Heres a few pictures of us laying the Travertine. And of our cabinet installation. Everything is starting to look beautiful after all these months of wondering is we would ever finish!

 

 

The pattern…

 

 

Grouted and Sealed.

The boys came screaming into the house about some truck at the end of our road and a huge dump truck towing  a huge fork lift. 

“Did I know what it was?” 

“What was on it?”

“Who’s house was it going to?”

I walked outside with them and sure enough there was a huge semi parked down where the road T’s. I suggested that maybe someone up the mountain had ordered something that the semi could not get to and they were going to haul it up. 

The driver got out and began opening the sides of the semi. There were 5 crates of something. I couldn’t tell what though. Then they unloaded the fork lift and just about that point one of my boys in pure excitement recognized that it was one of our friends. Then it all clicked at that instant. It was my Travertine. I had ordered it months ago, but we had it delivered and stored at his shop. And now he was delivering it so we could began tiling.

I bought this Travertine sight unseen. It was a screaming deal and so I decided to chance it. 15,000 lbs of it. I had done tone of shopping and research on travertine, so I was pretty confident that it would match my colors. And it did. Beautifully.

So now we are laying it. It is grueling, backbreaking work. But, oh, the results are breathless. It looks like a cobblestone road hundreds of years old. And that’s just what I wanted. A timeless house. That says it has stories from decades ago. That is warm and inviting. Makes you feel welcome and happy.

Before laying the travertine, we lay this orange stuff called Ditra.  It allows the floor to flex and move when there are temperature changes. Instead of hardibacker which would result in cracked tiles. Travertine is the softest of natural stones used in flooring.

We also have been getting lighting up as well. Found this chandler at the HD for $15

 

 

Working on the pattern of the Travertine called Versigh.

 

We had to do some stuff under the house to make it stronger to hold all this travertine. They are saying “hi” to the down under.

 

The Truck

 

 

 

 

Walls painted. Still ceiling to go.

Loved how much I was loved on this day. My children made me breakfast in bed. Then after church we went on a hike to some waterfalls and visited our favorite swimming hole on the river. The water is still to cold to swim, but there is never a lack of exploring to do. 

This box showed up on my doorstep…

I didn’t really have the option to hide…my furniture is all packed up right now. So it was more like…

Seven children gathered round.

Offering to help.

Throwing guesses what it was.

Lots of noise and excitement.

Husband standing behind me grinning.

Box opened.

Pure, sheer amazement at what they saw.

Husband whispering in my ear that he loves me. 

Everybody eating yummy strawberries.

 

 

 

 

 

At our favorite place to play on the river.

 

Ready for a hike

 

Eric pointing to them to “Fall In” (Military language for, “GET IN A STRAIGHT LINE!!!)

 

Sucessful!

 

Noitce 3 small blue dots on the side of the rock cliff…that would be Ben, Michael, and Josh before they were called back to safety.

 

Shoes were off instantly at the waterfall.

After Church

Practicing jump shots 

 

Treasures found.

 

Said he found a heart for me. 

A few years ago I was inspired by this blog, resolved2worship, with the Easter Party she gave her children. Last year was our first party and the children LOVED it! Not much was going on in our lives and I had a lot of time to spend with the children preparing for it.  This year has been the total opposite. Not only is most of my house packed up and out in the shop, I breath, eat and sleep this remodel. The children have asked mostly year round if we were doing another Easter Party and as the date grew closer they got more excited. But there was just no way. So I offered a compromise. (Big word they all know from early American History this last year).  We would have an Easter Party, but it would have to be a week or  two late.  They all quickly agreed and began planning for it. Because of the extremeness of this remodel, I had to reign them in a few times on the planning, but they were all thrilled the day I announced we were having our Easter Party!

The decorations were simple. Burlap table clothes that I keep on the shelf in the garage. Flowers from our yard put in canning jars for vases. And then the food. Michael made deviled eggs from the eggs we had dyed. Leftover jello salad. (a favorite) Candy from Easter baskets. Microwave popcorn. And peanut butter pretzels. I made each of the children hot chocolate in a disposable cup with a lid. It was still very cold outside. I had hoped to be down in one of the lower fields under a big tree, but it was raining, so we opted for the front porch.  The children were beyond delighted with our party and it made my heart happy. We ate and ate until our tummies were overfull and then read the Easter story from the Bible. And now, they are already planning next years party!

 

 a

               /.,//

 

We spent the day at Eric’s office getting cleanings. Gabe got to assist Mechelle in a few of the cleanings. Jules feel asleep in my arms and I needed to lay here down. An empty paper box seemed the cleanest place to lay her. She didn’t seem to mind. 

 

 

Love the tongue hanging out while he suctions.

 

Found Michael making brownies. Power drill and plastic spoon. He wins creative moment of the day. My mixer is currently packed up. But that didn’t stop him from being efficient in the process. The spoon is even disposable!

 

So we finally got plaster on the walls!!!

 

Windows and floor taped

 

 

Eric on stilts taping the ceiling 

 

I had to paint this pink glue over any painted wall so the plaster would stick

 

The bags of plaster awaiting to cover my walls. (Happy smile)

 

The wall with the fridge, oven, and cabinets

 

New arches in the hallway 

 

My plaster guys. These guys are AWESOME! They are the same company that build The Cheesecake Factory restaurant. (love that place!) So I knew these guys could handle my ridiculously insane look I was after.   I spent years studying every wall texture I saw. I fell in love with the old world style of hand trowled plaster. It leaves smooth walls with little marks. Then the faux paint job I will do pulls out those marks making the walls look old and worn. Sorta a faux Venetian Plaster look.

 

The end of the day. PLASTERED WALLS…HOORAY!!!

 

 

trying out paint colors 

Spent the afternoon with Laura and her girlfriends. We went for tea, shopped at a thrift store and ate lunch at DQ. Maryann asked Laura if she could come along and spend the afternoon with us. Laura kindly invited her along. The girls all brought there AG pets. I loved being a part of an afternoon with her and girlfriends. 

 

Eric and I spent the weekend sailing again. This is the second set of sailing lessons for us. Three days and 16 hours on the beautiful Columbia River with Captain Bob. I brought my little point and shoot because me and cameras and water are usually a bad combination.  Some day, we are going to set sail to some warm and sunny place and head off into the deep waters. Just us, maybe the kids (if there are still any around) and our boat. 

 

Living on love

 

The Harbor 

 

Captain Bob (our teacher)

 

Early in the morning on the River

here are some pictures from the last few weeks…

 

Clouds rolling in over the top of the mountains at sunset. 

 

 

Michaels birthday dinner date with Eric and I.

 

My birthday boy!

 

Tulips in my front yard form the bulbs I planted 2 years ago. 

 

Michael choose this outfit for our dinner out celebrating his birthday. Love this boy!

 

 

Amazing what you find when you tear off sheetrock….

 

 

 

Ben is learning some awesome carpenter skills.

Painting the master bedroom

 

Laura has been staining door for me. They are beautiful when they are finished!

 

The girlies are always close by with a smile and some pink.

 

Easter Dinner ended up at our house this year. No kitchen, no furniture, no much of anything. So we pulled out the plastic tables and chairs, paper plates and plastic silverware and celebrated Easter. 15 of us. 

Spring is finally here. After a ridiculously long winter, cold and wet, the days are finally getting warmer and the sun is shining a bit more. Heres looking down to our lower fields. Gabe was having fun in the giant mud puddle in our front yard. 

~cheryl