Playing Dress Up

The girls are really making use of their new playroom. They have not left one cubby, shelf, or box unturned. Today they got back into their dress up box.

Ryan helped Charlie get dressed. I don't how into it she was since I couldn't get her to take her eyes off of the television even to take a picture.

Ryan channeling her best bride impression (or maybe more like a haunted spirit. She looks a little frightening. I wouldn't want to cross her path late at night in the hallway)

The Roaring 20's!!

Charlie still watching TV...

Before and After

I don't have too many pictures that are from the same angle in before and after pictures but this one that I found definitely shows the kind of work that has been happening around here lately.

This is the before pic from when the old owners still lived here...

This is the after pic...

What a difference, huh?? We are so excited and happy with our new digs!

All Moved In!

So we're all moved in. There are still a ton of boxes to unpack and things to do but a little happens everyday towards feeling at home. The kids have adjusted well to the changes. Ryan is doing great with the stairs and Charlie is doing just about as good as expected. She slides down on her tummy. She'll get it soon enough.

On mommy's first morning of work, everything went better than expected and we were all ready to go even a few minutes early. I thought I would try to snap a picture of my girls in their new house on the stairs. I grew up with a staircase just like this one and remember having our picture taken lots of times on the stairs so I thought it would be fun. As you can tell, Charlie didn't understand the "sit and pose" strategy just yet.

We finally got her to move closer to Ryan and Pinkie (that's Ryan's favorite dolly next to her). Still a little shaky with a smile but this is good first try. There will be many more to come of pics like this in our new home.

Caution: Construction Zone

So we are 10 days into the renovation process for our new house with only 4 more working days to go! Oh boy, I'm a little nervous about the completion happening on time. Check out the progress below! You can compare these pics with the pics I posted a few posts back.

Here is the backyard and pool. We have taken out all the greenery behind the pool to make room for grass and an area for lounge chairs. The concrete, bricks, and everything else has been removed to make room for our new pool! Yeh!

This is the girls' room. This picture shows the new baseboards and chair rail. Their new beds were custom built to fit right under where the ceiling is slanted. No jumping on the beds will be possible with this configuration!

This picture shows the progress in the dining room/living room. Our contractor is building custom wainscotting in both of these rooms and the entry. He is awesome! He finished one panel (not in the picture) and I am so, so happy with it! yeh!

This is the family room. Right now it is housing all the new doors as their paint dries. But today this room will be cleared out and the wood floors stained a new hue!
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What do you think? Does it look like this house will be liveable (sp?) by Sunday?
We'll just cross our fingers!

The Technology Age

Is it really possible that kids are already completely smitten with the computer at age 3??? Here is Ryan at our makeshift desk (during the packing phase of course) getting ready to play her favorite online games. Before we know it, it will be instant messaging, emailing, and maybe even online gambling!

She is learning how to work the keyboard and mouse all on her own. (We do get a few tears now and again because she gets frustrated when she can't get the mouse in the right spot AND be able to push the button at the same time. Come to think of it, that's pretty complicated fine motor skills)

"The trance"

And... of course Charlie has to get in on the fun too. Whatever Ryan does, Charlie must follow. I put videos on for her instead of games but she moved the mouse around and pressed all the buttons just the same.

Can you guess...

... which of our children is a rule follower?

And...consequently, the one who is not?

... which one of our children got a haircut today?
(They only had one available appointment so only one little Grace got the honor)

Goodbye! This is the end of this post (Literally, the end. Hee-hee)