august

Oops.  It appears that August is almost complete and I haven't written a post since the end of July.  We've been busy!  For the past few weeks my project focus has been on the living room.  It's pretty much done and I couldn't be happier!  (Both with how it turned out, and just the fact that it's "done".)  Spent A LOT of time painting the trim.  While my sister was in town she helped with some of it, which was awesome, but it's still such a huge job and I am sooooo sick of it.  Thankfully, once I finish the trim in the playroom/to be nursery, I'll be done with it for now and I already have two coats of primer on in there, so there's only a small amount of torture yet to endure.  Anyways, I went for a complete color change in the living room (from red walls to blue) and it's great.  I've gotten alot of stuff hung back up on the walls (waiting for some updated family pictures after baby comes!), and Mike and I hung some shelves that really add to the room.  I'd still like to find a "new" recliner and eventually an area rug.  Next up is the playroom and once that is done, NO MORE PAINTING for me for a while!

We've had lots of activities to keep us going the last few weeks.  On the one hand it's good - helps me pass the time with the boys with all the hours Mike has been working; but on the other hand it's hard - managing the three boys most of the time by myself is certainly a challenge, and, of course, it's good to have some down time at home.  But, in some ways that creates more stress because right now, still not having a yard, playing outside means getting dirty, and not just a little dirty, so that means dealing with clean up.  And, like any normal family (I hope), we go through stretches where the boys play so nicely together, then there are PLENTY of times where it's just constant bickering, pestering, whining, etc.  All. The. Time.

Anyways, at the end of July I took the boys to a picnic at the park put on my Mike's dentist.  They had fun playing a few games, getting face paint (not Levi, he never wants it for some reason), eating hot dogs and ice cream, having pop, playing at the park, and dressing up for the photo booth.  The next day was a big birthday party for my Grandma Tiemeyer's 90th, and the start of a week of family activities as my sister was in town with her family.  (Always fun, but always exhausting!)  The birthday party was great - held at my parent's, and we got to see aunts, uncles, and cousins of mine that we don't see very often.  My parent's had a bounce house there for the weekend, so the kids got plenty of jumping in.

On Monday of the next week I brought Caleb and Logan to the vacation Bible school at Jamestown Baptist.  They were able to go to four of the days and they loved it!  My best friend was the Kindergarten teacher, and the boys knew a few of the other kids, plus they don't have any trouble making new friends.  :)  They did awesome crafts at that vbs, and it was fun each day to hear the boys' report.  That first morning, and I think Wednesday Michelle and I worked on painting, and Levi played nicely on his own.  :)  Tuesday some of us went to a customer appreciation thing at the Farmer's Co-op.   Bounce house, corn shelling, food, ice cream, and door prizes.  Wednesday evening we had a Ladies Night.  My mom, Emily, Michelle, Lea Anne, and I first headed out to the Downtown Market in GR.  Walked around there for a bit, then decided to head Zeeland way for dinner.  Ate at Elbo Room and it was fabulous.  Thursday evening the fam met up at Fuzzy Peach for Katie's birthday.  I think on Friday I pretty much crashed from exhaustion.  This old pregnant lady can only take so much!

Saturday it was time to switch gears and spend some time with Mike's family.  We had a big 60th birthday party for Mike's mom up at Harold and Kara's cottage.  The weather wasn't the greatest, but it certainly could have been worse, and we still had a great time spending time with family that we don't get to see enough.  So thankful that Mike has a great stepfamily and that we enjoy being together.  It was a treat to meet the newest nephew, Henry, born to Steve and Erin in early June - it felt pretty good to hold a baby again, I'm looking forward to doing that more often.  :)

The next week was another fun one with not quite as much craziness, but still busy.  On Monday I had a friend over for coffee who's expecting twin boys around the same time I am due.  There are some complications, so we're just hoping those boys stay in there cooking for awhile!!  Tuesday was finally my first trip to IKEA!  Harold graciously took the boys for the day, and Amy and I headed out to Detroit.  It was a lot of fun, and exciting to finally go to the store I've heard so much about.  I started painting the walls of the living room later in the week, and maybe overdid it just a little, but it was so nice to get it done!  Friday evening the boys and I brought a meal to a family that recently had a baby girl, and after seeing her they decided again that they'd be okay with a little sister.  :)  Saturday Mike spent the day hauling topsoil, I worked on the second coat of paint in the living room, and later we paid the price for neglecting our children...

Last week was a dr appt for baby where thankfully everything checked out good - had my glucose screening (no gestational diabetes), and got a tetanus shot (ouch).  Tuesday afternoon my friend Jen from college came over for a couple hours to visit.  Wednesday morning Marsha came over for coffee and to check out the living room.  The boys asked a couple times why I had so many ladies coming over - ha ha!  They asked when they'd be able to have friends over, and I assured them as soon as we have a yard we can start having their friends here again!  By Friday I had about had it.  But, the Lord gave me strength, and we're making it.  :)  Saturday Mike spent the day leveling the topsoil he had hauled in the week before.

And there you have it.  Most of August.  Only two weeks left until Caleb and Logan start school for the very first time!!  I really, really hope I can enjoy these last two weeks - I've been too stressed about all my projects (time to take a chill pill), and let's face it, being a mom is just no fun when your kids don't listen or are fighting or whatever.  But, we're on the brink of a new era and I don't want to just wish these last two weeks away, I want to soak up my little boys before they're all grown up.