Demolition

This was probably the saddest and hardest part of the project so far. We gutted the entire house.

We had to remove a majority of the flooring in the living room and kitchen. We had to even dig a crawl space to repair and brace some of the floor joyces (spelling?) Years and years of existing had accumulated lots of dirt under the house. And... there are bottles everywhere under the house! Some soda bottles from the 70's, milk bottles, mason jars, and lots of strange unidentified bottles. It was like opening a time capsule! We really still don't know why. I tried googleing it. I seriously doubt it was to ward off witches. Any comments with input would be appreciated. Curiosity is killing me!! WHY??

Here is the space in the kitchen. As you can see from this picture... there was a ton of brick just hanging out in the attic! Scary! It was overwhelming... and one huge mess. All of the sheetrock, from walls to ceilings was torn out. Surprisingly... there was no insulation anywhere in the house! That had to make for some cold winters and hot summers. We did find a newspaper from the Nixon era covering a hole in the living room. I had a pic, but can't find it at this time.

Even in the mess can you just see all of the light from these kitchen windows! I really like bright rooms. I hate feeling like I am in a cave. Natural lighting makes me happy. :)

 

 Here is a look into the living room. You can see some of the electrical boxes going in. We had the house re-wired. There was some interesting "period" wiring going on in there. Half was the old wire and post kind. (with exposed wires in the attic) and the other half was different. A lot of older houses had the electrical wiring in the door frames! Interesting!

Here is the new flooring going in!

And this house had more nails than I have ever seen in one place at one time! I had to take them all out so we could put in new sheetrock! There seriously was one or in some instances two or three nails every inch or so!! But hey, I already have great plans for my kids and neice and nephew. When we were little, my grandpa and grandma brown, had a big magnet that was tied to a string. We used to drag it around the yard hoping to find nails or screws. We got a penny for each nail and a nickel for each screw or washer. It was a huge treat! Then Grandpa would take us to Turks country store or Inskeeps store and we could buy single reeses cups that were $.05 each. They would get put into a very small paper bag. Occasionally we would change it up and get some of the peppermint patties... but reeses were definetly my favorite! Turks still sells them this way in the same place by the cash register. I can't wait to do this with the kids! Memories... fill em with warm and fuzzy... that is my job as mommy. The mere sight of these small paper packages or the selection jars by the register take me back.

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 Here is the part of the house that has me twitterpated... The old doors... with all of the character in the world. Every knob is different. The detail is amazing. We salvaged all of the doors and trim above the door frames and windows. I have spent a lot of time around paint... let me tell ya!

Four prongs?!? Our electrician asked to keep one of them!! He said that he had never actually seen one in person! Still one of my favorite parts!!

This Old House.

Our main goal... after doing some soul searching with Dave Ramsey when he visited our church was to get out of debt. We decided to sell our home and move back to the small town where I grew up. I longed for simpler times and places and could think of no better place. Anyone that grew up in warwick would have to agree that you can't get closer to Mayberry than Warwick Oklahoma.--- well... minus all of the stores etc... My children will start school next year so that became our goal date. We origionally were planning on buying a cheap trailer (which proved to be a bigger task than we imagined) but ended up with an old house that was across the street from my mother!.. Perfect! Everything just sort of fell together. (Which I believe to be a God thing) Fixing up this house has taken us on quite a journey... and I have LOVED almost every moment of it.... We still have a ton of work to do... but are well on our way to moving and then the daunting task of selling our home in Edmond. I dread it.... I am so scared! (There isn't much that truely frightens me... but this may just be it!!) Selling houses, and people.... that pretty much sums up my fears.... ok.. and alzheimers.... and car accidents, and childhood diseases. That's it. Anyways.... I was wanting to share with you some of our progress. It has been a ton of work... but I am falling in Love!


A view from the outside. Our sweet country home!


