Birthday, Blessing, and Bathrooms

This past week has been such a great one! On Saturday, my sister and her kids came to visit. It was so great to just hang out and enjoy each other, though Kim was sick most of the time. I must admit that Roy and I had second thoughts about whether or not we want to do the parenting thing, but it's too late to turn back now. LOL My niece and nephew are very well behaved, actually, but they are still kids, and they take a lot of work. Not only were Roy and I exhausted when they left, but Cleo was too!!! Sarah just adores Cleo, and she follows Cleo around all over the house pretending she is her baby, covering her up with blankets, petting her, giving her bones, etc. It is very funny to watch, and we couldn't help feeling sympathy for Cleo.

John's 6th birthday was in June, and since I wasn't there to celebrate it with him, we just had our own celebration while he was here. He picked out a Mars Lego set for his bday gift. It was amazing: the set is for ages 7-14, and he put it together by himself in one day! He is quite the thinker and engineer. Here he is showing off the two pieces in the set.

Of course no birthday is complete without an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. Yummo! (Not sure what's up w/my face in this pic! LOL)

One of Cleo's favorite things is playing in the sprinkler and in her pool. It made it so much more fun to share that excitement with John and Sarah.

Sarah helped me make waffles for dinner!
John learned how to crack eggs and then scrambled them to go with the waffles. (By the way, yes, that's a cast on his arm. He broke his wrist a few weeks ago by falling off a play thing at McDonalds.)
On Monday after I got home from summer school, we went to the theater and watched Kung Fu Panda. Fabulous movie!!!! The popcorn, Coke, and Milkduds weren't bad either!

My sister left for home Wednesday, and I rode with her because my mom called and said she bought a new car (Honda CRV - awesome vehicle!), and she and Daddy had planned to give her old car to me and Roy!!!! What a blessing! We had known they wanted to give us the old car, but we thought it was going to be next year, so it was quite a surprise. I went to OK with my sister, stayed the night, and drove my "new" car back on Thursday. It's a 2001 Kia Rio and only has 62k miles! They have taken fabulous care of it, so it's in excellent condition. All these years Roy and I have only had one car, and we had gotten used to the inconvenience of it. Now we are realizing how great it is to have two! Thanks Mom and Dad! (I forgot to take a picture in the daytime, but this gives you an idea. It is super cute, and is a grey/blue color.)

Finally, after a month and a half, our bathroom remodels are complete! Below are the pics. Keep in mind that I haven't purchased the new rugs or towels yet, and we still have to get wall decor and curtains, but the rest is finished. I thought I had taken pics of our old bathrooms, but apparantly I didn't because I can't find them anywhere. I guess you will only get after pics then, not before and after.

Below are pics of the upstairs bath. They took all the nasty tile off the walls, and replaced it with wanescote (sp?). The paint color is "searching blue" from Sherwin Williams.

We didn't want to drill holes into the wanescote, so we just got this stand-alone toilet tissue holder from Linens-n-Things. I think it's snazzy.
We even got a new toilet seat and handle to match our new brushed nickel hardware. We had no idea putting in a toilet handle could be such a pain! The handle was so heavy that the rubber plug inside the tank didn't want to go back down, so Roy rigged it with fishing weights! Boy that Ph.D program is really paying off!!! LOL
Below is the shower curtain I ended up choosing. It coordinates with our blue paint perfectly, and it has a pretty sage green color in it that I plan to accent with.
Here it is close up.
For those of you who had seen our old tub/shower, you know this is a huge difference. No more nasty tub w/peeling finish! This new one is so much bigger and cleaner! Hurray! I have to go get some bubble bath now!
When our contractor suggested we use the same 16" tiles on the shower walls as we were using on the floor, we weren't sure how it would look, but we love it. I think the larger tiles make the shower look larger.
Below is a pic of the downstairs half bath. We mirrored the look of the upstairs, so it's not much different. I love how this sink bowl comes out of the vanity.
We had ordered over-the-toilet cabinets online, but we got them today, and they looked horrible. The stain on the doors didn't match the stain on the side panels, there were chips in the boards, and all the edges were roughed up and the wood underneath could be seen. They looked very used and worn. It was ridiculous; there was no way we could keep them in our bathrooms, so we are sending them back, and we are disappointed. Back to square one on over-the-toilet cabinets. Bummer. :(

Overall, our summer has been one of many blessings. Who would have thought that 2008 would be so great!!!!! (Hey, I'm a poet and didn't know it!)

