Still painting...

We painted all day again....and are almost done. Perhaps we will finish tomorrow! Here are some pics of the progress. Enjoy!



Dad helping paint the spare bedroom with his painting machine!

Jonah and Elijah "painting" the closet and Elijah helping with the living room




The Boys' bedroom almost done!

Painting, painting and painting...

Today we started painting and it looks great! It is quite the process, but will sure look nice. I am very pleased with our color selections and can't wait to see what they look like when we are done. We just might get to move in next week ;0) My mom and Amy Fiala helped me paint today and Richard got the day off (well I guess if you call chasing around the boys a day off that is what he did). My dad came and helped paint the ceiling (Thanks Dad). Jonah and Elijah "helped" paint a little and I wish I had a picture of it. They were pretty proud of their short strokes and didn't seem to mind the mess or stress they left for me. Maybe I can get a shot tomorrow. Anyway, I better head to bed so I can hit Starbucks in the am and get to it!

Although, as nice as the paint looks the floors look a million times better! Richard (and Dad and Nate) did such a great job!

I did get a pic of them helping!

Here is the first coat of red in the living room ;0)

What can brown do for you? The first coat of brown in our room

Timeless beach in our kitchen!

To Stain or not to Stain?

To stain or not to stain? That has been the question. We wanted dark floors but fell in love with the "natural" wood look. So the answer is...not to stain. I will post pictures later. It will be beautiful and I can't wait to paint! I am proud that Richard let me finish sanding the edges in the bedrooms and hallway! (**I think it is because I wasn't doing a good enough job sweeping actually**) If you know Richard well enough you are laughing right now because you know it is true!!!

Either way it will be beautiful and fun because it is ours. Isn't it funny though how buying the house is the cheap part? I can't say I honestly have every really enjoyed Menards or Lowes until now. I could walk through almost every isle and dream of things I could buy for our new home. (I am still waiting on the light fixtures Stephanie). I also have never appreciated the fact that money doesn't grow on trees (thanks for that lesson dad) quite as much until now.

We love visitors and would love for you to come by. If you wait a week you might even get to sit

down on something and have a treat ;0)

The floors ready for??? The first coat of Poly

Sanding away

Richard has been busy sanding all day today and is making amazing progress! He had a few bumps in the road this morning with machines not working as well as he'd hoped, but after a quick run to a new store, he was able to get back into it. Nate Fiala and my dad have also been helping and such a blessing! Amy (Nate's wife) even brought the boys supper. We have such great friends ;0)

I was able to spend the day with the boys, my mom and sister. (Thanks Richard for working so hard and letting me hang out with them). The boys have been doing well despite all the changes, transitions, and parents MIA, but it was wonderful to be able to spend the day giving them a little mom time. My family has been loving/spoiling them of course, but I think they are ready for their own beds again and some new space. Please pray for the next week to go quickly and smothly as we finish up with the floors and painting before we can actually move in.

Here are some pics of the progress! Way to go boys!

Some pictures of OUR "home improvements"

Before pic of the living room (Sorry its blurry)

Before pic of our bedroom and looking down the hall

The first peek at the beautiful hardwood floors under the carpet!

We had lots of help along the way

Halling out carpet....and beautiful floors!

Ready, Set, Go...

Thanks to all who prayed for this morning to go well. The closing went very well and we couldn't have been happier with all our financial friends at Gate City Federal. We got into the house and it is still so surreal. We were just giddy with excitment to make it our own. We have also been overwhelmed by the neighborhood and how wonderful everyone is. It sounds like a community within itself and we are excited to get our house liveable and get to know some of these great neighbors.

We also had lots of help today from my parents, sister Laura, and our great friends Nate and Amy Fiala. We didn't waste any time either, we ripped out the carpet and found some beautiful hardwood floors that Richard can't wait to refinish! Amy helped me discover some interesting things behind the wallpaper in the kitchen too! We have lots to do still and will be working on it for at least a week before we can move in and then it will be endless projects I am sure. It sure does feel good though to have our "own" home. I am going to attempt to post some pictures, but for some reason it doesn't always work so well. We're trying to take pictures of the progress so we'll have to put them up at the end at least. Until then, I am one tired girl!

Tomorrow's the big day

So tomorrow we close on our 1st house!  We are walking through tonight with our Realtor (Chris Horn if you ever need one he is excellent!) and then finalize everything tomorrow! Hurray!  Then we will be busy getting our house ready to move into.  Once we get all settled we would love visitors (even if you live in Iowa).  

I had orientation stuff today for Altru and it felt pretty weird.  I got my name badge, parking permit (that was free and my walk is even shorter than from Lot 43 for you Iowans weird huh), passed all the health screening, and occupational test, filled out and signed a million papers and will start officially on monday.  I had a 45 minute break between sessions and wished I could have gone to the Java House for a Iced German Chocolate Mocha, but they unfortunately (or fortunately for my bank account) had nothing of the sort.  It was also pretty weird working during the day. That will take some getting used to.

We miss Iowa lots, but we are looking forward to getting into our new home and doing what we want.  Love to you all and I might be M.I.A. for awhile during the whole moving, painting, floor remodeling, etc.  Check back for pics of the process!