A door! A door! A door!

I have been waiting 9 years for a sliding glass door that works! In Kingston and in this house, the sliders were very old and came off the track easily. The lock even broke on the door in this house a few months ago, and it has been ghetto! Here is our NEWLY installed door, and I am in LOVE! Especially since they put trim around the inside, and the outside! They didn't replace it mind you, there was none there before, they just did it. I am so so so happy. The floors start on Monday and it just keeps getting better. These highs really make up for the remodel lows, that's for sure!

Happy Halloween!

The dog has been washed, we are getting a new sliding glass door today, and the costumes have been secured. It should be a great day!

I got a bargain, are you surprised?

We finally found a new kitchen table. I had 2 picked out at 2 different stores, but wasn't totally happy with either the quality or the prices. Our last table has lasted over 12 years, so I knew this one would have to last a long time as well. I also wanted to love the chairs, something that doesn't always happen. I have looked at craigslist countless times...been to store after store after store. I went to "Stupid Prices" (for those of you that don't know, that's where Costco sells their clearance or banged up merchandise). I had been there before and had not liked anything, but that was a few months ago. We went again yesterday and found the perfect table! The chairs in the picture still have the plastic wrapped around them - we're are still messy and dusty here! Bye the way, does anyone like the devil cat in the background?

So not only was it $600 off the original price, but there was a 3 day sale and we got an additional 10% off. Bonus, I LOVE the chairs! they have a farmhouse look about them, and I love farmhouses. We got 6 chairs, but I will find a place in the house for 2 of them, as all 6 in the room is a bit much. It also came with 2 leaves, which extend the table to an INSANE length, probably to be used twice a year, but they are there if we need to seat 12 - or if the 4 of us really need our own personal bubble to eat in.

Pictures tell a story! See next post...

Okay, here are some of the pictures. This first one is cute. There was a bench that some of the girls sat on when they were out. Isabelle is not used to being out but we had some guest players helping us out that day and Isabelle did get a breather. Does Isabelle sit on the bench? No. Does she stand next to her bag and drink water? No. This is where she stood:

There really isn't a better spot than right in front of your coach, right? I almost forgot, but Isabelle had this string of 5 crazy moves that she did to outwit the defensive player who was on her. It was crazy good. I was taking pictures, only each time the shutter went, I could tell it was a second too late, so I have nothing for you, but believe me, it was outstanding! She got the ball, did crazy magic taps, pulls, rolls and juked the girl and passed it to where she wanted it to go.

I really wasn't on my game for some reason that day. I didn't get many good shots, so now I am determined to do better next week.

Weekend Update Tuesday

I guess I can post without a picture (whatever!). Isabelle had a good game last weekend. She played on a turf highschool football field, so it was quite a bit larger than they normally play on. She didn't get a shot on goal, and I think her team only had 3 or 4 shots on goal, it was tough. It was a beautiful day though, and I swear we have been spolied with the good weather during soccer these plast few months. Last time I checked however, it should be a downpour this weekend.

I can't do it, I have to go and get the camera, download the pics and put them on here. I am a visual person!

Gearing Up!

Isabelle played the number 2 team in their division last week and they are gearing up to play the number 1 team this weekend (who made this schedule?). She asked me this week what did I think they could do to win this week...ummm...I did my best to answer, but I never played soccer! Everything I know is from watching her play. My knowledge is sub par to HER knowledge!! I don't even have the benfit of listening to her coach when they practice, I just watch...but I do love to watch!

Yesterday we got to practice early and she says "Come on Mom, let's go out there". So nice that she even wants to play with me (read: her friends weren't there yet). Anyway, she had me shooting goals on her, and when I thought my foot/ankle couldn't take it anymore, I switched places with her. Now, I would break a finger or smash my face trying to stop one of her kicks, so I stood in the goal and moved around and she had to shoot to whatever corner I was not in. Her kicks kill Morrie when he tries to goalie for her, so I wasn't about to take my chances and try to stop them. She decided that she wants a slurpee this weekend for any shots on goal. We are generally not the bribery type of parents, but since she brought it up, whatever! We decided it didn't have to be a goal because I think this team has only had 6 goals scored on them in the last 8 weeks. Dude, if she scores a goal, the whole team can have slurpees! The #2 teams goalie was huge AND talented. We need one like that on her team! Stay tuned!

