Home

Thanks to the awsomeness of Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa Dooley, our house is now a home.  I can't even begin to express my gratitude for all their help.  In just two short days, we got almost everything done.
Grandma and Grandpa spent a lot of time and effort to reupholster our dining room chairs, and added a vinyl covering to protect the fabric from the messiest of the inhabitants in the house.  They look wonderful.  I love the fabric Grandma picked out. 
When Mom and Dad got here Wednesday afternoon, they started the difficult muscle work of bringing in all the furniture (most of which went upstairs) and because of poor design, it was a challenge at times.  Grandma had made Nick's favorite, Stroganoff, for dinner, so we had a scrumptious feast on Wednesday night.
Thursday was spent going through all the boxes and finding the right place for our things.  Mom spent much of her time in the kitchen/pantry getting everything organized and put in the most logical place.  I spent my time split between corralling kids and going through all the clothes and putting them in the right drawers and closets.  Dad and Grandpa golfed Thursday afternoon. 
Because he has been without his barbeque for three months, Nick wanted to BBQ on Thursday.  So we had some delicious New York Strips, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli and cauliflower (Dad's favorite) and leftover apple salad and potato-rosemary bread.  It was mouthwatering.
After dinner, Mom, Grandma, and I started hanging pictures.  I think we did a wonderful job, getting things just right, and enjoying each other in the process.  If you ask Dad, Grandpa, or Nick, they may tell you they wondered how we got anything hung at all! (There was quite a bit of laughing involved;  I'm sure you can't imagine.)
Friday morning found us finishing the details.  Mom organized the linen closet, Grandma and Grandpa finished the chairs and helped me hang the last of the pictures, and I set up my "pretties" table.  I haven't had all my breakables out in over five years; it was much like Christmas opening all those boxes and wrappings to find all my delicate, pretty things. 

Joey had his first school pictures taken today.  It was one of those milestones for this momma.  It makes my heart twinge when I think of him growing up. I'm so proud of him.  Another milestone for him will come at bedtime; he will be sleeping in his own room for the first time in over three years!  We decided that we would put him in the "spare" bedroom with the queen bed.  He has his own desk, a light by his bed where he can read before going to sleep (something I wouldn't want him to do with Nick and Ethan in the room).  The bunk beds are still set up, so when we do have company, Joey can sleep on the top bunk, and our guests can have their own room with an actual bed.  If you came to visit us in Alaska, you should come visit us again and enjoy the improvement!

Just as a side note; Nick still has trouble staying in bed.  At naptime yesterday, I found him asleep on the floor....under the crib!  That boy makes me laugh!