Finally some before and after pictures of the project which is now called, "the ahhh @#$% project". It seems like the problems were just endless... but its done and glad to have laundry and a 1/2 bath back.

Looks like the hallway and entry way project will be put on hold for a bit... need time to breathe.

Guess who got their very own library card???

Walker's been waiting and waiting to turn 6 and get his very own library card. First book he checked out Trains, a book in his reading level.

We also signed up for the summer reading program at both libraries. I also make a little reading challenge for the kiddos. Walker's summer goal... read 75 books. Ainsley's goal was a bit harder to calculate... she reads longer chapter books and 75 chapter books would take her a really long time. So I went with points they are worth for the testing they do at school. The chapter book she just read was worth 5 points so her goals is also 75 but in points not books. They both get to pick out a big prize at the end of the summer. Walker's prize a really big lego set... the police or fire station. Ainsley's still deciding on hers... she's thinking a couple signature Webkinz.

Yesterday also started lunch at the park. We came prepared for some rain sprinkling but as we were standing in line the skies opened and it started to pour... everything was soaked. Just imagine trying to put food items in wet paper bags. Glad we had a nice dry car to run to so that they could enjoy it.

With house projects there always seems to be a story... at least with us there is.

Tile project #1 in current home...

Saturday was filled with planning and moving around the tile pattern pattern to avoid those "oh crap this doesn't fit here!" moments. We headed to Lowes with our handy dandy list of materials needed... feeling pretty proud of ourselves for it was only 9:30 in the morning. The kiddos who have grown up in Lowe's should feel right at home here but instead find the worse times to act up. Ainsley's off dancing down the aisle doing spins and twirls which prompts Walker to say, "Mommy... " 47 times getting louder with each one because he's contained in the cart and now wants to be out loose with Ainsley (which by the way is so not happening... and why he's in the cart in the first place) because us parents are trying to decide which grout color will match the best and reading packages on mortar.

So after a frazzled trip we head home with high hopes of the project that lay ahead... have lunch and start... wow 12:30 not too bad. Snap the chalk line... mix a big ol 50 lb bucket of mortar because we have nearly 200 square feet to tile to lay...

We put down 5 whole field tiles before we have to stop... grab the tile saw and cut tiles to fit.. As Stewart gets this all out, I'm inside trying to entertain Walker because with school out and no schedule to follow the kiddos are kind of at loose ends... not sure what to do with the free time they now have. He's decided he wants to help Daddy and although it's pretty darn cute tiling is not a project one should take on with a 6 year old helper. So he grabs his handy plastic tools and I set him to work "fixing" things. First up checking all the knobs in the kitchen to make sure they are nice and tight...

As all this is going on I hear the saw turn on... the first tile being cut... well trying to cut... the tile saw completely stops... bogged down... starts again and then the cut is done and I check the outcome... we could have chewed it off better! I vaguely remember a conversation that took place in NY when we tiled the outside porches that consisted of the tile saw dying... but we were going to keep it in case it was needed in a pinch.

So back to Lowe's... all of us since one can not continue to tile with out cut tile pieces... decide that since this is our first of many tiling projects in current house we will buy the $300 tile saw. Happy with purchase head home... open up box... start assembling new tile saw... hmm... NO saw blade!!! Are you kidding??? Back down to Lowe's we go.

Lovely Lowe's associates can not figure out how to return saw correctly... finally with manager's help they get it done and we decide to open up box in store to make sure all parts are there. Yeah they are.

Home and tile saw assembled start first cut with new saw...

We cut a few more and then decide to lay those down... it's now been 4 hours since we first started laying those 5 tiles... we open up the 50lb bucket of mortar only to find it's set... hardened... finished! Ahhh

It was quite a day Saturday... Sunday and Monday were better we finished up laying tile Monday afternoon. Ready to grout it tonight.

Kiddos... what did they do the rest of the weekend??? There was lots of this...

lots of fighting one minute and playing... giggling the next. Walker was ready for anything in his spy gear...

And Ainsley did lots of reading... even if it was in strange places...

All in all a good project to get done and finished. I will show some before and after pictures later in the week, once everything is put back to normal.

The weekend ended with yummy pea salad, hot dogs and 2 kinds of rhubarb desserts. Summer can officially now start since the first round of rhubarb has been picked, chopped, bagged for winter and baked into the usual sour cream rhubarb pie and a new keeper recipe called rhubarb squares.

whew... long post.