New Haircut

I wouldn't normally post pictures of myself anywhere...but I thought I would keep my brothers up to date on my current look (and they promised to look at the blog this weekend). I think getting a new cut is one of the most fantastic things ever. Maybe it's the way they comb my hair, or give a shampoo, or that nobody asks me where anything is or when is dinner, I don't know, but I love it!

Counters!!

What a day!

I liked the rustic plywood look and everything, but this rocks! How do you like the paint?

Coming soon, a faucet and cabinet handles! Hold on to your shorts!!

Saturday : Maria -1:00pm

This is Maria's fantastic run from one end of the field, all the way to the other and the excellent cross she made for someone to score. Someone missed the ball however, but Maria's run was still a stellar event. Maria and I jumped int he car at the end of the game to drive up to Skagit to meet Morrie at Isabelle's game.

Saturday: Isabelle CYO Game 8:30am

We started our day bright and early over in Seattle near the zoo. Isabelle's rec team played on a dirt field, but it wasn't too bad, just a bit chilly. The pics are awesome, as I didn't watch the game, I just kept the camera on Izzy. This is not something I usually do, but I was trying to get a shot for the yearbook. Any votes?

Cross Country!

Once again, we come to the end of another (blessedly short) cross country season. We had awesome weather this season, and not one meet was rainy! The first two meets Maria ran against about 60 other 3rd grade girls, and for the final one, she ran against 140 third grade girls. WHOA!

Before the meet she told me she wanted to come in first place (and I had no idea how many kids would be running). Here is a picture of the girls from her class who run with her. Maria is on the left end.
So here Maria comes down the finish line...in 13th! OMG, 13th out of 140?? This kid rocks! She again passed several kids on the last hill and coming into the finish. I just have to say LOOK OUT for when she starts track! I feel this blog has been me mostly bragging about the kids lately...but you should know that the kids read this blog, and how cool is it to read that your Mom thinks you are awesome? Sometimes me telling them just isn't enough.

Isabelle: The Next Survivor?

This is really amazing, so I hope you are sitting down! The other day I asked Isabelle if she was stuck on an island, what 5 things would she bring? I like to ask this questions at different ages and see what comes out. I was expecting several books, her Nintendo DS, things like that. This, however, is what she said:

"A water purifications system...a bed...cooking utensils...a fishing pole...and steel flint". Holy moley kid...I thought I was asking this out of nowhere! How did she become so prepared?? I want to get stuck on an island with HER!

A Bargain!

Shoot, I just wrote a whole post and I somehow made it vanish.

We were discussing whether to build a stub wall or a 9 foot railing between the kitchen and family room. A railing seemed to be the most popular choice so off we went to price it out. Turns out they are not cheap to build. Darn! So we went home empty handed and mulled it over for a few weeks. I checked craigslist and let people know we were looking for spindles. Nothing. Nadda. It was getting to the point in our drywall construction that we needed to know if we were going with a wall or if we were going to suck it up and build a railing. I mentioned it to Loren and he said he saw some spindles out by the road near his house and he would go home and see if they were still there. They were! We checked them out the next day. Hmmm. wouldn't you know it, exactly 9 feet of solid fir spindles!! I scrubeed them off and Morrie cut them so they were all even and now we have the free supplies to build our railing!

I have also spent the last 3 motnhs trying to figure out what to do with the powder room vanity. I was advised to go with a pedestal sink as it is a small room. I wasn't happy with the harware store choices: ugly and around $350 for the cheapest one. So yesterday when I was picking up the handles for the kitchen, they had 2 pedestal sinks that were display models on sale. I thought it over for all of 20 minutes and went back and declared this one ours! Turns out it is a $725 sink, that we purchased for $200!! Annie even approves.

ISABELLE: Soccer

Isabelle played up in Skagit, which is really far, but their fields were outstanding!! The girls played wonderfully, and had opportunities to practice great passing (they won 3-0). Isabelle's first picture says "Don't even think about it!".

