Mama is alone!

The kids are in a day camp for the next few days.

I can't decide whether I'm excited or really nervous. (The coffee isn't helping!)

I've got lots of things planned (painting, anyone?) but we'll see how much I actually get done. I spent the first few hours of their camp out in the lobby of their camp center.

Hover much?

This is new for them and me, but I think they will have a good time and really enjoy it. It's just hard to leave when they have fears of being abandoned.

And those fears are legitimate.

Off to run some errands!

Hooray for a second toilet!

On Father's Day, of all days, Mark installed the necessary flooring and then re-installed the toilet. I guess it shows what an awesome dad he is that he would give up a day of rest and relaxation for the comfort of his family!

The plumbers are coming on Thursday to do the rough-in for the new shower so we're getting closer to having one more room done!

Looking better!

Mark started working on the bathroom bright and early this morning--after his Saturday morning waffle-making ritual. 

He had to build out the wall where the new plumbing will go for the shower and build an additional wall for the other end of the tub. But none of that could happen until he put the subfloor in, which involved raking the rubble smooth and removing some old pipes. He got it all done in record time while I took some of the kids grocery shopping (and I now remember why I enjoy doing that after they're in bed!).

Tomorrow after church Mark's going to put in some hardwood flooring and hopefully the toilet. I am rather excited to have a second bathroom--or at least a second toilet--again!

(The tub is underneath the cardboard for protection. ;) )

Two whole weeks

Today is Thursday, which means we are at Children's for speech for two hours. But today is our last day of speech before we have two whole weeks off, and I am positively giddy with the thought!

We spend at least four hours a week at the hospital for weekly appointments and occasionally more for various additional appointments. Right now we will not be coming to Children's for anything for two whole weeks.

Sigh. Absolute bliss.

Instead, the kids will be participating in a nature day camp four days next week and a soccer camp the following week. And I get to give a huge thank you to God for putting us in St. Louis where there are so many free activities! 

Not that the kids mind speech...they get to watch TV!

Down a bathroom

You've got to love renovations that leave you with a rubble bathroom floor!

This is the downstairs bathroom (which isn't much of a bathroom right now). There is a "concrete" pad made up of apparently whatever was handy underneath the old original tile. The old tile was beautiful (but unsalvageable).

Sportstacking

Last fall we enrolled the kids in a sport stacking class at our rec center. They were already going to be attending a homeschool gymnastics class so I thought we could try cup stacking as well.

I must confess, I did not have high hopes for successful stacking or enjoyment given some of the coordination and motor planning issues we have.

I have been more than pleasantly surprised!

The kids have loved it and have done really well. They helped set up for a tournament earlier this year so we could go and watch. Then this past weekend, they participated in their first tournament. Everyone won medals except for Tim and   Danielle and they both got multiple ribbons. All in all a really good time and great experience for the kids!

Test post

We finally took the plunge and got smartphones! I can't promise it will help me post more, but it's certainly faster than my five-year-old computer! Here's a picture from our sport (cup) stacking tournament this past weekend: