Big Family Sneak Peek

Coming from a large family I think there is nothing better than lots and lots of kids.  When the mom's and dad's come here with their big clan they apologize a million times for the kids even when I think they are being good.  These kids were really good, they had the wiggles but what kid doesn't and when you have to coordinate your wiggles with 5 other kids someone is bound to be wiggling at the wrong time.   Well just like my story yesterday.... this mom just wanted them all together even if they had the wiggles.   

The little two are twins and poor Cain is a bit shy and didn't want to take his hands off his face so Ava covered her ears.

Then she covered her eyes to look like Cain.

Cain did eventually uncover his eyes but it had to be on his terms and sit on the stool he wanted to sit on.  Oh well whatever it takes.  

These two are not the smiley type, they are what you call serious models :)

Ava being the only girl needs her photo taken with Mommy

The 4 little ones.... again on Cain's terms

We tried another family shot and then since the wiggles were happening I just told them to get all the wiggles out and talk to the person next to them.  Poor little Ava must have this happen a lot at home with all those brothers.

Mr Serious

Miss Serious

Oh I think we cracked him.....

and her...

 Mom and Dad had about 2 minutes of peace

The two older boys had a few poses they wanted to do and this was one of them.  I love it when the kids want to be a part of the planning.

Since they were all the perfect height for this we did a fun shot.

Thanks Heather and Jimmy your kids are really fun and I totally mean that!!

Little Brother and his family

 Saturday my little brother and his kids came over for some family pictures.  Terry is the youngest of my large family.  He is number 11, he is the one that broke the tie of 5 girls and 5 boys.... 

I remember taking a family photo when Terry was about Ian's age and he cried and cried and cried.  The photographer couldn't get him to stop pouting and neither could any of us.  Mom finally said that she didn't care that he was pouting and to take it anyway.  There we are all 13 of us and Terry is sitting on mom's lap with the biggest ole' pout face ever.  Mom and Dad never really yelled at us, I know that sounds crazy but they didn't, who wouldn't be losing their voice yelling at 11 kids???  Mom didn't yell at Terry that day she just took what she could get and she was happy with it.  I don't remember getting yelled at ever, I got grounded once for running in Grandma and Grandpa Emmerich's strawberry patch but then by the afternoon we were going over to the neighbors....so I was ground for about 3 hours.  Before mom got the photos back with Terry pouting my sister ran away from home.  They didn't find her for 2 weeks, during that 2 weeks Mom was so thankful for her photo of all of us together but it was still very hard for her to think that may be the last photo of everyone that she will ever get.

Terry knows how important it is to have family photos and has taken way to long to do it.  He finally set the date and it got canceled about 3 times but they are finally done and I'm sure he feels much better now.  Terry has two step children from his marriage to Shannon and then they had little Ian together.  He later divorced Shannon but has continued to be a step father to Amanda and Austin.  He is a lucky guy to have them in his life and I think they might be just as lucky to continue to have him as a father figure.  

Here's little brother and his family.

His little Ian is such a cutie and looks just like him.  

However, Ian gave us smiles not pouts :)

I know I was young when my mom died and at the time I had 3 little kids at home to take care of.  I thought of myself and how confused I was that I lost my mother just when I started to understand a mother/daughter relationship.  I finally realized she did know something and I didn't know everything, you know how that is.... you get to a certain age and then you realize you like your mother.  Well that was me but just like that she was gone and I didn't ever get to do fun things with her.  Sorry I know this isn't about me it's about Terry and I'm getting there.  As young as I was Terry was much younger and at that time I never thought a minute of how he was coping without a mother.  He still lived at home, he had to greave by himself, he didn't have anyone to cook for him.... he goes from a full house to being the last one there and then he was way to young to be without a mother.  The rest of our family went to their own houses and took care of themselves.  Who took care of him??? 

He did a good job of taking care of himself and now I think that's why he continues to be a role model for Amanda and Austin even after the divorce.  I give him a ton of credit to realize they still need him and I think he still needs them too.

Ian is pretty much just like Terry growing up..... spoiled (loved) by all his family.  

We got Amanda some height so she could have one picture that she is just as tall as her "little" brother.

I love you Terry, Amanda, Austin and Ian.  It was a lot of fun spending time with you.  You are all beautiful inside and outside.

