Project time

With the news of moving to Lemoore, we are trying to do some much put off house projects. We are going to attempt to sell our house in January. If we don't find buyers we are going to rent. I looked everywhere for a "before" picture of our guest room and of the entire time we have lived here we have not taken ONE picture in there! When I would walk into this room it would instantly make me anxious. I hated everything about it. It basically had all the left over random things from our college years. It had white bare walls, with some diplomas, a filing cabinet, a bed with no headboard, a random bookshelf, and a garage sale find of a desk. We decided to spice up the room! When we evacuated for the hurricane to Northern Virginia we did an Ikea run and got some amazing finds for the room.

Our project helpers

Great labor team- they work for 3 M&Ms each

The new paint color- Valspar "Cork"

Playing tetris figuring out how we are going to get all the Ikea furniture into the minivan back to VA Beach

Reason # 1 million why I love our minivan- it can fit anything! We got it all back to GiGi's house in one trip - Don't worry Ellie wasn't with us so she didn't have to ride in that car seat turned around.

The girls kept working even during power outages. They love their flashlights

Finished Product!

Computer area

Then we did our biannual Stanley Steemer cleaning of all the carpets in our house and all the furniture. This company literally gets ALL stains out of the carpets and furniture except paint. Totally worth the money despite the chaos that day. In this picture the termite inspector was there too. Thankfully everything turned out great.

The before picture of the girls room. Ellie's crib was on the right.

Aunt Pat and Uncle Bobby generously gave us this amazing set of bunkbeds. They are in great shape and the girls are in heaven to have their Diva Den upgraded. Thank you so much Ferraras and thank you Nanny and PopPops for bringing down the bunkbeds and help set it all up.

First Day of School

Ava so excited that Daddy could take her to the first day of school this year

Excuse Ellie's binky, she was very emotional that her sissy was leaving her for the day!

Ava first day in 4 year old class at Mother's Day Out preschool

Backpacks and lunch boxes come in the mail!

Ava needed a big girl backpack this year to hold all her schoolwork and homework folders.

Ava has school on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Ellie has school on Wednesdays. Mondays are errands day for Ellie and I. On Tuesdays we have Bible study and grocery shopping. Wednesday is my free day, Thursday is Ava's date day when I take her to the YMCA to practice her swimming in the indoor pool, and Friday is Ellie's date day while Ava is at school. The last couple of Fridays we have done the Zoo, Park, and Bounce house. Bean is thriving with the one on one attention.

Doesn't this tiger look like he is about to eat her here?

Bounce House fun

Backpack Babes

Ava telling Ellie how much fun school is

Ellie's first day in the toddler class at Mother's Day Out Preschool

Ellie has finally learned that fountains are not public baths...big step for her!

I was so proud of Ava being chosen as the first "Noble Citizen" of her class! The one answer to her question that has me perplexed though is the, "If I had just one wish it would be to have a new table and chairs". I bet the people at Ava's school are wondering what is going on in the Valdez house for Ava to ask for such a staple thing. HA!

So proud of her! Her teachers have both told me that she has the best manners in her class. Funny story, one day I was scolding her telling her that she was not being a nice big sister for not sharing with Ellie. She said, "But Momma, I AM a Noble Citizen though!" I had to "fake cough" aka laugh into my hands after that comment.

Ava's self portrait that she drew- I love that she did the brown eyes, redhair, a freckle, and most importantly- a big giant smile!

Georgia Roadtrip 2011

Georgia is always on our mind. This year we were excited to make the Marietta and Lake House visit with Greg. Our kids basically disappeared while we were in Marietta. Our younger cousins Tilly, Elinor, and Davis all took them under their wing and showed the girls a great time. We got to catch up with Aunt Julie, Uncle Ed, Jena, and Dean and other extended family members. Always the highlights of Marietta is the incredible Southern cooking from my family, the six chickens, and the pool. Our time at Gigi and GrandBob's lake house was incredible. I have never been anywhere more relaxing or beautiful. On "busy" days on the lake you would see 4 boats all day. Greg and I did morning swims everyday, we went boating, fishing, swimming, white water rafting, and had cocktails on the party deck in the evenings. We are so blessed to have such an incredible family all around and we will make sure that our Georgia summer trips continue to be a family tradition even when we move cross country.

The girls love the swing set

Tilly teaching us about Chickens

chicken laying an egg - doesn't get stage fright with Greg

Ava wasn't afraid of them this year

Ellie always has no fear!

swingtime baby!

Greg catching up with Aunt Julie

The kids playing duck duck goose

family super jump

One of my absolute favorite pictures- Look at Mini hanging in there on the end!

Ava toss

Gosh they look alike

Chicken fights

Cheering!

Jigsaws at the lakehouse

baking with Gigi in the early morning

lotion up Daddy!

love the new party deck!

GrandBob making a splash!

Superjump with Gigi

Woot!

I was brave enough to do the super super jump

Insert scream

tube time

Daddy's girls

ready to boat!

Captain Bob

At one point both girls fell asleep on Gigi- so sweet

She is not a baby anymore and growing up too quick!

This is hysterical and Ava will be so mad at me for posting this one day- Ava had to pee so we had to stop the boat and Greg had to hold her over the side. That is fatherly love!

Gigi's shadow for the week

Gigi rocking Ellie in the same rocking chair she used to rock me in

Grandbob was such a good sport to play "puppy" with the girls

Penny too scared to come off land

Bob's sister Shirley that has a house around a corner. She spoiled the girls that week too!

fishing time!

Moon coming out

Our Georgia Peach

THANK YOU AGAIN MOM, BOB, THE CONES, AND FULCHERS for a fantastic Week!