She pulled out some great moves, and won lots of challenges, it was so fun to watch! She also had 2 shots on goal (one right after the other). The first bounced off another player, and the second- which was left footed and in the top corner - was saved by the goalie with her fingers as she jumped. I was just SURE it was in! Her friend told me the other girls were already going up to her to give her the high fives! Thank you for the sunny weather!!!! We're back up there next week, and we shall see if we are so lucky again!

MARIA: Soccer

This is what Maria likes to do during Isabelle's soccer games!!

This is what she likes to do during her own soccer games!! She has been looking great out there this season, and I think with 3 wins under their belt in 3 weeks, they are feeling pretty good! Morrie and I agree that she has been passing really well since she got the glasses...go figure!!

A lot of this happens on the sidelines as they have 12 girls on the team, and they play 6 on 6. Lots of lovin' and huggin', gigglin' and chattin' happens. They couldn't be any cuter. Today the girls who were out were playing a pick up game with some of the younger brothers next to the field. As long as they are playing, they are happy (plus there is a lot less "Can I go in now??").

Dogs like to hang out too!

So I spent all week cleaning the drywall dust out of the family room. I feel sooo much better now, and I was thinking...if cleanliness is next to Godliness, does this mean I can skip church this week?

Here is Annie in her favorite 7:30pm pose. She finds a nice place to lay down and goes to sleep, preferably with her favorite toy (you can make out the grey tail of her Looney Cooney). Looney Cooney is her racoon. Why do we call it that? Because we already had a Funky Skunky (duh, her skunk) and they are made by the same company, helloo! When 9:00 rolls around and she hears someone walking towards her (this person is always Isabelle) she starts to growl. The growl gets lounder and louder as she protests having to go to her real bed (hmmmm...sounds like some other beings in the house). Sometimes she will start to growl if she hears someone walking down the stairs! She is a "vocal dog" according to her puppy class people. This doesn't translate into a "biting dog" just in case you were wondering, she is all about the drama, and no bite.

Pretty Kitchen!!

So here are the new and improved photos of the kitchen! Morrie even made me a lovely plywood counter to use while we wait for the real counetrs to be made. They came and measured for them today and they will install on the 21st!! Do you know what that means??? I will have a real, live kitchen SINK to use in 2 weeks, and I can't tell you how GREAT that will be. We have been without a sink since early August. The powder room sink just doesn't cut it for doing dishes! Floors will be coming soon, as will a new microwave for above the stove. I have to get the new sliding glass door ordered this week as well so they can eat up our perfect walls (oops, guess I should have thought about that one!).

We also odered hardware for the cabinets and that should be here in another week or so. Currently we are using the very formal blue painters tape as pulls. Notice the ceiling? It looks 1000 times better without all the holes, huh? My hubby is the BEST!

We Won! We Won! (but winning is not everything...)

We had a VERY winning weekend. Maria won her soccer game a miillion to zero. It was probably due to her new glasses and she could see so much better. She did get her own feet wrapped around herself and the ball and tripped, but the glasses stayed on (she was amazed). Another parent told her it was the BEST fall of the game!

Isabelle won her Nationals soccer game (sooo exciting!!). Morrie took Maria to her game, and I took Isabelle to her game (they were at the same time). I however, forgot to put the memory card back in my camera, and was not able to take any pictures!! It was a great game though, and Isabelle had an awesome header, among other fnatastic plays.

Maria also ahd a cross country meet where she finished in the top ten overall and was first in her class of 8 girls. She totally amazes me. She always kicks it into another gear on the last hill, and passes people left and right. Who does that? Who has energy at the end of a race, on a huge hill? Next year she gets to do a longer course and I think she can't wait.

We have a busy week as Morrie is in Chicago for the week. I had to ask my mom to help almost every day because Morrie and I are running the girls to activities every day together (well, not together, more like in opposite directions!).

Dachshund luvs Dots

So these pictures are reversed, but I don't have time this morning to re-do them! Everytime someone has Dots in the house, and recycles the box, Annie can smell it a mile away. She gets into the recycles and pulls it out! I don't blame her, it is a wonderful, sweet smell!! Imagine if she actually got a hold of some Dots!!