Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Home Renovations and Updates

We've been working on our house and yard some more this month.  There is always something, but I think we're getting closer to finishing many of our projects we've started and wanted to complete.  Here are some of the updates recently.

 We put in red mulch and planted some flowers.  
Nyles also wanted to plant some carrots so we put them in the barrel to grow.

Nyles helping to weed the area for flowers.

Carter giving us his support while we work, and doing what he does best right now, sleep :)

Nyles took a break to go kick the soccer ball around in the yard.

End result:  Mulch w/ flowers!  So much better!

We like to hang out and play in the backyard.  Thankfully we get good shade both in the morning from the trees, and in the afternoon from the house.  
Carter just relaxing and Nyles watering the flowers after riding his bike around the patio one morning.

 A pretty bush and flowers in our yard.

 Our one little pansie has turned into many on the same bush!
A few carrots coming up now too!

Our yard and patio.

We decided to rip out the mess under our little tree in our driveway.  There were always bees around there due to the flowers/bushes underneath, and the bushes were overtaking everything, including our neighbors driveway, so we wanted to clean it up.  Plus they said sometimes the bees would get into their van, yikes!

Nyles and Steve hard at work cleaning up the mess (picture taken from up in our room before the windows were replaced so it's a little foggy).

Now leveling out the dirt and then fixing the sprinklers.

All done w/ new sod laid!

Our house from the front.  

House when we got it (in the Winter but still not in the best shape).

House now in the Summer and w/ updates.


Before

After-we've literally brought life back into this house and yard.

Some of the updates made:


  • New windows (minus the garage one)
  • Yard work we've done (mostly Steve)
  • Taken out bushes, put in some sod
  • Put in mulch and planted flowers 
  • Took out the little tree by flowers
  • Cleaned up under the little tree on the right and put in new sod.

Nursery

Nursery Room Before

Nursery Room After

Updates made:

  • New carpet
  • New paint (ceiling, walls and door)
  • Added beadboard
  • New baseboards
  • New light fixture
  • New electrical outlets
  • New window

Guest Room upstairs-

Before guest bedroom

After guest bedroom


Updates made:

  • New carpet
  • New paint (ceiling, walls and door), took down wallpaper
  • New light fixture
  • New electrical outlets
  • New window

Upstairs Bathroom-

Before upstairs bathroom

After upstairs bathroom (we're still going to replace the vanity)

 Updates made:

  • New flooring (tile instead of linoleum)
  • New paint (ceiling, walls and door)
  • Added beadboard
  • New baseboards and chair rail
  • New light fixture
  • New electrical outlets
  • New toilet
  • New towel bars and toilet paper holder
New Beadboad, towel bar, outlet and tile flooring

New light fixture, towel bar, paint

 Light fixture

We're still working on our Master bathroom, but here is where we currently are.

Pocket door put in, working on putting the wall back together.

Toilet in, new tile floor, new towel bar and toilet paper holder, beadboard, chair rail, and baseboard.


Some other recent updates:

New rug in the formal living room, and a new window finally!
Other updates in this room were putting in hardwood flooring, paint, baseboards, outlets, and fixing the walls which were damaged by the cheap bookcases on them which we took out.

Old window-inside

New window-inside

Old window-outside
  
                                                              New window-outside



We also added a few other light fixtures as well.  
One in the entry, one in kitchen and a ceiling fan (new window too).


And the light fixture in formal living room w/ the new window.

Old garden window above kitchen sink.

New window above the kitchen sink.  I can actually see out of it now!


Well that's it for now! Our sliding glass door is the last to be replaced and they're doing that right now.  I'll do another before and after later.  Until next time...

Friday, July 22, 2016

July heat

July sure is going by quick, and man has it been a hot one too!  We've been keeping busy though and having some fun.  We're enjoying our Summer together as a family; it's been great!  Here are some of the things we've been up to the first half of July.

Saturday, July 2nd we decided to go up to the cabin for a day trip with Phill and Conor.  We thought it would be a great opportunity to get out of the valley and hopefully be a little less hot up there.  We left around 10am and got up there around noon, after making a quick stop in Heber for gas and hot dogs to catch crawdads.  After getting a quick lunch, we walked down to the gully to catch some crawdads.  We found the crawdads but they didn't grab on to our hot dogs very well.  Steve and Phill worked at it though and were able to reel come in.  Nyles and Conor enjoyed playing in the sand, and Carter feel asleep of course on the walk down.  I had him in a baby BJorn and he actually stayed asleep the whole time.  After playing for a while, we hiked back to the cabin, cleaned up and headed out.  It was a quick, yet fun trip.

