A project we actually finished!

Jeff and I have known for a while that our retaining wall in our backyard was in need of

 repair.  So we got a plan and actually started and finished in the same weekend.  I know it is a shock to us even!  Samantha was gone for the weekend, but Mackenzie was right in the middle of everything and being a great helper.

  We had to tear out about 25 railroad ties, but thankfully most of them were rotting out and weren't as heavy as they could have been.  Jeff had the new wall design, which called for digging out a hole about two feet into the dirt we are trying to retain.  I worked the shovel so much that weekend that I had blisters and calluses already started.  Not to mention that I could hardly close my hand for a couple of days.

  

 Mackenzie is sitting next to a hole helping us fill it in with the dirt. (Yep, we put her to work- Mommy and Daddy were tired!)  She liked throwing the dirt into the hole.  She loved being outside for almost two

 days straight.  We did have a hard time getting her to keep her shoes on though.  She loves to take them off and then every once in a while she wants them back on. We had fun and actually got the new wall in before the weekend was over. YEAH!

Wow!

I was just passed this video and think it is great for everyone to hear!  As an adopted child I am so blessed.

Samantha's First Field Trip

Samantha has been studying the farm. They have studied the animals and made butter in her class. Her first field trip was to the 4H Farm in Yukon. Farmer Tom showed the kids insects (hissing cockroaches) while Mommy was busy dropping off Mackenzie at mother's day out. Oh, man I missed it. I arrived in time to help Samantha make ice cream in a plastic baggies and then get to eat it.
Samantha got to see some goats and pet them and touch their horns. Then we went outside and fed the chickens and ducks. Next were the rabbits and the kids got to pick leaves to feed them. We had so much fun. My pictures are a little blurry, but fun none the less.

Oh, What a Beautiful Day

Hello. Today is really going well. I am catching up on lots of housework and working hard to get all the things done that you think need to be nice and tidy all the time. While taking a break I came across this video. It is great. I just needed a laugh to help me put life in perspective today. Hope you enjoy the video. It takes a couple of minutes, and you should turn off the music in my side bar to fully enjoy the video here.

First Day of Pre K

Samantha started Pre-K yesterday.  We had a "Peek and Play" on last Friday to meet her teachers and play in her new classroom.  On the way there she told me she was scared.  I asked her what she was scared of and she looked at me calmly and said, "What if the room is orange?  I don't like orange."  So with a small laugh I told her that her room wasn't orange and even if it was it wouldn't be bad.  

Yesterday she was so excited to go to school.  I was ready with the camera to catch some great stuff.  We went out front of our house and took some pics.

Once we got to school we had to go upstairs to get to her classroom.  Here is a pic of her going up the stairs. 

 

Her friend Matthew was going to be there and she was ready to play.  We got there a little early and chatted with Matthew and his mom LeAnn (one of my great friends).  Here is a picture of them together (I promise Matthew gave me the best smile ever right after I clicked the picture!).  

The School was having a farm theme and they had a great barn set up for the kids to walk through to get to class.  I'll add the pic later having problems getting it loaded.

All in all she had a blast at school and enjoyed all the activities she got to do. YEAH!

Computer Help Needed

Okay, I am not having problems today, but the other day I was not able to do anything on the computer.  I found this video and just had to share.  It definitely helps to have a laugh.

Bathroom Update

Okay, I am finally posting some pictures of the bathroom.  It is actually painted now, and I'll post those pictures in a couple of days.  I didn't like the way the first color came out- way too yellow.  So I am repainting it with a lighter color.  The last step is some finish molding and stuff around the mirror area.  That is going to wait a little while because we are ordering it.  But once the paint is dry we can finally move back into our bathroom! YEAH!  

Summer Dance Class

Samantha has had such fun at dance this summer.  Here is a video of class one day.  There is no music because I was outside of the room.  I am going to learn how to add music here and hopefully that will help some (once I learn how).  

Mackenzie loves dance class as well.  She cannot wait for the door to open so she can try to run in and play with the big girls.  It is so fun.  

Progress Made

We actually made some progress on the bathroom this weekend. It is about an hour's work from being able to prime the walls. Yeah! Really hoping to get that hour in tonight. Then tomorrow I can prime the walls. And who knows maybe by this weekend we can actually shower in there! I'll post pics once it is painted. We still have to order some finish trim stuff, and I'll post final pictures when that is here and installed. Yeah!

Progress in the girls world- because honestly they don't care about our bathroom that much.

