New bike, new floor, new hope Part II

So, we've already covered the new bike. Here is the story of the new floor - and our new hope is that slowly, this new house is turning into a new home!

Many of you know that we haven't done a thing since we moved into this house in July 06. We had to sell our "Ohio House" first - which didn't occur until July 07. Once we did that - we began on the long list of things to do.

First of all, we needed to paint many walls. We freshened two bathrooms along with the cabinets, and recently finished painting the main living area and dining area upstairs. We still need to paint the entry and kitchen - then upstairs will be done with paint. We also intend to transform the boys' room into Buckeye Heaven.

The next step in our journey was to rip out some of the lovely pink carpet that we are all so attached to and install a hardwood floor in the dining area. I'm sure you understand that it made perfect sense to have carpet under a dining room table where five children and their friends eat regularly. However, we decided to go against the grain on that. So - here are pictures of our new floor (as of one hour ago!!). Riley and Nicholas enjoyed their first picinic on the new floor while our sweet dog, Sam, looked on. Isn't she good? We told her she couldn't walk on the new floor (something about dog toes scratching hardwood??). So far she's doing great! You can also see a bit of the color on the walls....

Anyway - next week we'll update again with our new carpet as we tearfully say good-bye to the rest of the pink pink pink carpet!!

New bike, new floor, new hope

So the posts are few and far between now days - I should get better about it.

Nicholas turned five this week. He was just that sweet, yellow baby that I took to church at four days old. He slept through the Christmas program that year. I remember that Christmas I had a perspective that I hadn't experienced before. There was this sense of what it must have been like for Mary, if only just a little tiny glimpse. She celebrated the arrival of a sweet, perfect little boy that would change the world forever. Okay, so my little guy isn't changing the world (yet), but he certainly brings joy to us.

Nicholas John started his birthday with a new bike and some Pokemons, and a candle in his cinnamon roll. He spent most of his day dressed as the Incredible Hulk (thanks, Allison). He wore it to the grocery one day last week and I'll tell you, we met more friends that day! All of the little ladies smiled and nodded at me as we strolled along. Many of the otherwise Christmas-rushed customers stopped to talk to Nicholas, and a Pepsi delivery man told him he'd stay out of his way so he wouldn't overpower him with his green muscles!

As is the Grandstaff tradition,Nicholas he picked his birthday dinner and who we should share it with. He chose to have Mamaw and Great Grandma Layton (affectionately known as "the Grandmas"), and our dear friends, The Grays (who, by the way, have their own perfect little baby this season). The menu was macaroni & cheese, octopus (hot dogs), chicken 'nuggets, and marshmallows. Then we topped it off with a gunslinger cake and ice cream. I've never been a five year-old boy, but if I was, I think this would have been a perfect birthday!

What a Cute Family!

Okay - just a quick preview....how cute are they?

I love Green...

Have I told you how much I love these little people that live in my house? They drive me nuts, make me laugh, can destroy a room in no time, and there is something about them that makes me love them so much that it is beyond words. Did I mention they drive me nuts? :)

OH MY GOODNESS!

We went to the kids' school and watched the Blue Angels perform today. The airport is just beyond the trees from there, so we were smack dab under the Angels as they did their thing...and they sure did their thing! You can practically read the pilots' names on their planes (thanks to the cool new lense my hubby got me). By the way, they wear yellow helmets - check them out! (You can click on any picture and it will zoom in)

Pretty girls...

Here you go...

Feel free to share with your friends and family ...

First Day of...

school, work, daycare...

Bailey (4th), Nathan (3rd), and Isabelle (1st) started their second year at Mt. Comfort Elementary School yesterday! Isabelle was up at 6:01 a.m. (approximately 1.5 hours earlier than needed) and was wide-eyed and ready to go! Nathan and Bailey were not nearly as excited with the idea of returning to school, but were still fairly cheerful.

One of picture that I love from when I was a kid was a "first day of school" picture. My youngest sister must have been about 2 or 3 and she insisted on standing in the picture with us big kids. She had on red pants, a purple shirt, and her hair was obviously that "went to bed wet" look. When the kids lined for pics Riley reminded me of that - thinking she was all big. I mean really - check out that grin! Nicholas went ahead and got his backpack, too. He starts preschool next week. Check back for pics!

Daddy has bus duty this year (along with Sam!) since on most days, mommy will actually be heading to work.

Yes, you read it here first. Christina is returning to a "normal" day job; at least for the time being. I got an offer from the law firm that I worked at before I got the promotion to full-time stay-at-home mom six years ago. Anyway...yesterday was my first day back as well. Other than trying to have conversations that didn't involve pull-ups, backpacks, or stories about what the kids did with ten minutes and a lot of imagination, it went fairly well.

So, will update again soon because today is BAILEY'S 10th BIRTHDAY~!~ I have sweet memories of ten years ago today. I was holding this amazing, perfect tiny person and introducting her to her mamaw and papaw, and a host of others. In between family and friends coming to meet her, I studied her dimpled hands and skinny little legs that still folded into that position they held for months in my womb. I drove the nurses nuts because I kept taking her hat off to look at her hair, and opening her blanket to peek at every little thing. She was amazing. A true miracle.

Happy Birthday Bailey!!!

girlfriends...

Bailey and her sweet friend, Grace. Grace came to stay with us for a while this summer, but nearly long enough! We tried to pack a lot of memories into our time together.

Sister's Purses

...my sister is so talented. Be one of the first in line to get your own unique Hartley Purse. Reasonable and super cute!!!