Disney World, here we come!!!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Project complete!
After nearly two weeks and many, many meals on the go, our kitchen is complete! The guy finished his work on Friday, but there was still quite a mess to clean up, patchwork in many places on the wall, and a few appliances to install, which Rick took care of on Saturday. After the kids went to bed on Sunday, I made a Starbucks/Dairy Queen run (Mocha Frappuccino for me, Butterfinger Blizzard for Rick) and we worked and worked until everything was done... 2 a.m.! I did most of the kitchen stuff on my own and Rick worked on finishing a few touches on the walls and installing new toilets in our three bathrooms. I just have to add here that there is nothing sexier than watching your husband tackle a new household project and kicking butt at it! He's amazing! It was important to us to have it all done before we leave for Disney World on Thursday. So, although the today was rough from the lack of sleep, I am so happy to have it all done and re-organized!
We originally had white, tile counter tops, white appliances, the cabinets were Oak, and there was a dark tile floor the previous owners put in themselves. We had the counters replaced with granite and a tile back-splash, an under-mount stainless sink added, replaced all the appliances with stainless steel, had the cabinets refaced and the doors are now Cherry wood, and we had a laminate floor laid down from the front door, all the way into the kitchen. We also replaced our old, light wood and white kitchen table with a bar-height table that has a lighter wood top that matches the floors and darker legs that bring out the dark in the granite.
You can find some before pictures in my "Our 'big mess'" post. I don't think pictures do it justice, especially the new floors, but here are some pictures of how it all turned out.
We originally had white, tile counter tops, white appliances, the cabinets were Oak, and there was a dark tile floor the previous owners put in themselves. We had the counters replaced with granite and a tile back-splash, an under-mount stainless sink added, replaced all the appliances with stainless steel, had the cabinets refaced and the doors are now Cherry wood, and we had a laminate floor laid down from the front door, all the way into the kitchen. We also replaced our old, light wood and white kitchen table with a bar-height table that has a lighter wood top that matches the floors and darker legs that bring out the dark in the granite.
You can find some before pictures in my "Our 'big mess'" post. I don't think pictures do it justice, especially the new floors, but here are some pictures of how it all turned out.
Friday, June 20, 2008
My new outlet
I've decided the third time is a charm with the whole pregnancy thing when it comes to staying healthy, eating right, and not gaining too much weight. With Riley, I started out at a healthy weight and by the time she was born in February, I had put on 50 pounds- yes, 50! Funny enough, she only weighed just under 8 pounds herself... I had about 15 pounds left to lose when, surprise! I was pregnant again with Tyson and Riley was only 4 months old. I did a little better that time around, only gaining the recommended 35 exactly, but add that to the 15 from the first time around and I was weighing in at the hospital at the same weight as I was with Riley. It took a lot of running and training for my first half-marathon and a good attempt to eat well (always my weak point), but I made it back to the exact pre-Riley-pregnancy weight for a few months before I found out I was pregnant with this little one growing now. And I vowed to do many things differently this time around.
I still struggle with making healthy eating choices, but I'm getting better. Early spotting in the pregnancy put a pause on my running, which I was hoping to keep up for most of this pregnancy. It was just enough time and the weather was just bad enough, that I was never able to get the motivation to start running again- or doing any other exercise for that matter. Apparently running after a one and two-year old was good enough for a while because I had managed to do well and not gain any weight- without any exercising at all. But, even though the scale wasn't going up, I was noticing a change in how I felt and I looked. I'm pretty sure all that was happening in those months of no weight gain was a transformation of muscle I did have, into fat that I didn't want. Exercising- running specifically- has always been the best outlet for me when I feel stressed or just need to do something for myself and my health. I couldn't run, but I was just plain being a slacker when it came to walking- it's too cold/rainy for the kids outside, I don't have the time, I don't have the energy, etc. These were the things I was telling myself and the excuses had to stop.
So, in the week after my 30th birthday, I came up with a solution. I would get up around 5:30am when Rick's alarm clock would go off, walk while he was in the shower, and get back in time for him to leave for work. I could be showered and ready for the day before the "Today Show" began and I got the kids up for breakfast. The first morning was rough, 40-something degrees, rainy, and I was TIRED. Then something amazing happened- I came home super-refreshed, I was ready before the kids for once- a shower and everything!- and I had a very productive day. I continued to walk early mornings for about a week and half and now that the kids have been a day care all day because of the kitchen, I have shifted my walks to mid-day or evenings after the kids go to bed and made them longer. Without a stroller to push up hills and slow me down, I'm able to average about 16 minute miles and I also get a chance to enjoy some great music on my iPod Nano- always good!
