House Update!

This is mainly for Grandpa and Grandma Webster in AZ. I'm hoping you get to come stay here and see this all first hand. But, until then, the photos will have to do.

In October of 2011 we started the 2 year project of putting in a yard, paving the driveway, and adding a patio with a cover that ended up being a huge addition/remodel!

We are so close to being done. There are a few contractors still coming in to fix things every so often and of course the never ending task/love of decorating. Once it looks settled then it's time to rearrange again! It's just something I love to do. Things can look new again just by switching photos in frames from different rooms and swapping a chair and a rug or blanket.

I'll try and explain a little with photos and a few descriptions of what has taken place!



This is looking straight out the back door of the house 2 years ago.

This is looking straight out the back door of the house 2day!

This is a shot at the back of the house to the right 2 years ago

The tree where the white tent is sitting has a rope swing in it now that you can see in the next photo all the way at the left.

This is taken out the back of the house to the right of the back door 2day

Just another view out the back door facing the 'playhouse'!
There is an outdoor kitchen that will eventually have bar stools bolted down and a oversized bistro table and chairs under the chandelier in the left side of the photo below.

2 years ago taken to the left of the back door

This is today to the left of the back doorAnother view to the left

Below is looking from the back wall towards the house

The playhouse

view from the patio edge to the back doors. We now have two. One where the original door was (there on the right) and one coming off of the living room that is now the music/sun room

Yep, we still have boxes laying around. These are the day play areas for the bunnies. Filled with shavings and things to chew on. The kids think it's better that they have a change of scenery every day.

Looking from the kitchen area into the music/sun room. We took out the chimney and opened it up with windows.

Same room just looking towards the patio

Looking from the music/sun room to the outdoor kitchen and bar area.

Another view

Our entry. below the stairs is the doorway into the music/sun room

above here is the opening to the addition. Where the barn doors are now used to be the smaller opening into the boys room. This room is now the sitting room.

Daily schedule and chores list to keep us all on track.  

Looking through the barn doorway into the sitting room. Those stairs lead up to the bonus room and loft area.

the other side of the sitting room and the doorway into the boys new room.

to the boys room we go.

We are at the moment building them some beds and will be done the end of this week. I'll post on those when they are complete.

Each one of the boys has three drawers and a full hangups with room for bins below.

In the center next to that little half wall and under the window looking mirror will be a sink for when guests come and stay they have what they need all except a bathroom.

Heading back out the boys room and immediately to the left is the stairs that you could see from the sitting room photos. It heads up to the loft.

Looking down to the boys room doorway and at the slide that goes from the loft to the left and into the bonus/workout room on the right.

Loft

slide entrance

loft again

view entering the bonus room

to the right of the doorway as you walk into the bonus room

To the left as you enter the bonus/work out room

The slide exit

looking back at the doorway and the slide exit is on the lower right. Next to the slide is another sink and faucet which allows for a quick drink or folks to stay and feel like they can wash up before heading down to meet the family.

This is for when you come stay if there are just two of you. Our guest room that is sunny ALL the time (when the sun is out)

Our daybed pops out and up to become a king bed and still has room to walk around.

The only decor that has gone up since we've finished.

Entrance into the girls room that is just to the right of the barn doors (where it has always been)

View to where their closet used to be. Now it is a loft and a hang up bar. We still need to work on this room but it's coming along.

a look from the girls door into their sitting room that is Halley's little room at this point.

The bar area next to the door as you walk in (looking back). There will be 2 sinks below the cabinets and mirrors in between the lights with places to sit and get ready for the day without clogging the bathroom.

Looking from Halley's room into the girls room

There is it. The start to our making a dream home for folks to come. 

Grandparents!

My brother, sister and I were able to go to Arizona to see our last living grandparents.

 Still the most adorable couple and get around great. Grandma and I went to the pool which is still part of her daily routine.

They pray for us each by name every day. What a heritage to come from. To know they love each other in spite of any differences they may have. And to know they love God and have chosen Him as Lord of their life!