 

The house belonged to one of our dear neighbors that I grew up around. I never imagined myself ever living there! I think I had only been inside once or twice when I as a girlscout was selling cookies. Lorene always bought cookies. I looked forward to going there. I can close my eyes and still see the family gatherings (mostly around fourth of July and Easter) in her yard. We were only spectators.... but I still felt close to her family. It comforts me to know that in this house before me, there was love. My dad tells me stories about growing up here sometimes as we sit outside under shade trees after working hard all day. I long for the day we will be here all of the time. I am really ready to do some front porch sittin!

As you can see, the house is in dire need of a little TLC. The roof leaks, trees are falling down everywhwere and it is quite run down... but here I feel more home than I do in my shiney new home in Edmond. My husband --- the city boy--- sees things in somewhat a different perspective... but who can blame him :)

Yes, that is roofing material on the side of the house.... Like I said.... we have got some work ahead of us!

This is what will be the kids bedroom. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the old windows. The light in this room is amazing. It is always bright! I really do wish I had taken more pictures. But it is what it is. The transformation of this house is hard to believe! And we are doing all of the work ourselves! With a lot of help from friends and family who know more about what they are doing!

This is probably the smallest bathrooms I have ever seen! My husband jokes that you could sit on the toilet and bathe the kids ... and he isn't kidding... you probably could!  The Tub has came out and will eventually follow us to a home we will build later on down the road. I Love clawfoot tubs. This tub has seen many coats of paint in it's day. Way too many for me to refinish myself on my budget today. And little ones really need a safer tub. One day. The bathroom walls are definetly an add on. Back from the days of outhouses. I bet it was a really big day when they got an indoor bathroom in this home back in the day! My grandparents had an outhouse when I was a child. It is so neat to be in a home with so much history! This bathroom is Jack and Jill before it ever existed!

Cabinets that were build into the frame of the house. Unfortunately we were not able to save them. :(  We tried. They were just in too bad of shape.. I loved the character!

We did not keep the carpet that was throughout the house. I can't believe I didn't take any before pictures as we took this out! But it was the first thing to go!

 

The old sink

Knick-knack cabinet.... I think all older people had them hand crafted in their home! This too had to go.... not because it was in bad shape (that sucker DID NOT want to come out) but because part of the fireplace that was origionally there was still in the attic! I am so glad we took everything out! If it had ever fallen over for any reason, several hundred bricks could have fallen through the ceiling (and hurt someone)

This was probably one of my favorite parts. Talk about security! This was the origional door going off of the back porch. I remember having a couple in the small house that we grew up in. My favorite one is the bent nail. It reminds me of my grandmother!

Anyways.... we are further along now... I just wanted to show you the beginning. I hope this will be a happy fresh start for our family. I know these pictures also bring back fond memories of happier times for this family. This house had been empty for a while. It is sad what time takes away from a home. To many more memories that this old house gets to be a part of.... to holiday dinners, birthdays, toothfairies, first days of school, cousins visiting, everyday breakfasts, game night, happiness, sadness and all that life brings.

Pretty little mailbox

So... I needed a really cute mailbox that I LOVE. I looked around online and couldn't find anything that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg, and surprisingly there wasn't much of anything on pinterest , Sooo... I created my own... Feel free to pin me :)

1. You need a mailbox. I got mine at home depot for $12.

2. Spray paint. You need your color and a clear coat to protect your stickers fir your address.

3. Stencils. Hobby Lobby has a great selection and the stencil paint Is all right there. I used a cream based one and a sponge applicator.

Start by spray painting the mailbox. Use short spray motions like directed on the can. (it drips very easily since it is metal) Allow to dry completely and stencil on your design. Keep in mind placement of your address and flag. Allow to dry again before applying stickers and finish with a clear coat.

From the Pantry

I've always been a list person but I may have to find a better system for our weekly menu! I try... Really, I do! I make lists before I go to the store. I even make food we can make with the stuff we buy lists, but they never get made.... And we buy more stuff.... Then stuff goes bad and gets wasted. It's a never-ending cycle! I like having a stocked pantry, but I need to use all of this food! There are too many who go without to have me struggle with organizing my meals!

