Weekly Wednesday Update #4

 Gadzooks!

E-Gadds!

Holey Moley!

I can't believe all the changes the house has undergone this last week. Truly amazing. It would have taken Mark and I at least 82 and a half days to get that much done. Maybe a day or two less but not by much. Trust me.

Last Wednesday we had one big wall and two baby walls.

On Thursday, the boys and I stopped by again, just in time for Caleb and Owen to "help" lift the last wall into place.

It was great! 

When I drove down to the house today, I could see it start to take shape even from the road. The roof is going up and all the interior walls are framed as well.

Here's the view from the back:

And the view from the North side facing the garage:

Here's a fun maze on the inside. 

The roof inside the family room:

That is one tall roof...but a very pretty sky today!

Mark and I have walked around and around the house discussing each room. I have already arranged and rearranged all the furniture (and figured out where I want my Christmas tree to go next year!). 

It is too much fun!

I am seeing our dream come to life!

Owen(ator) in 2012

Owen, Owen Owen. 

Where do I even begin with this little boy?

He is sweetness personified. 

Since he could first walk, Owen has always been the one who would go play and then come running back to me for a "fill-up" on love. He had to have a hug, snuggle, or kiss all the time. 

As he got older, those fill-ups were less frequent but still a much needed part of Owen's day. He still blows kisses to me every morning when he goes to school, tells me he loves me more than I love him, and gives me kisses when I am least expecting them.

He is sweet. 

He is funny.

He is kind hearted to a fault always wanting to pray for people in his class at school.

He loves the Lord.

He also love pickles. A lot.

He's a pesky little brother whose favorite color is camouflage (just like Caleb).

His favorite toy is his new backhoe (which isn't working Grandma!) and his monster truck.

Owen loves to eat pears and could watch the movie(s) Narnia all day, week, year long if I would let him. 

His favorite food is macaroni and cheese

and he wants to wear his sweatshirt that he bought in Disneyland every single day. It makes him happy.

Owen would prefer to eat birthday cake for breakfast, lunch and dinner and he sincerely believes it's a food group - the best one!

His favorite animal is a jaguar and he thinks he is part one because he is "nocturnal" and has great eyesight. I'm not too sure about either of those but I'm not going to be the one to burst his bubble.

He loves to sing his own made up songs (often at a very loud volume!) and he also wants to learn how to play the drums. 

I foresee a lot of sports in his future.

Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving because "you get to get with your famiwee."

He also has a few speech issues...l's, r's, th's.

I love all of them... I mean wuv all of them.

He still sleeps with his baby blanket but he's "not a baby Caleb! I just doesn't want to hurt "foofy's feewings!" 

He is fierce when defending things he loves.

He loves his big brother. To the moon and back.

When he grows up he wants to be...

an army man with Caleb so he can 

"fight for our nation."

His words, not mine.

Then he told me if he lives through the war he wants to be a policeman like Daddy.

When I asked him why he doesn't want to be a teacher like Mommy, he told me that it's because "teachers don't do anything hard."

I have failed teachers everywhere. Apparently I make it look so easy, Owen just doesn't get it...

I wish! It's time to educate that little man of mine and show him just how hard teaching can be!

Weekly (or bi-monthly since I often forget what day of the week it is) Wednesday Update #3

 Guess what?

We have walls!

Or I should say, We have 1 large wall and 2 baby walls!

The very first wall of the house went up today and Mark just "happened" to be there to help. (Truth is, it was his day off and he couldn't stand the thought of not being down there so he dressed in his working clothes "just in case" they needed his help.)

Caleb and I arrived shortly after school was out and Caleb had to go explore his "room" right away. He has decided that he wants to go with an all camouflage room with tanks on one side and army men on the other. Hmm... I think I would have preferred Star Wars but we'll see what I can come up with.

Mark and I walked all around the house today talking about landscaping ideas, the back deck, the garden, the orchard, and then more landscaping ideas and we threw in some fire pit ideas just for kicks. It's always fun to dream (since they're free and all).

Our concrete was also poured in the garage today and when we were visiting with our builder, Kevin, he said that I should come by tomorrow for some more pictures because ALL the walls would be up by then.

I think I might just have to make the trip down there.

While Mark and I were out there dreaming, our Realtors, Gary and Patty (who helped us buy the property and sell our old house) stopped by to check out the progress of things. Throughout the time of working with them, we have become good friends and I can't help but feel we were led by God to work with them. We met them through yard saleing (of course!) on the same day that we finally decided to look into this property some more. As we were at their yard sale, Mark noticed that they had a spotting scope for sale and he hemmed and hawed over it for a long time. I tried to tell him that with yard sales there is no mercy for those that procrastinate but he decided to not buy it. An hour or so later he changed his mind and we went back to their house only to discover that the spotting scope had been sold (for the record - I did not say "I told you so" until much later in time, like the next day). Anyway, as we got to visiting with these people, we discovered that they owned their own reality business and had built their own home. We talked for quite a while and when we left, Mark and I couldn't help but comment to each other on how nice they were. Later that week Mark asked me what I thought of the idea of him asking Gary and Patty to come down and do a walk through of our house. He wanted to hear their opinion of what would need to be done to our house in order to sell it and also how much they thought we could list it for. To make a long story short, they came down and our relationship has only grown from there. They have been a invaluable help to us through every step of the way and they are still continuing to help us with building ideas.

