May: House Make-over and More

We finally got around to replacing our rotting trimming.  This was not a DIY project.  

Before

After

I made this wreath in April for about $1, but it looked pretty ghetto on our dingy white door.  Not quite so bad on our door all made over.

 The boys' bathroom: Before

We didn't have a medicine cabinet in here, and the window sill was getting a little full. 

After

I "stamped" on some bubbles using cups and lids we had laying around.

The color is a little more toothpastey than we planned, but the left over from our other bathrooms was dried up, so I bought this color on a whim.

The next bathroom was redone last year, but I realized I never got around to posting it.

Master bathroom (on the left): Before

After

The Color is Valspar's Blue Lagoon. 

Anthony and his Dad put in the shower door a few months ago, so now it's a fully functioning bathroom! 

Craft room/ Study/ Guest Room: Before

After

Prints by the famous Kristen Applebee.  Thanks Sis. 

 Anthony gave me this beautiful print as my Christmas/Anniversary present.

Brian Kershisnik's Nativity.  The quotes I got to frame it were between $400-$700!  So I made my own for $25. (Well add on $80 for the stretchers and to have it stretched.  But still beats $700!)  And it doesn't look that bad as long as you don't get too close. 

As for the rest of May, we were super lucky to have a visit from Dallin and Becca.  They're so great.  We took them to the Henry Ford and showed them around Detroit a bit.  I'm embarrassed at how few pictures I have of them.  More pending once I steal Becca's. :)

We just happened to be there the same day as Thomas.  We ran up to the tracks just in time to see him pass by.

 Ira

He's been coloring non-stop for the past week or two.  It's like he decided over night that he can color in the lines.  Lots of fun to watch.

Last field trip for preschool: the Botanical Gardens.

Last day of school.  This is Ira with his best friend from school.  

There are some play-dates in the works with this cool kid.

Ira with "Grandma Ilene."  She is such a super star.  Ira has told me after school almost every day that his favorite part of the day was drawing maps and dragons with Ilene.  She has spent so much individual time with him.  I LOVE her.  

Saying bye to Miss Mieke, the teacher.  She's also great.

 Eliot

He and his brother have loved getting out camping with buddies.

We've got a dog lover in the family!

Somersault lessons.

How the boys eat when left unattended for 5 minutes.

Jamming on our new (used) piano! 

That's life.  We've got Eliot in the works for some speech therapy and finally had our first assessment.  We're off to a new session of birth classes, and are excited about the fun students.  And we're generally just having fun keeping busy.  Let the June begin!

Public radio, Earth cake and Easter

April started out with a bad joke.

The boys didn't think brussel sprouts served up for breakfast was very funny.

April also started off with a lot of sunshine! We finally started going back to the park, even on days it was still in the 30s.  We're just that desperate. 

Testing out Eliot's birthday dragon kite. 

With the warmth, Ira's became the household rolly polly/potato bug catcher.  For some reason they love our house. 

Mid-month April snow showers.

 Eliot turned 2 this month!  And since he's still not talking much, I took the liberty of choosing the theme.  We had an Earthday-Birthday party. 

We bounced this thing around, picked up "litter" in the basement and sorted recyclables.  The party favor/activity was planting flower seeds to take home.

Picnic eating arrangement.  Chairs Shmairs.

Easter!

The boys helped me make some decorations for the house by blowing and decorating some eggs.  I know, a little risky.  There were a few times I caught the egg whites going up the straw, almost to Eliot's lips before I stopped him.  They did a great job though and I'm happy to say we're salmonella free.

 For Easter, cousin James came over for a mini-feast.  It's so fun to have at least one relative around. 

Ira's Larry King pose.

Candy!

 We unfortunately had some dear friends, the Jensens, move in April.  Here's Eliot watching a movie with his Jensen friend. 

 Marianne and I threw Mandy's family a party with the Ypsilanti ward invited to attend.  It's so fun to live close enough to our last ward to hang out often. 

The Beehive state will bee lucky to have them.

Anthony's been working hard on the garden.  We're hoping this is our year. :)

We got a rockin' tour of the Michigan Radio station and got to eat snacks with some of the state's public radio stars.  Zoe Clark was really nice and spent a substantial amount of time talking with us.  It was really cool to have a chance to talk with the journalists, and reminded me that in highschool I wanted to grow up to be a muckraker.  Maybe someday. :)

In other news, we've started working on the house again now that it's getting warm.  Anthony's been biking to work like a superstar, and I've gotten better (not faster) at running.

Ira is drawing more, and is getting more interested in music, and enjoys being a helper when he's not giving his brother bruises. 

Both boys have been spending a lot of time on these puppies.

Eliot is full of kisses and hugs and is picking up new words here and there.  His latest favorite word is "button."  He's inherited Anthony's love of technology...or at least wires and buttons and outlets. 

So, that's us.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!