All Dolled up

The kids and their Easter clothes all ready to go to church.

Fly Fly AWAY!

Dad having some fun on a nice day.

Gunner is 4!

Gunner had a hard time deciding what he wanted to do for his birthday. He would go back and forth between bowling, chuck-e-cheese, or a place called Out of this world. We told him he could have a friend party if he wanted, but we were glad when he just wanted Grandpa and Grandma and his uncles and Joseph and Andree. He had decided on bowling, but the day before we were driving in the car and Gunner said "I know what I want to do now for my birthday! I want to go to Disneyland!!!" Malia immediately yelled, "I don't want to drive all the way to TEXAS!"
So we opted to go Glow Bowling. The kids love to bowl!


Cooper loved the lights and music too.






Then it was back to the house for presents.

And cake. Gunner told me exactly what he wanted for a cake. I really love to experiment. I don't think it looks professional, but we had one happy 4 year old!

Then the next morning, he got to have some one on one time with Dad, and even though they didn't catch one fish, he loves doing big stuff with his dad!

They did however see a huge herd of elk.

Evolution of a Bathroom

I am finally posting our bathroom remodel, it has been done for a few weeks now, and people keep asking me for pictures, so here are the befores and afters and some in between.
This was the temporary fix. I can not find the pics before this, and what it looked like before we moved in with the orange and yellow wall paper and yellow cabinets and window.




We wanted that little wall gone, and then we opened it up found the vapor pipe going through it. So instead of Ian tearing his hair out and it taking weeks to redo the plumbing, (we also wanted it plumbed for two sinks) we hired someone to come help and they had it done in one day. I think that was the best decision we made, he also moved our toilet hole over a little bit too.




Then the next best decision we made is have someone come and redo the drywall and texturized the whole bathroom, and they had that done in one day too.


Then we picked out a paint color and Ian painted while I was gone to Utah. He didn't want to wait while we tested a sample color. Not a good thing. It was not the color we were looking for, meaning it was Purple!


So here is a picture after I re-primed it and we tested a sample of the color we ended up using.


Then after I painted again, we decided that we needed to rip up the sub-floor before we put tile down so it would be even with our carpet.


Here is the thinner subfloor in before we started on the cement backerboard for the tile.


Then we decided to make things a little more difficult again and place the tiles at a diagonal. I do have to admit, I think we got pretty good, and finshed the cutting and laying of the tile in a Friday night and Saturday. I got the fun part of measuring and placing the tile and Ian got to make the cuts, we had a pretty good routine going, but my knees were killing by the end, even though I had knee pads.

This is after it was placed in the mortar.

This is after I grouted it.

Then we got to start on the fun parts I think. Trying to get this big beast in there was not easy. Thank goodness for Ian's little brothers and one of their friends. We had to turn it up on it's side to get it into the door. I was worried about the granite, but it worked perfect!

Then after putting in the faucets, which was a first time for us, (and they gave us a few problems) we put the trim up, spackled, caulked, and did paint touch ups. We put in a new toilet and finally got to put in the accessories.

Here is another before picture to compare.


Voila!!!




When I first thought about seriously redoing it, I just thought, oh it will be easy, just re-plumb and put in new cabinets and lighting and tile the floor and paint. I didn't really think and realize all the other little time consuming steps. And all the runs to Lowes and Home Depot we would have to make. Thank goodness they are right next to each other.
And even though we went over budget,(but only just a little), and took us a little longer than we expected, (even with having help, can't imagine how long it would have taken if we wouldn't have hired some poeple) we are so happy with how it has turned out.
Next is the master bathroom, and then if we can just put up a door to block our kitchen out :) our house will look brand new!

Silly Cooper

Cooper has decided that he is a big boy now. He thinks he can stand up in his high chair, which made mom and dad promptly get out the straps which he is not happy with.
He thinks he is a climber and is getting up on everything now.

He also thinke he can walk everywere now instead of crawl.

These were taken a week ago, and it's amazing how much better he is in just one week. He has mastered the pivot, and loves to walk one direction, then turn and walk back.

Easter 2010

Here are our Easter pics.

The Easter Bunny decided to get clever this year, Malia said it's because he knew that she can read now, and made them work for their baskets.

Malia got so into this!
They found them under their beds. They then told us how they knew they had heard the easter bunny hop right into their room, but they stayed asleep so he would leave their candy.
Cooper even found his!