Measuring

The countertop guys came today to make the template for the new countertops. It's going to rock ! They said after the templates, it typically takes about 3 weeks or so to put together. So new counters within the next month !!! We chose Richlite, (check it out here http://www.richlite.com ) and we decided on the Merlot color. It's like it seems, a nice deep wine color. Exactly how it will turn out will be determined upon installation, as it's not a process that yields the same result every time. Originally I was thinking a nice light gold for the kitchen paint, but now I am thinking a silvery greeny silver green. A color that you're not sure if it's silver or green. Keep it light as the cabinets, appliances and counters are all deep dark colors. The tile backsplash will have to be kept light as well. I found a stainless steel backsplash, but it's a bit pricey. I could have probably installed it tho, so poor PJ would not have to deal with the tile job, but I am excited to help. Even if I cannot make the cuts, maybe I can do the grout? He's the pro tho, with a couple of tile jobs under his belt.

Ava starts school tomorrow (didn't start Tues due to 4" of snow) and is super excited. You will see a picture of our beaming girl here tomorrow for sure !!!

Love to all...

I am out of control.

So a few years ago, my watch broke. I think I was preggers with Ava, not sure, although I know we lived in Mesa. So PJ went out and even though he knows I am the pickiest person on the planet, he got me the exact perfect watch. After a while, the band died, and I couldn't part with the watch. So PJ got a new band down at Van Horne Jewelers in downtown South Bend, and they put it on. We knew it wasn't exactly right due to some configuration, and that it would not last forever. It started to go here pretty recently. It didn't even last a year. So I began my search for a new watchband. Easier said than done, since it's a 6mm and they are hard to find. Even online I found out! Well, I found one on http://watchbands.com and also on the site they showed a tool, the one people use to put on watchbands, and it was only $7 or $8! So I decided that I should have it. In case we need to replace any watchbands (now you know where to send your repairs). So in the mail today came a lovely bubble envelope with my new watchband, and the new tool. The watchband looked nice, and not as thick as the last one which I think was part of the problem. But wait! The buckle was GOLD and my watch is silver! Not to fear. With the power tools and the cake from scratch yesterday, and a new tool at my fingertips, do you think I am going to be wearing a silver watch with a gold clasp? Never! And this time it didn't take me that long. And it looks really nice. It wasn't that hard. I am so feeling empowered !

Cake

While PJ was away snowboarding, Ava and I decided to make his cake. We made an angel food cake from scratch. Something I had never done before, and was a little apprehensive about. I even bought a boxed mix in case the thing didn't turn out. Well, we mixed, and beat the egg whites, and put the thing in the oven and when it came out darned if it didn't look right! So I decided it needed frosting. I mixed the confectioners sugar, butter, milk and vanilla till it looked right, and darned it if didn't taste good! So then we decided to decorate the thing. I had a little cake decorating thing I had purchased long ago, and we very humbly decorated it. I seemed to be on a roll, but didn't want to get too far ahead of myself, so I kept it pretty simple. After dinner that night, we lit the candle, Ava and I sang, and we cut the cake.
And darned if it didn't taste good!
All I can say is I love the Americas Test Kitchen Family Cookbook.

Sunday snowboarding and baking

Sunday Dad took Ava to church and Mom kept James and his big cough home. When Dad and Ava arrived home, Dad expressed an interest in going snowboarding. (It was really coming down and I think he got nostalgic). So Mom said "Go!" and he did! He went a couple of hours north to a resort his friend Dave told him about called Bittersweet. http://skibittersweet.com
He said although he wasn't there for long, he got quite a few runs in, and wasn't as rusty as he was afraid he would be. He said he even got some air. Wahoo! He was home in time to shovel the walks, and Ava helped him with that.
While Dad was gone, Mom decided that he would not be able to install the baby gate that day and so why the heck should she not do it herself? So I did. It took three times as long as if PJ would have done it, but it's done right, and I am pretty proud! I even got to use the drill, which was totally fun. Watch out for me now. I feel empowered !

Happy Birthday Pijay!

PJ said for his birthday he wanted to go to Bob Evans and order "something with gravy". When I suggested he might be in the mood for a breakfast, he said he'd just order a side of gravy. No need. He had a meal that came with gravy already. Really an tasty meal, and we all enjoyed the food. Except James who immediately protested the eggs but ate his strawberry jam toast and some of Daddy's food. There was even a balloon, although it wasn't for PJ but for Ava who devoured her pancackes like she hadn't eaten in days. I love eating out with no incident !