They are truly great people!

Caleb - Who is this kid?

The other morning as Caleb and I were walking into school together, he turned to me and asked,

"Mom, are you ready to be a grandma..."

and then he paused while counting out loud,

"I'm 7 now and if I add 10 then I would be 17 and then 4 more years I would be 21 ...so... 10 + 4 is 14".

Then he turned to me again and said,

"In 14 years".

I smiled at him, this funny kid of mine, and said,

"Yes, if you met a girl who was good enough for you. One who was pretty and kind like Giselle in Enchanted. One who would be able to handle the fact that you are, and always will be, my firstborn child. If you met a girl like that then you could get married and then finish college and then

you could supply me with some grandchildren."

Just kidding. What really happened was I smiled at this funny kid of mine and said,

"Sure."

But that's a far less exciting way to end the story.

I want to talk about this child of mine. He is getting taller by the day and a little gangly-looking since he's so skinny. Before I know it, he's going to be taller than me. He is smart and an excellent reader. Over the break he lost another tooth, right in the front, and is now looking a little silly with all the gaps in his mouth. He loves, loves, loves Star Wars and is very imaginative no matter what he is playing. He is sensitive and kind and concerned with being healthy. He is so many things but what I love the most is that he is himself. 

His favorite color is camouflage and his favorite toy to play with is his new Star Wars 4-legged walker. His favorite fruit is pears and his favorite TV show is ...you guessed it...Star Wars the Clone Wars cartoon. 

When he gets to choose our lunch he always chooses grilled cheese sandwiches with granola bars. He is obsessed with playing Cars Monopoly right now and he and Owen play for hours over and over.

He is wanting a goldfish and he loves to tell jokes.

His best friend? When I asked him, he thought about it for a couple of seconds and then said "Owen".

His favorite cereal is Lucky Charms and he loves soccer above all other sports. Every once in a great while I will let him buy a drink from the store and he always chooses root

beer.

Christmas is his hands-down his favorite holiday and when it's his birthday and he gets to choose the menu, the last two years he has chosen the same thing - corn dogs with my strawberry/pretzel jello salad.

When he grows up he wants to go into the National Guard until Owen has graduated and then the two of them will become police officers and work with their Dad.

I tried to sell the highlights of teaching to him but since I don't get to carry a gun or arrest anyone, he wasn't buying it. 

Plus he said Dad has a cool duty belt. 

I agreed that the belt was pretty cool. 

Then I told him that his teeth better grow in soon or he won't be able to find a girl to marry him. One who was pretty and kind like Giselle in Enchanted. One who would be able to handle the fact that he is, and always will be, my firstborn child. One that he could marry, finish college with and then

together, supply me with some grandchildren.

Just kidding. What I really said was that teachers are tougher than they look and they are smarter than police officers too. 

Who gets summers off?

65 Years...

14 years ago Mark and I had been dating for exactly 1 month when he asked me if I had plans for New Year's Eve -(of course I didn't because I had assumed I would be spending it with him - duh!). He asked me if I would like to celebrate his grandparent's anniversary with he and the rest of his family. It was his grandparent's 51st anniversary that year and in the previous years, the whole family would get together and dance, eat, and play games. It sounded like a lot of fun to me so of course I said yes. (I was still gaga over Mark at that point and I think if he had suggested we go mud wrestling I would have said "yes" but that's besides the point!)

 That first New Year's Eve with Mark's family was wonderful. His grandparents practically sparkled with love for each other and their family. I met so many of Mark's relatives and I loved each and every one of them.  (That's the real reason why I married Mark - his family is simply awesome!)

Since that first New Year's Eve we have celebrated with grandpa and grandma some of the time and some of the time we have gone and done other things, but this year is a big year for grandpa and grandma. It's their 65th anniversary and we will be celebrating in a big way tonight.  

The party will be out in Pilot Rock with lots of friends, family, food, and festivities! Grandpa and Grandma don't know everything that is planned and I can't wait to enjoy the surprise with them!

One of the surprises involves some different picture things and somehow I have ended up as the "official" family photographer! Luckily I don't mind one little bit. I loaded up my camera yesterday and we went over to the house and took some pictures. The weather wasn't cooperating but I did get a couple that I liked.

Mark's grandpa, Marvin, is such a handsome devil. He always has a twinkle in his eye as he teases you. But beware - he is a card shark and can "shoot the moon" every time his team is losing in pinochle! 

