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!