Oh, one more cool thing - I have lost 4lbs since May! I think it must be from going off my birth control pills, but still, it is nice!

Near Summer's End

I haven't posted in a while because, frankly, there has been nothing to post! Since we returned from vacation, we have done just about nothing everyday. I must admit it has been very nice though. The guys have finished the downstairs bathroom remodel, and they will finish the upstairs this week. It is looking great! I can't wait to post pics. We were without our shower for a whole week though, so things were getting a little smelly around here! We took sponge baths and washed our hair in the kitchen sink. This weekend my sister and the kids are coming!!! I am soooooooo excited! I am putting her to work; she is going to help me pick out a shower curtain and rugs to match our "searching blue" Sherwin Williams paint. I think I like this one the best - from Kohls.

Did I tell you my parents gave us a Wii for an early Xmas gift?!!!!!!! It has been a lot of fun. Roy has been playing his beloved Zelda on it while he can - summer school starts for him on the 13th. He knows he won't have time for fun then. Actually, he won't have time for fun until next May! I am praying this semester will be easier than the last. Only seeing your husband at his desk every night with books and a computer takes its toll. This summer has been great to just hang out with each other and be together.

Okay, so you know I am off the pill with hopes of getting pregnant in Aug/Sept, right? Well, I guess I have been really moody w/o those extra hormones - at least that's what Roy tells me. The other day he said I needed to start taking them again!!!! It was quite funny (though I didn't think so in the moment; I was frustrated w/him for about the third time in two days). I started thinking about it, and I am indeed moody. So I have been trying to work on that. I remember almost 12 years ago when I got on the pill that I was really moody for about 2mths. I thought it was becaue I was in college and planning my wedding at the same time, but I think the change in hormones affected it too. I guess now the reverse has the same affect! Poor Roy! Maybe it's good preparation for when I do get pregnant!

I start teaching summer school next week. I am excited to see my students; I really miss them. I spent five hours Monday night making one week's worth of lesson plans, schedules, and assignments, and it really got me excited (you have to be a teacher to understand that one, I guess.) Yesterday I was going to go to school, but we realized we had a flat tire! Roy put on the spare, and we got the tire changed. Thankfully I had purchased the warranty when we bought all the tires, so it cost us nothing, but I made up for that by spending $20 at Target while they were fixing the tire!

Jewelry making is going well still. I have posted several new pieces on the "sets" page, and I now have a "Shades of wood" section on the "earrings" page. www.freewebs.com/debbeads. When my sister comes, we are going to have a jewelry making frenzy when the kids go to bed! I can't wait!

Thursday we take Cleo to a new dog care place called Dogtopia. It is really awesome ... and clean! Seriously, there was no dog smell at all! We just walked in unannounced and got a tour and loved it. They don't have kennel runs. It is indoor (w/ac) group play with other dogs the same size. The dogs are always supervised - and played with - by the workers. They have toys, slides, beds, and all kinds of stuff for them to play with/on. Also, they have a "dogcam" where we can view Cleo's playroom for any computer! I like that alot. We never like going anywhere over night unless we can take Cleo because we don't like the kennels around here, and neither does Cleo. But this place is great! They evaluate her on Thursday to get to know her (just that alone says something about the quality!), and then we are going to bring her in for a half day a few times to see how she likes it. We will probably do that at least once or twice a month, so when we do need to leave her, she will be used to it. http://www.dogdaycare.com/


So that's what's going on in our lives... so interesting! LOL

Cleo's Summer Fun

I know, I know, another blog about Cleo. She's part of our family; what can you expect?

