Happy Birthday Hailey!

Today is my niece's 2nd Birthday and I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. I remember getting that early morning call that she had been born and being one of the first to hold her. The twins have been in love with her since the moment they met her and all 3 girls have so much fun together!

So, Happy Birthday to you, Hailey! Aunt Ren can't wait to see what new discoveries and adventures await you on your way to #3!

Lauren and Tara love their new cousin - June 8th, 2007

Spending time at Aunt Ren's house - June 2008

Getting ready to see her Birthday cake! - June 2009

New Home Updates II

Looking into Dining Room from Living Room

This is the sunniest room-Tiki loves it!

Master Bedroom closets, etc.

I think the colors turned out really nice in this room...

Our crazy main upstairs bath!

It's not perfect but it's looking much better!

Girls Bedroom and their bathroom door

Nice and bright now!

I've posted this pic before-adding again for posterity!

Girls Bathroom

Went with a beach theme!

View of our backyard (left side)

We've added cedar wood chips and lots of foliage!

I know that's a lot of pictures but many people have been asking to see how the house is coming along. I am really proud of the work that Mike and I have been able to accomplish, without hiring anyone to do it for us (with the exception of the carpet layers). We have had a tremendous amount of help from our friends and family as well-who knew they were so skilled? :)

Can't wait til the Housewarming Party in July. Hopefully we will feel much more settled in by then and can just enjoy the house for a change! ;)

New Home Updates

I just wanted to post a few before and after photos of the new house. I am going post some more tomorrow as well, but didn't want to go overboard all in one day. We have been chugging along, getting a little bit more accomplished every day. Yesterday, for example, I unpacked 15 boxes and completed the dining room! Yay! I'll post those photos in tomorrows batch...

Living Room towards the front of the house

It's not done yet (nothing on the walls) but it's getting there!

A good view of the eating area from the kitchen

Ta Da!

Looking in from the double doors into the foyer

The foyer is almost complete now!

Here's another view from the other angle...

The new renters will be moving into the Galahad house this month, which is very exciting. A couple months of having to make double mortgage payments is killing us! I would much rather have that money to improve our Riveredge house...which still needs a lot of work. The stairs and hallway (up) still need to be painted, our master bathroom needs help, guest bedroom needs it's 2nd coat and the big family room still needs to be painted as well. Our main level bathroom needs to be gutted, although the toilet is newer and we'll probably keep that. Tons of other smaller items like door knobs and handles, window treatments, landscaping, etc. will have to wait a while longer.

We've been having fun transforming the house and now that we have set a date for our Housewarming Party (July 12th) we have a solid goal to work towards. I can't wait to see how far the house will have come by then! And to think, by 7/12, we will have only owned the house for 4 months! Wheew!

Weekend of Birthdays!

Man, this weekend was Birthday central around here. Mike celebrated the Big 34 on Friday, my Grandpa Kowalewski hit #84 on Saturday and my bother Kevin turns 27 today!

The girls and I took Daddy out to our favorite Japanese Steakhouse (Ichiban) Friday night and it was delicious. Of the 3 parties of people sitting on our side of the hibachi grill, all 3 were celebrating birthdays! The waitress, after our meal, brought out different slices of cake for each of the 3 B-day peeps, with a big sparkler for a candle. Then she brought out a glass of champange to wash it all down with! Nice!

We had dinner with Mike's family on Saturday night and then yesterday, my entire family (paternal side) came over to the house to celebrate all three boys' birthday's! We had cake and ice cream, sang that familiar song a few times for the kids, blew out the candles (twice), opened presents and just hung out. It was nice and relaxing...but boy am I glad that it's over with! I'm exhausted...

Mike, Grandpa and Kevin!