Busy, busy, busy!

Well, it has been a while since I posted anything, so I thought it was time to give everyone an update on the craziness around here. Shortly before Christmas we had a contractor come to give us an estimate for finishing the basement. Well, much to our dismay, his quote was double what we had wanted to spend. So, we decided that we (yes, Brian and ME) could do it ourselves and get someone to help with the electrical work and the drywall. This meant last weekend was spent at Home Depot and Lowe's getting lumber (lots of lumber) and tools. While at Home Depot, they were having a Kid's workshop, so the boys got to build their own "Castle Bank." Not only did they get to build something, they got a cool orange apron, a certificate and a pin to go on the apron. They were so excited! Hunter couldn't wait to put his apron back on at home so he could be Daddy's helper.


The construction began last weekend and we quickly learned that some different tools would make the job easier. Fortunately, a friend let us borrow a nail gun. Another friend loaned us a table saw, some work tables, and some other things. So this weekend, the job went much quicker. I have some pictures that I will post soon...I need to get them off the camera! Almost all of the framing is completed, except for the door frames for the two doors we are installing...I am so impressed...Brian worked so hard, and it looks fantastic.

Garrett started his first "reading" lesson this week, going though the book Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. This is the book I used with Hunter and now he is reading on a 2nd-3rd grade level. I only started this now with Garrett because he was asking to learn to read. He told me "all I can do is just look at the pictures" and he wanted to be able to read books like Hunter. It is nice to have a big brother to motivate!

We got to watch a former baby sitter's baby this past week. Hannah had to go back to work and her sitter for Wednesday couldn't keep Schuyler (pronounced Skylar), so she asked if we could keep her. Schuyler is 2 1/2 months old and doesn't even weigh what Hunter did at birth. I could not believe how tiny she was...my babies were anything but tiny! Hunter kept asking to hold her and feed her and change her diaper. He was so gentle with the baby and was trying his very best to be careful. He did ask to carry her, but I did have enough sense to not allow that just yet. Garrett also thought she was adorable and wanted to hold her and feed her. He was allowed to hold her for a few minutes, but since she ate soy formula, I didn't feel it safe for Garrett to feed her.

Well, that is about all I can remember from the last week. Now I know why I should keep up with this thing more often.

I do have a couple of prayer requests:
1.There is a young mother who has Cystic Fibrosis and she had to deliver her baby at 25 weeks due to her lungs deteriorating quickly. The mother, Tricia and baby Gwyneth are both in ICU at Duke. Tricia's husband Nathan is the nephew of a man at my church. You can check out Nathan's blog for updates on Tricia and Gwyneth. www.cfhusband.blogspot.com

2. A two year old boy was critically injured in a hit and run accident today. I do not know his name, but God knows who he is just the same. A dear friend of mine actually passed by the scene before the EMS teams arrived...she saw passersby trying to comfort the baby, and needless to say, she is quite shaken up about this. I figured this boy could use all of the prayer power he could get.

That does it for tonight. God Bless!