Kitchen Update part 3 and fun times

In the midst of unexpected housing remodels and a stove in one room and a fridge in another and laundry piled up everywhere and STUFF all around, we are finding time for the stuff that really matters- being together.

THis was Alaric's first week doing swim lessons. He needs it desperately because he doesn't like the water and refused to put his head under the water- even in the bathtub! I want to take the kids to the pool this summer and not have my kid crying evertime a drop of water gets on his face.

It's a parent/tot class and there are only 4 other kids ( two of which are water babies and LOVE the water all over their heads). We have a teacher who is showing us how to help them float and kick and blow bubbles. We play games, slide down slides, sing songs, etc. It's really fun- really! I'm loving it because it's my time alone with Alaric. Most of the time, Amara gets the shaft because Al demands so much attention but often his attention isn't focused. This lets it be all about him. We are driving 40 minutes each way for a 30 minute lesson but it's all worth it. Bri and Amara came on Wednesday and took pics while we worked.

Here is Alaric jumping off the edge...I'm supposed to dunk him when he comes up and then shower him with love. Well....we are working on it. He is getting more and more confident. I dunked him up to his nose twice and was able to tip him back and put his ears in once- its progress!

he wouldn't let go of this cup!

Here is Mara after her lunch- GREEN BEANS! I don't know if you can see it but she has tons of snot all over her face too. Poor baby- she now has Alaric's old cough and congestion and there is nothing we can do about it. Lunch is a fun time!

Daddy's co-worker, Eric, came over after work to help load up the fridge from the dining room and move back to the kitchen. Alaric loved the dolly they used.

Done for now! Here is our new dishwasher. It's the same model as our stove but two years newer. You can see the finished don't quite match but it's good enough for us.

We still have to put the quarter round around the outside once it comes in to Menards to finish it off.

My newest hope-counter tops! We already have them picked out at Menards. They match the ones we put in our bar area in the basement. Dark. We think the dark counter tops with the orange cabinets will look nice. Maybe if everyone gives us Menards cards for our birthdays in March we can pull it off as a spring project...along with new gutters, new front steps and banister, plumbing in teh basement....

Bri goes back to work tomorrow- why take an extra day off when he can save it for when we really need it again. Moving on to the next thing...