling in the picture too. That’s why it’s cloudy.

It’s ready for carpet and paint.

There’s nothing like the fresh smell of new carpet.

The result! Wade and my dad did a fabulous job! Wade put in all the recessed lighting too!

It’s now all full of books and the fireplace has been making the downstairs so nice and cozy warm!

Charlotte’s Birthday PARTY!

We decided to actually throw Charlotte a party. It was such a production the year before we thought, oh let’s wait until she’s 8…you know the big event type of birthday. Then we thought, well there’s only a few years where she’ll get or even want to have one, so let’s just do it. And it turned out to be easy going and not too stressful.

We did it the Saturday after her real birthday and that was nice. I kept it simple, of course stayed with the Minnie Mouse theme but made cupcakes and bought Little Caesar’s 5 buck pizza! I hope they had fun, cause it sure seemed like they did.

I made this pinata! I did! If you want to make one too, here’s the LINK.

All the kiddos!

Playing pass the parcel! Always a big hit

I think all the kids had a hundred turns trying to break this thing apart. I guess I did a really good job.

 

Presents!!!

Lisa and Kate. Lisa is the bestest person ever! Always takes care of us and the kids. Especially at church. But she and her family are dear friends. I swear she gave Charlotte the biggest present in America.

Charlotte’s 6th Birthday

If you didn’t know it was Charlotte’s birthday, I’d be so surprised (but it was October 25th…late post :/ ). I’ve never seen anyone so excited for a birthday! She would keep singing Happy Birthday to ME. Happy birthday to Charlotte! haha. And it would get more and more intense each day it got closer to her birthday. It was a lot of fun.

 

Charlotte LOVES Minnie Mouse and wanted a Minnie Mouse themed cake and party.

She went to school, which is the best thing ever to her, and I brought cupcakes and apple juice for snack at Sound Beginnings. And then I went back to Kindergarten for the last 15 minutes so we could spotlight her with a VIP poster. And we handed out treats to her classmates too. Then we came home, talked to Ma and Grandpa. Opened her new booster car seat from them. And then all she wanted to do was unwrap presents like crazy. Then we went to the Pizza Pie Café for dinner, off to the Pumpkin Walk (more like pumpkin run. It was freezing) and then home for birthday cake and ice-cream. Then she got to pick out a movie and we had movie-theater and then off to bed. It was a fun, good day. I love you, Charlotte.

The pictures above are just before she opened her present from Ma and Grandpa.

She has desperately wanted a big girl car seat since school started. And she barely makes the requirements (which usually a 3 year old weighs) and I’m a bit nervous but she looks oh so grown up in the car now.

She was so silly opening her presents. haha

Kate playing with Charlotte’s new soccer ball. Which she has wanted since Jack took soccer in September!

Sporting her new pjs.

I had to put this last one in. Notice Jack??? hahaha. SO CUTE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHARLOTTE!

Live Writer

So my woes with blogger have come to an end. And it’s only because of Crystal Mann. Wade’s sister. Oh she’s amazing. I can’t thank you enough! Maybe, just MAYBE I’ll get caught up. cough cough, yeah right. But at least I THINK I can! If you wanna have less crazy spasm temper tantrums at your computer, get Windows Live Writer. And thank Crystal all at the same time.

Christmas Spirit

I definitely have been feeling the Christmas Spirit. Like BEFORE HALLOWEEN. I usually am scrooge until Thanksgiving. But even though my house is decorated after, I still have a hard time getting the Christmas Spirit ON. But last year I felt it right before Thanksgiving and this year. Holy Moly! I love it. I made the kids listen to Christmas music in the car ON Halloween. And I’m not ashamed. I am getting SOO excited. I love this time of year. And because it’s a good thing, having more peace in the home, what’s wrong with having it early? It just means my house feels more Christmasy than yours, so THERE. Just kidding. I’m just so excited! So I’m already decorating my blog with Christmas.

And Crystal, I’m trying out Live Writer. I’m hoping it’s way better…here it goes…

 

Holy Moly PEOPLE! I just clicked on a picture. And there it was! Crystal, you are a genius!

I'm going to kill blogger

Blogger is so ridiculous. I published a post about Kate and I'm crying because it doesn't have half of the pictures and journal I wrote about her. I hate blogger and I hate our INTERNET. It's SO SLOW. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. ajsdfkl;ajdklajsd;fjakl;sdfk

Charlotte

Here are a lot of photos of Charlotte since May! And a peek at what we did during the summer :)

Mother's Day Luncheon at her school:

 End of year program! She was a doctor and it was also a Luau theme. She was actually really sick and we went to the dr and she had a sinus infection. She was not happy and cried but she still kept going strong in her performanes. She sang Pearly Shells really well too. I wish my videos could work!

 

Luke and Charlotte. Luke is THE cutest little boy. He's an amazing boy and has the most darling voice. I know that sounds weird but when you have a child with hearing loss, there's something about voices. And his melts my heart. Creepy. hahahaha. BUT I really love how he talks!! And he and Charlotte are just so cute in class together. 

Getting her certificate for completing preschool for the year.

Just before Charlotte burst into tears :(

Charlotte takes Hula. And on June 11, 2011 she had her first Hula Recital. Here are some of the girls from her class. She loves Hula and looks forward to it every week!

 

Fourth of July! We had a fun Ward breakfast and kids parade and they decorated their bikes to be in it too!

 

 Later that night, we did fireworks. Our friends, the Tippets, came up to our house for the holiday and we had a fun fun time!!

 Charlotte went on some wave runners with Uncle Dave! I wouldn't go on them but she did! So proud of her.

First day of Sound Beginnings. It's her last year at the school. Growing up too fast, I think!

FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!!!! Kindergarten started later than Sound Beginnings. I can't believe she's old enough to go to kindy. And she LOVES it.

 FIRST HAIRCUT! I have more pics of the process, but she was in her birthday suit and didn't want it posted on the blog. I cut 6 inches. Can you believe it?! It was getting scraggly but most important it was so long it kept getting in the toilet. I was sad to have to cut it but it looks so healthy now. :)