Hello all!

We got the idea to do a blog when my sister Stacy started one to keep everyone updated on the twins, Abby and Maddy. It seemed like a great way to share pictures and events with family and friends. So, Denise and I decided to give it a try.

Our last couple of months have been busy getting the house ready for the arrival of Elizabeth Rose (Libby). So, for practice sake, I decided to take some pictures of the improved house and try my hand at this "blogging thingy"!

Our newly painted living room The first picture is of our living room repainted. The color is called Bleached Wheat and really goes well with the Oriental Red that the kitchen is painted in. The last thing to do in this room is to get a leather couch and loveseat (which we are watching the furniture sales for) to make it a more formal sitting area.

Our revamped master bedroom

The next room we attacked was the master bedroom. We went from a very light tan on the walls to Carmalized. We also purchased a king size bedroom set and installed a ceiling fan for the warm summer nights. It has helped Denise be a little more comfortable while pregnant, but nothing will replace the air conditioner.

Looking NW in the front yard

Looking NE in the front yard

Looking SW in the backyard

The three above pictures are of the outside of the house. The white siding is still the same, but we got rid of the burgandy shutters and front door. We replaced the front and back door with two that have windows in them and really brightened up the inside of the house. We painted the shutters a navy blue and then decided to add a little more color by painting our doors the same color. Denise's flowers on the deck took a while to take off, but within the last week, the planters are struggling to contain them.

A revamped guest bedroom

The guest bedroom in the basement hasn't really changed a whole lot. We did put a queen size bedroom set in there, so that is an upgrade over the full size that was in there. So if anyone wants to visit, we have a bigger place for you!

New TV room and TV

Looking into the new TV room

Now for the major project!!! We decided to build a nice TV room in the basement. Thanks to Denise's dad Curtis, we were able to make this addition in three weeks. I took three days off from work during construction to help with the framing and drywall, but Curtis did the rest of the work and did an outstanding job. The color on the walls is olive and the sectional couch is a camel color, and very comfy. Denise and I have spent as much time as possible in it since it is so cozy and comfy (and cooler on the warm nights).

A BIG THANK YOU AGAIN CURTIS!!!

And yes, that is a treadmill in the back that does get used!!! We do have a weight machine that has not made it out of storage yet, but will in the near future. It is so much easier working out when you can watch TV!

Denise's scrapbooking/sewing room and Troy's computer room

We needed to make the new TV room so that we could turn the old one into a craft and computer room. Denise really wanted to have an area where she could have her sewing, scrapbooking and embroidery things out in the open and accessable. We got this idea from our friends Brian and Lisa in Bemidji since they put a dedicated craft room in their new house. We also decided to put both of our computers in this room.

Our nursery and crib A closeup of the border

We needed the computer and craft room since that stuff had to move from the bedroom across the hall from the master. That room is now the nursery! It has been painted in Melon and Pink with a border. The furniture is a real light color and looks really great with the pink and melon. We are waiting on a glider rocker to arrive and be put in the room also. The closeup is a picture of the border in Libby's room.
So, there you have it, the first major post on the blog. Denise and I are going to try and keep things current and up to date. So visit often and don't be afraid to sign our guestbook!