The Prequel

When we bought our house 11 years ago, it was in great condition cosmetically.  While it needed a new roof, new windows and a new furnace, there wasn't a lot on the inside that we could complain about.  Except our one and only full bathroom.  Which I swear, I never saw during the three times we looked at the house; or the inspection; or the final walkthrough.  Or else, I would have run screaming.  This is what our full bath looked like the first few years we were in the house (circa 1949).

Original medicine cabinet - with a slot for razors (right above the mouthwash) and everything.

In 2005, we just couldn't handle the pink anymore, and so we did a small renovation - it was all that we could handle at the time and, for the most part, it took care of the worst parts.  This redo was enough to hold us over until the last year or so, we when started dreaming about doing the bathroom over; and having nightmares about the shower handles snapping off in our hands one morning.

The tub was glazed white. 

New medicine cabinet and sink. 

New toilet and shelf. 

Nothing we could really do about the privacy wall. 

Memorial Day

Yesterday was Memorial Day and our town's annual Memorial Day Parade.  And it was particularly special this year - for the first time, both girls had the opportunity to march in the parade!  Elizabeth marched with the lacrosse league and Emily marched with her Daisy troop.  They were both so excited!  I have to say, it was a bit weird for Lee and I to watch the parade without any kids around.

No one does holiday bling like Emily! 

These two were very excited to march! 

A little patriotic spirit at home. 

Color Guard. 

Friends in the parade! 

More friends in the parade (both girls were sooooo impressed with Gwen!). 

Lacrosse! 

Cutest Daisy troop ever! 

When they were done marching, the girls came to sit with us and enjoy the rest of the parade with their friends.

Crowning of Mary - Take Two

On Mother's Day, both girls participated in the Crowning of Mary at our own church.  At our church, each child places a flower in a basket at the foot of the statute of Mary and then one child (never our child, much to their chagrin) places the crown of flowers on the statute's head.  They loved doing it and were all smiles as they walked down the aisle at church.

Waiting in the church basement. 

Elizabeth walked right in front of me as Emily placed her flowers in the basket. :-( 

Bench Press for Breast Cancer

Last Saturday was the 5th Annual Bench Press for Breast Cancer event at The Refuge.  This year, there were a number of new competitors/fundraisers, which was great!  It is so good to see new faces, passionate about this cause.  Thanks to your generosity, we raised more than $375; Lee lifted 400 pounds (with ease, I might add); and all of the lifters combined raised more than $5,000.  It was a hugely successful day, and lots of fun too!

Daughters of The Refuge. 

The Mayor didn't lift this year, but he did stop by to thank everyone and support the cause. 

The mayor has little kids of his own, so when he found this inch worm, he brought it over to show to Elizabeth, Emily and Cassie. 

Drawing the winners for the raffle prizes. 

5th Annual Bench Press for Breast Cancer (several lifters are missing from this photo, including Lee).

Spring Fairies

The girls have been working on their fairy houses in every spare moment - Elizabeth likes to leave notes for her fairy - she is very curious and her fairy probably doesn't have a lot of time to work on her house when she visits because she is so busy trying to find and respond to Elizabeth's notes....

April Odd and Ends

After uploading the photos from my iPhone, I realized that there are lots of odds and ends from April!

Emily is a Whizz in Math!!

My work sponsored a family day at the Connecticut Science Center so the girls and I went for free!

First car wash!  Go Middletown LAX!

We keep our bedroom door closed during the day so that Baxter can't sleep on our bed - so he sleeps in Emily's bed instead, which she thinks is great!

Tree Readers.  I'm not sure how or why they came up with this, but this is how they spent part of every afternoon during April vacation.

She loves this dog so much.

We went to the Yankee Candle flagship store during April vacation - Elizabeth and Lee were on the hunt for a steak or bacon flavored candle - and they found one!!  Yuck!! 

What a napper.