Some more...

This picture is where the stairs used to go straight down to the basement (scary, potentially deadly stairs). This is the future home of a pantry for me and a coat closet in the hall.

And this is where they got moved to. Brad and his dad worked really hard and moved a portion of the stairs to the front entryway. As you can see they had to make a hole in Nathan's room (the bottom pic is from Nate's room) but that has since been boxed in as we are trying to eliminate the dangers of this house - not create new ones!!

My project

I spent 3 nights with this fireplace, transforming it from a dark, dingy, dirty thing to what you see on the bottom right! I am very pleased with how it came out. Brad did help a bit with it as it was a HUGE job (and not overly fun...)!! He spraypainted the inside black and him and his dad are going to tile the hearth.
The basement is really starting to come together. On Monday the drywallers are coming again to work on the new stairway and the hall and laundry room. When they are finished we have to paint (so all you who have volunteered to help - you're on call!) and the next Monday carpet is coming! I can't wait!! What a glorious day that will be when that floor disappears!

Feeling good!

After 11 days of some stomach bug getting to 3 out of 4 of us, we were finally all feeling well enough to get out and enjoy the weather. We headed out to Boundary Bay on Friday and just had fun. The weather was still gorgeous but for the first time in a long time I almost needed some sleeves! The tide was in but the water was so warm. Nathan touched the ocean for the first time and Joel was just happy to be outside! It was so nice to get out, just the 4 of us after the weeks of work we have been putting into the house! We haven't had much family time lately so it was a much needed outing! As for our house, the drywalling is done, just needs to be sanded tomorrow and then we get to start painting!! It's really coming togethere quickly and we are all looking forward to using it. Anyway, keep enjoying summer as best as you can! It's already August....

Another for DH

So here is another crazy looking bug that found it's way into our backyard. What is it?? It was huge and moved very quickly and then we watched it fly away.... Creepy thing.

Stages of progress

The framing got finished by Brad and his dad and the drywallers spent the whole day here yesterday and got all that done too! Today it is being taped and over the next few days that will be done as well. It's almost unrecognizable down there! The changes are phenomenol and we are so looking forward to being able to use the space! It's way cooler down there.... and wow, has it been hot.
As for the progress for the residents of this house.... Joel is better, Nate is better I think (waiting for some proof) but now I have a mild case of being unwell. I thought it might be from running, maybe from the heat but I'm pretty sure it's just more of the same thing. Is it ever going to end?

A tough week

This week has been hard. I am somewhat emotionally spent. I feel tired, isolated and just sort of sad. At home the family is celebrating Mitchell's first birthday, our family here is celebrating the birth of Brent and Sara's boy, Peter and us, well, we're just basically on isolation, quarantined to our house. Joel has been very sick all week, Nathan has the same thing now and Brad and I are doing all we can not to get it and to keep others from getting it. It sucks.
The only thing keeping me somewhat sane is running. With my running partner gone this week I have had to force myself to get out but once I am on the road it is great. Just me. and my IPod. and God. Tonight I talked to God. With all the joy that new life brings, a celebration yesterday, a celebration today, I am still saddened by the loss of a baby boy, one year ago today. I know I don't really know this family but my heart is still burdened for them. Maybe it's because I have one almost the same age. and all too often I forget the privilege it is, the gift it is to have not one, but two healthy boys (well, healthy most of the time...). On my run tonight I had to stop a few times to marvel at what was around me. The pink sky, the mountains, a sliver of moon... it was all a reminder that He is. Who am I that He should be mindful of me. And yet, He is.
So anyway, I don't know where I am going with this post. I guess I just feel lonely right now and probably will until the family is symptom free and we can see people again. I am totally all over the place with this. Totally.
I will end it here.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

¹⁶May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ¹⁷encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Our "new" house

Here is our house. We are somewhat settled now and I have not tried to drive to the old place yet! We are making progress on the basement and the yard although both are still somewhat disastrous! The basement more so than the yard - at least the yard is usable! As I write my dad and Brad are framing in our new bathroom. We are really looking forward to having the extra space down stairs, especially so we can have you all visit! Just not all at the same time please....
The back yard is a very interesting place. A zoologist would love it, an entomologist would love it, the kids love it! We have seen raccoons, squirrels, bats and birds and have heard an owl, smelled a skunk and have uncovered hundreds of species of spiders, millions of wood bugs and so many other insects and critters that I have never seen before - not to mention they are all way bigger than I have ever seen before. We have snails and big slugs and huge bumblebees (seriously - HUGE, like a loonie!).
So if you're not scared of a few bugs or ROUS's - come visit! But maybe wait a few months until we have the space :)

Guess what season it is?!

Blueberry season!! And we have two blueberry monsters in this house! Nathan loves them, along with pretty well anything he's allowed to eat and yup, Joel is now eating blueberries, strawberries, carrots, cucumbers, celery.... it's been amazing to see him actually eat raw fruits and veggies. Thanks to Ethan who showed him how to do it :)

Nothing but BUSY!

A trip to White Rock with Ethan, Grandma and Grandpa,

a trip to the zoo with Ethan, Joel and Nathan (yup, I consider myself brave!),

and a trip to Pajo's and the "digger park" in Steveston with Ethan and Jim.

What a great couple of weeks. We have been trying to enjoy some of summer even though there is so much work to be done on the house and around the house! We have enjoyed all the company (Dad is here right now again) and we are making the most of the spray park near us and down at Ryall Park to keep cool in this heat! We love summer. We love being outside. Joel loves his sandbox. Thanks Leboes and thanks Grandpa for driving down a dump truck to bring it to us with some PG sand :)

This one is for you, Dezene.

During.

Thank you, thank you Ty for getting rid of those spider nests. And thank you everyone else for getting rid of everything else :)

A few befores.

