Bathroom Remodel- It is finished....well, almost.

We finally completed the bathroom remodel project!  Well, almost.  We still need doors :), something for the toilet paper, a few more things on the walls, and eventually a light over the tub.  

Jonathon has worked so hard on this project.  He's given us many, many memories and great stories that we are still telling people.  All of my amazing ideas for this bathroom that I really didn't think he could do, he totally conquered and mastered it.  From the stone floor, to the cute little shelf, to the tiled shower, he did it all and well!   Enjoy the before and after pictures.  We sure are enjoying the real thing finally done!  

 After

 Before- these two bathroom became one big one.

 The gutted out bathrooms before plumbing and pipes were moved.

 It's coming along with drywall on the ceiling, a beam put in place for looks, and all plumbing and pipes in the right places and working properly.

 Installed corner, jet tub and building the surround for it.

 Time to put up the walls.  Reclaimed barn siding.

 My cute little shelf I requested for my jars of goodies and the towel.  He did an awesome job building just what I was hoping for.

 After some rearranging, I moved the cupboard from our dining room up to the bathroom.  No money spent and it fits just perfectly!

 The view of the vanity, toilet, shower, and tub to the right.

 Jonathon wanted a copper sink, so he got it.

 I wanted a dry sink, so I found one at the auction barn for $45.00.  It was my extremely happy moment with this project since all the ones I had seen were $400 or more.  What a blessing!

 I said, "Can we put stones on the floor and have them come out of the shower a little to look like it flows out into the bathroom?"  He said, "Who do you think I am?"  So, he did it.  :)

 Isn't this shelf lovely?  :)

 My happy place of relaxation.  Now to just get some doors to lock everyone out. :)

So, there it is.  It's what we've worked all winter on and wondered when it would ever get finished.  All the supplies are finally purchased to make the doors, so I see that getting accomplished in the near future.  I love how it all turned out and am so blessed that we were able to find auction items, clearanced items, and repurpose things we already had around (the shower curtain rod was old copper piping that we tore out and replaced.  Jonathon bent it to fit as a rod, and it works wonderfully).  The inside projects are coming to an end, which I believe my husband is grateful for.  Now for the outside.  That may have to wait a couple years.  We need another vacation.  :)

Canning Shelves Done!

This winter we were hoping to get some inside projects done.  Our new wood stove boiler unit has taken up so much of Jonathon's time that we haven't gotten around to other projects quite yet.  Hopefully, he's learning how to best control the boiler, so that it works properly, and the rest of the winter will be smooth sailing with it.  At least we have good wood heat and can enjoy staying warmer without the extra expense of gas.  Thankful!

One of the projects I would like to get done is the whole basement organized.  Lofty?  Maybe.  My first desire was to have some shelves built at the bottom of the stairs for  my canned goods.  It makes it easier for the children to run down and fetch something for me if it's neat and easy to see what's what.  I suggested inviting my dad over to help with this job, so we set aside a day and the job got done.  Here are the pictures of that project.

The girls snuggly watching a movie together.  Saphira is trying to stand up by herself.  She is finally starting to walk on her own.  Still slow moving about it, but practicing more.  

 The beginning measurements were taking place.  

The boys enjoyed helping the men and using their tools too.

Shelves are finished and painted!

What a wonderful space for my canned goods and supplies!  I am so thankful for these shelves.

One area done in the basement.  We have some other shelves down there, but I just have to figure out what should go where and how to arrange it all.  Too bad it takes so much time.  One day at a time.  Today, I have laundry, schooling, piano lessons, and my herbs to crush down and jar up.  We'll see if I get time to squeeze in some organizing.

Finally some remodel pics!



Alegra's photography skills at work during a gorgeous sunset on the farm.

 It's been so busy around here with getting settled in to the farmhouse, getting areas ready for animals, unpacking, unpacking and unpacking, hosting a Celebration here, homeschooling and just every day life.  I'm a true mother.  My days go by quickly, and it doesn't look like I've done much of anything, but if I were to write a list of everything I've done, well, the list would be long with unnoticeable things, but things that definitely need done.   I decided today that I needed to do some blogging and do some house reveals for you all.  I don't know how to make the pictures any bigger than this without losing them off my page, so hopefully you can get the idea of the changes we made to the kitchen, dining, living and foyer rooms. 



Walking into the front door.



The new and updated kitchen.



Standing in the dining room, looking into the living room.



Standing at the front door looking into the living room.



Looking from the end of the living room towards the foyer are.

And now just some pictures to show you all of the angles.  We are so blessed to have all of this space to have family and friends over for meals and fun. We are still getting used to all the space and learning that there are definitely pros and cons to having a big house.  We are just trying to take full advantage of the pros...by having people over often.  



Would like to add some pictures on each side of the chalkboard. 



This area is not complete yet, but this will do for now until the garage is cleaned out.

That is our home on the main level.  The school room is back the hallway to the right in the picture above and just looks like a well used space.  :)  Nothing fancy.  And the mudroom bathroom I already posted before and after pictures of, but tomorrow it will be completed with the addition of a new washer and dryer.  Yay!!!

Onto our backyard.  This is the view that I see from the kitchen window.  The dog is Jonathon's sister's but he resides here still.  He is usually laying down by the swing set and the steer, Oreo loves to graze in that area.  I think it's because it's on the other side of the clothes line and I've been spending a lot of time out there lately with hanging laundry up to dry.  He usually stands right there and eats while I'm out there and prefers that area also for laying down.  He  is so happy to be over here, back with his family.

