Basement

Update on the basement: These are pictures after they cleared the basement out. Ben had amazing help from his friend, Brandon, in framing the basement. He also some how got our neighbor to help too part of the time. I think Tom is hoping Ben will return the favor when he does his basement in the future.

Heading down stairs after most of the walls have been framed.

Below - this is the now the hallway off the bottom of the stairs, looking into the main living room area on the right side and then the doorway to the left is Ben's studio.

Below - Looking back from the main room to the hallway.

Below - This picture is a small area off the main room that will have a playroom area for the kids and a closet on the right back wall.

Below - this is the view from the main room looking through the wall into Ben's studio.

Since these were taken, Ben framed out the bathroom we will be putting in later this year hopefully and our storage area. The electrical is also almost done...hopefully by this Saturday. Then Ben has to get an inspection and if all goes well, insulation and dry-walling will start later next week. I'm so proud of him! He really is working so hard to get this done within the next month or so. We will be moving our office from an upstairs bedroom to the basement to make room for the new nursery.

It's already started

The nesting has already started. I've been buying clothes for the lil girl on the way. He laughs every time he looks in her closet because he says it doubles. I just like to start early and plan ahead...there is a lot of cute stuff. Although it does feel a little foreign to shop on the other side of the store now.

Since I've been cleaning out the office closet, which will become the new nursery, Taylor thinks its a blast to play in the closet now.

Christmas 2009

Christmas was a lot of fun this year for us. Taylor got the concept of opening presents and had a blast opening them. He must of got my OCD gene though...every time he had a small piece of the wrapping paper ripped off he had to put it in the trash pile before he'd ripe another piece to open it.

Everyone (including us) spoiled him rotten!

This was our favorite gift to Taylor...we got him a big green chair. He loves it and lays in it watching Veggie Tails while I get ready in the mornings.

Sharing Christmas morning breakfast with dad.

We had the family over to our house this year for Christmas day. It was lot of fun but I over planned and had way too much food left over.




We had a very blessed Christmas and thank the Lord for all He gave to us. The most important part was that we celebrated His birth because if it wasn't for Him coming to this fallen world to save us, we would not know how amazing our God is today!

Family Pictures

We got family pictures taken for our Christmas cards.
We really like the pictures this year.

Taylor's First Hair Cut

Taylor got his first hair cut right before Christmas. I just pulled the pictures off my camera so I'm posting them a little late. He did really good considering it was his first time. He's not a fan of the cape they put over him. He looks like a little boy now, no more baby. I think he's very hansom! Although Ben wishes I'd leave his hair longer.

GFI box

The GFI box caught on fire in our garage right before Christmas. We had friends over and we kept smelling something and then our friend Jason opened our garage door to find the garage filled with smoke. There was no fire by the time they found it but we still called the fire department. The only funny part was the fire department is right across the street and they still had to suit up and come over with the fire truck.