House week three

It's been an incredibly busy week. Tons to blog on, but not sure I'll have time between all the games tomorrow and cleaning my house. It's amazing how messy it is since we have been home so little this week!

Anyway, they have started working on the foundation and all the pipes this week. No concrete poured, but all the steel bars and such seem to be there. Will got to go with us this week. I can't really explain how peaceful it feels to watch this house go up. We are going into this as our 'very long time home.'. I tell the kids I won't say forever because life happens and I don't want to disappoint them someday. We plan to settle here and grow some roots. After our adventures to Oregon and careers and everything, it is so calming to think of settling into life. Watching our kids grow in the same house, in the same towns there is so much quiet and peace in that. I hope the reality is as wonderful as the ideal. Anyway, here are a few pictures from this weeks trip.

If you give a Brooke or a Caleb an earthworm....

It all started with a walk in which Brooke cried because she counted 62 dead earthworms on the sidewalk.  The tears drove us to look for living earthworms which of course ended up with us keeping earthworms in the old lady bug habitat.  Little did we know at the time that earth worms are very quick at procreating.  A couple weeks later, we had baby earthworms. 

Baby earthworms of course created space concerns.  We learned that earthworms are hermaphrodites which when they mate produce up to five new earthworms each.  This means that our four original earthworms could now have produced up to 20 babies.  And all those earth worms in such an enclosed space cannot be a good thing.  "They might die."

So what should we do with our new earthworm colony.  It was decided that we should put them to work.  And so began our search for a compost bin.  A trip to Lowe's proved to be unfruitful.  Compost bins it seems are very expensive. So we moved our search to our old friend Google.  How to make your own worm compost bin.  Eureka.  A couple of 10 gallon totes, a drill, some newspapers, and we have ourselves a compost pile.

No project in this family is without its share of artwork.  Brooke wouldn't have it  So I purchased Sharpies in 24 colors and Brooke and Caleb decorated their bins.

Coloring completed, we must begin drilling holes.

Now we must create the bedding for our earthworms.  Tear the newspaper into one inch strips until your container is pretty full.

 Now we must get the newspaper wet, but not too wet...

 Mix in some food scraps.  Banana peels, rice, some card board, etc.  Then just add worms:) 

Now we have ourselves a compost bin. 

 I chose clear so we could really start seeing what our earthworms were doing.  We will see how it works out.  The plans we used were at http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/easywormbin.htm. 

So if you give a Brooke or a Caleb an earthworm, you just might end up with a compost bin. 

Our new home: week one and two

Some of you know that Will and I have decided to build our new Texas home in Argyle, Tx. The subdivision is Country lakes http://www.countrylakestexas.com/. Our builder is Sandlin homes. You can see the plan we are building here.
http://www.sandlinhomes.com/neighborhood_floorplandetail.php?nh=55&mod=123

The kids and I are going to try to go out every Friday to see the progress.

Last Friday, the had just cleared the and leveled the lot.

This Friday they had started framing for the foundation. We got out and walked around. One of our our new neighbors Dane and Summer and their children came out to introduce themselves. We spent a good thirty minutes visiting and keeping out children from getting too muddy.;). I did not succeed in that with Caleb! :) It was wonderful to meet a neighbor. They knew everyone in the area and talked of block parties and Halloween festivities. I am so excited. It sounds like a 'family' type neighborhood where everyone knows each other and keeps an eye out for each other! I am now even more excited to get out of the dump rental we are in and start settling down and growing some roots.

Hope everyone will enjoy watching the process. I will try to be better about posting with this project than I am with kids;)

Brooke's Birthday!

8 years of Birthday's

My beautiful little girl turned 8 today.  I am at a loss for words on how I feel about that.  She is growing into such a beautiful girl, but there is a tension knowing that our time together is short.  I am amazed every day at her spirit, her talent, and her ability to drive me crazy. :) 

We had quite the celebratory birthday weekend.  It all started with a trip last weekend to the American girl store to scope out what we wanted.  Mommy is a push over though and we ended up leaving with the doll.:)

Then this past Saturday began the true Birthday weekend.  We started with dinner and games Saturday night at Dave & Buster's with Uncle Mason, Aunt Kid, and Lily.  After dinner, we stopped by Dillard's to buy a "My Doll & Me" party dress.  She basically wore the dress from the moment we got home until tonight when she showered.  She even slept in it.  I did force her to dress warm for a few hours on Sunday, but she changed immediately when we got home.

Sunday, we went to a Civil War Re-enactment.  It was a lot of fun.  Brooke and Caleb made corn husk dolls. We got super muddy, which Caleb enjoyed.  Splashed puddles.  Were in the middle of a battle in the town.  Saw a Yankee prisoner executed (and then miraculously revive himself).  Pet some horses.  Lots of gun fire.

Then on to shoe shopping.  We must have shoes to match the dress!:) We had to buy her an adult size 6.  This only adds to my uneasiness with the fact that my baby is getting so big.

We are all ready for the big day now.  She woke up to flowers, a balloon, a horse calendar, and accessories for her American Girl.  I completely forgot to take a picture of the assortment.  Here is one of her opening the American girl stuff.  It was mostly hair stuff.  As you will see from later pictures, we immediately did both of their hair.

Time for Daddy breakfast.  Brooke and Will went to Ihop for lots of fun food and daddy time.  I would say more, but as I was forbidden from attending, all I have is this picture.

Now time to get our nails done.  The man that did Brooke's nails was so nice.  He was so impressed with her math skills that he quized her almost the whole time.  He also gave her designs, gemstones, and extra glitter sparkles on both finger and toe nails. Only charged me $10 for both. 

Now it's time for green enchiladas and cake. 

Officially 8.  Cake and everything.  I love you, Brooke!  I can't wait to see what adventures you take me on this year.