I'll let these pictures do the talking. At first, she didn't want to go out, then she did, then she didn't, then she didn't want mitts, but then she did........

Ryder thinks he's going for a W-A-L-K!!

And here is sweet baby Wynn at 4 months old.

Always with his hand(s) in his mouth!

Tara's photography lesson

Photography 101 - I taught Tara to take this picture last weekend - focusing on something thats not in the CENTER of the picture. She did good! :)

More renovations

One thing we have always wanted to do was put a new window in our bedroom - something you can look out without having to step on your tip toes! So before we get started on Drew's room downstairs, we decided to "prep"our room for this new fantasy window! We don't actually have one to put in this hole in the wall - but we will some day!

Its going to be SO nice.... with a bench to sit on, and a window thats 6 feet by 7 feet..... and an opening at the bottom. We've designed it, but again, we don't actually OWN it yet!

The nicest thing will be the window bench that sits right next to the weeping willow tree outside our bedroom. I will be able to read - or just sit and chill while watching the birds - or more like, Ryder barking at the birds! And in a more practical sense, I'll actually have some storage under that window bench to put blankets and things....

So, the basement is priority #1, but some day, this hole in the wall is gonna be nice too!

Right now, its a boarded up bump-out thats insulated and drywalled inside. Not very pretty! :(

Tara and Lynella

Check out this carrot!!

My MIL grew this!

My drive home Nov 2nd

This was on my trip home one day this week - the sunset was just incredible!

I rushed home, ran inside, grabbed the camera and drove out to this spot - almost missed the "moment", but glad I got a couple shots! It was amazing.

Tara this is for you - our new wall of photos!  Nice hey?

The day we poured the Cement Floor

Finally getting caught up again. Well, sorta!

The crew showed up that Saturday morning with a cement truck, a pumper truck and about 5 or 6 bodies to help with the work.

This is from the back of the house.



Ryder was pretty good about it - followed me around all day - but was really curious!



They had some trouble in the beginning when the pumper truck plugged up. Spent an hour unplugging it before they could start to pour.

But once the pour started - it took about 2 and a half hours to finish.....

And then three of the guys stuck around for about another 12 hours smoothing it all out.


And two days later, we got to take the hot water heater back down.....which was missed dearly!
And Ryder loves having "his" basement back so he can run around down there. 

And now the expensive stuff starts.....the re-building!!

Voila! By 1:00pm we had a cement floor!

The day has arrived!

Today is a big today.  Its Saturday Oct. 22nd and we are getting a cement floor in our basement!  I never thought I would be so excited to say those words!

The weeping tile is in, the plumbing and sewer is all brand new and the rebar is laid.

We are ready.

It's the freakiest thing to walk downstairs right now...... the landing is gone and you have to step onto that pail to get all the way down there.  You should have seen Ryder panic trying to get back upstairs.  He just jumped off the last step to go down - but when I went back up he just could not figure it out! It was too funny.

Check later for more pictures....... hopefully it looks a LOT different down here by the end of today!