dental debut

can't believe its been over a year and half since this post about Ellia's first trip to the dentist... and here we go with Remae! kinda funny, but i said the exact same thing to the hygienist this time around... "Yes, I'm going to be THAT mom...so bear with me" while snapping away with my camera. Just like Ellia, Remi was a little apprehensive but a real trooper with no tears. It helped having big sis go first and get her cleaning out of the way. She definitely wasn't sure this is something she wanted to go through with, but the bribe of the sugar-free lollipop I knew was coming at the end was enough to keep cooperative. Yet another milestone that I'm just not ready for...everything just comes and goes so quickly. Soaking in every moment in joy and thankfulness is all I can do about it though! :)

I gotta say...this place is AWESOME. They are purely a pediatric office and do a tremendous job. I'd recommend to anyone who was looking for a place (Hines Little Smiles, Gahanna). 

 somehow I can see this look remaining in her repertoire for teenage years

 love the hand :)

 all smiles when it was over

annnnd the lollipops...sugar-free, of course ;)

mantle makeover

Another home project checked off the list! Originally we planned to sand down and repaint our mantle, but the dental and ribbed molding just loomed over us and it remained on the "to-do." I believe it probably would have stayed there until I had a VERY brave and VERY free day :)

BUT pete and my dad went to this Habitat for Humanity sale and they happened to have boxes upon boxes of beautiful mantles... lets just say it was quite worth the low price. So out with the old and in with the new! :)

oh and p.s. the "old" one is in perfect shape if anyone wants to buy it :) http://columbus.craigslist.org/hsh/3145679839.html

BEFORE:

DURING:

AFTER:

gotta say.... I really enjoy these 1-evening projects :)

Patio project reveal

Patio project is now complete!!! :)

We all agreed afterwards that out of alll the home projects we've done in the last 7 years of marriage, this was by far the most work we've done, in the shortest period of time, making such a big difference.... and boy was it hard work or what!

I was supposed to be training for my first 5k over the last 2 months and that was put on hold for evening upon evening upon weekend upon weekend of what felt like running a marathon but was merely manual labor in the brutal heat! we hauled away close to 14 truck loads of dirt & rocks, hauled in about 10 loads of gravel and 3 loads of sand, and that was just the half of it. we added the arch at the top to have a good view of the sunset... and that's just what we have. the biggest change was probably the stairs & hand railing. We are so happy with the results and especially happy with the $ saved having done all the work ourselves (definitely worth all those sore muscles and completely-out-of-running-shape-with-1-week-before-race fitness slump)

So as usual... this isn't really much of a before & after, but more of a during & after reveal :)

Here goes..... DURING:

Drumroll please.......................AFTER:

Taa da! :)

heres to many enjoyable family and friend times on this new space!

p.s. don't think this means its time for a break on the house project front - next up & coming soon.... new family room mantle! :)

it must be summa'time

it officially feels like summertime now! i know... its been summer for a while now, but we had our first fire! oh the smell of campfire. first fire of the year, first summer in our new house, first fire in our new pit on our new patio. ahhhh bliss.

(though you'll get a good glimpse...ill be posting actual patio project & reveal pics soon.... just as soon as i finally finish the landscaping and get all the work junk cleaned up!)

marshmallows, happy girls, sunset, sitting out late chattin with the hubs.... summer delight.
can see many more of these kind of nights to come.

all-star game

every year we get together with pete's fam for the all-star game. the original tradition was that everyone bring various snacks and we enjoy a new one each inning. though over the years, the length and lateness of the game and the exorbitant amount of food has now inhibited us from sticking to that exact tradition...we still had fun getting together and eating tons of yummy food. other than it being a blow out, im not real sure what happened in the game....which seems to be the case every year, as im only partially interested :) we missed the Burns but it was a good little spur-of-the-moment get together with the fam:

(looking back at my last few posts...i know you're probably thinking.. is there anything else you guys do but have parties!?)    the answer is.... sometimes. ;)

unfortunately the kiddos were just too fast and too uninterested for me to get a good cousin pic tonight :/