Worlds most expensive fort

We have this plant loft in the middle of our stairs. In the model home it is full of big grandiose "crap". I didnt want to spend the money and time looking for stuff to fill this space so I decided to make it into a fort for the kids. We arent quite done but here is it now. We are going to add a rock climbing wall for them to get up there and some sheers that hang down in the middle to close it in all the way. We are also going to cover in fuzzy fabric a big foam piece for the bottom to make it like a bed. There is a small TV up there with a VCR (so they can watch "old" movies). They are very excited to have it done. This weekend we should finish it. I hope. I still have a few more things to sew for it. By the way...I probably spent way more money and time making this darn fort then if I had just bought stuff to decorate it! Oh well.

Kitchen project

Here are a few pictures of our latest project...our kitchen. John thinks I have so much free time on my hands so he decided he wanted us to tile the backsplash with tumblestone. We found a big tile store and picked things out quickly. I am so glad it ended up looking as good as it does. John and I worked together for 2 nights to get all the stone cut and up on the wall. And I grouted and did the little jobs during the day...you know...in my spare time. I think it came out great. I even learned to use the wet saw. And, just so you know...they call it a wet saw because you get totally wet while cutting tile. Next we are going to tile our master bathroom. Oh joy.

The boys rooms

Here are the boys rooms. The first 2 are of Austin's room. After a big "discussion" about color and style I finally convinced him to do a map theme. He wanted me to paint his walls black with white skulls and crossbones on them. After weeks of round -a- bouts we agreed on this. Now, every time we go somewhere he is going to get a post card and we will start adding them to the walls. I figure it will keep him involved and that made him happy.

Justin and Christian share the camo room. They LOVE being together. The comforters glow in the dark too. It is nice to have them in one room...Justin sleeps better and Christian usually ends up in Justin's bed. It is very cute. Every night Justin reads a book to Christian. They are best buds...most of the time.

Random Pics

Here are a few random pictures of Jilliann. She and John slept in the chair Friday night while I sewed my heart out to make this stupid fort for the boys in our plant loft. I will post pictures soon of that.

Then, Jilliann was fussy at dinner so I loaded a bunch of refried beans on her high chair. She actually ate quite a few then got fussy again so I gave her an oreo. The combo is disgusting but she was happy for a while. Oh the things we do to keep them quiet.

Pool update

Here is the latest on the pool. Things seem to have slowed down quite a bit recently and I am not sure why. I am just wanting to get it all done. They have poured most of our decking and put down flagstone on one side. We added some rocks here and there and a small waterfall in the back. They are here right now working on a little section of concrete they didn't pour a few weeks ago due to a design flaw. That has all been worked out now I think! Hard to know when none of the workers speak English. AHHH...Arizona.

There are several steps left in finishing this up. We are still waiting on the barrier fence, the acrylic coating on the concrete, the mosaic turtles on the steps, the cleaning system installation, putting my brick wall and gate back up and then the pebble interior and water. They said 3 more weeks but I imagine it will be double at the rate they are working. Still, it will be awesome when it is done.

Andrew's R&R

Andrew came home for his 2 weeks of R&R. He didn't want to go anywhere so we hung out here and ate out A LOT!! Doesn't say much for my cooking that he came home and wanted to eat at all the major restaurants but oh well...I didn't have to cook!

We had a birthday party for him at the park. He turned 20!! All the family was there and even Alys and Robert the Great drove out to join in the fun. His last night here we went to Benihana's and enjoyed the most expensive meal ever. We celebrated his birthday again.

Saying goodbye was tough. He seems so grown up yet so young still to be seeing the things he is. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. He is supposed to be home in November and I hope he is.