A teaser of the house

When we bought the house the dining area had carpet. Not so much a long term option with little ones around, so we decided that we would rip out the carpet and replace it with some cheap laminate flooring, just something to get us through.

Well, one thing led to another and before we knew it we were tiling the dining room, kitchen, laundry room and entry ways.

Before: the view from the front door:

 The vinyl in the kitchen:

 And the entryways (please notice the trashed carpet between the two...that led us to a decision you will see in just a minute).

First we ripped out the carpet we didn't want and did the prep work:

 With Kendree's help of course!

Here's Ronnie working on the entry ways.  We decided to have the tile connect the two, so you could walk to and from both doors on tile (A trick I learned from my parents.  You can get to any door in their house on tile).

We tiled into the laundry room as well (it is just off the kitchen).

 Then we decided that it made sense to be able to walk from the kitchen to the dining area on tile (previously the vinyl stopped right at the wall and end of the cabinet.

 And of course the entire dining area.

Obviously, these pictures are pre-grout.  Be assured that the tile is now completely grouted.  I'll be sure to give you the final, final pictures when we do the house tour.

Also, when I say we, I really mean Ronnie's dad, his cousin Michael and Ronnie.  I was on kid patrol and was virtually no help at all.

A little follow up

First, the ipod is found!  I guess I was blaming the wrong child, since I found it in the bottom most crevice of the couch while looking for a missing DVD remote and Kendree doesn't really get on the couch yet.  Never mind that I am POSITIVE I already looked there!

Second, and not because it is less important, remember how my brother got married?  And people asked for pictures, and I never got them up here?  That would be because 1. I am possibly the worst at remembering to take pictures and 2. my camera was still in the shop for the wedding. 

I have one picture to share of Easton and Alayna outside the temple:

For other pictures, of you know, the wedding couple, you'll have to visit my sister's blog.

Kendree - 14 months

At least this one is semi-on time!

At 14 months Kendree:

• Has a tooth that has broken through!  Her bottom left.  We first felt the very tip on April 1st, and it has taken its sweet time since then.  We can just barely see the entire top.
• Seems to be at least progressing towards walking.  She will try to balance on her own throughout the day and is braver at taking steps in between two objects.
• Loves her silver sparkly shoes.  If I don't put them on her in the morning, she'll bring them over to me as soon as she finds them.
• Doesn't really seem to have any new words or signs this month...she's perfecting her whine though!
• Takes one nap a day.
• Is weaned! (3 days after going cold turkey, she slept through the night!)
• Loves her daddy and will crawl to the garage door and say "dada, dada, dada" over and over if she feels like she hasn't seen him recently enough.
• Loves any food we put in front of her, except cold lunch meat.
• Drinks milk, water and VERY watered down juice without showing much preference.
• Hates having her diaper changed. It is a wrestling match every time.

Hanging out around the house:

 Now she sees mom's camera

 Practicing with the walker:

 Found these on the ipod (it is found!) they are of Kendree at 13 months.

A Product I LOVE

I don't talk a lot about products, just the ones I really, really love.

One of those is the Signing Time DVDs.

Both my kids sign (Easton still), and both of my kids LOVE the DVDs.

It is their 10th anniversary, so for the next two days, you can get single DVDs for $10 each (limit 10).

This is a FANTASTIC deal.

So, I thought I would share.

Want more of my thoughts on the product?  Start with the Baby Signing Time DVDs for kids 3 and under, they are much more entertaining for the little ones, then as your kid starts to get older (between 2 and 3) add to your collection starting with Signing Time Series One Vol. 3.  It will have some repeat signs from the Baby Signing Time DVDs but the Silly Pizza Song alone is worth your money.  Then continue to add to your collection and enjoy communicating with your child and less tantrums.  For reals.

P.S. I think they must be having significantly more traffic than normal on their site, so be patient.

A little catch up on Easton

A month ago, we went with some friends to the children's section of the Wyoming State Museum. 

Somehow, Easton ended up as the pillow for two girls on the cot.

 And he continued to stay there...

 And stay there.  At least we knew where they all were!

 This is where Easton prefers to watch television....

And this is the face he gives when mama makes him move back.  Life is hard.

The little stinker

Normally that title designates that this post would be about Easton.

But no.

This one is about the Kenny-girl.

And my lost ipod.

Like, really lost ipod.

The last time Ronnie and I both saw it was Sunday after church. It was on the floor of the living room (I know, not the safest keeping place, but Easton had been playing with it before church and in the rush to get out the door, nothing was done with it).

Since then we have been scouring the house.

Every drawer, every toy bin, every crevice, every cupboard.

And underneath EVERYTHING (even the dishwasher, fridge and stove).

I've gone through every trash can except the kitchen trash (next on my to-do list) and we've shined a light with a mirror down every heat vent.

Please tell me you have some secret place that I haven't covered.

Kendree - 13 months

I know, I know.  I am almost a month late on this one....such is life when you are moving I guess.

At 13 months Kendree:

• Is cruising on everything she can get her hands on.  She has no qualms with using strangers if they are useful to get to her end game.
• Wants to do what big brother is doing...always
• Loves ALL food, especially from mom or dad's plate.
• Is taking two naps a day, but is looking like she may be transitioning to one a day.
• Is still not sleeping through the night...getting up once a night to nurse.
• Nurses to sleep at night.
• Loves to wrestle!  Sometimes other little kids don't quite understand what the heck she is trying to do.
• Still has absolutely no teeth!
• Wears size 3 shoes and is still in 12 and 12-18 month clothes.  Mama hasn't had a chance to get out the wardrobe change with the move, so she is squeezing into everything (shirts, that is).
• Is starting to show a little "toddler-ness" and lets you know when she is unhappy about you taking away something, etc.
• Says this (dis), ball (ba), Easton (kinda like eh-eh) (in addition to the words she was saying last month).
• Signs bread and cheese and we are working hard on please and thank you.
• Wears her hair in a ponytail on top every day to keep those long ones from getting in her eyes.
• Is as usual, lighting up our family!

Hanging out with Daddy.

Pointing, and probably saying "dis."

 At this point she was done with the camera but I wanted to try and get a picture of how long the hair in front was getting.


 So now, she wears her hair like the picture below...

I would have several more pictures, but a little one year old has lost my ipod, so we'll have to wait on those for now.

Sisters, Sisters

There is no doubt that Erc and I are sisters.  In fact, most ask us if we are twins....although not very recently now that we aren't out and about together very much.

When you are a truly devoted sister, you get married just 7 weeks apart.

And then you buy houses within 6 weeks of each other.
Erc's house:

 Our house:

I think the next milestone I'd like to hit with Erc is for us to become millionaires within about  two months of each other.

Sound good Erc?