 Since I haven't blogged for awhile, I have to get caught up a bit.  The below picture is of Benaiah and Saphira asleep on the cough.  She woke up crying one afternoon and he climbed up there to calm her and they both fell back asleep.  So sweet!

Our little peek a boo baby!  She is becoming so much fun every day!

And her cutest outfit so far!  It says "Pretty like mommy" and even has a hat too but she isn't too fond of hats.  : )  I also have to mention that she sleeps just like me too.  Arms above head.  It's funny how children have these traits of their parent's when they haven't even been around very long. 

  So, there you have it, just a little update on our little family.  I have a couple Celebrations I'm working on with my friend, still trying to get all situated in everybody's room with dressers, etc, and trying to gear up for the cold months ahead.  Although I don't talk about them too much or my hubby will be all ready to head south-NOW.  : ) 

Saphira With Grandpa & Papa

Our wee one is growing.  Jonathon said she is getting chunky.  Hardly.  She is just right.  Every baby should have a sleeping picture with his/her daddy, so I had to capture a few of those for Saphira to cherish when she's older.  One is a classic daddy sleeping with baby position, the other, well, that's how he sleeps at night.  : )

 Then the girls finally got grandpa Dan to hold her.  He's not much of a little baby holder, but I think they just dropped her in his lap, so he didn't have a choice.  And then the scurry to quick take a picture before he passes her off, was, well, quick.  But they did get a nice picture of him with his newest grandbaby.

 This beautiful Sabbath morning, we are all getting over colds.  We've been so thankful that Saphira has stayed healthy while everybody has been coughing and sneezing all around her for almost a week now.  So thankful for her healthy little body, and that I'm able to nurse so she can have those extra nutrients that God so lovingly placed in women to nourish their young.  With the sun shining in on my bed this morning, it looked like perfect lighting for some pictures, so before she woke up, I tried getting a couple poses that I have been trying with no success or wanting to try.  They turned out great with this lighting and with a pleasantly sleeping baby. 

 These two show her long eyelashes so well.  I was laying in bed this morning just looking over her features and couldn't stop gazing at those lashes.  The lighting was perfect this morning for capturing their length and beauty.

 These two poses I have seen others capture and think it's so sweet.  How appropriate since the marriage of a man and woman is where it all started.  And I love the above picture where she is smiling, almost as if she knows that she has been placed in a family where her parents adore each other and will love her and teach her in the best ways that we can.

Our precious gem, Saphira growing and changing already.  She is 3 1/2 weeks old now.  She's been to the farmhouse to work, to church to see her church family, to the carpet store to pick out carpet for the farm (which by the way is installed and looks amazing- it's all coming together) and has been snuggled by so many loving people.  She is loved greatly!

A Big Work Weekend for our Little Family

We spent the day on Friday at the farm working on odds and ends that needed finished up.  Well, not the whole day as there was a little garage saleing to do on the way, and Jonathon had a job in the morning.The main projects were to get the flooring finished on the main level and get the trim sanded and stained so it could be finished on Sunday.  We were busy bees with the girls staining and the boys finishing the floor.  So blessed to have our children learn how to help.   

And we had to leave in the afternoon because Josiah and I were going on a date.  He wanted to take me out, so I was sure to let him.  We went to Emma's Cafe in Emma town and then to Topeka library to watch their free showing of the Lorax.  Neither one of us had been to the Emma Cafe and we really enjoyed ourselves, although we didn't have time to have peach pie and ice cream.  He was quite disappointed by that, but we picked cookies to eat on the way to the movie.  

He is growing up and though he can be quite a challenge, we are learning how to direct his behaviour to being more favorable.  He is learning to work with his dad and how to treat his sisters.  That sure seems to be a hard thing for a brother to learn.  : )

Saturday evening, after our church gathering, we were back at the farm to work and spend the night to get up early to work more on Sunday.  I made a list of all the little things that needed done Saturday so we would be ready for certain jobs on Sunday.  Wow, did we get a lot done.  Touch up paint, some trim in the boy's room painted, trim stained, work on appliances to get them plugged in, carpet padding up, etc, etc.  Lots of little things that need done too, but don't always make the job look like progress is made. 

Sunday we woke up and started right in.  The finishing touches to painting trim on the main level and more touch up spots.  A cupboard was taken out since we bought a refrigerator that was too tall for the space.  Yes, laugh at us, even us young folk don't think of such things.  : )  So, the cupboard was taken out and the walls painted where the cupboard was.  Thanks to my dad for a short little visit and helping with that project.  Jonathon also got all the trim cut and nailed in place on the main level.  What an accomplishment for him!  I'm so proud of his abilities and what he can get done.  So, here are the pictures with floors done, trim done, and painting all finished on the main level.  Whew, huge jobs done.  The children and I also worked very hard at cleaning up the barn, but you don't get to see pics of that.  We were too busy moving and cleaning to take pictures.  Some things certainly get put to the side while others are being done.  It feels like we are running out of time before baby comes.  Good thing we don't plan on moving in before baby arrives.  I am looking forward to the break from work when I get to sit and hold a baby.  I've been blessing the Lord for the health He has given me this time around, but I'll tell ya, today my back was complaining after the barn cleaning.  Thankful I am able to work though!  

I am so thankful for how it is all turning out.  Much work, but the open concept fits our family so much more than smaller rooms.  I like to see my children from one room to the next.  : )  A few more little things to do on the main level and some bedrooms upstairs to get painted.  And then a back room to also get finished and we'll be ready for the carpeted areas to get done.  It's all coming together, and we are so blessed by it!