The Renovation

This post has been a long time coming! Nick finally organized all the renovation pictures and made a video.  So most of this happened when Fiona was a newborn.  They took the fence and deck out early (meaning we had to walk the dogs for ages!), but the wall was not taken down until she was a few weeks old and then everything was completed by September.  We are loving all the changes, but it was a crazy time for sure. 

 

We had to sacrifice a nice deck and a lot of yard.

 

 

Nick and my dad did a lot of the work.  They did all the painting and staining.  They also did a lot of the demo.  Nick got to drive our contractors bobcat.

  

Massive amounts of rain and slow permitting held us up.  Mud pit yard.

 

 

 We were so excited on cement day!

The framing was insane.  And before the bathroom skylight was taken out, we could see the new roof from our bathroom.  And below is with the windows and bricks.  They matched them very well.

 

Our kitchen before.

 

With the framing of the kitchen expansion and laundry room.

 

 Our kitchen now.  Expanded and new cork floors.  I love them!

 The laundry room.  Nick built the basket storage shelf for the washer dryer and the one beside the dryer.  We have a place for all 5 baskets!

 
The living room before was our den/playroom.  It had 3 huge windows looking out on the deck.

 The windows were taken out to add the playroom.

We put double doors between.  It is now our Living room, but not formal since it has our bigger tv and is where we watch tv and do work in the evening.  We took out the old nasty carpet and put in engineered wood. 

The new playroom with the built in.  It is a huge, amazing room.

 We are still slowly putting things on the wall and figuring out how best to store everything.  Of course, some aspects are changing as Fiona ages out of things.  We are very pleased, but also so glad to be done!

Happy Easter!

With this post, I catch up except for the renovation post!

 

I took the dogs to the vet.  Phoenix is healthy.  She is slowly a smidge, but you would never guess she is 12.

 

Toby is 14.5.  He is near deaf and near blind.  He is actually less skittish.  He is slowing a lot.  Hard to keep up even at the beginning of the walk.  He falls asleep in the yard and cannot hear us calling, so I have to go touch him.  Poor puppy!

Fiona's 9 month pictures.

 

 

One of the best things about living in Florida was that so many people came to visit.  Even if they came for the beach or Disney, we could see them.  Well, the best people come to visit you even if you live in Texas!

 

My good friend Stacy and her son Rowan came and met her mom and step-dad so her mom could get a consultation at MD Anderson.  We were so happy to see them, but wished it could have been all fun.  And we really missed little Nick and Mr. Lance.

 

Zoey loved spending time with Miss Stacy again.

 



 

Rowan is such a sweetie.



 

Fiona loved Rowan!

 

And when they left, we were lucky enough to be on the homeward bound trip of Aunt Tracy and Uncle Bruce.  We had a blast hanging out with them. 

 



 

We met the Pabons to have lunch and see the USS Texas.

 



 

 

Zoey is a huge fan of Uncle Bruce.  He is such a good sport!



 

 

 

I like this picture because you can see Fiona in the ergo in the reflection of Nick's glasses.

 



We were sad when everyone left.  But we celebrate Saint Patrick's day.

We toured the Houston Police Department's Mounted Patrol Stable.  Zoey was excited but a little nervous, she kept dropping the carrot.

Sam loved it.

 This doll is Zoey 's current favorite.  For days she said it was named Night Light.  But now she has changed it to Moon Rock, which is the road we walk down to go to Samantha's school.  She said it sounded better. 

My little fashionista.

She is in love with these gold shoes from Target.  Unfortunately, the gold is already peeling off.  :(

A few photos of Fiona.  Notice Christmas jammies.  When you are born in a different season, Christmas jammies fit well a few months late :)

Her curious face.

Would have been a great picture except she thought I was trying to feed her the eraser I was using to lure her towards the camera.  Silly baby.

Sweet shot.

Her face every time I put her in the pack and play even just to do something with two hands.

She loves swinging so much.

Cute overalls.

Sam chose to go to a friends party and miss the neighborhood egg hunt.  Zoey was proud of her tiger egg.  And she was so sweet.  An older kid who went after Zoey could only find 5 eggs and Zoey agreed to share some of hers.  So proud of her generosity.

 Zoey still loves swinging too and is learning to pump.  Not good enough to start herself but can maintain it pretty well.

 Our first Easter with 3 baskets!  I ordered Fiona's on clearance but did not pay attention to size.  Oh well, she is a Texas girl and everything is bigger in Texas.

And she can sit in it for cute pictures!

Sweet girl!

Happy Easter to all who celebrate!  Hopefully I can keep up better in the future, but I doubt it :)

Bunny and Chick pictures

 

A mom in one of the mom's clubs I am in is a photographer, so I signed the girls up for a bunny and chick session.  I was not expecting much with three, but all three girls did so well! 

 





Fiona's tongue is out in this one.  And notice that the white bunny made a run (hop) for it and know that Fiona is seconds away from trying to eat the green frilly part of the carrot.