Mark's grandma, Darlene, is the sweetest person I know and a true example of a "Godly woman". She has the most patient and giving spirit. Each person who knows her can't help but admire and love her. I know I do!

As I look at these pictures again I am still in awe of how strong their marriage is. 65 years... sheesh! That seems like close to forever to me! So many of Mark's and I's friends have struggled or even divorced after only a few years. It breaks my heart each and every time. I wish they could hear the stories of people who have made it work, who really took their vows seriously - for better and for worse - people like Mark's grandparents. 

They've made 65 years look good - not always easy - but always filled with grace and love for each other. 

My wish for all my friends and family is that their marriages will be filled with the same things. Let this new year be a time to renew things in their relationships. Things like romance, thoughtfulness, kindness. My goal is to do the same. To put Mark first, ahead of me and my own selfish desires. To pray for him and encourage him in every way I can. To lift him up and praise him for all that he does for me and the boys. To let him know every single day how much I love him and respect him for being the man that he is. 

Maybe someday, on our 65th wedding anniversary, our grandchildren will be looking at us as the example to live up to and the standard to judge their marriages by!

Happy New Year's Eve and Hello 2012!

Weekly Wednesday Update #2

Please ignore the wrinkled, 83 year-old looking, hand. I have been trying to take a picture of the house from the same spot each time so that I will be able to easily compare the before and after shots but today the sun was not cooperating at all and I was in a hurry.

I always seem to be in a hurry these days!

But no longer! I am officially on vacation now!

Whoot! Whoot!

So anyway, back to the house.

This week was a busy one down at the property.

We had the floor joists all put in and next week comes the floor.

Our friend Bob came out and moved rock into the garage so now it is ready for concrete next week. He also back-filled dirt against our foundation which gives the place a sloped look now. While he was out there he also worked on the road and dug a huge hole for us to bury a tree into.

Here's a better view from the back of the house.

This week was slated for some plumbing work to be done also. Their stands the main sewer line (or poop pipe in layman's terms).

I love how things change each time we go out there! Mark and I walked around on top of some of the "floor" trying to picture how it will look. It seems small to me but that's ok. Maybe it will magically be bigger once the walls are in.

 Maybe my house payments will be magically smaller too once I get the first bill.

A coupon-clipping, Dave Ramsey-following, girl can only hope!

A Christmas Story

This Sunday was the day of our church's Christmas program. All of the kids are included in some aspect of the program and they work super hard at memorizing their lines.

They are taught the whole story of the events surrounding Christ's birth.

They are taught the many different characters that played a part in the Christmas story.

During the rehearsals they are focused and intent, paying attention to the director, and not goofing off.

The day of the actual program? Chaos reigns. Children are putting on their costumes backwards and inside out, running around with wings on their backs and glitter flying everywhere, yelling at the top of their lungs "Where am I supposed to stand? What am I supposed to say?

What are we doing here?"

It was fun let me tell you.

Here is my own little man giving me his best "smile."

Luckily I got a better picture of him while he was laughing at himself. I really don't know how he was chosen to play one of the wise men. Maybe it's because he looks nice in a crown and his grandma is the casting director.

This guy was super pumped about his part. He played a priest named Zechariah who is an old man. He is visited by the angel Gabriel who tells him he will be having a child with his wife Elizabeth. Since his character was an old man, I put cornstarch in his hair to make it look gray.

For about 5 minutes I was THEE coolest mom in the world.

Then I had him put on his hat (turban?) and I lost some of my coolness.

Right before we headed upstairs Mom prayed with the kids after reading to them a verse from Joshua about being brave and not having any fear. It was a great verse but two seconds after praying I heard one kid say,

"I still think I'm going to throw up."

I could speak on and on about all the wonderfulness that is my mother-in-law, but I think I can sum it up by saying that she took this program on without flinching and could truthfully tell people "This is going to be so much fun!".

(I wouldn't/couldn't have done it for all the tea in China.)

The stage was all set.

Caleb was in the opening act and he was so ready. He had been practicing his lines for weeks - in the car on the way to school, before bed while I was tucking him in, while playing Uno with Owen...

that boy was ready.

During the story we had Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus.

Shepperd's.

Angels.

And then it was time for the wise men.

Owen had one line and one line only but you would have thought with the way he puffed out his chest in pride that his line was the most vital and important to the whole story.

"We have followed the story and we will bring worship to him."

Immediately after delivering it, he looked at me and beamed.

Maybe he did have the most important line...

Throughout the story, songs were interspersed and the whole congregation would sing along.

Not to sound too corny but it was beautiful - truly.

At the very end of the play, the wise men come before baby Jesus and bow down in worship.

Owen took a large step (for him) and caught the edge of his toe on the stage and biffed it. Right in front of everyone. He looked back at me and I motioned to him to just kneel down like the other wise men and thankfully enough he understood my rapid hand movements and gestures.  

Later he asked me if anyone noticed and I told him

"Nope, the whole thing from beginning to end was perfectly perfect."

And it was.