Art By Design

After many months of scouring the stores to find artwork for the kids' bedrooms, we decided paying top dollar for something they wouldn't really appreciate was not the answer. So the kids picked up some canvases, paint and brushes and made their own artwork.

I think they had a good time being artistic. They were creative and proud of their pieces.

Ice Cream Sunday

We were going to go out for ice cream but decided to make our own sundaes instead.

Rain

Once again we were counting up the days until it last rained. I've never seen it so dry in the south. So we've lived here three months now and it has rained three times, once a month. We've really been needing the rain. My plants need the rain. I need the rain.

In the past six hours we have received three inches of rain. Now we are in a Flood Warning. Charlie and I haven't driven out in town to see the effects of the rain yet but I've heard that the streets are flooded and the lakes and creeks have flooded. Thank goodness we don't live in a flood zone.

The kids have enjoyed themselves playing in the rain. They stood out in the rain, jumped in puddles, played with their friends outside and just had a great time. Good. They should. I'm glad they are being kids. It's suppose to rain through the night and day tomorrow. Hopefully our warning will be lifted by tomorrow evening.

My mums have enjoyed the rain too. I love having flowers around the house. I'm happy to have something pretty for fall this year:

Closet Re-Vamped

This week Charlie took some time off from work to get some projects done at home. We decided to overhaul the master bedroom closet. There was nothing really wrong with them. But they really weren't fulfilling their full potential.

This is the closet before:

This is our bedroom during (what a mess!):

And this is the closet once we were done! (Charlie's side):

And my side (along with the rest of Charlie because he LOVES clothes and has to wear the latest fashions):

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

I found today that someone, something has been having lunch with my plants. I found a few leaves that had been munched on. I unwrapped a leaf and found this very hungry caterpillar making a home in my plant and nibbling on it's leaves:

He wasn't there yesterday and luckly I found him quickly because he had already devoured a few large leaves. No telling what he would have done within a week.

So I clipped off the leaf he was making his home in and took him way, way to the back of the woods. I'd rather him not ruin these pretty flowers:

Finally!!! The Kitchen is Completed

Yahoo!!! We are so happy and excited to say that the remodel on the kitchen is finished!

You may remember it used to look like this:

And this:

But now it looks like this:

And this:

Rub a Dub Dub

Things are starting to come together with the house. After a bit of a break, we got the itch again to finish some renovations. My friend and I tackled the girls' bathroom. We spent a day together riping down all the pink check wallpaper. Then the next day, I finished cleaning up what we were too tired to get from the previous day and also washed the walls. I spent a day priming the walls and then another day painting the walls.

After four days of riping, washing, painting and sweating, our hard work was done. Here is the finished product:

I like it. We all agreed on the color. It's called Balmy. I need some art for the walls but for now it looks wonderful.

From That...To This

So after clearing out all the old brush from the front landscape, Charlie and I went down to the nursery and picked out some new plants. We worked all afternoon and even after the sun went down. We were determined to complete our project. While it looks completed, we still have some work to do. We will be putting in a fountain with a walkway around it eventually. It will be a nice feature to complete the landscape.

We have some of our first blooms!

Clearing Out

This weekend Charlie and I cleared out the landscaping (or lack there of). We pulled his truck up into the front yard, put tie downs around the bushes and drove them literally out of the ground. We got rid of 6 rose bushes and 1 crape myrtle. I had pictures of it all but unknowingly, I deleted them.

We had a few of our neighbors stop by and tell us what a great job we were doing. They must of really been tired of looking at that mess. They continued to tell us how awesome the grass is looking, that it's so thick and green. It's been two months of watering, fertilizing and mowing to get it so pretty.

We took a trip to our local nursery and picked up some new plants. Our goal for this week is to plant them and and actually have this project finished! I can't wait. It's going to look so nice.

Jaxson

This is Jax.

He is Sandy's best bud.

He's a happy dog.

He's really laid back.

And one of the sweetest doggies ever.

See the Smile?

Baby got a brand new grill!

He's so happy. He couldn't wait to start grilling.

The girls are happy too. They had their friends over for a sleepover.

New Love

Coming back to the states I had my apprehension about the latest gadgets. I knew I wanted them but was scared to use them. And I really didn't know the depth of all they can do to make my life simpler. Doing what any military spouse would do, I jumped right in. I got a Droid Eris from Verizon. It's my new love. Yes, Charlie is a bit jealous of our relationship.



Besides making calls, texting, voice mail and internet, it does all of this:

Scans bar codes so I can find out who has the best deal, reviews and details.
Keeps all of my shopper's cards in one app. The cashier scans the bar code on my phone when I pull up the app. and credits my savings.

Saves my coupons from cellfire so I don't have to search, print and clip. I always have them handy even when I forget everything else.

Tells me where the closest restaurants, gas stations and stores are around through yelp. It even gives me reviews, websites and driving directions on how to get there from where I am.

Navigates me where ever I want to go from where ever I am at the moment.

It does so much more than that (I'm liking the whole weather and news apps. too). I'm in love with this phone. It's fun to find out new apps. everyday. It's made my life a ton easier already.

First day of School

It's back to school time already. This will be the first time the girls attend a state-side public school (no more Department of Defense Schools for them). I think they were excited and nervous at the same time. We went to their open house on Friday so they could get a feel for their new schools and meet their teachers. They were happy with what they saw and felt more comfortable. It makes me happy and more at ease knowing their schools are some of the best in the states.

Kiera is ready for 5th grade.

Jasmine is ready for 8th grade.

Maya can't wait for 6th grade to begin.

Oh deer me!

You know you're back living in the country when a deer walks through your backyard!

Granite

We can't wait for the kitchen remodeling to be finished. Our next step is getting granite countertops installed. I had the opportunity to go to the factory and actually pick out the slab I want in our kitchen.

This is the one I picked:
It's called Uba-Tuba.

We should have it within one more week. It will make the kitchen more complete. The last thing we have to do is put in a back splash. But I will be very content with having the granite countertops until then.

First Thunderstorm

We've been in a bit of a drought where we live. We haven't seen any rain in about a month. It has rained in the cities to the north of us and to the south of us but not over us. But finally, this afternoon, it rained. Not only did it rain, it stormed. It was our first storm since moving stateside. The power flicked off twice already and reminded me to put the computer on a surge protector. Oddly, it never stormed in Okinawa and where we lived, the power never went out. So it will be a little getting use to. But I love the storms. I turn the lights out, open the blinds and watch the rain fall. The rain has brought us some cooler temps. for the moment. It's 76 degrees compared to the normal 102 we've had daily.

Pool Party

Our family was invited by our friends to a private pool/birthday party for their two daughters. It has been so hot here for so long, a dip in the pool was just what we needed.

We all had fun hanging on daddy and having chicken fights. The girls enjoyed hanging out with their friends and made new friends as well.

School starts in only 5 days so we all need to get to most out of what's left of summer!