Cleo has always LOVED playing in water (not so much the bath water, oddly enough), so we got her a hard plastic pool this year. Last year she had an air up one, but she bit a few holes into it. Anyway, she loves this pool, and begs to swim in it every day. She has learned how to splash - she paddles her front paws and makes big waves, then she tried to eat the waves. It is super cute, and I love watching her. Plus, when she's finished, we put her in a towel and hold her while she sleeps - yes, yes, just like a baby. If fact, I am typing this while she is asleep wrapped in a towel on my lap. This pic was taken about 20mins ago...

While we were in Ponca, we realized Cleo had a thing for remote control vehicles. Well, Target had one in their dollar section for only $2.50, so I couldn't pass it up. We drive this car around and Cleo goes crazy barking, panting, and chasing it nonstop. The crazy thing is, it even moves on its own at times. Yep, we have put the remote down with the intention of not moving the car, so Cleo can calm down and try to "get it," but while she's barking at it, it will back up by itself!!! Weird! It is great fun to watch, though it feels a little bit like we are torturing her. A couple of times she's even been quite the acrobat - when she actually gets ahold of the car and lifts it off the ground, she practically does a back flip to get away from it! I want to video it, but I don't know how to get the file small enough to fit on this blog. Not that techno savvy, I guess. That's why I use blogspot instead of myspace. LOL
While backing up my files, I found this old pic of Cleo. I remember I heard her whining, and when I went in to find her, she was stuck in the basket! She was probably about 12-14wks old here. It was taken when we lived on Craven before we bought this house. Wasn't she adorable? Makes me want another one... oh wait, I am trying to have a BABY instead!
And that's the end of my Cleo blogging... for now.

New Jewelry

I love this hobby! Here are some newer pieces I have recently made. While in Ponca, I actually sold several of my pieces. It was really encouraging, though it felt a little awkward having a bunch of people look at and critique my inspirations. www.freewebs.com/debbeads.

Family Pics

While on vacation, we had family pics taken with my side of the family. Here are some of the best.

The Long Vacation!

On May 23rd, our summer vacation began - well, sort of. We went home for Memorial Day weekend to see Roy's youngest brother, Gregg, graduate from high school. We are very proud of him. Adam, Roy's other brother, was there as well, and it was great to hang out with them.

This is Roy's mom, Linda, with Gregg. (Sorry for cutting off your head, Gregg.)

During our weekend home, we were able to spend time with two cuties: Roy's sister, Cristy, and her daughter, Keara, who is quite the ham.

My sister and her family came home, too, and so I was able to play with my John and Sarah. They thought I needed doctored; I was well taken care of! LOL

After our short trip to Ponca, we came back home to Waco, so I could finish out my last week of school. Then, we headed back to Ponca. It was great to spend time with all of our family. I even got to go to the movies with my daddy! We saw the new Indiana Jones movie, which was really great, no matter what the critics say.

While in Ponca I continued my new goal of running every day, but unfortunately, my body did not have the same goal as I did. On day two of our vacation, my left knee started hurting badly, and it did not get better. I was limping around everywhere and was in a great amount of pain. Today I went to the doctor, and he said he thinks it's a strained muscle but doesn't think it's torn. I am supposed to stay off of it (something I couldn't do while on vacation) and take IBuprofen every 6hrs for a few more days. If there is no change for the better, then I will go in for an MRI next week. I guess I'll have to figure something else out besides running...

After a few days of visiting with family, Roy and Cleo and I packed up and headed northwest to Colorado to see our friends, Cary and Melissa, and their adorable boys, Carson and Caden. As is typical, I kept forgetting to get a picture of them, so I don't have one to post. I was kicking myself all the way home... Anyway, we drove through Salina, KS, and took I-70 to Denver. It was the longest, most boring, nothingness 10hr trip I have ever taken! There really is nothing to see in KS!!! I take that back, one thing that was cool was the wind farms; we got a picture of them.

When we passed the sign saying we were in CO, I just had to get a pic. Did I mention the wind was fiercly blowing, and it was raining all the way to CO? That meant we couldn't see the Rockies when we got close, but once we arrived, it was all worth it.