My pantry is overflowing, freezer is full, and deep freeze is about half full. Here's to a challenge and to getting creative... To only buying what I need. Join me.... And yes Amber, this is for you!

Another Day

Just another day....

We made a trip again today to get pictures made. It was Addison's 2yr pictures. It works out great for the spacing of my children. They are 17 months apart, so we roughly get pictures every 6 months. ( So far it is one of the few things that having them this close together actually works perfectly for! LOL) Although it was easier than it was last time, it was still quite an effort. Brayden did pretty good, minus a couple of short lived tantrum about wanting to go back to the lobby and play with the legos. Addison however is a different story. They are so different. I know EVERYONE tells you not to compare your kids, but it is soooo hard! Brayden is such a people person. He warms up easily and talks to everyone like you are a long lost cousin. Addison does not. We could hardly get a smile out of her. She has been like this at EVERY attempt at taking her pictures. She is skiddish and won't smile or play. She looks so unhappy. She even frowns and glares at the photographer. She can be really sweet to them (she tried to get the helper lady to pick her up.. she just doesn't want her picture taken!)  I just don't know what to do with her! We have tried everything! Despite her difficulties, we did get a couple of good pictures. (and even one of her smiling)  We really didn't want to do anything after we got home. We were drained..... It is crazy how tired we are after just taking the kids for pictures!


I do have a couple of goals for the month of August.
1. Get to bed between 10:00 and 10:30 every night --- sounds easy.... but I have not been sleeping well since the time changed (weird I know! I literally think,, hmmm it really should be 11:00pm now, all of the time!!) This has to stop! Some nights I stay up until 1:00am and get up at 5:00am to go to work.
2. Loose weight.... at least 5 pounds... which isn't looking good considering I just ate 6.... okay, maybe 7 oreos and a glass of milk.
3. Get my house clean again.... I was there... I really was.... but alas. I am once again behind. I just need to find that healthy balance again. (which is so hard, working, fixing up a house, and having 2 little ones that I really want to play with) But for now... I will go to bed with my dirty house because it is 10:25pm! :)

Classic Winnie the Pooh birthday party!

I am busy being crafty for Addison's 2nd birthday party--- (which is tomorrow)! I can hardly wait!! The theme is classic Pooh. She LOVES Winnie the Pooh. She can barely talk, but manages to sing along with the song. ADORABLE. Anyways... here are my creations :)

For her gift that I am handing out in place of gift baggies, I filled honey bears with bath soap and had thank you tags made!! They are soooo cute, and what 2yr old doesn't love a bath! I am sooo proud of this that I am attempting to add it to pinterest :) They only had clear or blue soap at walmart tonight, but you really could use any color/flavor etc.

1. I purchased the honey containers from a supplier for people who bottle honey. I checked around quite a bit before I found a company that A) wasn't outrageous, and B) didn't charge crazy fees for small orders. I got 24 bears for about $24. (not bad at all) and they were one of the only companies that included the lids. You can get almost any size and color of lid, and their shipping was fair and fast. http://www.dadant.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=33             2. I had all of my printables made from a dear friend of mine that can do anything! She completed my whole party package for $25!! (Including my invitation, bunting banner, thank you cards, cupcake toppers, cupcake wrappers, party hats, and two sets of tags. She has a facebook and Etsy store. https://www.facebook.com/yahoo#!/PolkadotPrintables   http://www.etsy.com/shop/KWPCreations                             3. The rest was easy! I purchased the bathsoap and I recommend a funnel! Everyone LOVES them so far!

Here is a pic (taken from my phone) of her invitation. I lOVE how it turned out! I purchased the cardstock at Hobby Lobby and picked out the pics and sent Kristen at Polkadot Printables my wish list and printed it at home. Add embelishments (also from Hobby Lobby) and walla.... Classic Pooh.... not available in stores. It definetly takes me back! There is just something sweet about classic pooh that storebought just doesn't measure up to.

Here is the sock tag (for a reminder since her party is at a play zone place) I included it with her invitation.

