We're ALMOST there!

As I type Ben is removing the secondary subfloor in the dining/front room. This will allow him to lay the hardwoods without covering the baseboards. This is the last of our house projects. YAY!

We have stayed here for the past four nights. The kids bath is done now.

Now all we need to complete is.back.to.school.shopping. My brain will not compute. Didn't school just let out for the summer? Since I worked all summer I didn't get to see the kids as much as I would have preferred. BUT vacation is coming! Ben and I begin our vacation tomorrow!!!! I won't be back until the 8th of Sep. and Ben the 6th. The first day of school for the Twins and Sam is the 6th. Sis begins the 7th. I begin the 26th with my last full week of work being the 12th.

How has your Summer gone? Do YOU have any fantastic Fall plans?

And the list goes on

We have had the keys to the house for a week and a day. We've had a few set backs. Ben had to sand the hardwoods twice, and the tile work was set back by....technology. The new tile cement was touting ease of time, but it set up TOO quick. So, back to Home Depot for the regular stuff. I bet that was his tenth trip in a week. =D The kids have been helping TONS. I am so proud and blessed by them. They have been cleaning, painting and assisting Ben and I in our jobs. We have been assisted by our church family and my parents. Many others would love to help but 1) they have jobs or kids that need them 2) we're getting to the done side of this thing. YAY!

Thus far we are done with: painting, carpet cleaning, 1/2 bath renovation, carpet in master and first floor existing hardwoods.

What is left you may be thinking??? Today Ben will be laying the tile he cut, cutting and laying tile for the kids bath. The kids and I will be finding all the sprinkler heads and cleaning them. Moving their rooms over, moving the fridge in and possible moving our perishables over.

Tomorrow will be bathroom day. We'll be putting the toilets back and cleaning. Ben will begin to install the new hardwoods downstairs. By weeks end the ducts, furnace and AC will be cleaned, and the cable and internet will be swapped.

Ben and I have to work all next week, but the following week WE'RE OFF! YEEESSSSS! Some where in all of this I need to school supply shop with the kids. Oh yeah, and get a little rescue dog. =D

I love being my own landlord. Sweet Baby Jesus thank you LORD!

Sam. He blistered his hands and didn't even know.

Joe.

Zach.

Sam's room.

The Subway pick-nick we had the day we told the kids.

Our new addition

...blank...

I bet you have been thinking that I would just throw in the blogging towel, haven't you? NO WAY! Let me see, where to begin.....

Ben and I were able to take a week off the end of June for a little stay-cation. It was awesome! Be barbecued and read our books in the yard. We also offered on a house. With that came the roller coaster of waiting, paper work, not hearing anything and....waiting more. We are still in the midst of this event and are hoping for a soon coming close. I've learned that you can't take hope or dreams to the bank.

The kids have been keeping busy with friends, sleep overs and our county's summer read program. They have been spending every Wednesday at my folks' place. As I work M-F this is a nice reprieve for them. My dad has been giving them guitar lessons (just the older two). The kids are required to practice, write stories and have a craft time week days. My hopes were that their penmanship would improve over the summer.....we'll see. They are all hard workers and I am proud of them!

We have a final vacation set for the end of this month and then, BAM, summer break will be over. School supplies will be purchased and middle schoolers sent off. Gosh. I.AM.OLD. ;-) A seventh, a sixth and two fourth graders this year. WHAT?! Yup.

I will hopefully be able to post exciting news soon. It's scary to hope at times.

How has your summer been thus far?