Making the House a HOME

For anyone just tuning in, we have been building our own house--I mean BUILDING, as in we cut stuff with a saw and nailed it and sanded it and painted it and all that stuff--with blood, sweat, and tears for 16 months. I wouldn't be this excited over just any brand new house. You're looking at a big chunk of my life and sanity in these pictures, folks.

As you can see, our furniture is too big for the upstairs living room, so it will soon be banished to the basement and we will put in a sofa and 2 chairs from Ikea (slimmer Swedish lines, doncha know!?), whcih we will pick up on our trip to California next month. Meanwhile, the girls enjoy the small couch fort in the living room.

There is Rich at the bar in our dining area. So beige.

How things look from the front door (if you're lucky, Addie will be greeting you with a nose-pick, too).

These are especially for Jill, who enjoys the minutiae of interior decor and design as much as I sometimes do.

I got some English Ivy plants (real ones) for the tops of my cabinets. I need one more for this spot.

Tell me this doesn't scream "MEXICAN" --thanks for all your help, sista.

The kitchen with all our stuff in it.

My festive view from the kitchen sink.

Just So You Know

Well-meant advice just sounds like thinly-veiled criticism if it's not asked for. Unless one asks for advice, all you are saying is that you don't approve the way that person is handling the situation on which you are advising them.

I have been on both sides of this fence (I'm sure I am guilty of advising), but for some reason I have been getting a barrage of unsolicited advice lately and to me it's starting to sound like, "Hi, you're an idiot and you obviously can't handle even the smallest detail in your life so I am going to tell you how I do it so you can stop being an idiot, yadda, yadda, yadda--what's that you say? You've lived on your own for 16 years and you have made conscious CHOICES to do what you do? Well, that's a long time to be wrong! Here, try it this way."

Please. Make. It. Stop.

I know that the above quotations are not what my advisors are thinking, I'm just saying that's what it's starting to SOUND like. Please, if I have ever made you feel this way, I beg your forgiveness. Good intentions can really go awry.



PS: Gotta go clean out the old apartment--3 years of dirt!!-- but I have interior decor pix coming soon for my sisters and mom who have expressed interest. For the rest of you who are tired of looking at my house, check back in a couple of days!!! ;)

Guess What's Happening in THIS Picture?

Can I Get a HALLELUJAH?

The day finally came for us to close on our house and move in! Friday morning we met at the title office and signed for our home! Then we drove over to Yellowstone Country Motors and picked up our new van. Here is a picture of our 2005 Caravan in front of our 2005 house.

Brothers' Adventure

Cousin Brent, Willy, Michael, Drew, Dad Post, and Sam at the Pine Creek Trailhead. Beginning on Friday, these guys (later joined by Matthew, Rich, & Mike Melin) all set out for Pine Creek Lake--pretty much 5 miles straight up!

This is where the boys ended up. Breathtaking, isn't it? It looks pretty refreshing compared to a house with no air conditioning full of 9 kids and lots of boxes!

There're my brothers Matt and Swimmin' Willy up at Jewel Lake

Hangin' around the campsite

More brothers--Michael and Sam--taking it all in.

Amazing Circus Willy

The Boys at the TOP!

Can you find Drew and Sam in this picture?

Saturday Sunset

Matty making breakfast

Rich, Michael, Drew, Willy, Mike, Brent (kneeling), Sam, & Matt with Black Mountain's peak in the background.

Sam was almost too big for his tent!