There may be light at the end of this tunnel afterall!

We have carpet upstairs!! There is actually an area in our house that I would want to walk barefoot in now! Tonight before we went to the house, we loaded up all of our pictures and breakable decor stuffs. The kid's "helped" me unload the car and I hauled it all upstairs. For those Grandparents reading this, I helped the kids upstairs. Barb, I know I said they weren't allowed upstairs but I helped them up this one time so they could see the new carpet. O.k. I think I feel better but a little like I was just got caught with my hand in the cookie jar. :o)

Lucas went right to work decorating the closet upstairs. "Mom, can we PLEASE leave it this way?"

This one is just to clue everyone else in to the safety concerns of the stairs. And to answer someone's question regarding where the 80 some ballisters go, this would be were they go...hopefully sooner than later.
A very messy garage but notice the sheetrock(is that how you spell that?) and new lights. This is making someone very happy.
And a chunk of the hardwood floor got laid today. The kids spent a good half hour tonight just running to and fro on the stuff.
Jill washing her hair in the shower that is progressing very slowly.
I feel like I need to introduce everyone to the pink teddy bear Jill is holding in the picture above. This is "Coco" formally "Sukie Candy". I think this relationship started when my parents were here and has only grown stronger. Jill literally takes Coco everywhere, always tucked under her arm like it is in the picture. She sleeps with her, eats with her and if she can't hold her for some reason she asks me to because "Coco will cry. She wants you to hold her." Jill tried to ride her trike today and was only able to go in circles since Coco was tucked under her arm and she had to continuously turn the wheel to be able to reach the handlebar. I finally rigged up a basket so she be relieved of her motherly duties.New pajamas. For once it was fun to get ready for bed!

Thoughts from Jill

I was just thinking about the ride home from "Durango House" this evening. Jill was in the backseat. Lucas was with Daddy so she had Mama's ears all to herself. Out of the blue she says, (I wish I could write it in the little toddler talk she uses) "Somestimes boys cry." (pause) "Somestimes gills cry too." (pause) "Daddy's not suppose to cry." (pause) "Aunt Marie (without the "r" sound) not suppose to cry eider." (pause) "Mama, ask me whose else not suppose to cry." And then we spent the rest of the trip going through everyone she knows and she told me if they are suppose to cry or not. Ahhh, little two year olds...wish I could bottle it up!

I also wanted to say thank you for all the congratulations and comments we received about the expected little one! Thank you for rejoicing with us.

Less than a week...

until the end of our lease! I think we are going to make it! A lot has happened since I last posted. Nathan has been busy painting, painting and then painting some more. Several days this past week he left before we got out of bed and didn't come home until we were all back in bed. All that hard work is starting pay off. Every square inch of the interior of that house has a new coat of paint and it looks so much better. This week the flooring goes in and then Lord willing we will be moving this weekend! I can't wait to actually eat dinner in the same house that I sleep in! We are going to eat only vegetables and homemade fare for the rest of the month to make up for all the take-out we have had (I know, famous last words).

Lisa Conner and her girls came last weekend and worked their tails off. If you read this THANK YOU AGAIN! The kids loved having the girls to play with. Tonight I again heard Lucas bemoaning that fact that "Ca & Liz" weren't here because "I had just so much fun with them".

They didn't just play, however. They also helped sand these 80-some ballisters.

Den

Guest Room

Nathan's office

Master Bath Tile

Laundry room

Main Bath

The kitchen is almost completely moved over.

"His compassions fail not they are new every morning, Great is thy faithfulness." Lam. 3:23

Count Down

Well Friends, this is where Nathan and I will be laying our heads to sleep in two weeks...

Where we will take a shower (notice full-length clear glass door located directly in front of the toilet is set to be replaced with a high window of obscure glass)...

Where we will be relaxing on the couch... Is it just me or does anyone else hear Jaw's theme music when you look at these pictures and the amount of time we have left to get them ready!

At least the portholes still work. Have I mentioned our house has not one, but two portholes? Perhaps the former owners took the Nantucket feel a bit too far but for some reason I kinda like them.

Actually, despite a few aggravation, the renovations have gone very smoothly and we seem to be on track time wise. We have much to thank the Lord for. He has timed things so beautifully for us in more ways than I'm sure we realize.

And a couple more pictures of the kidos from this evening...

Lucas careening a toy truck down the hill in the back yard.

Jilly looking sweet in her "fip fops"

Now on to more important news. Although it may not seem like it, there is other news besides the house to be had in this family. This week we got official confirmation that Baby Miller #3 is headed our way! Our newest member should join the party the middle of January, Lord willing. We are very excited about having another baby but I've wondered at the timing when I need to pick out tile and I feel like eating a soda cracker and lying on the couch instead but again the Lord's timing is perfect. Although Jill doesn't take it in at all, when we told Lucas he said, "I'm just so happy I don't know what to say!" The other day I asked him if he was excited about moving into "Durango House" and he said yes, but there was something he was even more excited about. When I asked him what that was he said, "my new baby!" I hope that sentiment continues.

So like I was saying we're counting down...

Must you leave?

Grandpa and Grandma have to leave today. :o( I know two little kids who are going to go through some serious withdrawal. This morning, Jill woke up and instead of the usual "Moooommmy" or "Daddddy", it was "Gammmmpa!"

Yesterday, Grandpa took Lucas on the train to downtown San Diego and back. The girls went shopping or "chopping" as Jill says. Nathan took out a big desk/bookcase extravaganza in the kids room. Notice the lovely original bight orange shag carpet.
New stairs...really will feel better once that handrail is up!
Master bath...looking into closet from toilet area.
Master bath...looking into shower/toilet area.

I can never think of a title!

Swim lessons with Natalie Warr started this week. This year, Jilly gets to get in on the action. She really doesn't like going under the water so we'll see how it goes. Lucas started learning side breathing so he can swim like Daddy (instead of like Mommy!).

The house is progressing..slowly at times but surely. Nathan had to be gone this past week so Dad and Mom came to help me keep the contractors in line. :o)

Laundry Room

New stairs
Taking time out to enjoy the pool.