We swore off home improvement projects...

And... here we go again!

We swore that we would take a few week break once the roof was finally finished.

To help our budget as well as our sanity.

But... we are back at it... in full force.

I started painting the trim in the living room. It looks OH SO NICE!

I still have closet doors and the front door to do. I can't believe what a difference it has made.

Our evening project for this week will be to finish the soffit and fascia.

We've only done the front of the garage but it looks AWESOME!

It made our ABSOLUTLY HORRIBLE paint on our house just look HORRIBLE!

(I'll take pictures tomorrow!)

Don't worry, (incase you were) the kids are still enjoying their summer to the fullest.

As are we!

I think I mentioned the garbage man taking Kevin's bike.

Lucky for him Pa was in town and came to the rescue.

This bike is tons better then his last. He can turn on a dime and pedal 10x faster (believe me. I try to walk beside him!)

We really can't keep him off of it.  His favorite thing is to ride up our neighbors driveway

(it is slanted and blacktop and smooth)

and ride down as fast as he can.

He's crashed a few times. But if we clap and shout 'YAHOO' he jumps right back on and usually says

'Cool Trick Huh Mom!'

He also enjoys riding around out circle at top speeds yelling, "CLAP FOR ME MOM!"

Oh Julia.

Have we got a girl on our hands or WHAT!

She loves all things girl.

From nail polish to jewelry to lipstick.

She knows what it is and WANTS it!

She's also a HIGH drama little girl.

Oh things are soo hard in her world.

This is mid temper tantrum.

She climbed up on this box once and fell off. The 2nd time I took her down.

She was mad at me!

Can I just tell you, her temper tantrum cry is a cross between a growl and a scream.

It is FAR from being cute.

Julia's breakfast, served on the kitchen floor.

Her and Kevin were puppys!

Julia's first piggy tail day!

I was super excited. She'll wear them as long as I DON'T add a bow.

She ADORES her Daddy.

She loves kissing his face off.

She understands the phrase

=give me a kiss=

in Spanish, and once you start her, it's hard to stop her!

See this wading pool. Isn't it lovely. It's just down the street from our house. We frequent it.

The kids love it. It is fenced in and I love it.

Super relaxing for all of us.

By the end of the trip Julia's knees are sore and she walks like this.

I told Julia NO while we were there and this is the look I got.

She was shaking her head.

Is this GRAMPA Kevin OR WHAT?

Kevin makes new friends every time we go.

He also takes all of their toys. I've bought tons of toys and we take them every time we go, but he doesn't use them.  Everyone else does though!

(it's always better when it is someone elses. right?)

This was this afternoon. Julia was on one. Oh she was a bear.

I finally put her in her chair with a cup of pudding so I could get dinner ready and the kitchen cleaned up.

She ate some pudding then used the rest for hair gel. She was fine until I got that camera out.

Then she was mad. She would NOT look at the camera. She would scream and turn her head.

I think she is worried I'll show her boyfriends.

And an hour later all cleaned up and enjoying a capri sun with dinner.

She's getting so big.

She wants to be big too.

But she still wont walk and she gets mad. She wants us to hold onto her hands and walk her everywhere.

And one last pic of our mischevious little boy.

I love my kids. I can't believe how fast they are growing.

I am so grateful I get to stay home with them. What a blessing it has been.

Oh Yes, Aunt Tessa. One more thing.  Kevin wants Lucy to come and play. He's been asking daily. I think it is a LOVELY idea. You and Dilly can come and play with her too.

He told us yesterday, "mom tell Lucy to get on air plane!"

DUH!!!