I Love You More Than...

While tucking Jessalyn into bed tonight, she declared, "I love you more than a beautiful diamond."

I thanked her very much and told her that I, too, loved her more than a beautiful diamond. She then went on to say, "I also love you more than an elephant and a flower and a giraffe."

In a whisper she said, " I can't say 'more than a blanket' because that would hurt Taggie's feelings." In her regular volume she topped it off with, "But I do love you more than a monkey and a frog."

Thank you, sweetie. Me, too.

More House Progress

Things are movin' along on the house. Here are a few recent photos. The first set is of Lee's room, which is completely painted. Remember when it wasn't?

And more kitchen cabinets are going in!

Tom is going to build a stove hood (more like a chimney) between the cabinets in the center. Our appliances have been ordered, but won't actually be installed until the floor is in.

See my super wonderful PANTRY to the left!?!? I'm going to have a PANTRY! The crown moulding on the cabinets won't be put on until after the crown on the ceiling is put on (which Tom has already started!). And then after all that the island will go in.

All of the doors have been hung and all the door frames are in place. All of the windows have been framed out, too. The bead board wainscot is up all over the place and will hopefully be done soon.

We're in the home stretch now and I'm hopeful that we'll be moving very soon!

Mother's Day

Some highlights from Mother's Day a few weeks ago:

Me and my kiddos. Gosh, they're cute! 

A slew of handmade goodies (from both children!). I sure love those kinds of gifts!

All the moms and children at our celebration. I missed my mom that day...she was jetsetting with Daddy in Italy! But I was thinking about her!

This necklace is one of my favorite gifts of all time. The cross is especially appropriate dangling there between my children's names. Not only are they both blessings from God, but they are the answer to earnest prayers and each a rainbow after a storm.

Good News/Bad News

THE GOOD NEWS

Remember that ginormous stack of ceiling wood we had to put up? Well, it's pretty much GONE. We've used it all up!

This is all that's left of the ceiling wood.

THE BAD NEWS

We're not done with the ceilings yet.

THE GOOD NEWS

We only have one room left that needs a ceiling!

THE BAD NEWS

We still have one room left that needs a ceiling.

THE GOOD NEWS

Trim is still going up and we're getting closer to being finished!

THE BAD NEWS

Er....there is no bad news! :)

Overheard Prayers

Dear God:

"Thank you for this wonderful day. And please let us have a nice day tomorrow. And if it rains, that's ok with us, because the trees and the flowers need the rain."

"Please tell Grandandy, 'Happy Birthday.'"

"Please let Christy's baby be healthy and safe. And I'm going to teach it everything. Including how to exercise."

Taggie's prayer: "God, I love you. Amen."

"Thank you for my new baby cousin, and please let his name be Diego."

"God, I have a question for you: Why did you make thunder? Amen."

"...and I hope you have a good time at my party..." Whispering to Mommy: "is God invited to my party?"

Jess and Lee and Wii

Lee enjoys the Wii Jessalyn got for her birthday as much as she does!

When I Grow Up

Jessalyn: "I'm going to be a teacher when I grow up."

Mommy: "I thought you were going to be a cook."

Jessalyn: "Well, I can't be BOTH."

Mommy: "Yes you can. You can teach people how to cook!"

Jessalyn: "First of all, I don't know how to cook. Second of all, I don't know the recipe. Third of all, I don't have a cook book, so we'll need to buy one for me. Fourth of all, my apron will be too small for me when I'm a grown up!"

Lovely Morning

It was a nice morning, so the kids and I played in the backyard before it got blazing hot.

When we move, I sure am going to miss our backyard. It is so big and has some really nice qualities. My favorites are:

1. This beautiful maple tree. It's one of only two sources of shade we have.

2. The natural privacy fence we have which completely surrounds the entire yard. It's blooming right now and is not only gorgeous, but fragrant.

3. Our lovely Live Oak, home of Jessalyn's tree swing. You can find shade there any time of the day.

I'm excited to make new memories and find new things to treasure at our new home and smaller backyard. It will be full of neighborhood children and all the noise, laughing and squealing which will go along with it. I can't wait!

New House Pics

Lee's Room (The childrens' rooms are identical except for the wall color):

All trim still needs to be painted and crown moulding put up.

The closet will have three sets of double doors and feet at the bottom to look like 3 side-by-side armoires.

My "office" underneath the staircase. The stairs lead to the attic.

Our pile of ceiling board is shrinking!

Tom installing ceiling.

My beautiful recessed ceiling in the master bedroom!!!

Master bath ceiling and trim (and painters tape)

Master bath tub surround and shelving to hold my tv. Jessalyn has declared that the first night we spend in the house she is taking a bath in my tub and watching SpongeBob SquarePants!