More inside pictures of the house

Kitchen... from the dining area
Sink.. duh.
Left view of living area. Our plan is to knock out the two walls and square out the room, put in a sliding door instad of the big window and install a deck off the back. (again... LATER!)
Dining "area". We're going to make it living space.

 

Our sad, sad, sad, yard...:(

Our very sad front yard. It has a fungus we believe, and so we're attempting to weed it and then grow grass again with some organic fertilizer. Keep your fingers crossed for us!
Sad, sad, fence... soon to be replaced this summer!
Backyard... completely consumed with fescue, foxtail, remnants of two Juniper trees, and lots of tumbleweed stumps... pile that with some dead grass and straw, and you've got our lawn (or lack there of...)

 

Our New House!

THE "NEW" HOUSE !
We did it! We finally got moved into our new house, and are getting situated... SLOWLY!
But it's a fantastic feeling knowing it is ours. We've started doing some "remodel" work, painting, fixing outlets, working on the yard, etc. It's much more rewarding knowing that it benefits us to put this much work into it, rather than a landlord.
Anyway, we'll post more "updates" as time goes on, and you can see the progress. Our plans for this summer are to sod the backyard (I'll post pictures of it, and you'll understand why) attempt to grow grass in the front yard, and do some landscaping. Next will be the remodel of the living room...but that's for next year. :)

Living Room
One side of the kitchen

 

Mariel's First Steps!

Mariel took her first steps last night, April 13th, and it was all thanks to the new froggie that her cousin Madelyn sent! Thanks Madelyn!!!
Here's the story to go with it...
Mariel's new babysitter, Erin, said that she got Mariel to take a few steps on the 12th. So last night we tried it by having her try and walk to her new toy frog. She LOVES it, and so we dangled it in front of her. She took nearly 7 or 8 good steps! So we got out the camera, and let her take break. Then she did again, only about 4 or 5 steps. She started rubbing her eyes, and it was getting late.

We had her standing by the recliner, and she managed to wander over to the other side of the nightstand, and BOOM! She fell and bonked her forehead against the table. Thank goodness it didn't hit the corner, but she has a nice little bruise on her forehead. Eric handled it better than I did... but we put some frozen veggies wrapped in a towel, on her forehead. She didn't like that very much, and she cried for awhile. Within a few minutes she was more interested in the frozen veggies, than her head. So she's okay, and the bruise went down a little more today. AGH! What a night! Her first steps, and her first bonk on the noggin! This parenting of a toddler is going to be a rough ride I have a feeling.

Speaking of toddler, we've decided that the definition of "toddler" is when a baby reaches the age that they can express "NO" by shaking their head. Which Mariel has mastered wonderfully. She's even clapping her hands when she's happy, it's so awesome! Yesterday, I could have swore she said "yes" when I asked her if she was ready to go home??? It could have been just me. :)

Last but not least... more presents the next day!

Maybe the balloons will help us find her... or help hold her up so she'll walk!

 

Mariel's post-birthday celebration at Red Robin

Let me see that!

Waiting for a table...

Where's Mariel???

 

More from Grandpa & Grandma's visit

Getting ready to go 'nite nite'...


Before...


After...

High atop Grandpa Mountain

 

Grandpa and Grandma's Visit

Mommy & Daddy attempting to hold down one very squirmy 1 year old!

Mariel's Very First Coldstone Creamery Experience
I just hope we haven't created a monster...

Hangin' out with Grandma

Grandpa is awfully snuggly... can we watch American Idol?

 

More and more and more and more...

Mommy and Mariel at her party!


Daddy was taking all the pictures... :)

 

These just keep getting better...

THE CARNAGE...

 

Mariel's 1st Birthday! (These are just the beginning...)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR LITTLE BABY GIRL !!!



DADDY AND MOMMY'S MASTERPIECE :)


THE FIRST BITE !


PRESENTS... BOOKS! (SHE LOVES BOOKS!)

 

Mariel's First Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIEL !

Yep, that's right! Mariel turned 1 year old on March 24, 2006. It was a great weekend for her!
Her Grandma and Grandpa came to visit from Wisconsin and spent a whole day with her while we were at work. She got to visit with them a TON, and they loved being with her. Her other grandparents came up over the weekend and we spent lunch at Red Robin "singing Happy Birthday" with all of us. She got a little balloon and some whipped cream with sprinkles :)

Most importantly, she had her very first Birthday party! Friends and family all came to a local pizza place. We ate pizza, then sang happy birthday... then Mariel dug into her very first birthday cake ( and first time getting a real hand on some sugar!) Daddy made her cake and it was an applesauce and cinnamon "muffin style" cake with whipped topping... sprinkles... purple gel and a BIG #1 right on top! She dug in with a delicate finger, and just licked each little scraping at a time. It was adorable!

Mariel was a little overwhelmed and up past her bedtime, but she did great! We had about 20 people come including some friends she has made over the last year, Nikoa and Payton.

She had such a great birthday, and got spoiled beyond belief. But she deserved it, and we are so proud that we have her in our lives! Enjoy the pictures of her big day, and her visit with Grandma and Grandpa... we miss them already.

Ooops... forgot one!

I don't think the safety guidelines for wicker baskets said anything about little girls being able to fit inside them! Careful with that Fisher Price stuff Mariel... it might be a little tough to swallow.

New Pictures of our Little Miss

Okay, if these aren't CUTE... I don't know what is!!!!

HELLO ???... Yes, I'm adorable....Goodbye!!!