Nyles, Steve, Phill, and Conor at Strawberrry Reservoir.

Steve trying to fish, but that didn't last long unfortunately.


Conor and Nyles playing w/ Steve's pliers in the sand.


Waiting for the crawdads to catch on.


Nyles and Conor looking at the crawdads we caught.

We had our regular family dinner on Monday, the 4th of July, instead of Sunday, so we could celebrate w/ fireworks too.  We had a BBQ, let the kids play, then did our fireworks in the circle at Dave and Joann's place.  It was a good time.  Carter didn't mind the noise from the fireworks much, but we did go inside for the last couple ones which were a little louder.  He actually slept through the fireworks!

Nyles, Lynsie and Conor enjoying their dinner.

Family picture.


Stacie holding Carter.

Steve and Nyles enjoying the fireworks.  
Carter and I were on the porch watching w/ LuDean and Diane.


This is how Carter enjoyed the fireworks.

After they were over, back inside Lynsie wanted to hold him again.  Conor and Carrie helping.

Lynsie and Nyles enjoying seeing each other after being apart for a few weeks since Lynsie moved to Colorado. 

Carter enjoying some time w/ Steve.  Snuggles :)

Steve found his old box of Legos at his parent's house and brought them home to play w/ Nyles.  They've had a lot of fun building things (Steve) and playing w/ them (Nyles).


Some other old toys of Steve's he found.

A deer was in our yard eating our flowers, then went over to the neighbor's yard to find some more.

We decided to sign Nyles up for swim lessons at Alta Canyon Sports Center.  We put him in the Preschool 1 class to get started and see how he would do.  It ran for 2 weeks (8 sessions).  He warmed up pretty quick to his teacher Emma, and wanted to be the first or leader in everything.  He did a great job and had a lot of fun going!

Nyles all ready for his first swim lesson!

Starting his lesson w/ his teacher Emma.

Finding the rings at the bottom of the pool, which is only about 1 1/2 feet deep.

 Nyles being the leader/first to show the rest how to do it.

Walking over to the diving board w/ his teacher Emma.  Nyles loves to be first.

The last day of class they let them go off the diving board.  
He needed a little help to get started but did well after that.


Lastly their teacher took them down the slide.

A few of the pictures of Carter w/ his binki.  
You never know where it'll end up during his nap.  Silly kid :)

Nyles playing w/ my camera phone.


On Saturday, July 9th Steve helped take the boat up to the cabin.  Dave had it being worked on and it was finally done, so they decided to take it up and test it out.  Rob and Nyles came along too.  

Rob helping Nyles get his life-jacket on.

Nyles eating his Sun-butter Sandwich.  Rob reeling in a fish.

Nyles and Grandpa McGrath enjoying the boat and fishing at Strawberry.

Nyles and Steve just relaxing.
 
Waiting for the fish to bite.


On the way back Nyles fell asleep so hard that his head kept bobbing down in his chest, so Dave decided to hold it up w/ his blanket.

For a Sunday activity and part of our FHE lesson about temples, we went and drove to the Draper Temple.  We then walked around for a few minutes enjoying the beauty.

Beautiful flowers at the temple.  Carter, Nyles and Steve in front of the Draper Temple.

Nyles has been enjoying being a big brother more and more.  He especially likes to hold baby Carter, usually every day.  They are so cute together!  We love them so much!



Carter likes to wiggle his feet our of his swaddle.  
His feet are so cute I couldn't resist taking a picture of them!
 

Enjoying some wiggle time.

Last Friday we went over to the Lake's house and had some hot dogs and S'mores w/ Stacie, Phill, London and Conor.  They were sleeping their at night and taking care of their dog and hamsters while the Lake's were out of town.  Since we live so close to the Lake's we decided to have dinner together w/ Stacie and Phill.  The kids had a great time playing together.

Jumping on the trampoline w/ ice "bombs."


My cute boys ready for church.  
Nyles holding Carter again.  Carter just stretching his arms being cute.

Well I hope all is well w/ everyone else and hope you're staying cool in this heat!  I know we've hit over 100 degrees several times.  Thank goodness for air conditioning.  I'm so grateful for family and and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Love ya!