More Photos

Just wanted to share a few photos I’ve taken recently. Most are from a Brittany’s place, but the last one is from our place in De Leon. 

They’re Back!

 

   Well it looks like we have a pair of bluebirds in residence again.

Chuck and I noticed them sitting on the fence the other day, and confirmed yesterday that Mama was going in and out of the bluebird house. 

I’ve missed them over this spring, but look forward to seeing them this June. 

According to my research it takes 7-10 days to build a nest, 5-7 days for Mama to lay her eggs (one egg a day for up to 4 to 5 eggs), and 14 to 17 before hatching. 

I can’t wait until those babies start chirping. Music to my ears! 

Granite Countertops

Yea! We have granite countertops, sinks, and a cooktop in place. 

Brittany, will and the boys and I ran by after preschool graduation last night to check out the progress on the house. 

The granite looked amazing, and the black in the countertop really pooped with the black sink, and cooktop. 

They had also painted the walls, but the lighting wasn’t too good at that time of night so we will have to wait until Saturday to check that out. 

I’m pretty sure next week the tile gets done. 

It’s looking great!

Work

      

This boy loves to work. 

His idea of play is working. He’s loaded up his wagon with tools and equipment needed to get the job done. 

He’s using his measuring tape to check those final measurements.

He’s digging up the garden with a hoe getting it ready for concrete.

It’s fun to watch the boy doing what he loves. 

Photographing the House

Well Chuck and I have been working hard to get the house ready to sell. We’ve spent last several weeks packing up closets, and staging the house. 

This weekend we did some deep cleaning, and were ready for our real estate agent, Debbie (my former principal) and a former Curtsinger student, Jacob to come and photograph the house. 

When they arrived it had just started raining, but it stopped long enough (thank you God) for them to get some nice pictures of the outside of the house. 

About an hour later they were done with the inside, and we became one step closer to putting the house on the market. 

It won’t officially go up for sale for twelve more days, but that will give us a little time to catch our breath, and allow our other house to be nearer to completion. 

We are putting this into God’s perfect timing, and are trusting Him through the process. 

We’ve enjoyed our time here the last three years, but are excited to move to our new home closer to Brittany, Will and the boys. 

Painted Doors and Trim

We were excited to see that the doors and trim were painted at the house. 

They also had finished painting the cabinets, but still needed to put the fronts back on. 

They are doing a beautiful job. 

New Bedspread

We bought a new bedspread last night as we are going to have pictures taken of the house on Monday. 

Our plans are to put it on the market the first weekend in June. 

I think it will look really nice with our gray headboard, and in our new house as well. 

I was busy all day vacuuming, steam mopping floors, dusting, and polishing the stainless appliances. 

I packed a couple more boxes, and by Sunday we should be good to go. 

Tomorrow we are headed to Comanche to check on the house, and attend the oldest grandson’s t-ball game. 

We’ll watch the boys in the afternoon since Brittany is out of town visiting her high school girlfriends. That will free Will up to take care of any business he might have. 

Then we’ll head home so we can go to church in the morning. 

Flooring

Well I got a phone call from the builder yesterday letting me know that the flooring we had chosen was no longer available. 

We had picked it out quite a while ago so needless to say I was disappointed. Building a home in 20-21 has been challenging. 

Everything has taken longer than normal, and materials have gone up, and are hard to find. 

I was in Comanche so I asked Chuck to run up to Floor and Decor to see what else was available. When he got up there he learned that there was actually a better brand than the one we had initially picked. 

Today when I got home we made another trip up there, and chose something completely different from our original choice, but I really like it.

I think it’s a little more modern than our first choice, and I think it will look great. 

They had enough materials at the Arlington store so we called the builder so he can order it. 

As the old saying goes, “All’s well that ends well.”

Spending Time With the Boys

I got to spend an extra day with the boys this week. I thought I might share a few photos. 

The youngest with a carrot nose. This kid loves carrots!

Popping pop corn off of a cob. This week’s science project. 

The oldest loves making a “set up” as he likes to call it. 

The youngest loves Spider-Man!

This guy can back up this tractor like a pro. 

These training wheels don’t slow down this boy. 

A Boy and a Puddle

One thing a little boy can’t resist is a good puddle, especially if he just so happens to have on a pair of rain boots. 

Paint

Chuck and I stopped by the house on Saturday to check on the progress. 

It looks like the cabinets are being painted. The fronts were taken back to the shop. 

I’ll be stopping by to drop off the deposit for the closet shelving on my way to Comanche tomorrow. 

Once that’s done they will start building the shelving onsite, and hopefully they will be installed soon. 

Here We Go Again

Well this posting is going to be short and sweet today. I’ve been cleaning out closets and packing most of the day because we will be putting the house on the market soon. 

I honestly thought I had streamlined what we owned when we moved from our Frisco home four years ago. 

Apparently I’ve spent the last three years in this home recollecting. LOL!

I’m pleased, though, with my progress as I’ve done both linen closets, and the pantry, as well as finishing up the guest room closet. 

I’m laying down on the bed as I type trying to convince myself to go finish the job. I think I’ll take a few more moments before I get up. 

Closet Planning

Today we met with James at The Cabinet Shop. His company will be building and installing the shelves in our closet. 