We had visitors!

On Friday, Joyce, Betsey and Jacob came to visit. We all had a blast. It went much too fast! We had a nice lunch and visit and the kids played. We had to remind Ava and Jacob how to share (some things never change!) but they did better than they had in the past. It was fun to hear Jacob talk (more,more, more and Thank you!) and see how he's been growing. We miss you guys! Thank you for coming, and we'll make the next trip soon.

the horse

James took an interest in the horse last week so I put him on it and sat right with him. He got how to make it go right away. Tonight we were playing in his room and he crawled right over to it and was pushing it to make it go so we got him on and away he went. He loves going for it, whether it's the horse or trying to race me to the stairway when my hands are full of his humidifier, the little pill. Anyway, here's Cowboy James. We'll have to get him on the pony when we go to Kath's farm this summer!

Last but not least...

James Wallace is 19 lbs, 29 1/4 inches long. Healthy, developmentally sound, and we all love the new doctor.
Ava is 36 lbs, but we didn't get her height. I'll get it with the tape measure later. She loves that thing.

More snow

As I have little success in adding more than 2 pictures to a post, I am adding a couple more because she is that cute !!
I am going to sign her up for preschool Wednesday people. Seriously. It is surreal. She is very excited. When I asked her yesterday if she wanted to go to school, she said, "yeah, what, are you kiddin' me?" With a big old grin on the face. Go get 'em Ava!

Snow

We had a reasonable amount of snow, and Ava got new pink princess snowboots for the occasion. Despite getting over colds, we allowed the patient girl outside in her snowsuit to play in the white fluffy goodness. She had a blast and is always as precious as always!

Jail is at our house

As beautiful as the living room looked right after Kathy left, it is more beautiful to me now. Ah, jail. We love it!

The girl loves her hot chocolate

Okay I occasionally bribe the bird with hot cocoa for being a "good girl" and occasionally she comes through! I think this extra yummy incentive is worth it to her judging by her face.

Tuesday dinner cuteness

Seriously the boy is precious. Inbetween fussing (major tooth discomfort) he posed for a few candid shots. He is so adorable I want to squeeze him all the time!

Jumping

He loves the jumper and still sometimes fusses all the while he is jumping. I don't understand the boy sometimes! All I know is he gets some good air !

Family foto

Peeg reminded me yesterday that I didn't put up a pic of the fam. Kathy was kind enough to take one even figuring out how James screwed up his face in anticipation of the flash in a way that made him look like an Irishman with a mission ! We got it under control, and even had a decent picture!
All is well here except Ava has appropriated every toy in the house for her personal stash giving her brother a block to keep him busy while she hoards everything else, and she got a stuffy nose from somewhere, doesn't really matter where, that we are watching and praying doesnt spread to the boy. He will really freak out at the reality of the sucker ! (aspirator)
Love to all,
Thuringers
ps I've named the new place Affenhaus, or monkey house. It's appropriate. Don'tcha think?

Living room

Need more pics here but for now you can see the pretty room with the pretty fireplace that is not blue!

Dining Room

Okay there are quite a few of these but I will spare you most of them and show the wallpaper, the hard work Kath had to remove it, and the finished product.

Pictures

Okay I will have to break it down as I am having trouble getting pictures up. We will start with the basement.

The amazing transformation

Okay folks the hemmoraging of the savings account has begun. First the plumbers and then the electricians. The electricians were here for about a week. Troy and Dustin were great and with the exception of a tear in the vinyl kitchen flooring which will expediate the necessity of new kitchen flooring we were pleased as punch with their work, especially as they put up the ceiling fan and new bathroom lights upstairs gratis. Next came the waterproofers. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Suffice to say there was a jackhammer, 3 guys, several 5 gallon buckets, and some concrete mix involved. But the best was Kathy who was very generous with her time and came and removed the offensive wallpaper from our dining room and painted it a lovely shade of green (the one I always gravitate to) and removed the wallpaper from the kitchen so it's ready for paint when the countertops go in, and most importantly painted over most of the blue trim downstairs and made our living room very pretty. Also painted over the green trim in the upstairs bath and now I am a little jealous of the kids bathroom, it's very pretty. Guests will hopefully enjoy ! We had a blast with Kath and although I am sure she was mostly anxious to get back to her fam we love that she was part of ours for the time she was here. We love you! Please come back ! There is more wallpaper ! And BLUE TRIM !!!!! (just kidding- kinda).
Okay here are some before pics. More will follow.
Love,
PJ, NG, Ava and JW