Mackenzie- Her little personality is blossoming so much the past few weeks. She has cut one of her molars (PTL it wasn't too painful), and she has figured out her own little laugh. It is very cute. She loves being outside (which the mosquitos also like) and enjoys playing with big sis. Her attention span has grown this past week because now she can sit and play blocks for about 15 min. uninterrupted. Great for mom!

Samantha- Wow, she can swim like a fish. She just jumps in and goes. Each week she is improving on her form. Last weekend she was swimming and jumping in. She started naming her jumps- "holding the baby", "twirly twister", and "super cheese ball" were the ones she liked the most. Cracks us up with the things she is doing. She is also reading better each day. I thought she was just memorizing stories until one day she climbed in my lap and read my book to me. I can tell she is going to keep me on my toes.

All in all the 4th of July weekend went well. We were busy here and there, but had a good time.

Catching up

Well, it feels like forever since I added anyting here. We have been busy. The bathroom is still not finished, but hopefully with the long weekend coming we can finish up some of it. I'll post pics if we get any farther.

I turned 29 a few days ago and it was a wonderful bday. I was actually really relaxed. I have entered into another half marathon. I am just getting started on my training. It is in Vancouver, WA in October, so I am looking forward to the trip. Jeff is coming with me and it will be our first trip alone since Mackenzie was born.

Samantha started dance at the beginning of June and loves it. She is doing ballet and tap. Her favorite part her first day was "making thunder" with the tap shoes. It is a great class she is one of four girls and is loving it. Samantha is swimming like a fish too. She just puts her goggles on and jumps in. It is a little frightening, but each week she is getting better.

Mackenzie is communicating with a few words and a few signs. She found a pacifier the other day (and she is strictly a thumb girl) and she has been going around with it in her mouth upside down. If I get a pic I'll come back and post it. She is so funny. She thinks it is for her baby doll, but gets mad that the baby doesn't keep it in her mouth. Mackenzie is getting so big. It is hard to believe sometimes.

Love to all.

Happenings

Just stopping in to say hi. We have finally gotten all the plumbing done and the toilet and sink are in and working. YEAH! We still have to paint and then our project only lacks some shelves.
I spent time yesterday shoveling the left over debris (from taking the old tile out of the shower) into Geno's (Jeff's Dad) Truck. My arms are tired! It took me a little more than an hour to get the pile off the side of our house and into the truck. And the last third of it I had my little helpers outside with me. Samantha was in her rain jacket and boots and pretending it was storming outside. This is in the heat of the day and it had to be over 95 degrees. But she was sure she needed to be buttoned up in her lady bug rain coat.

Well, I'll try to post more pics soon. Love to all.
Vicki

Girls riding in the car.

I am so glad I caught this on video.  It is not every day that a car ride can be this enjoyable.  They do this with each other every once in a while.

Master Bathroom in Progress

Okay here are some pics of the work in progress. As of right now the tile is done and the grout is in (no pics with the grout in yet).  We need to seal the grout and then once that is done we can finally remove the toilet from our bedroom and put it where it belongs!  YEAH!!

Master Bathroom

Okay, It still isn't finished but it is much closer.  We ripped out the bathroom in January and thought it would surely be finished by Jeff's birthday in April.  Not so much.  We severely underestimated the ability to work on a project with two little girls wanting to 'help'.  I'll come back and post more pictures after we finish grouting the tile, and then again when it is finally complete.  Here are the before pictures- okay not totally before. I started ripping out the bathroom before getting real before photos.  Yes, it is as small as it looks.  Just wait to see the pictures as it is now!

My Little Ballerina's

Samantha received some ballet clothes for her birthday from her grandparents.  Mackenzie just wanted a chance to be a little more like Samantha and got a skirt on too.  

Samantha will start dance classes this summer, and she is really looking forward to it.  There isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't mention dancing.  I hope she loves it as much as she thinks!

Samantha's Birthday

Samantha turned 4 on April 19th, and we had a wonderful party.  We had a princess party (with princes too).  God blessed us with beautiful weather so we could play outside for part of the time. The weather being good came in handy too because we had our backyard torn up to fix the sewer line and the grass hadn't grown back in yet.  So we prayed for dry weather.  That way we didn't have a princess mud party.

Samantha is so grown up and is keeping me on my toes.  She is excited that she gets to go to pre-k now that she is 4, even if it doesn't start until September.

We are truly blessed!

Getting Started

Hello all!

Okay, so I am going to get this started and try to update it once a week. I'll try to get some back story on the family and some pics on here and then just keep up as I can. That way all of our friends and family can check on the goings on in the Sears household.

Blessings to you all,
Vicki

PS: This is a very old picture of Samantha from Virginia a couple of years ago, but thought it is great!