These are some pictures of the "scary" basement before this all got ripped out. We had a couple of major horror closets and I am sooooo happy they are gone. The guys found walls made of cardboard, totally illegal plugs consisting of an extension cord going from the real outlet to one the guy made wherever it was convenient and the furnace/hot water tank chimney totally open onto a cardboard wall. Crazy. We are so glad the basement is basically raw and getting redone. It was kind of a death trap.

Oh, and....

Nathan started crawling today. Just like that.

What a day, week, month....

It has been a whirlwind around here lately. Where has time gone?? The move went well. Thank you to EVERYONE who helped and let their husbands help. You are all awesome and we appreciate it so much. My mom and dad left yesterday after working like crazy to help get this place livable. There is so much work! The yard was a mess but Mom and Dad filled many, many bags of yard waste! Brad's parents have been here, helping to rip out and fix up the basement - I'll get some pictures soon. What a scary, scary place for this arachnophobe. Between the yard and the house, I have never seen so many species of spiders and other bugs. I guess I'll have to get used to it....
This week my nephew Ethan has been visiting. We are really enjoying having him here. Earlier in the week we took a trip out to White Rock with Mom and Dad and today we spent at the zoo. The weather was perfect, not too hot and Ethan really had a good time seeing all the animals.
Also this week, training has started for the Victoria half marathon. I don't have much to say but that I hope it gets easier :)
I will post pictures soon. I have just felt so busy and tired and out of routine since moving.

Today

The past few days I have felt much better. I think a couple of trips to the chiropractor has helped as well as having my mom and dad here.

Today we are moving.
Today came really fast.

I think I'm ready. I feel sad leaving. but I think I've dealt with it. I hope I have :)
I will miss our neighbours. but I'm looking forward to our new ones too :)

So here we go. In a few hours we will load up the truck.
Goodbye #68.

Awful

I just feel awful. This seems to be going on and on. I have a constant headache, neck-ache, shoulder-ache and it is making me irritable and frustrated all the time. Maybe it's the upcoming move, maybe it's the weather. I don't know but I need it to end. I am almost non-functional and can hardly stand it anymore. Nothing seems to help. I kind of feel like I am going crazy.

A Day Out With Thomas

We treated Joel to a day out up in Squamish to meet his favourite little train (except that his favourite is actually James but he wasn't there, much to someone's disappointment...). Anyway, he did enjoy the train ride, the super hot train ride - I think Brad and I were thankful when it was over! All in all, it was a good day that ended in a good nap for J on the drive home.

Shannon Falls

Saturday was a gorgeous day and we headed up to Squamish to attend the Day Out With Thomas. On the way there, we stopped at Shannon Falls. Joel absolutely loved it there. He ran the whole way up and loved feeling the mist of the waterfall on him. A great beginning to a fun and totally exhausting day.

Hot Days

Here is how we tried to cool down recently! It has been so hot in the past week! We are happy for some cooler air yesterday and today. We are also really looking forward to having some grass. Can you guess why??

On the road!

Two weeks ago we were on the road, driving home from our trip to see family. So here they are, enjoying the van ride and I even included a picture of Yale Tunnel, just for you CL!! Dead bugs and all!

Shout out!

To Brad, my awesome husband. Yesterday I spent the day in agony with a migraine and he took the day off and was a great help! He did lots of laundry, went grocery shopping and cooked 3 types of baby food!! I think he did more than I do in a week!! Maybe I should go back to work full time and let him be at home (if it was the 90's I would say "NOT")! Thank you Brad. I am so grateful.

Schatzi and Papa and all their Grandkids

Good times.

Once again we had a great trip up to PG. The whole way home Joel was asking where we were going and when we would get to "Schatzi's house". He was not impressed to hear that we were going home! I guess I'm not the only one who gets homesick for PG :) Thanks everyone for a great trip. We had lots of fun and ate well! I think I may have gained a few pounds....Love you all and look forward to seeing you again.

From one day to the next....

We had a bit of wild weather up in PG but we had a great time and by the end of the week we were in shorts!

My Guys and Me

We had a lovely Mother's day today. I got to enjoy my kids, go to church, have lunch with friends and dinner with family. It was a warm, sunny day, although I'm not so sure what happened to that.
Also, Nathan turned 8 months old today! Wow, my boys are growing up fast! He is such a funny little guy - I have some other pictures I will post at a later date. Right now I should go to bed so that I can keep up with them again tomorrow. We have a super busy week ahead - again!

I've made my bed

And now I must lie in it!! Seriously, I'd love to have a nap right now but I can't. It is Mother's Day and soon we are heading out to spend the evening with the many moms (and mom-to-be) in our family! This post has a few meanings. First of all, since I got my new bedding (above) I do make my bed. I love to make my bed in fact because it looks so pretty!! Thanks to those who contributed to my fund (birthday and Christmas money - I didn't actually have a bedding fund)! Mom & Dad N, you got me those shams for my birthday :) Thanks!

The other meaning is a wee bit more humbling. God has His ways of bringing us back to our knees. In March our neighbours moved and we got new neighbours, a family of 6 living in a townhouse smaller than ours. I think I've actually complained about them on this very blog and now God has shown me how terrible I have been. I met my neighbours at church this morning. They are a Christian family and we haven't even gone over to introduce ourselves. All we've done is complain about loud music and cigarette butts from their friend - I don't even know their names. I feel so ashamed and pray that our new neighbours don't treat us the same when we move in. The worst thing is, I always talk about how much I'll miss this block and the friendships we have made here and I can't even bother to welcome my new neighbours.

Nine times it is written in the Bible to "Love your neighbour as yourself." I think I need to try a little harder.