Though you can't tell in this pic, I was freezing cold! My teeth were chattering uncontrollably. It gets pretty cool at night in CO, but because the weather was rainy that night, it was extra cold. We were in Castle Rock at about 6200 feet high!
We had a wonderful time hanging out with our friends and playing with their boys. Poor Cleo literally had the crap scared out of her upon arrival because Cary and Melissa's dogs ran out the door barking to greet her, but after a short time, they learned to tolerate one another. Cleo thought every ball the boys played with should have been hers, so she ruined a couple, but they really enjoyed playing with each other. We got to watch Cary and Melissa in action with their youth group, and also heard Cary preach on Sunday; we were so proud. Saturday we went to the youth group's car wash (they were raising money for a missions trip to MX), and then we met up with some of Melissa's family and went swimming. I got a bit of a burn, but I was so glad to get some color on my skin other than blinding white! That night we went to a nice Italian restaurant to eat. It was just so much fun to be with our friends. We have missed them so much since they moved from Waco to CO. During our visit I observed the many motherhood talents of Melissa. She is amazing, and I only hope that I can be as consistent and real with our kids. She is quite an inspiration.

On Sunday, we drove up to Dillon to the mountains. On the way, we stopped in Idaho Springs at a pizza place called Beau Jo's. It was super yummy pizza! The crust is fabulous, and they bring you honey to eat with it. At the back of the pizza place, there is a little water fall, so I snapped a pic. The town was really neat. It was an old mining town, and they even had a spot were you could pan for gold! A river runs through the mountains and the town, and people go rafting on it. It would be a great town to stay in for a few days.
After eating, we made our way through the mountains. We got up to 9-10,000 feet high! While taking a few pics, it started snowing! It was just gorgeous! Roy and I defintely want to move to CO after he graduates.

We left our wonderful friends and the amazing scenery on Monday, and headed back to Ponca where we stayed a couple more days before leaving Thursday. Now we are back home, and life seems boring. LOL

Return of the Husband

The past few days have been so fabulous! Roy is finished with school, and we have been able to spend all kinds of time together. It's like a breath of fresh air!!!! On Friday we had some of his Ph.D. friends over. It was such fun! We grilled and ate outside and then played some bocce ball and horseshoes. Our back patio looked so nice; Roy had strung white lights all around, and we had some Tiki torches going. It was very pretty. Roy had also cleaned the entire house, so I didn't have any house cleaning to do this weekend! On Friday I received three orders for jewelry and sold two pieces, so Saturday night I was "working," making jewelry. Today Roy and I saw Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. The 2hrs and 20mins went by so fast; I had no idea the movie had lasted that long. Excellent film. I work this week M-TH, but I took off Friday to go to OK for Gregg's graduation from highschool. He is Roy's youngest brother, and the only one of the five kids to get a high school diploma. We will be in OK until Monday; I am off for Memorial Day, too. Then I work T-F, get my hair cut on Sat., and we are headed back home for OK again. We are splitting our trip there with our trip to CO to see our good friends, Cary and Melissa. I can hardly wait! Not only am I excited to see them, but I have never been to CO before, so I am looking forward to the scenery. Well, it is late and time for bed... Don't forget to go to www.freewebs.com/debbeads to see my newest creations. The "necklaces" page has the newest three strand wood necklace.

The Countdown

Twenty-two days until I go off my birth control!!!! Roy told me not to "do the countdown thing" because it's too much pressure on him, so I just have to blog my excitement! So many great things are happening this year, specifically in the area of finances. I won't go into details, but just know that most of my worries about financial issues related to having a baby have been dissolved, and I am beginning to believe that God is in the timing of our planning a baby. God? Yup, go figure! LOL One great thing is that my health insurance at work is changing, and it will only cost us $750 to have a baby, assuming there are no complications, which includes all the doctor visits and everything! Hey, maybe we should have two!!!!

We are in the process of getting bids for remodeling our bathrooms. The one today was $3,500 for both. That is about 1k more than what we want to spend; we have a couple more estimates to get, so we'll see what happens. We wish our friend Cary was here to help us do-it-ourselves.

Roy has one week left of school/work, and my last day is the 30th. I can't believe this year is gone already...