  The Honey pot will be used as a center piece. It is simpley a clay pot (from Walmart). I used a sharpie and some yellow puff paint for honey. The saucer is turned upside down and glued onto the top! So easy!!  I printed a picture of the hundred acre wood (from the front of almost all winnie the pooh books) (also there are several if you just use google images) and put it in a picture frame ($1.97 at Walmart) and hotglued twigs to the frame for a woodsy look. Cost almost nothing and is sooo cute! I can't wait for her party!! More pics to follow! Oh.... and her outfit! Pics and where I got everything definetly to follow!!

   

My Babies-- A day in the life

I just had to share a pic from mother's day this year. They are growing so fast. Every day they do something new! They are FINALLY getting to a point where they are playing really well together. Addison is really starting to talk now. Their conversations catch me off-guard daily! I love them with all of my heart.

 Sweet Addi girl loves her babies. She has even taken some after me playing with them, and talks in a different little voice when she is talking for her baby dolls. It is too funny! Brayden dressed himself today.... but you can't tell can you? It didn't help that I was going through stuff to donate to goodwill when he was picking his outfit! -- Yes, those are socks and crocks! The hat was added later.

Addison is such a little mommy. She mothers everything. Here she is playing with her carseat and lamb. She totes around something with her most everywhere she goes. Brayden picked out a little monster toy that has a see through belly so that you can see what it has eaten the last time we went to Toys R Us. Addison decided that she wanted to be it's mommy. They fought over it for three days! Addison would take the little monster and wrap him up in baby blankets and cook for him and feed him bottles and rock him to sleep. Then Brayden would get ahold of him and growl and make it eat other toys and throw it until Addison caught wind that he was mistreating her little baby. There is never a dull moment!

But, Brayden has decided that some of the stuff Addi does is pretty fun too! They are so different in how they play. I try and encourage them to play together. (They are best friends after all) -- Within a few minutes Brayden had his puppy all strapped into the carseat... complete with a blanket to cover him up with. ( Which is pretty good for puppy, since he then ran as fast as he could down the hallway with it screaming... "don't fall out.... weee weee weee")

Brayden may be all boy, but he is very sweet. He loves to snuggle and has gotten quite attached to this puppy that Addison got for Christmas. (We will wait a few years before we break it to him that it is actually hers) He loves to snuggle and hug and kiss. He tells everyone that he loves them and tells mommy and sissy that they are pretty. He is terrified of bugs, water, and the dark, and about any noise that you could make. And then there is Addison. Who is completely little miss girly girl. Who is afraid of nothing. She loves bugs and animals and would do anything by herself if you would let her. It amazes me how contrasting their personalities are. They are so sweet, and loving and innocent. They have changed my life so much.

Brayden just got out of bed asking for porridge! I guess I had better wrap this up!

Our little Buggy Friends

So, a thanks to all of my friends who correctly identified the little buggy visitor picture I posted on my facebook page. We have a Box Elder Bug (or Beetle) picnic going on on my front porch!! I am not exaggerating when I say that there are hundreds or even thousands of these little guys out there! I got out the Ortho Home Defense spray before I even knew what they were and sprayed the doorway, all of the little cracks in our concrete and around the flower beds before we left the house yesterday. They were crawling out of everywhere! It was a little creepy, then I sprayed a pile of leaves.....

EEEKkkkkkk!!!

Last year I noticed a few of these little guys, and thought nothing of it. This year, is a completely different ballgame. There are too many to not notice! Luckily, upon doing a little research, they are actually quite friendly little bugs. They are called Box Elder Bugs (or beetles). It turns out, we have a female box elder maple tree in our front yard... who knew?( Those are the trees whose seeds are the ones that you throw in the air and they come to the ground like a helicopter!! ) They don't sting or bite, but they stink (in large numbers) and stain when they are squished (which also makes their smell potent). Their smell attracts more of the beetles. I am really glad that they are friendly, but I still want them gone. They shouldn't be a problem as long as the weather is warm, but when winter arrives, they attempt to move in to somewhere warm... ie... my house!!

