The Girls

As I was downloading several new photos of the girls, I realized it's been a while since I've posted pictures of them. I've got a lot added up, so this is a post of pictures. Daddy's birthday cupcakes were a hit....Parker had a fun gymnastics birthday party to go to for her friend Topher...The girls have had fun playing outside, and lastly, I've got pictures of Parker's swimming lesson last night, yea!!! Enjoy!

Clumsy & Frustrations...

Some days are worse then others…and I only have myself to blame…most of the time at least..sigh….I feel like these last few weeks have been worse. I don’t know if I’m just not paying attention or what the deal is, but it has made me more acutely aware of my limitations…Just the other day I was bouncing a little ball that was Parker's and catching it…I was doing pretty good, and then all of a sudden, I was able to realize the ball bouncing, but not in my view of sight..I knew it was bouncing on the ground but it was in that area that I can’t see..It was a surreal feeling of knowing something is there and what it is doing, but not seeing it, until it reached the height to where I could see it…Then there’s the cabinet doors I leave open, and then consequently run into them a minute later, the dishwasher, toys, the girls, Chris…lately I’m always running into something.

Then there’s the other issue that is slowly hitting home of my new reality. I so want the girls to obviously live normal lives. I want them to be able to participate in extra activities, and Parker is getting to that age of finally being able to! It has been an eye opening experience to try and schedule these activities, and not being able to participate in the getting her to and from discussions, except for to arrange it. Then it is also hitting home that I can’t go and watch her participate because on top of it all, I’m still a working mom, and right now these activities are during the day. Chris, my mom and friends have graciously stepped in for my inability to help, and for that I am so grateful, but I’m also sad. I want to be that mom who get’s to drive her kids all over god’s green earth and be active and supportive.

Parker’s been in swimming lessons this summer and I have yet to see her do this. On the bright side, We are going to do a few private lessons in the evening so I will get to walk her to those and I’ll stick around and capture it on camera! I’ve got Parker enrolled for dance lessons this fall, and my mom has planned to pick her up from daycare to take her, and another mom has generously offered to take her back. It’s only 2 activities so far, and this is how I’m feeling. I know as the years go by it will get easier because it is what it is and I’ll be used to it....or maybe harder…I don’t know.

Before & After

Well our bathroom remodel is finally complete!! We've actually been using it for quite some time, but have been waiting on the mirror to be installed. It was complete a couple of weeks ago. I have several before and after photos. Enjoy!

BEFORE:

This is a shot of the bathroom as you look to the right from the door. It was only a bath, no shower, so for a little over a year, we all had been taking baths only!!

This shot is looking straight ahead from the door. Nothing exciting...there was that wall, and a cabinet way up high, which Chris already took down. He started demo work before I could get in and take the "before" pictures!

This is looking towards the vanity from the toilet and tub area...notice the hanging lights..there was a small oval mirror hanging between the lights, and only 1 sink, so getting ready in the mornings was fun!

This is a straight shot of the toilet/bathtub right when you walk into the bathroom..

AFTER:

This is what you see from the door!! Chris and I were very excited about the walk in shower!

And turning to the right, we have a new toilet! Everything was stripped down to the studs, and is literally new!


This is a straight shot of this area from the middle of the bathroom.

A shot of the vanity area.

A more straight on shot of the vanity area.

Federal (Fed)

Last night was a hard night for me....Today I suppose will be a hard day for Chris...Chris made the decision to put Fed down today....I took a few last photos last night for Brecken's baby book, as I had yet to do that for the page of "my pet". Although Brecken didn't really get the chance to spend a lot of time with him, I still wanted to get a photo of him and her...but she wouldn't really have anything to do with it..this is a pretty typical scene of what you would see...Parker enjoyed Fed, and here is Chris trying to coax Brecken into petting him, which she wanted nothing of, I thought this picture captured it perfectly! I said my good bye's last night not realizing how hard it would actually be. Fed was around long before the girls and I, but he was a great pet, friend to many. He was a great hunting dog for Chris, and I know he will miss him dearly. Fed's is 13 and old...and his legs and body were tired...May he rest in peace...

Happy 4th of July

We had a very busy but fun 4th of July. We started off the morning with a brunch at our house with friends, a long but needed nap, dinner with friends again, and then to the Club for the fireworks! Parker had been talking all week about the fireworks, and was so excited for them. Afterwards she said she was scared, but she looked like she was enjoying them the entire time to me. Brecken enjoyed them as well, clapping her hands and cheering WOW! Enjoy the photos from our day!