Day 64: Paint!

Between stops at the Southeast Polk and Bondurant-Farrar 'soap' games, I swung by the house hoping I could sneak in. No one was around, but I did let myself in to check things out. The entire interior had been painted, which was very exciting! From top to bottom, the fireplace and mantle, covered; a shot of a corner where it meets the ceiling, so you can see the difference between the 'relaxed khaki' (name of color) and the white ceiling; and the upstairs hallway.

Day 63: Stone, stain

The stone was installed on the front columns and the front part of our garage on Thursday. And the painters were busy at work with the stain.

Day 62: Lawn graded, fixtures delivered

Today I found the light fixtures, etc., in the garage, and I assume they'll be installed as soon as the painters are done. They were prepping the interior today, cleaning and filling nail holes. Also, the crew graded the front and back yard, which gives things a

much 'cleaner' look.

Day 61: Shakes are installed

On Monday the 'cedar-look' shakes were delivered for installation in the peaks of the front of our house. We went with harbor gray for the siding and sandstone for the shakes, then stone on the columns and part of the garage that match both. Top photo is after the shakes were hung, obviously, and bottom is before.

"Actual Birthday"

Before her big party, we celebrated Avery's "actual" birthday on Sunday, Aug. 5 with cake, presents, and a trip to the park. Grandma Vicki came over to help us celebrate, too! She was certainly not shy about diving into her cake and had almost the entire top with frosting and almost half the cake dug into in a matter of minutes! And just as we did with Jman when he turned one, we woke her up on her actual birthday with a balloon party in her crib!

Happy, Happy First Birthday Avery!!

We celebrated Avery's first birthday party - ladybug style! We had a craft table for the kiddos to paint sun catchers, bug masks, presents, ladybug cake, and topped it off with a beautiful summer day to play frisbee, soccer and run around at

Waukee Centennial Park. Thanks to all of our family and friends for helping to make her day special! And thanks to big brother Jasper for helping her open her gifts! Our good friend, Faith Tibe, made Avery's onesie and tu-tu which we loved!

Day 60: Carpenters are done

Showed up this afternoon to see the carpenter crew packed up and ready to leave. Glad I caught them, because the house is locked up now. Before they left I walked around the house, looking at the last few things they finished. Photos, from top to bottom: 1) 'Lockers' as you enter from the garage; 2) A little shelf built in our office; 3) The mantle above our fireplace; 4) Shelves in our pantry. Everything wooden will be stained this week to match the 'espresso' color of our kitchen cabinets.