 THE STRAW~ A little story here: My grandparents are known for their frugality. One and a half years ago they came to our house for a family reunion and their 60th wedding anniversary. I know, amazing right? Anyways, when at our house I cut a straw in half and gave it to her for her daily small glass of milk with one ice cube and a short straw.

I was standing at the sink right after we arrived in AZ this January and saw THE STRAW sitting on her windowsill. I had to ask because I found it hard to believe it was the same one. She had a cute little grin and nodded, "yep, that's the same straw, it's help up so nicely."

 We picked fresh oranges from the trees and made orange juice. I think that is my absolute favorite thing to drink...FRESH orange juice!

 My sister and I cooking fish that Grandma had purchased for us. It couldn't have turned out better! We had to cook it outside as the smell would have been aweful.

 Grandma made a strawberry pie that was delicious. I got the recipe to have Halley make for us.

 They still walk hand-in-hand when they go places.

 Grandma and I in the back returning from lunch with fun friends.

Hams

Just a few ramdoms from our littles (as we call the two youngest boys).

Nasty looking monkey boy. (Traeman)

 "Learning to skateboard is important, especially do it with a fire hat on."

 Great place to keep your teeth, if you were looking for a spot.

 Vance below

 Froggy skateboarding

 Look Mom, we decided we wanted to be bald. During naptime they took kid scissors and snipped off all the top hair of each other. Their wish for baldness came true.

 In an attempted to save as much hair as possible I started shaving at #4, ended with #1  and it still wasn't short enough in places.

 Vance (2 almost 3) on the left, Trae (4 1/2) on the right

 Cowboy wanna-be!

First Basketball Season!

The boys were able to play basketball for the first time this year. I'd have to say I was super impressed with how much they learned in that three month stint of three times a week with games on Saturday. Todd started out double dribbling and not making many shots. By the end of the season he was point guard (spelling on that?) and making quite a few shots a game. Of course the other kids improved as well and the competition got harder. They all did amazingly well for 3rd graders.

 The tongue is hereditary!

 Nate co-coached Nate M.'s team with a friend of ours. We thought the age group was 5-6th graders. By the end of the season we realized that it was 6th only and Nate was actually a young 5th grader. Oops, nothing like setting your little man up for a hard season.

 He did really well and scored at least one point in most of the games. He learned why it is important to dribble with his left hand as well as his right.

 Again, the tongue is hereditary.:)

 Just to let you know of the size that we were up against. I think we had most of the smallest guys on our team. It was adorable. They just hang on and try to mess the other guys up as much as possible.

Ballerinas!

This year we had the privilege of putting the girls in our local ballet school. It's been an amazing experience for all three of them. They've progressed very well. It's encouraged good posture and strength. 

 (Darbi working on her feet position)

 Andi preparing for exercises. She takes her lessons very seriously.

Halley jumped up two classes and has continued to prove she is ready for the challenge.

You know you live in the northwest when...

...you go outside and find your children with a homemade slip 'n slide on the first sunny day of the year. It's only February and the weather spiked to a nice 45 degrees! 

 They had an absolute ball; laughed and played in the sun for an hour or so.

Snow Day With Family!

We were able to spend a few days as a family down with the relatives in central Oregon. My brother and his family live there now. It's wonderful to have them so close!

My Dad and his wife are also in the same area so it made for a fun before-Christmas-time.

Matching

Nate FINALLY gets to use his sled!!! He's been waiting for FOREVER!!! It's been sitting on our freezer outside since fall. I believe he bought it with his own $, which makes it even more special!

The guys were so good about taking the kids on all sorts of rides. And they all wanted to go too! Piled high they made their way down the hill as fast as they could, 'carefully'!

Kristi spent a ton of time with the ones not riding the sleds at the moment. I think they made an igloo of some sort. Or maybe it was just a fort.

Alec seemed to keep himself occupied just by rolling down the hill all on his lonesome!

And, the whole crew! Who would have thought that in 8 years we'd have 11 children between us!