Life

I couldn't find a photo of the front room as it used to be; but, here are three photos (slightly over-exposed) of what it is now.  And, the best part, the only thing that we bought in order to 'renovate' this room was paint.  We liked the paint so much that we painted the top half of the hall and two bedrooms in the same shade.

We, well mostly Dave, redid this room throughout the month of July when Sarah was still just a wee babe.  My contribution was the painting of trim and doors, in between nursing the baby.  If you remember correctly, there used to be brown paint on those walls, burgundy accents around the fireplace and pinkish carpet on the floor.  When we ripped up the 20 year old carpet we found hills of fine dust and dirt as well as hardened plaster from the genius who sprayed the 'popcorn' on the ceiling.  Thank you, genius.   Seeing as our funds are very limited we knew that replacing the flooring was not an option.  However, the carpet was no longer viable:  there are only so many bodily fluids which such a textile can survive.  Thus, after much googling, we opted to paint the plywood.  Painting became sanding and filling holes when we discovered the hardened plaster.  I guess that the original contractor never banked  on a future owner opting for a plywood look.  We did the same with the bedroom hallway as well as two of the bedrooms.   I can't tell you how happy I am with these floors.  The clean up is easy and the assurance that, unlike the carpet, the plywood is not harbouring unknown life forms is easy on the mind.

Those of you who are very astute might wonder what we are sitting on now that the green couch and pink Lazy Boy are no longer in the great room.  Well, this whole redo was occasioned by Dave's parents giving us a sectional leather couch shortly after Sarah's birth.  What a gift!  I know.  I was so overwhelmed by the price tag that I felt like covering it with a sheet for its first few weeks with us.  However, the arrival of the couch set into motion a whole series of renovation events for which my poor back paid sorely.  And to conclude?  I never really knew what to do with the front room.  I mean, really, two living rooms?  Consequently, the front room has been a storage facility, an office, a bedroom, a toy room and now an adult living room/office.  And, with six kids running around, I am finally thankful for a room that I once thought was useless.

Two of the six kids.  Sarah wears that expression a lot, a sort of resignation mixed with exasperation and boredom.  Or maybe I'm just projecting...

Isaac with his golden crown which, haircut by haircut, is slowly darkening.  Good bye, blondie.  Mommy, dry your tears.

Hannah's sheer joy at the arrival of a sister.  And Mr. Husky shoved into the photo by Benjamin.

A very normal scene.  We even have fake babies.  Because real ones aren't enough.

I love this shot:  completely unintentional but somehow captures our life.

Sarah in her chair with a very Sarah look.

And an even better Sarah look.  For those of you who recall Ben as a baby, she most closely resembles him except that she is lighter in coloring.

And this?  An accurate portrayal of life at our house.  Welcome.