Happy Birthday to My Daughter

First of all, 30 years ago right now I was waking up to see my beautiful first born for the first time. Wow, can you believe it? Now my baby is having a baby. Happy Birthday, Andra!! And Happy Birthday early to our first wonderful son-in-law!! Albeit a few days early. We are so glad to be here close to them both. Especially now, with little Sadee coming SOON.

The house is So close now. They put in the countertops yesterday and we love them. Clint is coming tomorrow to put the mantle back up and set the jacuzzi tub in our bathroom and a few other small things. The painting and staining is all done except for touch ups which will be last. The tile guys are coming Monday. Becky & I went to Laredo thru Austin last week and picked up 5 light fixtures and a couple of other little surprises. Much better to go this time of year. Marissa rode down with us from Austin - that was fun...thanks again Adm for lending her to us for a while. We had a fun trip. The man we get the light fixtures from is so nice. We have really enjoyed him. There's so much stuff to see - can't do it all in one trip, or 3 for that matter.

I have been gone every day except one since we got back. I am running myself ragged getting all this stuff picked just ahead of the crews. I guess I'm just too...choosy or something....but I'm probably not getting another shot at this, so I need to do it right. I thought getting the wallpaper picked out (I'm not using much)would be a quick thing. I knew exactly what I wanted - Ha. I have spent 3 days in 3 different wallpaper stores. Brother. But today I just bit the bullet and did it. I will start hanging that Monday or Tuesday, depending on when it gets here.

So the last major decision is the carpet. Wish me luck.

Ok, enough of that. Maybe I'll take some pictures tomorrow. You will get a pretty good idea of the finished project if I do, but no promises.

Mainly I just wanted to jump on here and wish my kids happy birthday.

Out for now.

This was at Andra's shower last weekend - Check out that cake Amanda found! We had a blast. 

Trimmed out windows and part of transom to guest suite - sorry picture angle, but it's too dark tonight to get another one. 

It's documented - Lar is a trim carpenter 

As I said, Lar telling stories in the barndomium  

Family visit in the Barndomium - Lar is telling stories 

I'll try to keep this short

No comments on the short thing. We are moving along now and seeing some finished work. I don't have the most current pics, so I'll just show you some of the finished trim, etc. All the cabinets are in, and they are looking pretty good - once we got a few things corrected. I didn't like the island as made, so I ordered some more feet for it and Clint did his magic. Now I like it. He made the vent hood also - too bad I don't have a pic of that to post yet. The painters actually started a little ahead of schedule last Friday, but have not finished prepping, so no paint just yet. I think they will finish all that tomorrow and be ready Thursday to start with the staining, painting, etc. It should REALLY take shape then. I think I have decided on the colors, but will do that for sure tomorrow. I spent most of today on light fixtures and have most of them figured out. Having a little trouble locating what I want outside, but the inside stuff is pretty much picked. I'm going to go ahead and order that tomorrow.

I will probably make my run to Laredo next week to pick up the big fixture, etc. I haven't made up my mind. Depends on what I have to do here. It has been difficult to be out when they need me here for something, but maybe most of that is behind me for now.

Lar starts working officially tomorrow as interim Dir of Utilities in Stephenville. That will be for 3 to 6 months. It's going to be strange not to have him here all the time. I think he is looking forward to it, but I'm going to miss him. I think. Of course I'm gone most of the time, so maybe I won't notice...but I think I will. Anyway, it's not forever.

Got lots of stuff happening this week - friends coming for different events. I'm looking forward to all that. My son-in-law, Zach, is heading back as I speak from Georgia after his first 3 months at the academy. He has done very well and we are proud of him. But we are glad he will be home for a while...and hopefully he will go back as a father. Andra and Sadee are progressing very, very well. The doctor today says Sadee is about 6 pounds already. That's more than her Auntie Moe weighed when she was born, so we are pretty excited and ready for that. Andra's shower this past weekend was a lot of fun and really beautiful. I think I will slap a picture of that up too.

Ok, that's enough for now. Just enjoy the pictures. The next round should show an almost finished house. Wow.