Quinn sings at church

Here is Quinn singing at church yesterday. He had such a good time, and was practicing his song for 2 weeks - singing at the top of his lungs! Doesn't he look handsome in his suit and tie?

Bathroom Progress

We have been working on our bathroom for awhile now (I'm too embarrassed to say how long it actually is), and I finally feel like we are making some progress. We completely gutted the thing down to bare studs and sub floor so we had a lot of work to get it back usable.

Needless to say, it's not done yet, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! The walls are up, taped, mudded, sanded and primed (sealed) and all they need is the real color and that's done. The tub/shower is in and working (has been for awhile) and all it needs is the new shower head on. Then we need the tile floor , medicine cabinet, vanity and toilet and we will be fully functional and done. With that bathroom - then we need to start the other one.

But, I've decided not to start that project until Quinn starts kindergarten in July. It's much easier to get things done when he isn't here! So, here are some pictures of our progress.

This is what the tub walls looked like before. That's tape over a hole in the wall behind Quinn's head.

Bare studs and floor, but the tub is in and insulation is up.

Different view.

Drywall up, taped, mudded and sanded.

Primer on the walls, finally!

New Camera

Not much going on around here these days, except the ordinary stuff. Our bathroom is ready to paint - all I need is some time alone to get it done. I will have to put on a primer coat and then the color plus seal the ceiling and paint it also.

I finally got my new camera and took a few pictures today, so that is what you will see. This one takes much better pictures than my old one, and it takes more with longer battery life!

Quinn will sing in church on Easter and grandma got him a new suit, shirt and tie just for the occasion. He couldn't stand it, so I let him wear the dress shirt and tie last Sunday to church.

Lola doing what she does best - sleep!

A baby afghan I'm working on right now.

Lola likes to think the baby afghan is hers.

Refreshing Weekend

There is nothing like a weekend away with friends. I got back last night from my annual trip to the Hearts at Home conference in Bloomington, IL. Four of us girls travel together and stay with another friend that lives in Bloomington (Thanks Tara) and we have a gab fest like you wouldn't believe! The conference was great with the likes of Dr. Kevin Leman, Go Fish and too many others to name. We laughed, we cried, we hugged, we talked, we did everything but sleep much. Even still it was a great time away - even if it was only 2 days/nights.

Quinn got undivided attention from dad and they had a wonderful time together (even though Quinn cried for me every night). I'm sure they ate some junk food, and I know they had steak, baked potatoes and cheesecake. I missed out on a great meal as my husband is an expert griller!

Quinn is on cycle break right now and won't go back to school until the 24th. Usually it drives me nuts, but I may just be OK this time. I still have to get him registered for kindergarten, but I have until July to do it. School starts the 17th of July and he is all ready to go to the big school. After 2 years of preschool, he is an expert at the school bus, so I don't have any worries there. Well, maybe with some of the other kids on the bus, but not Quinn.

I have been looking to get a new digital camera and when I do, there will be more and better pictures on here.

Living Life

I can't believe it's been that long since I posted, but the blog doesn't lie! We haven't been doing much around here other than living life day to day. Quinn has been in his new classroom for a month now and is really enjoying it. We haven't seen and new "bad" habits, so I think we are good with the change. I still need to register him for kindergarten, but I can do that anytime.

Next week I will be in Bloomington-Normal for the Hearts-at-Home conference. Some of my friends and I do this every year, and we really have a good time. Tara lives there and opens up her home to us (she even kicks out her husband and kids for us) - we take breakfast stuff to pay her back and a good time is had by all. Steve always has to take that Friday off of work (just breaks his heart too) to watch Quinn, since he is on cycle break.

We have both been working out lately - trying to get back into shape! Maybe this time we can stick with it. I have been sore for a few days because I started something new. I get tired of just doing the treadmill every day. Would love to have an elliptical, but those run big bucks and I don't ever see them on freecycle.

I've been busy trying to get a cross stitch project done. I have e few more days work on it, but am very close. I will be happy when this is done, because it has taken me several years to complete. It's not real easy to work on when you have a curious little one around. I have also been working on a new baby blanket for the grandbaby and have some cute little ponchos picked out to work up. I finished an afghan I had been working on for about 6 months - it just grew and grew and I got tired of working on it simply because I wasn't thrilled with the colors and how it was turning out. I showed a friend of mine the blanket, and she just loved the colors, so I guess it's just me! I have also been teaching her how to crochet, and she is a really fast learner and a great student. Now her 7 year old daughter wants to learn.

We are doing the Fireproof bible study with our small group this time around. We have a group of 7 couples and 10 kids, and we have been meeting on Sunday afternoons. We do our study first and then eat a meal together. We have had a lot of fun "really" getting to know everyone. Last night we learned 3 foods that each person can't stand, and had a great time laughing and joking. It's really great to know your friends like that!

Lola has put on a little weight over the winter. She's not getting much exercise, and she has learned how to be a food thief. Quinn can't leave food anywhere that she doesn't eventually get to it. She even sneaks from the kitchen table (which I hate)!

Girls, Girls, Girls

Well, it seems that this is the time for everyone in the family to be having girls! Can't anybody have a boy????

Congrats to Trever and Krista, and I hope you have better luck next time they do an ultrasound. We found out yesterday that Christina is having a girl also! Mom is very excited, as she has been waiting for a girl in the family to spoil with all those cute clothes. They have picked out the name "Meadow" and I can say that I like it. Now, if we just got to see them more often (and they only live about 15 minutes from us).

The wedding has been planned and is set for May 2nd. I have a few months to drop some pounds, and just ordered some new workout videos to help me. Steve is even ready to get in on the action, so next time you see us we will be thinner.

Quinn has been ill lately and combined with a couple of snow days he was home for 5 days straight. I am so glad he is back in school - and I think he is too! Here is a picture of his artwork - he decided to do this prior to going to school one day and I decided to let him go like that!

Here is Quinn and Grandpa messing around one afternoon.

Passions

Last year I started focusing on improving one of my "someday" goals - I started making my own bread. Not from a machine, or a mix but real, old-fashioned homemade bread! You know, the good stuff.

Let's just say that it wasn't without failures, but I believe I have mastered the basic art of bread making. I have attempted to make sourdough, but it really didn't turn out like I thought so I will try that again in the future. I have not attempted french bread, as it's a very wet bread and I don't have that kind of "uninterrupted" time right now!

I have made basic white breads, oatmeal, pumpernickel and Hawaiian. The oatmeal and Hawaiian are by far my favorites right now, but I'm still experimenting. I have also delved into pizza dough with success and am looking to try my hand at english muffins soon.

Here are a few pictures of some my successes.

Here is a bread made from a potato starter:

Here are some cinnamon rolls made from the same starter.

Here is a pizza that Quinn and I shared one evening.

And here is another loaf of bread. I think this is the Oatmeal Bread.