New office gets broken in

We finally got to use part of the new addition - christina used the office with a temp set-up as you can see. Her freelance work is picking up, which is good.

Photo below is a low budget hot tub, to be sure. Actually, Roman got an impromptu bath this week after he pooped all over his clothes, socks, blanket and couch this week. Sink was best, and fastest way to wash, according to Christina who was home with all the kids when this happened.

Well,

TWB 59

My dad's 59th birthday is today. I'm thinking about him all the time still.
I know he's over my head somewhere, with his hands upon my shoulders directing me in the right path - the good path - the one that is a good mentor, listener and provider.
I sure wish he were still here to share his thoughts and teach me things. It would be especially great if he was able to spend time with our four beautiful children, for him and them.
I want to show my dad the addition to our house. I want to introduce the babies to him and I want him to see the awesome little boys that Levi and Ezra are growing into every day. I miss him so.

Milestones

Well, we hit a big milestone in our house yesterday - Levi learned to tie his shoes. I probably showed him how to do it 1 or 2 times and before you know it, he's tying them himself. I just bought him some new running shoes for running and baseball and they are tie. He loves them though and I think they will help him run much better than the other ones he has been wearing.

Ezra has been saying tons of words. And, today for the first time I was able to get him to say words on request. He always calls money pay (except with a g sound). So, I asked him if he could say money and he said money. And I said, say coin and he said coin. This too is a great milestone for Ezra and his talking.

Roman and Ivy continue to grow.

They also continue to have a fussy period every night from about 8 to 11 or midnight. Quite a challenge. Hopefully they outgrow that soon.

The house is coming along - quite noisy today. Lots of tools running as they are doing the heating and sheet rock.

I can't even believe I've had time to write this post this afternoon. The two older boys are in their rooms for "nap time" and actually staying in there. Perhaps Ezra fell asleep this time. And, the two little ones are in their room (OK, really our room for now) for nap time. Crazy.

Spoke too soon, someone is waking up...

Yep, it was Roman. And yes, Ezra did fall asleep - after piling a bunch of things on his bed. If you look closely you can see his head in there.

What is a ZIPWALL?

ABOVE is the most up to date photo of the outside, with the big "eyebrow" that goes over the garage and front step. That will be shingled next week. All the windows are in, except for the glass block window that will be in the shower.

So you don't know what a ZipWall is? Well I didn't until today.

Apparently the same folks at Tyvek who wrap the outside of peoples' houses, also have a product for providing temp wall barriers inside of houses.

As you may be able to see from the photo, the wall is a sheet of plastic with some high-engineered "beams" that brace from floor to ceiling. Then there are two big long zippers that our contractor installed later - and taped into the plastic. Its sort of like a big tent.

Anyway, the ZipWall is all that is keeping the cold air from the too-long too cold winter out of the house tonight. It will probably be up in place for another week, I guess, while the sheet rock subcontractors come and do their stuff.

Babies are doing great. Both are eating and nursing better and starting to have more personality.

Ezra is stringing together many four to five word sentences. Levi and Ezra and I went to the park last weekend - it hit 33 degrees that day. Whoo-hoo. There was still snow everywhere - which made it easy for Ezra to climb on the equipment, but was bright on the eyes. The snow won't be here long though! I'm quite thrilled that its supposed to hit 50 degrees for three days next week right around St. Patrick's Day.

Levi is enjoying preschool, learning how to play chess with me, and getting excited about T-Ball. I still haven't decided if I'm going to try and be his coach, or not. I got an idea they were looking for volunteers.

I'm exhausted, so I'm headed to bed. I'll post some photos of the remodeling project though, for you to browse if you're interested.

They put in the windows. I took the big boys up for a looksie.

We have some items in our backyard, like a window air conditioner, some metal shelves, a French fry maker, several hoses and cords, out of our garage. It looks terrible. I joked with Wyatt and Star during a recent visit how we had a backyard that would make any redneck proud. Starla made a wisecrack that all we needed was a pink flamingo. She's right.

Here is the most updated photos of the garage space (messy, I know). There is no fireplace there or chimney anymore. And notice the ZipWall behind the stairs.

Sam out. Good day.

All to myself

A love poem recited by Christina’s grandfather on our wedding day:

All to myself I think of you

Think of the things we used to do

Think of the things we used to say

Think of each happy yesterday

Sometimes I sigh, and sometimes I smile

But I keep each olden, golden while

All to myself

Wilber Nesbit – All to Myself

My Baby

So, Ezra has just informed me that this is his baby

and this is Levi's baby.

He always wants Roman to sit by him in the car, referencing him as "my guy"

Here are the "guys" together.