Fireplace

Paul finally got the fireplace done in the basement and it looks great!! My carpenter-extraordinaire-father-in-law built the mantel for us, Paul installed it, and I antiqued it. Paul then endured about a hundred nicks and cuts while installing the metal lathe that went under the stone, but he got it all done, saving us at least $600 in the process! I think I'll do a darker glaze to make the onlays and corbels stand out more and make the whole thing look older and more distressed, but overall I am so thrilled with the way it turned out!! (the pictures don't really do it justice - the flash made it looked too bright and without the flash it looked washed out, but hopefully you get the idea)

Breckyn's Birthday Party

Breckyn's 4th birthday was celebrated at our house on March 21st with her friends, Gram, and Shelly. We had hotdogs for lunch, then played some games, opened presents, and finished off with cake and ice cream. She was pretty excited to be the center of attention, and even more excited about her great haul of new toys, make-up, and dress-up clothes. She was especially thrilled with a huge tub of jellybeans - which lasted exactly one week!

Nature Center

On a beautiful March 18th, my friend Sarah and I met at Great Plains Nature Center with our kids. We enjoyed eating, getting some exercise, and especially exploring the Nature Center's awesome interactive exhibits and animals. If you've never been, you need to go - and it's FREE!!

Happy Trails

After a picnic lunch at the Nature Center, we all got some exercise and enjoyed exploring a couple miles of trails. We were fortunate enough to see lots of wildlife including plenty of birds, ducks, a turtle, and even a beaver!