half way

Last week, we floated the concrete with a thin layer of cement that smoothed it all out and covered all the rough spots and holes of nails from the carpet.

In the middle of the guys floating, I decided we should rip out the linoleum in the bathroom and stain the concrete in there as well. I told you its dangerous to paint the hall...

So that's exactly what we did!
Here's a shot just after we ripped up the linoleum:

With the sample color we chose, we had just enough to cover the bathroom floor with two coats (its a three coat process, in addition to the no-slip seal on top of it). I'm super excited to see it completely finished, its such a dramatic difference!!!

This is how it looks after its all dry. It dried in just a few hours actually. We didn't order the stain til Friday, so it's coming in Wednesday, and I can't hardly wait. All the furniture has been stuffed into the dining and living room, even the fridge. So it will be nice when its all put back together, then I'll feel like cooking dinner again.

messy face

I fixed crepes for dinner the other night, and, well, we got a little crazy with the whip cream! To get my crepe recipe click here.

We have all our couches and bar stools from the kitchen moved into our dining and living room. Needless to say, it is a little crowded in the dining room, where we now eat all our meals. We were able to float the top of the concrete with more cement, and now that its all dry we can stain it! There are pictures to come of the progress, soon!

funny girl

some of our conversation over breakfast this morning:

Bryanna (already in imaginary mode): Mom, Maddox is the dad, and I call him honey, and he likes to go shopping with me. He even babysits the kids.
Me: What a good dad.
Bryanna: Ya, the best!

I think that was the sweetest compliment a girl could give her daddy!

Whitney Ranch

We headed to Whitney Ranch on the east side of Vegas...a far drive, but loads of fun! Some gals from our ward made it into a play date, and I think we should do it more often.

Popsicles helped keep us even more cool!!

I tried taking a picture of my temperature gauge in my car when we were leaving. It read 119 degrees! Yes, it was a VERY hot day today, but also VERY fun!!

just do it

On Saturday, I was sweeping and mopping...the regular Saturday chores, and I got a crazy hair up my butt. I turned to Mark and asked if he wanted to rip up the linoleum right then. And what do ya know...its gone! Ever since we moved into our house (in May of 08) we have HATED the linoleum in the kitchen. I mean LOATHED it.

BEFORE

AFTER

We also ripped up the carpet in the family room to make both spaces feel more apart of each other. The separate flooring made for a choppiness, and now it will open both up. I like the idea of carpet, getting down on the ground, playing with the kids. Carpet makes rolling around on the floor friendly. So I'll have to be on the hunt for a very hip rug to fit the space and bring that comfort level back and soften up the stained concrete.

After the grinding

You have to grind the cement so when you go to put something on it like a stain, it will stick and not peel up. Grinding is very messy and leaves behind a nice layer of dust. But I'll take the dust alternative on our budget than the expense of wood floors (I wouldn't mind wood floors the day my budget wouldn't mind.) But I like the look of stained concrete, and with the finish Mark will put down, it will be really modern. We are very much the "do it yourself" kind of people. One day we will build our dream house and do most of it ourselves. I love watching HGTV, they have some awesome ideas, especially when it comes to "design on a dime"!

Mark will float the concrete tonight, then we can put the stain down next! I can't wait! I finally get a new kitchen floor! More pictures to come...

You know what they say...its dangerous to paint the hall!

the clubhouse

One of the reasons we moved into our neighborhood was all the amenities of the clubhouse, specifically, the pool. One cannot survive the Vegas summers without access to a pool! I don't want one in my backyard yet, fear of small kids drowning. Although it would be very convenient. So at least we can go play in a pool and not have that constant worry if the gate wasn't closed to the pool at home.

We spend at least three days a week, if not more, swimming at the clubhouse. And what's even better is we usually go with good friends from our ward!

Grace & Bryanna in the showers

One of my best friends, Lindsay, aka: my gym buddy, pool buddy, freezer group meals pal, double date couple, swapping babysitting so we can get to appointments, etc. It helps that two of our kids are the same age. What would we do without good friends in this world???

Lindsay and Gavin

two of a kind: Grace & Bryanna.
They are such good little friends.

We LOVE the clubhouse!

heart to heart talk

Bryanna (dressed as a doctor, with a stethoscope and apron on, listening to her doll's heart): "Mom, her heart stopped!!!!"
Me: gasp! "Uh oh! She died!"
B: "What?
Me: "Well, when your heart stops, that means you died."
B: "Ummmm, that's OK. It will turn on again." (completely serious!)

Most of this heart talk has been a result of many celebrities dying. (i.e. Michael Jackson, Billy Mays) I guess the moral of the story is, take care of your heart.

America, the beautiful

Happy 4th!!

We started off celebrating by making my famous and annual jello layer salad. I have to make each layer separately and wait four hours for it to set. It takes two days!

and to top it off with cool whip and some fruit!

(yes, I'm wearing my blue T again. I can't help it. As soon as I wash it, I want to wear it. I do have more shirts I like, but for some reason I'm gravitating towards this shirt right now.)

the two munchkins, playing over at Uncle Cal's!

What celebration wouldn't be complete without a dip in the pool?

you can't get more patriotic than Grandpa!

The two love birds...the almost engaged love birds!!

The neighbors across the street had the illegal kind, a great, free show for us though!

we had a blast!! until next year....let freedom ring!

here I go. again.

It's been two weeks since the D&C procedure, and I'm feeling 95%. I feel like I have a few more months of just being me, no pregnant body or a ball and chain nursing baby (don't get me wrong, I actually enjoy nursing my babies, the only hard part is, I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN DO IT! When I think back to my 'nursing babies' days, I remember wishing that Mark could grow breasts just to help me out sometimes!!)

I'm looking at this miscarriage like its all part of the bigger picture, and I get a little more time to myself before I subject my body to another pregnancy. For those experienced with pregnancy, it's not easy, and it changes your body. for. good.

So this is my second chance before kid #3 comes along to focus on getting some extra weight off and just being content with my two kids. Sounds easy, right?

I went to the gym today and did some fun classes back to back with a friend. We did a Zumba class first and it was a dancing class, which got my heart rate up a bit and some sweat going. Next was the kick boxing class and I would describe that more like a butt kicking class. Yeah, I was REALLY feeling it half way through. I finished, but felt like I got the tar beat outta me.

Easier said than done.

Here I go. Again.