It has been very stressful not having the house to ourselves for these past two weeks and not having use of our kitchen and appliances. Riley has been feeling under the weather, which for her means- bring on the fits and tantrums. Tyson has an ever-emerging mischievous side that has been hard to get used to. All of these things have caused me to get a bit overwhelmed, which is why I feel so grateful for a new outlet for my stress. Also one that will help keep me strong and healthy this pregnancy and hopefully help me get back into running quicker after the baby is born.
Maybe blogging is a good outlet too, because I am now realizing how easily I just rambled on about something that probably really only has meaning to me. So, I apologize!
I still struggle with making healthy eating choices, but I'm getting better. Early spotting in the pregnancy put a pause on my running, which I was hoping to keep up for most of this pregnancy. It was just enough time and the weather was just bad enough, that I was never able to get the motivation to start running again- or doing any other exercise for that matter. Apparently running after a one and two-year old was good enough for a while because I had managed to do well and not gain any weight- without any exercising at all. But, even though the scale wasn't going up, I was noticing a change in how I felt and I looked. I'm pretty sure all that was happening in those months of no weight gain was a transformation of muscle I did have, into fat that I didn't want. Exercising- running specifically- has always been the best outlet for me when I feel stressed or just need to do something for myself and my health. I couldn't run, but I was just plain being a slacker when it came to walking- it's too cold/rainy for the kids outside, I don't have the time, I don't have the energy, etc. These were the things I was telling myself and the excuses had to stop.
So, in the week after my 30th birthday, I came up with a solution. I would get up around 5:30am when Rick's alarm clock would go off, walk while he was in the shower, and get back in time for him to leave for work. I could be showered and ready for the day before the "Today Show" began and I got the kids up for breakfast. The first morning was rough, 40-something degrees, rainy, and I was TIRED. Then something amazing happened- I came home super-refreshed, I was ready before the kids for once- a shower and everything!- and I had a very productive day. I continued to walk early mornings for about a week and half and now that the kids have been a day care all day because of the kitchen, I have shifted my walks to mid-day or evenings after the kids go to bed and made them longer. Without a stroller to push up hills and slow me down, I'm able to average about 16 minute miles and I also get a chance to enjoy some great music on my iPod Nano- always good!
It has been very stressful not having the house to ourselves for these past two weeks and not having use of our kitchen and appliances. Riley has been feeling under the weather, which for her means- bring on the fits and tantrums. Tyson has an ever-emerging mischievous side that has been hard to get used to. All of these things have caused me to get a bit overwhelmed, which is why I feel so grateful for a new outlet for my stress. Also one that will help keep me strong and healthy this pregnancy and hopefully help me get back into running quicker after the baby is born.
Maybe blogging is a good outlet too, because I am now realizing how easily I just rambled on about something that probably really only has meaning to me. So, I apologize!
Monday, June 16, 2008
The little red envelope...
As I have mentioned before, Rick and I made the decision to not find out the gender of Baby Thames #3. Since we have a girl and boy already, we figured it would be a great way to set this pregnancy apart. We borrowed an idea from some friends who are also keeping their third pregnancy a surprise and asked the ultrasound technician to take a couple of gender pictures for us and put them in a little red envelope so we'll have the keepsake for later. He was so cool about it and had us turning our heads several times when we may have seen something we didn't want to. The red envelope is tucked away safely and neither of us have any desire to take a peek- but we have a few friends who would rip it open and look if left alone with it in a room!
According to the most recent ultrasound, which happened last Monday, the due date is October 25th. Right around the late-October ballpark all the other ones have said. So, that would make me 21 weeks and 2 days along right now and I feel like I'm growing exponentially! I think it's going to be a rough, hot summer! Here are a few of my favorites...
According to the most recent ultrasound, which happened last Monday, the due date is October 25th. Right around the late-October ballpark all the other ones have said. So, that would make me 21 weeks and 2 days along right now and I feel like I'm growing exponentially! I think it's going to be a rough, hot summer! Here are a few of my favorites...
A profile shot with a little hand up near the mouth- the head is on the left
Another profile shot with more of the body included- the head is on the right
Two tiny feet
Alien face!
Our "big mess"
Riley can't get over how "broken" our kitchen has been and what a "big mess" the house has been since last Monday when the kitchen project began. Thank goodness for part-time day care, because I have been able to take the kids everyday from 9am-3pm so they don't have to be around all the noise, funny smells, and messes being made to make our kitchen look new and beautiful. The house is an absolute mess! All the contents of the kitchen cabinets are in boxes in the family room and it seems pointless to clean or organize the rest of the house at this point, so we are just living in temporary chaos. And it gives me a slight anxiety attack whenever I think about it, but I know the end result will all be worth it!