This is the project for the weekend... laying tile in the laundry room and half bath. Next weekend's project... laying tile in the entry way and hallway... projects.. love them!

Yeah both kiddos finished up school yesterday all smiles... what's better than spending the whole day clearing out your desk, playing games outside on the playground like tug a war, relay races, jumping in a bouncy house and eating popsicles, and popcorn.

Little Bug got the teacher he really wanted... someone that I think will be a good fit. So to celebrate the end of the craziness of activities... school, dance, soccer we had a dinner picnic in the living room while watching the 2nd Harry Potter... which Walker decided was just too scary for him so we switched to the original Star Wars. A first time for the kiddos... both thought it was pretty cool.

So today is declared Jammie Day for me and the kiddos... looking forward to an extra cup of coffee and curling up on the couch for Wizards of Waverly Place the movie.

Today is the last day of school for both kiddos. Hard to believe we have an almost 3rd grader and an almost 1st grader!

I love this time of year... pulling out those first days of school pictures and comparing it to the pictures I took this morning. I can hardly recognize my sweet little girl. She has grown and changed so much this year... not in just physical differences glasses, teeth, height and longer hair but she has confidence, she has grace, she has her own opinions on things, she is becoming her own little self... so very proud. She's really excited about 3rd grade. As we got ready this morning she said, "School just keeps getting better and better each year!" She got a really good teacher for next year and I'm excited for her, it will be cursive writing and multiplication tables!

Little Bug has grown too... in height! I can't believe the difference in his two pictures as well. He's lost that "babyness" in his face but still has his cute dimple smile and mesmerizing blue eyes. I can't even imagine how his little face is going to change when teeth start becoming loose and falling out. No loose teeth yet! I still have a hard time believing that he's reading... actually reading books all by himself and that he finds it exciting and enjoyable. Math comes really easy for him and I know 1st grade is going to be just wonderful for him. Recess, eating lunch at school, his very own desk... lots of new exciting times lay ahead in the fall. He will find out who his teacher is today!

Am glad to have had the opportunity to help out in their classrooms this year and to be home with them for so long. With Bug being all day next year I think I'll look around for eeks... a real job! Am going to really enjoy this summer with them home. (ask me in 2 weeks and I may be counting down the days till school) We have a few fun trips planned but mostly will be just home enjoying the summer (if it ever turns into summer weather).

One more first and last day of school pictures with both of them together (Ainsley started a few days before Walker... which is why she has different clothes on then her other first day picture.)

Saturday was Little Bug's 6th birthday party... his first friends from school party..

He greeted his friends with an, "Arrgg!"...

We kept the 15 kiddos quite busy with Pirate necklaces, Pirate hats, and X marks the spot game...

Loved watching him interact with his friends... he laughed and giggled... fun times.

Of course a pirate party has to include a treasure chest... goodie bags filled with candy necklaces, chocolate gold coins, compasses and pirate earrings.

Toy that brought the most laughing and giggle fits... self inflating whoopie cushion..

We had a fun time and I think little Bug and friends did too.

Walker had his little graduation program on Friday. They sang 7 songs and then had a little slide show of all the pictures taken by the teachers over the year.

I think first grade is going to be great for him... he's excited for recess and a desk! They still have school... just 3 days left though.

So we've been doing a little bit of house projects... sanding and staining the deck.

A bit of walking today with this group at the zoo...

Can you tell who gets their photo taken quite frequently??

Little Bug had fun digging...

And I loved taking this beauty's picture... wished I would've had the good camera with me.

Made some yummy chocolate chip cookies last night...

And had a good taste tester...

Watched Ainsley's patriotic 2nd grade performance...

She had a little speaking part telling why she was proud to be an American. She said, "I am proud to be an American because we ended slavery, we have a house, school and food to eat."

Ainsley had a great time doing the King Arthur's Quest production...

She LOVED every single thing about it... her lines, the costumes, singing and dancing...

She had a wonderful time... she now thinks she wants to do other plays! We will have to look for more opportunities this fall. It was a lot of work for us parents and for her and she was a tired girl at the end of it all but she really enjoyed her time.

Yesterday we also finished up Walker's soccer season...

Really looking forward to finishing up the rest of the kiddos activities and school... hoping for a bit more calmer summer.