Our new home

We've been working like crazy on the house this past weekend. We closed on Thursday of last week and were so excited it finally happened. Sometimes it seemed it never would. The house was a foreclosure, so the paper work between realtors, attorneys, agents, lenders etc. took some time. Randy riped up all the carpet in the whole house, padding and staples by himself. I was very impressed! We also realized that we could pull up all the peel and stick tile that was put down in the kitchen and two bathrooms. That was a big job and both Randy and my knuckles are torn up. Despite some beat up hands the house is coming along. We got all new carpet installed yesterday after I caulked and painted all the baseboards and trim. wow, what a difference. Some friends we've made here helped us get a spectacular deal on some great Shaw carpet. Thx Janae and Jeff ;) Now we're scrubbing floors and cupboards and doing all that stuff. We are so excited to move in and have a home of our own again here. I think we'll feel much more rooted at that point. I'm so glad Stella (and Millie) will soon have a backyard to play in and more room to roam. So here are some before pictures, taken on Monday, and I will post some after pictures later. Wish us luck! I've packed nothing in the apartment yet! And we've got to be out of here on Sunday.

The new address is ... 7 Box Tree Way, Greenville, SC 29605

That's groovy

Stella and Elizabeth loved Chuck's one man concert!

Fun with friends

Our first time at Chuck E Cheese's. The kids had a great time. And I even snuck in a couple rounds of ski ball.

I think Barney looks a little menacing here, but Stella didn't seem to mind

Our friend Janae bought all the girls these super cute shirts. Then she and her husband had us over for a Memorial Day party. It was great to get a chance to have a group shot of the 'apple shirt' crew. Sitting at the picnic table, in the middle, is one of two boys in our group of friends. He and Stella have very similar personalities I think, both are very expressive and high energy. Stella really enjoys his company. I lover her face in this picture...look carefully

taking a bath

Bath time! She has been so lively this evening and it transfered into bath time, which she loves anyway. Daddy was on bath duty tonight and was having fun squirting her.

This and that

Stella's portrait #2 (11 mos)

At the playground with her friend Maya. She wore her hat the whole time.

Stella's talking, well...listening to her Grandpa

She looooves to play with her legos and spread them around. It's a daily occurence that Stella drags over her lego bag to me to open it up for her.

I gotta wear shades!

We got some sunglasses tonight at the mall. We had to get outta here and do something, both she and I were getting crabby. So Stella and I went to the mall and walked around a bit. Treated her to some dinner there, but she was way to interested in what all the people were doing to eat. She loved wearing these glasses around the apartment when we got home. She's just got such a vibrant and lively personality and I think these photos really show it!

Birthday parties

Alright Stella, who does that sippy cup belong too? A popular trick of hers is to steal sippy cups. Anyone's but hers is always a favorite.

Sophia (2 yrs. old) and Stella...'Here Stella do you want a drink?'

'Seriously, just take a drink!!!!' Very cute. Sophia was trying to share her drink with Stella and Stella wasn't really sure about it.

Of course she walked and explored the whole day at Sophia's birthday party at the park. I barely had time to eat two pieces of cake!

At the first of two birthday parties. This one belonged to Maya. A friend of ours here we've met through our 'Bouncing Babies' group at the library. Stella's got lots of friends her age here.

The popular place to be at Maya's ..in the pool of balls! Friends, Stella, Maya and Elizbeth.

using a spoon

Stella's getting better and better with a spoon. What a big girl. Though her preffered utencil is her hand still. Just after these photos though she grabbed for the bowl to do something messy I'm sure. A couple nights ago we went to a playdate/dinner and ice cream with some friends we've made here. Stella and her 15 month old friend, Chase, had a blast together. They were wrestling with each other, turning hugs into head locks. They were smiling and laughing and squealing the whole time.