"Feeding 3 Things"

Today our little adventure was feeding ducks, geese and seagulls. Our little genius points out "Today we're feeding free [three] things." This was our reward for spending time waiting to get a permit to do the siding for the garage at city hall today. The boys LOVE this! They shriek and giggle. I get rid of our old bread heels that no one appreciates around here. I did notice something that warmed my heart about these feathered friends today.
This little couple spent the entire time together while we were there. They seemed inseparable! I'm no biologist, but I was able to figure out these two were probably mates. I felt so fortunate to be Phil's little brown duck today.

On a side note... I have NO idea why that all decided to be underlined. Hope you were able to read it anyway!

Happy Birthday, Phil!

Today Phil turned 28 and is all the better for it! We slept in as best we could this morning then took the boys to the Lincoln Park Zoo for the day. We had a blast! Despite the cold most of the animals we looked for were out to be seen at one point or another. Sorry, no real picture of Phil on his birthday, but thanks to all for the calls and good wishes! We all had a great day today!

Course 3 Final Cake

I have to admit, I'm somewhat impressed with myself. A couple months ago I would have never attempted something like this! This is my final cake from Course 3 which I completed last night and set up this morning. I had to borrow a friend's camera since my battery was dead, but you get the idea. This is a chocolate fudge cake with chocolate buttercream and dots to carry the theme from the girls retreat this weekend here at our church called Meant for More. There are more then 140 women and girls signed up and we're so excited around here! Please be praying for the conference this weekend. I think it's going to make a huge impact on these girls!!
On a personal note, I've already started my 4th and final course from the Wilton series this week. 3 weeks left and I'm done! I still have two cakes left to make before then, so keep an eye out!

It's Done!

Actually it's two different things that are done. Phil passed his board for his MTS today so that means we're done with it. Months and months later after countless hours of work and study it's finally over. No more worries about not getting it done in time or not passing. It was such a relief this morning!
Secondly, the floor is done. It's not even sticky anymore. Tomorrow we can start moving furniture back in place and actually walk on it. It will still need to cure for 2 weeks so we'll have to be gentle on it and can't move the rugs back, but simply being able to walk through our own house will be a huge blessing! In the mean time, here are the "after" shots for now:

A Busy Weekend!

This weekend was one of studying and soccer, birthday parties and dedications... not to mention a huge flooring project underway! Josh LOVED soccer. We all had a great time at our little friend, Kaylee's, party. Jeremiah got the most excited when he got some help playing basketball. I have never seen a smile so big! The last coat of seal goes down on the floor tomorrow but we can't put furniture back until Wednesday. It should be another crazy week for us, but at least this project will be done! Hope you all had a great weekend as well!

The Start of Something New

Here are the "before" pictures to the latest big project (and the most expensive). After lots of hard work and help from a friend (thanks, Jake!) all our furniture is elsewhere in the house and as I write the hardwood downstairs is being sanded and stained. Tomorrow it will be sealed. In the mean time the 4 of us are stuck upstairs trying to entertain ourselves in cramped quarters. It will be one of the major projects we needed to do in the house completed, but it's going to be a long few days before we can move all the furniture back! We still have all our regular things to do (work, doctor's appointments and a cake class to prepare for). From here on out we're going to have to walk around the outside of our house to use the kitchen for anything. It will be an adventure trying to figure all of it out!

Spring???

Another hint captured just last night that Spring really might be coming!