Lasts ...

I'm the sentimental type so I have to admit I spent my last few weeks in California thinking I wonder if this will be the last???  Some things were silly things like I wonder if this is the last time I will go to this Target or Jo-Anns, but then there were many other things that were things I'm actually going to miss like walking to our neighborhood park, or around our neighborhood in the evening, or seeing my friends, or eating at our favorite local restaurants.  Luckily for me I usually didn't know "for sure" if it was the last time so I was able to hold it together and think maybe, but maybe not. 

Sometimes I envy those who thrive on adventure and change and love the challenge of the unknown. I know quite a few people who are like that, but I am definitely not one of them.  Although I look back and am thankful for the times that I have ventured or been pushed to step out whether it be to college or to buying our 1st house or to joining a bible study or small group, still I don't really enjoy the processes.  I'm honestly one who would happily live in the same house my entire life and probably wouldn't have even left my parents house without a little push.  Is that embarrassing to admit???  Oh Well...Anyway, so here it is that I find myself again feeling certain that this is the right decision for our family, but not enjoying the process of venturing out and starting over, and trying hard not to pass my own anxiety of the unknown on to my children.  It's going to be good... I know.

Well here are a few of the LASTS I was able to capture:

1. The last time the clown parade mowed the lawn.  I doubt our neighborhood will have such entertainment again any time soon. 

Brandon with Cooper attached, our blind dog Hershey, Sadie with the pink shopping cart, and Wyatt with the little lawn mower.

 And when they get bored this is next on the list while Daddy finishes mowing.

2. Our last Angel's Game:  Brandon got tickets to quite a few Angel's games this year through work and the kids just loved them.  We would literally get them in the car after a game and only be 5 miles down the freeway before Wyatt started asking if we could go back to the baseball game.  We're definitely going to have to catch the Angel's games when they play up in Seattle from here on out.

 3. Outings with Friends to a variety of destinations including:

The L.A. Zoo

Sadie and Georgia

Sadie, Georgia, Wyatt, Lucie, and Sawyer

These are the oldest 5 of the 9 kiddos under our supervision at the zoo on this particular day.



The Arboretum

Best Buddies

Wyatt and Sawyer

Chino Children's Museum

Sawyer, Georgia, Wyatt and Sadie

Backyard Swimming

Sawyer, Cooper, and Mason

 Cooper

 Cooper

Georgia and Sadie

Georgia, Wyatt, Sadie, and Sawyer

Sunday night swimming at the Totten's House

The Splash Pad

Hershey

This weekend was a sad one for us as we had to say good bye to Hershey. 

Open House

We obviously didn't get to show everyone who walked through our Open House on Sunday the work we've done to it, and in fact we weren't even home for most of it which was probably a good thing.  We did however get to meet a few people at the beginning and end and might have been a little excited when our "spy," I mean friend, went over to walk through the house and then let us know what was going on, but I'm pretty sure it would have made me a little nutsy being there and seeing so many strangers making themselves right at home. 

 

It was however nice to hear people walk through and complement all the hard work Brandon has done and what a great layout we have.  That was definitely not the comments coming out of our mouth when we walked through it 4 years ago.  We actually passed it up the first time because we couldn't figure out how to make the layout work.  Everything was so funky.  However, Brandon has worked so hard.  He's moved walls and tiled floors and showers, he's moved plumbing around and refinished the hard wood floors, he's dug up the lawn and planted grass, he's installed cabinets, he's hung drywall and bead board and trim, and he's painted, painted, painted. Really other than installing the carpet and the granite in the kitchen he's done all this work himself.

 

Our Completed Project!!!

 

Laundry Room

 

Kitchen



 

 

Eating Area

 

Family Room

Kid's Room

 

Nursery

 

 

Master Bedroom

We moved walls and rearranged this little hallway, the den, and the very strange master bedroom to create our current master bedroom

 the hallway

 the den

the master bedroom

 

Master Closet

You actually stepped down into this and it was technically in the garage.

 

Master Bathroom

  

Hall Bathroom

  

Playroom or as we call it the "Round Room"

 

Backyard

 
Now as we list our home these are the property details our realtor lists:  Absolutely beautiful home with copper plumbing, remodeled open kitchen with tile floors, granite counter tops, tile backsplash, appliances and cabinetry.  Remodeled bathrooms with tile shower and tub and granite counters in the master and natural stone in the hall bath.  Dual pane windows throughout.  Newly refinished hard wood floors, beautiful brick fireplace, can lights, crown molding, r-30 insulation, Central Air, Large walk in closet in the master bedroom.  Front and Backyard have been re-landscaped.  Large shade trees in the front help keep the house cool.  R.V. parking, Lots of storage in the house.  Walk to the park.  Charter Oak School District. 

And did I mention that Brandon did almost all of that??? Good job Honey!!!