It has been nice having the kids go to day care so they can have some consistency and nap time and I have been exhausted from being on the go constantly because I don't want to really be around the house either with all the noise. The biggest challenge has been living without a dishwasher, running water in the kitchen, microwave, stove, or oven... basically no way to cook meals. So, the kids have been getting hot meals for lunch at day care and living off of peanut butter and jelly, while Rick and I gain weight eating fast food over and over. I never thought I'd see the day that Rick wasn't excited about having Panda Express, but when you have it a few times in one week it starts to not sound so hot! I actually look forward to the day I can cook meals again and have a working oven and stove. Everything should be done and we'll have our kitchen back by Friday!! Here are some pictures of the before kitchen, the "broken" kitchen, and the pile of kitchen in the family room:
Minus cabinet doors and counter-tops... very "broken"!
I can't wait to have our house back to normal!! Here's the messy family room.
It has been nice having the kids go to day care so they can have some consistency and nap time and I have been exhausted from being on the go constantly because I don't want to really be around the house either with all the noise. The biggest challenge has been living without a dishwasher, running water in the kitchen, microwave, stove, or oven... basically no way to cook meals. So, the kids have been getting hot meals for lunch at day care and living off of peanut butter and jelly, while Rick and I gain weight eating fast food over and over. I never thought I'd see the day that Rick wasn't excited about having Panda Express, but when you have it a few times in one week it starts to not sound so hot! I actually look forward to the day I can cook meals again and have a working oven and stove. Everything should be done and we'll have our kitchen back by Friday!! Here are some pictures of the before kitchen, the "broken" kitchen, and the pile of kitchen in the family room:
All cleaned out and ready to be torn up!
Minus cabinet doors and counter-tops... very "broken"!
I can't wait to have our house back to normal!! Here's the messy family room.
Daddy's little helpers
I found the camera cord last night in all the mess, so here are the pictures of Riley helping daddy mow the lawn I wanted to post yesterday...
Tyson looking so serious
One-handed mowing- very talented!
Tyson looking so serious
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Happy Father's Day!
I was hoping to write this post a little earlier, but I wanted to wish Rick and all of the other dads out there a Happy Father's Day! I got the cutest pictures yesterday of Rick and Riley mowing the lawn together that I wanted to include, but the house is a DISASTER AREA (more on that in a later post) and I can't find the camera cord anywhere. Oh well. Riley and Tyson have the coolest daddy ever- the new baby has no idea how lucky he or she is to be getting such a fun, hard-working, loving dad. Here a few old pictures of Rick with the kids...
I also want to wish a Happy Father's Day to my dad, Dave, and my step-dad, Jim. They are both so supportive and I love and appreciate them both so much. My dad got a chance to spend his Father's Day weekend doing what he loves to do best- GOLF! And it sounds like he had great weather for it.
My mom and Jim drove to Portland on Friday just so Jim could help Rick fix our front door jam that has been broken and cracked since we moved in. It was a great visit with both of them and we can't thank Jim enough for all the hard work he put in on the project. We were even able to take them out to a kidless dinner at Red Lobster before they made the trip back to the Tri-Cities.
Stay tuned for more posts to come about how chaotic our life has been this past week, our mess of a house and the progress of the new kitchen, and most important- ultrasound pictures!!
I also want to wish a Happy Father's Day to my dad, Dave, and my step-dad, Jim. They are both so supportive and I love and appreciate them both so much. My dad got a chance to spend his Father's Day weekend doing what he loves to do best- GOLF! And it sounds like he had great weather for it.
Papa Dave
My mom and Jim drove to Portland on Friday just so Jim could help Rick fix our front door jam that has been broken and cracked since we moved in. It was a great visit with both of them and we can't thank Jim enough for all the hard work he put in on the project. We were even able to take them out to a kidless dinner at Red Lobster before they made the trip back to the Tri-Cities.
Grandpa Jim
Stay tuned for more posts to come about how chaotic our life has been this past week, our mess of a house and the progress of the new kitchen, and most important- ultrasound pictures!!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Photos
Some good friends of ours, John and Amy, started a photography business a couple of years ago and today I took the kids over to have some pictures taken. We met John, Amy, and their son Tristan at a church fiesta fund raiser over two years ago. Riley was only a month old and Tristan only 4 months old, both of them napping in Snugglies, carried by their daddies. Less than a year later, they were watching Riley while Rick and I were in the hospital welcoming Tyson into the world. We are so excited for them that the photography business is going so well in just a short amount of time. If you live in the Gresham/Portland area and are looking for a great photographer, I would highly recommend Amy. You can check out their website at: www.fullofgracephotography.com or view other great pictures through The Hardesty Family link under "Blogs we love...".
