hello neighbors!

As much as we love our neighborhood and neighbors, our full glass exposure to the street allowed little to no privacy.
When my friend Sheela came to visit she commented how it must be hard not to be able to come downstairs in our pajamas...and she was right, having no privacy meant we couldn't get comfortable here.



So, we found inexpensive solutions to tide us over until we are ready to do something more with the front door.

I looked all over for curtains for the side windows. I really wanted roman canvas blinds but our windows sized too small and would need to be custom made, too much money right now. And the oval glass door just lets in too much sun as well as full view of our living level.

So I found Stained Glass Appliques (repositionable self cling window designs) for the side windows and an etched glass cling for the oval by Artscape. Both were very easy to adhere and created the privacy we needed. And the side windows still allow us to see our visitors.

School picnic and awards

Avery finished school June 21st. She is officially a first grader!!!

She had a wonderful few months at her new school. Her teachers were great and she had fun making new friends.

Here she is with Mrs. Ayers, after she was awarded an "Outstanding Reader" ribbon.


The kids had fun playing with bubbles at the end of year picnic. I loved this pic of Charlie, makes him look like a wizard.


Avery and her last few days of kindergarten.

dirt boy

My sister Leigh gave me a book awhile back called Dirt Boy. Great book about a boy who never wants to take a shower so he runs away and gets filthy and realizes being clean isn't all that bad.
I don't remember this, but have been told I never wanted to take a bath growing up.
I loved playing outside, still do. And I never mind getting dirty. I knew I would be a great mom (to boys especially) because I let them get filthy. Making mud puddles and playing in them is one of our favorite activities.

Delaplane Strawberry Festival

Memorial Day weekend we met my friend Maggie and her family at the Delaplane Strawberry Festival. It is an old time festival held at Sky Meadows State Park and we all had a lot of fun.



The kids all loved the wild birds of prey on display.


The old car show was a hit too.

End of spring celebration

Avery's first dance recital. She performed a cute little dance to the music from Cats. She said she had a lot of fun and wasn't nervous at all. Great to see her peel off the shy shell as she gets older.



The recital was at the local highschool. I hope to get a picture like this when she actually attends this highschool. Because you all know we are never moving again, right?


A celebration dinner at Chuckie Cheese's. None of us have ever been, but Stephen and I had been warned. It actually wasn't as horrible as I expected. The kids had so much fun, the big kids too (I couldn't pull Stephen away from the football and basketball games!).

painting

Trying to choose a color for the family room as well as the foyer/hallway that leads upstairs. I am always willing to try and paint myself, but the foyer/hall is a big job, not just a lot of walls, but a very high ceiling. So we are letting the professionals handle this. But the professional is coming Tuesday and it is down to picking the color. Our rooms are very interesting right now with all of the samples on the walls.:)


Just a disclaimer, none of these colors are the "one."

So, we move onto Charlie's room. And this is why we leave it to the professionals!


I bought a few samples over the last week. Finally picked a color we all liked. Went back today to get more of the color, only to bring home the WRONG color. Instead of Old Blue Jeans I brought home Colonial Blue. So what is a girl to do? Mix the colors.
Obviously I did not mix well enough, the left half of the wall is more the Colonial Blue, where the right side is the darker Old Blue Jeans. Thankfully it is the first coat and I will be sure to mix more evenly.