Here is a little buggy close up for you to enjoy.. :)  After reading up on them a little bit, I do feel for the little guys a bit. They only live for a few days as the individual bug life goes. They like syrup and enjoy sunning themselves on particularly warm days. --- sound familiar---- these bugs are me in my teenage years!! They congregate together because they like company! They spend hours on the telephone and enjoy reading any gossip magazines and often take the car without filling up the tank on its return.... wait... maybe that last part was me!! Either way, I have already poisoned the little suckers.... and hopefully it works! I don't want this to turn into a full fledged war! I don't think I would win either. They can fly up to two miles, and there are a lot of these trees in my neighborhood. Hopefully our tree will be somewhat less desirable until we get the house sold... they they can have it back! It was a little scary that most Internet sites suggested getting rid of the tree as the best defense. That tree is home value!!! Minus a couple thousand bugs that is!! Wish us luck!!

And so we march.....

Today was our first Walk with Brayden with the March of Dimes. I am so humbled by the amount of support that we have received from our friends and family over these last three years. It was honestly the hardest thing that I have ever done! I sit in tears now as I think back to our time of struggle that we went through.... I held them back on and off all day. He is still my little miracle baby, and we were so blessed during all of his hospitalization and journey through all of this. Others aren't as lucky. I knew this throughout everything. I hid tears and being overwhelmed because I felt guilt to cry or be upset when my baby was doing so much better than most babies in his position. I mostly cried because of the knowledge of what exactly we had avoided and what still at any moment could go wrong.

My work family helped me more than they ever could know. I was lucky enough to be hospitalized where I work. They were always there. Through it all.... always asking how we were doing (and genuinely caring), bringing me food while I was on bed rest, bringing Brayden things that a baby should have since we did not have time for a shower. They even threw him a welcoming. I was lucky enough to get to work with such an amazing group of women. Just knowing that if I had a need, someone was there, was a blessing. --- And they prayed for us--- I know it because I prayed with many of them.-- THANK YOU.

The walk was really great. The weather was perfect, and the children were very well behaved! They just were more than happy to be out and about. It really was an awesome feeling to be surrounded by people who were there either because they shared a similar experience, or they were there supporting someone because they cared that much. Thank you to everyone who came to walk with us. It means so much to us. And also thank you to everyone who purchased t-shirts. He has sold 46 so far, and we will be putting in another order soon! I really do want Brayden to grow up knowing why we do this. I want him to know that it is for him, because he went through a lot in his journey, and we were blessed beyond measure to get to keep him!

When you register for the walk for your team, they send you over to the family tent, where you get your balloon. Purple balloons are for survivors and white balloons are for babies lost. I almost burst into tears right there! Then you walk by seeing other walkers with their respected balloons. They walk in memory, while I get to walk in honor... but yet we walk together. It is beyond touching. And again, I felt some guilt that some of those women with their white balloons had to be looking at my baby wondering what theirs would be like now. Here is a picture of Brayden with his purple balloon... because he is a Survivor!! I had never really thought of it in that light before. Sure... I knew that he had survived, and I knew that we could have lost him. But that he was a little fighter, and he took us all on his journey with him. He has taught me more in three years than I could have ever imagined possible.

At the end of the walk you release your balloon. (Brayden didn't really want to let his go, but he finally did) We walked through the finish line and everyone cheered and applauded. Brayden clapped for himself. I just smiled, and was really glad that mommy was wearing sunglasses! I was just overwhelmed with a sense of thankfulness.





Above is a picture of the "March with Boogie" team. Again.... thank you all so much again for coming!! And a picture of Brayden and Daddy marching.  He has come so far!!

Holding Daddy's Finger

Our little man

He was so tiny!!



One more....



Here is the link to our March of Dimes Page.http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?seid=1845260&bt=15  There you can donate money, read our story or just learn how you can get involved with the organization. Brayden was born at 29 weeks (almost 3 months too soon) from preeclampsia. We stayed in the NICU for 47 days before we were released. He is now three years old with no delays at all. He is so smart, so loving and so full of life! We have been truly blessed!