3 Months Have Gone By?!?

I can't believe it's been three months since I have blogged. Wowza! I have had several blog posts composed in my head, but apparently it takes time and effort to sit down and compose them into a post... plus- it always seems weird to post without pictures, and we just haven't done a lot of things lately and taken pictures.

So, without further ado, I unveil the most disguisting part of my house. The part that is not even part of the tour that we give when people come over.

dun dun dunnnnnn... the basement:

ISN'T IT GROSS??????

To be honest, I snapped some of these pictures around corners because I haven't even been in some of the nooks and crannies of the basement. Gross. We are starting a project down there and the first priority was getting the steps in better shape so that we could get stuff into and out of the basement.

Keep in mind, the steps were probably a hundred years old and felt like it too. My first trip downstairs on the new steps was amazing!!! And it was all thanks to my DAD!!!

Mike and I spent time Saturday trying to clean up the basement a little bit and better organize our stuff. We also threw a lot of stuff away (and I found a treasure too- wait for another post about that one!)

Because it wouldn't be right to not have a picture of our greasy selves cleaning up the basement.

And this is what the old treads on the stairs looked like. Mike is showing how we feel about that.

This is the top of the treads. You can see the yuck hanging off of them. Gross.

So here they are in all their glory! My dad did an amazing job! And all for $50.39! We had been quoted about $300, so we were very happy with this! My parents are amazing! And, he had to spend a full day in the gross basement. When he was coughing after being down there all day he said, "good for the lungs, Amy." :0)

The new steps heading down from the kitchen. We also relocated the brooms and vacuums from behind the door to their new home to the right of the steps so that we don't fall down the steps when STRETCHING to reach the broom (not that it has ever happened to me!)

Who doesn't love this guy?

And, we have our Christmas tree up! We have a new beautiful wonderful amazing awesome addition this year courtesy of my friend Linda. She took my wedding dress and made it into a Christmas tree skirt. I know, I know, I have heard a lot of naysaying about this project, but hey- I didn't have to get it cleaned and let it sit in a box in my attic AND I get to take it out every year and remember how amazing it is! Linda even took the halter top and made a letter "G" for us and put parts of the bodice on the bottom of the tree skirt. I'm pretty excited about it! Merry Christmas to all of you! Please leave a comment if you came by. And I will try to get a new post going before next year!

August

Where in the world has August gone? I can't believe how quickly the summer has been going! Well, here is what has been happening since my last post.
We took a trip to Minnesota with my in-laws and our good friends. Our last night, the full moon was amazing:

We took the time to experiment with all kinds of chocolate for s'mores. I think the clear winner was the symphony bar. And the big marshmallows were a hit too- although they are a little more messy than the traditional 'mallow:

I love time spent around the campfire, talking about all kinds of important things late into the night:

And a trip up North isn't complete without a trip to Granny's Pantry. Mike tried to steal my ice cream when I was leaning in for the picture:

Our good friends! Thanks for coming! And thanks for sharing your photography skills!

My favorite place on earth:

Since we got back, we had a night with amazing hailballs (that's right- when they're baseball sized, they're hail BALLS). We also had a night with 5 inches of rain (not just outside the house if you know what I'm sayin...)

The next day (after VERY little sleep), my husband dropped his cell phone down this hole:

SERIOUSLY?!? How does a cell phone even fit in there? He kindly sent me an e-mail entitled "Non Life Threatening Tragedy." Boy- does he know me or what?!? Yeah, the phone was unretrieveable, but we did have insurance on his phone (YESSSSSS!)

And, we built a platform bed. My dad is the brains behind the whole operation! We found this DIY website and built the whole frame for under $100. It is amazing, and the upgrade to a king-sized bed was totally worth it!

In progress shot:

Frame complete: (the mattress just sits right on it):

And then Mike finished our grill patio this week as well (thanks again to my amazing dad for his help building the frame):

Until next time! LEAVE A COMMENT!

Home Improvements and other Randomness

Wow! Lots has happened since my last post! My sister was here this past week and Mom ran a triathalon too! That's right- she is crazy! It was rather inspiring though!
Here she is just getting ready to cross the finish line. After she swam 500 meters, biked 13 miles and ran a 5K...

She really hated the swimming part, so I know I breathed a sigh of relief when she was done with that! Doesn't she look so athletic?!?

Allison and I made her some signs to cheer her on throughout- the glitter made all the difference if you ask me! Also- it is important to note the heat index that day was 110+

There was a swimming one as well with her head on a fish body- it is as awesome as it sounds!

So Mike has started to brew his own beer. I'm trying to convince myself it will be cheaper this way...

And here is a picture of my enemy Slither. GROSS.

We also painted the porch floor back in June sometime. Here are the before and after pictures. I think it went pretty well!

AND, my dad came over today and put a cabinet in over our electrical box. It has been this ugly for so long and my mom came up with an excellent idea for the cabinet around it. She made it so beautiful with crown moulding even! Yay Mom and Dad!

Ta Da!

Lake Vacay

Wow! We have been back from vacation for a week, and I have lots of pictures to post, so this will be a long post!

We were able to go to our family cabin in Minnesota for a whole week with my parents and my sister. It was fabulous!

First, I made Mike shave his face because I had never seen it without his mustache and goatee. My reaction? Tears. He totally didn't look like himself. Here he is in process:
And after! I think he looks so young. Iw as worried I was going to be arrested because it appeared I was with a minor!

My mom and dad never really stop working, but they make it look so effortless. I mean, who looks better taking down storm windows and putting up screens than this lady?!?

But she does love her some fire! We spent a lot of time around the fireplace again, one of my favorite places to be! My mom came up with this GENIUS idea to put Reese's Cups in s'mores- it was amazing. Mike said it may even be too much!

And what is a lake vacation without some fabulous hair? I mean- what is going on with my curls? And what is going on with mom's hair?

As always, Mike fished off the dock and from the kayak. The official count was 52 bass! Way to go baby! And he made me take pictures of the big ones this year!

Dad and Mike got the rest of the lifts and docks in as well this trip. And yes, those are waders. We are for realz.

Love!

We always make a trip (or three) into Granny's Pantry in town also. Mike re-discovered his love for homemade taffy and I was reminded of my love for ice cream!

We found a really good burger place in town that Mike and I had never been to. The best part was when the waitress was shocked Mike wanted a Guiness beer. She said, "I had you for a wine or summer shandy kind of guy." Party Foul.

Many evenings were spent playing games. Allison is clearly having the most fun in this picture:

ANNNNNND- the new kayak. It was really fun to enjoy the lake on the kayak. I was a little nervous in it initially, but it was really fun to go out on the lake and be able to enjoy it without any loud noises or having to start and re-start the boat motor. Here are Mike and dad taking it out for a spin!

Oh! How I love this place! I'm so thankful for the time we are able to spend there as a family!

And here is what we had to greet us when we came home! (Thanks Andy and Allie for taking such good care of them!)

Marilyn came when we got home to help us clean up the front yard and put in the edging in the back. More to come soon!

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