Just like any other time we've tried, the kids just don't seem to want to cooperate or smile for the camera, but she was able to catch some cute ones despite the kids being all over the place. I finally had to bribe Riley with Nemo fruit snacks just to sit in the right area! Shameless, I know, but it worked! Here are a few of the cute images Amy captured...
Just like any other time we've tried, the kids just don't seem to want to cooperate or smile for the camera, but she was able to catch some cute ones despite the kids being all over the place. I finally had to bribe Riley with Nemo fruit snacks just to sit in the right area! Shameless, I know, but it worked! Here are a few of the cute images Amy captured...
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Countdowns
Life around the Thames household has been pretty busy lately, with a few recent changes and lots of fun and exciting things to look forward too. Here is a little rundown of some of the things on the horizon or have recently happened:
It's been...
8 days since Riley has worn a diaper- only Pull-Ups to sleep in- and only a few accidents. She is doing amazing! She LOVES her new Elmo big-girl-panties...
4 days since I turned 30 and I still feel exactly the same! Bring on a new decade!
Countdown...
3 days until we pick up our new tent trailer. We hope to spend most of the summer camping all over the Pacific Northwest!
5 days until we see Baby #3 on another ultrasound... normally we'd be excited to be finding out boy or girl, but this time around we're going to be surprised in October! We're just hoping to see 10 fingers, 10 toes, and a healthy, growing baby!
Also 5 days until our kitchen is turned upside-down, with cabinets being refaced, new floors being installed, and new granite counters being put in. Woo-hoo!!!
10 days until I take the CBEST, my first step towards entering the Masters in Teaching program at Warner Pacific in August.
11 days until Father's Day, a day when we can honor and celebrate the amazing men- husbands/fathers to our children, fathers, grandfathers- in our lives!
15 days until Rick is officially finished with the school year and we have to whole summer to enjoy as a family! I can't wait!!!
22 days until we leave for our big trip to Disney World. I'm not looking forward to the plane trip with a one and two-year old, but it will ALL be worth it! We're already bracing ourselves for some serious meltdowns and the heat, but also some serious fun!
30 days until the 4th of July, when we will be volunteering with our Life Group (Bible study group) at the Happy Valley 4th of July celebration at Happy Valley Park.
46 days until our big Mariners game trip to Seattle, again with our Life Group. We'll be camping and taking in a game- too bad they aren't having a better season!!
Approximately 144 days until my estimated due date! It sounds so far away, but I'm sure the time will FLY BY!!
I think I got all the highlights!
It's been...
8 days since Riley has worn a diaper- only Pull-Ups to sleep in- and only a few accidents. She is doing amazing! She LOVES her new Elmo big-girl-panties...
4 days since I turned 30 and I still feel exactly the same! Bring on a new decade!
Countdown...
3 days until we pick up our new tent trailer. We hope to spend most of the summer camping all over the Pacific Northwest!
5 days until we see Baby #3 on another ultrasound... normally we'd be excited to be finding out boy or girl, but this time around we're going to be surprised in October! We're just hoping to see 10 fingers, 10 toes, and a healthy, growing baby!
Also 5 days until our kitchen is turned upside-down, with cabinets being refaced, new floors being installed, and new granite counters being put in. Woo-hoo!!!
10 days until I take the CBEST, my first step towards entering the Masters in Teaching program at Warner Pacific in August.
11 days until Father's Day, a day when we can honor and celebrate the amazing men- husbands/fathers to our children, fathers, grandfathers- in our lives!
15 days until Rick is officially finished with the school year and we have to whole summer to enjoy as a family! I can't wait!!!
22 days until we leave for our big trip to Disney World. I'm not looking forward to the plane trip with a one and two-year old, but it will ALL be worth it! We're already bracing ourselves for some serious meltdowns and the heat, but also some serious fun!
30 days until the 4th of July, when we will be volunteering with our Life Group (Bible study group) at the Happy Valley 4th of July celebration at Happy Valley Park.
46 days until our big Mariners game trip to Seattle, again with our Life Group. We'll be camping and taking in a game- too bad they aren't having a better season!!
Approximately 144 days until my estimated due date! It sounds so far away, but I'm sure the time will FLY BY!!
I think I got all the highlights!
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