Girl Scout Mania

Zoe and I are officially Girl Scouts. Zoe showed interest that she would like to become a Girl Scout Daisy... I, of course, am a sucker because I am the troop leader.... the things you do for your children! We had to throw this troop together with enrollment forms and my few hours of training within 4 days and right before Christmas... just so we could sell cookies this month. Well we got everyone enrolled... training was done... and then after Christmas we were notified that I had another couple of hours of training just to sell cookies. So after those hours were done... we had to meet so we could train the girls and their parents on the cookie process. Everyone has been working very hard this month selling cookies to help raise "fun" funds for our troop and the girls are doing a great job!!! We have already had our "first" troop meeting and I think the girls had a wonderful, fun time! Zoe is working hard on learning her Girl Scout Promise... so she may earn her 1st petal patch.

Almost forgot... another Todd masterpiece!

I almost forgot to tell everyone about a shelf that Todd built for the playroom. I think he did a wonderful job and works perfectly!

Cole also helps with all projects... Zoe helps paint when needed.

Updated Roscoe Pics

Roscoe is fitting in well with us and we are really enjoying him! We have found that he is very loving and affectionate... The kids are really having fun with him too... Zoe is getting quite fond of him. We are estimating him at 35lbs and he is almost 6 mos old. He can now jump up on the couchs... which is good because he is getting very hard to pick up. He really loves the snow, chewing on his ears and playing with his toys.

Zoe's New Do

Zoe went to get her hair done last night and I told her that she could do whatever she would like... Here is the result... She loves it! She says that now... She looks just like mommy!

Too Much HGTV?

Todd thinks that I watch too much HGTV and that I need to stop looking at his This Old House magazine. After all the work we have already completed this year in the house and a few more projects waiting... I told him the other day that I had another idea... I want to sand my kitchen cabinets and paint them a chocolate brown... because I know that a new kitchen is problem 10 yrs down the road. He gave me the look and said if you want it done... you do it! You never know what my kitchen may look like once these other projects are completed... I might just find the time to re-do the kitchen myself!

Wasn't there a wall there before?

I made a comment to Todd that I thought I would like some cabinets down in the kitchen that were over the center island... later that night... he was emptying them out to remove them! We had talked previously about taking the wall between to the playroom and kitchen down to a half wall, so I could see the daycare kids when in the kitchen... and then I mentioned while we were taking down the cabinets that I thought it would look nice if the wall was completely gone. He called me the next Saturday while I was in Rockford and said, "I have to run to town to buy a new tv because I have 3 holes in your playroom wall." I responded... "You were supposed to be at home relaxing today." I got home and he had the playroom wall all wired for a flat screen... and advised me that on Sunday (the next day) that we were going to take down the wall. I looked at him and asked who was going to help with it... and he said just us. Cole and I started tearing off the trim the next morning... and Todd started ripping the drywall off the wall... within hours the wall was gone... and we were onto another dilemna... how do you get the support beam in place before the ceiling caves in? I am not real experienced on hoisting big, heavy wood beams into place so the ceiling will not cave in... well we did it and have a little more cosmetic work to complete, but I love it! The daycare kids still stay in the playroom... we now have bar stools at the counter so we can eat in the kitchen... and the house seems almost brand new! I can't believe the change in just removing 1 wall!

Todd's New Found Talent

We have always known that Todd is good at home improvements, but he has been trying wood working lately (of course with his new tools from Christmas).... we don't have anything fancy right now, but I am sure that it will come.

We started Zoe's closet organizers on New Years Eve... We are finally going to finish her room after 2 yrs! We are now waiting patiently for her new doors... and then it off to painting the trim, chair rail and doors... and it will be done!

Zoe loves her new closet and so do I!!

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009 was a lot of fun... Cole and Zoe both still believe in Santa, so we are treasuring every year as we know that the year will come and they will not believe. Todd even made footprints on the roof by the woodburner chimney so that the kids would think that Santa had been on the roof... the kids loved it!

Big presents for Zoe this year were: iPod shuffle, Barbie camper and Chrissa (American Girl doll). Big presents for Cole this year were: Bakugan 7-in-1 figurine sets, Knight Rider season dvd set, Transformer Devastater and GX racers.

I finally got my Wii Fit with the Biggest Loser game... however with all the home remodeling and colds going on... I haven't had a chance to try it, but I have a goal set to get it out next week. Todd got a table saw and many other home remodeling tools... it is wonderful to give items that you know will help with upcoming projects! Of course we didn't forget our new family member, Roscoe... he made out well with treats and play toys!