Inside the Cottage

Well we finally have the inside of the cottage cleaned and decorated to not be totally embarrassed for you all to see.  It really wasn't that dirty when we bought it, it was just stinking.  The lady had a dog that she didn't let outside so of course he peed inside.  All that was taken care of by John and our wonderful neighbor.  They ripped carpets and subfloors out and I thank them so much for doing that horrible job.  John has replaced the subfloors where we needed to and they will be covered up as soon as we have some good spring weather.  Until then it's bare floor but still very cozy cuz the smell of that poor inside dog is gone..... totally gone!!

I have washed every wall, window, trim, cupboard, closet, toilet, bathtub, sink..... in this place and it really wasn't that bad.  Yes it was dirty and gross and I needed a shower often but the work is now done and this is what the place looks like when we walk in the door.

This is the living room with a room off to the right.  Not sure what that room is suppose to be, we're thinking maybe a breakfast nook or office area.... to us it will be another bedroom when we need it.

Here's the goofy room.  Nothing really in there yet.

Dining room is next

Dining room and kitchen.  The patio door look right out to the river.  It's a walk out basement so the deck is very high up.  John is giving me some kind of toast with his beer.

In the kitchen looking through the dining room to the hallway with the bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry room.

Guest bedroom.... always made up and fresh flannel sheets waiting for visitors.

Main bathroom.... very 60's green but I don't care, it works and it's clean.

Master bedroom, this is only 1 side of the room, to the right it's about the same width as this and a walk in closet.  This room is huge and we feel kinda spoiled having it since our bedroom at home is about a third of this size.

Master bathroom.  I didn't take pictures inside but the shower is all re-done with pine boards, it's the only upgrade they did on the house.  It's very nice and the shower feels so good up here.  I think it's the sand in the soil makes the water so soft.

So the steps to get in the basement are pretty crude.  They are solid metal and sturdy but need a facelift when it warms up.  They aren't held up with the birch logs they are just decorative.

We're not going in the basement for pictures, it's just a brick open area that needs some attention this summer.  

Here is the fireplace Lynn and Jesse gave us.  We love it, so cozy sitting in the living room.

John likes this wall so it's been decided to leave it as is.  I was going to paint or rip it apart but it's a cottage and it looks fine and I'm starting to actually like it.  Oh yeah the shade is missing from the right light.... yeah I broke it while cleaning.  Hoping to find one at a thrift store :)

Took another walk and of course some more outdoor photos.  This is our boat landing just down the road.

People pile wood up here just to tempt me with taking a picture of it.  This must be a retirement thing 

Road back home from my walk is way pretty.  I love it here.

We didn't spend the night this weekend, had too much going on at home.  It was just a quick trip up to check on things.  All was well.  When we got there, there were foot tracks walking into our back yard, up the stairs to the deck and in front of the patio doors.  The tracks came from the neighbors which is the lady's grandchildren.  I just had to smile and feel a bit giddy that the kids were up to their cottage and wanted to check out grandma's house to see what we did with it.  Hopefully we'll get to meet them during one of our visits.  They don't come up very often from what we've heard.

There you have it, our home away from home.  It will only keep getting better and better.  

A place where memories will be made.

Grandchild Number 5 is growing

Today Monica and Adam came over for a visit and I couldn't resist taking some belly shots.  Her belly is so cute and just a round little ball.  He's got awhile to grow some more in there but soon we will get to meet this little boy. 

Doesn't take much for Adam to get his arms around both of them.

Daddy's greasy hands are always a good memory to have.  

In a few weeks we'll do a real belly session, we have to give him more time to grow.  :)

Cold

Baby it's cold outside....

Distressed Painted Signs

Here are some photos of the projects I was working on a few weekends ago.  Anything with paint, distress and color makes my day.  

This one has been given as a birthday gift, she found a spot on her wall about 2.3 seconds after she opened it.  

Since I was making one you might as well make more right?

The next two are still hanging around my house and being propped up and hung on the walls in different locations about everyday.  

I am willing to sell, just send me an e-mail if you're interested and I'll give you the details.  The pink heart is a perfect valentine present for that special someone.  If not that's okay I kinda like them.  :)

Stay warm in this below zero snap..... Tisn't a fit night out for man or beast. ...