Through the use of a 3D software program he can make your vision come to life in planning your closets.

I couldn’t have been more pleased with what we decided on. Once they are installed I’ll include some photos. 

Later we ran by our old apartments to check on possibly leasing an apartment in August. This time around we are looking for a one bedroom, and it looks like they have one available. 

As Chuck said we are beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. 

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Springtime is one of my favorites because of all the beautiful flowers. 

Each time I visit my daughter’s I try to snap a shot or two of whatever is blooming. 

Her roses have been particularly pretty this year, even after the hard freeze we had. 

Of course, I‘m still partial to the wildflowers. 

 

Deer

Chuck and I were waiting to meet Brittany, Will and the boys this last Saturday, when we spotted a young deer hanging out in the trees close to our house. 

The tall grass was the perfect resting place for the fawn, and we were excited to see her. 

A few moments later she moved closer to our house as we sat quietly on our front porch. 

Just a few weeks earlier Chuck had spotted around six deer out by the barn. By the time I got there to see them they had already jumped the fence and returned to our neighbors wooded lot.

 

I was excited to think that we might have deer on our property, but with this tid-bit of knowledge, gardening might be more of a challenge. 

Even so I’m looking forward to being able to spend more time in and with nature. 

“I’m Not Good at Puzzles”

My oldest grandson is good at puzzles. He began showing this aptitude at a young age. 

His younger brother, like his Mimi, is not necessarily gifted in the puzzle realm. 

The other day the youngest was unsuccessfully trying to put together a puzzle while his brother finished up his dinner. 

His frustration began to show, and he sadly confided in me that he was not good at puzzles. I replied, “Neither am I.”

I then reminded him that he was good at making up games. Earlier that day he had created a game Chuck named Hall Hockey. The game consisted of a large wooden spoon for each player, and a small sized basketball. 

Each person would roll the ball down the hall to the other player using the wooden spoon. 

After reminding him about the game we began playing it again. Within a matter of minutes he was gleefully telling me that he was good at this game, and he actually was. 

It reminded me that sometimes we focus on the things we don’t do very well,and end up frustrated or unhappy. 

Generally the things we are good at are things we enjoy. 

Now of course, this doesn’t mean the youngest should never try a puzzle again. After all he is only three, and puzzles can be tricky for most three year olds. 

But they may not end up being his favorite thing to do, and in the scheme of life that’s okay. 

Dinosaur Garden

Last week one of my friends posted on Facebook a dinosaur garden that she and her grandson had created. 

I couldn’t wait to make one with my grandsons. I quickly messaged her to see where she found her supplies. She sent me the Amazon links, and I ordered them right away. 

A few days later a small volcano arrived, along with a notification that the main part of the order, the actual dinosaurs and trees would not arrive until mid May. 

Not to be discouraged I began looking around the house to see what we might use. I then made a trip to Dollar Tree, and Hobby Lobby. 

I arrived with a bag full of supplies, and we got to work creating the garden. 

I had already decided that the sand and water table in the back yard would be the perfect container. I had received a call a few days before from my oldest grandson letting me know that the table was full of water due to the rain, and that he had dumped it out, and wanted to put it in the sun to dry. 

When I arrived on the first day we drug it out in the sun, and made plans to get started the next day. 

The boys had a great time arranging the rocks, and plastic greenery. We used a blue peanut butter jar lid as a pond, and filled it with water. 

The oldest grandson carefully arranged the small rocks around the trees, and the youngest began placing dinosaurs strategically in the garden. 

It really looked great. When I arrived home the original order had arrived, and I was quite pleased at the quality. 

The next time I’m there we will add the rest of the stuff, and the Dinosaur Garden should be complete. 

I’m hoping the boys have fun with their new creation. 

Mother’s Day Breakfast

When I arrived at Brittany’s this week I was greeted by my oldest grandson smiling sweetly with a bag of donuts and kolaches in his hand.

He had asked his mother if they could get donuts for me since the Mother’s Day Breakfast at school that week was for moms and not grandmas. 

Along with the delicious breakfast, which he had waited to eat with me, was a beautiful card he had made out of a coffee filter. 

Apparently at school he had learned how to use markers and then water to cause the colors to bleed. He had hit his Mom up for the filter, and knew just what he wanted to do. 

He did confide in me that he wanted to get me the sprinkle donut, but that his mom had said I’d probably prefer the glazed donut. I must admit I did sneak a small bite of the sprinkle donut. 

The smile on his face when I took his picture said it all. 

I am one blessed Mimi!

Trim, Doors and Floating Shelves

Today I stopped by the house to meet with the granite guy about measuring the countertops. 

Our builder Mike and his wife Leslie were there, and Mike and his helper were working on the trim around the doors, the window sills, and had hung most of the doors. 

Along with that the floating shelves over the desk in the kitchen had been installed. 

Everything looked great, and it sounds like the painters are next on board.

We are getting there. 

Granite

Chuck and I went to pick out granite on Saturday in Stephenville. We found one we liked, and made plans to check it out at the stone yard in Dallas. 

I’m so glad we did because we liked it even more after seeing it up close and personal. 

We are really excited that things are coming together so nicely. 

Later this week I’m meeting with the guy who will measure the countertop areas. 

Slowly but surely we are getting there.