Dishwashing Success Story!

There has only been one year in our 7 1/2 years of marriange that we have enjoyed the convenience of a dishwasher, and that one year wasn't this past year! Shortly after we moved into this house the dishwasher died.
While at a local do it yourself center Adam noticed that some appliances were on sale and we decided to get the new dishwasher. Buying it was the easy part, installing it was the "growing experience."
I won't explain all the details; suffice it to say that by the time it was all said and done it had taken 24 hours and been installed three separate times (and consequently uninstalled due to leaks and other catastrophes!) But now it's done! We were thrilled to load that thing up with all the dishes that had accumulated in the 24 hour period and watch it work. In the end, I am very impressed with Adam and his utter determination not to be taken by an appliance--You did a great job!

This picture was taken on the first day of installation, towards the beginning of the day, which is why Adam is still smiling!


Parker was Adam's other trusty assistant.



We sent the kids to the basement to play when we thought it was only going to take a couple of hours to install. By the time the second day rolled around we had to sweeten the deal by providing a "cookie picnic" in the basement in the fort they had made with the dishwasher box. They were so patient and did remarkably well even though the project was seemingly endless.

A Romantic Dinner For Five, Please

We have enjoyed a gloriously, if not uncharacteristically, warm week here in Michigan. We got all the way up into the 60s and it lasted long enough that ALL the snow melted! There has been sunshine to clear away the gray skies and it has been a much appreciated mid-winter break.

Yesterday morning however, winter made a comeback. It was only an inch or two of snow, but for some reason it was really slippery. Adam called on his way home from work to tell me that he had slid off the road and needed me to bring the snow shovel. We arrived and got him out, then made our way back home to have our Valentine pancake breakfast. The kids thought it was really fun that Cupid turned our milk pink with his magic arrow!




When they got home, the kids went down to play and Adam and I prepared our fancy dinner at the fanciest restaurant we were willing to take three kids--home! We set the table with a table cloth, candles, and goblets that we haven't used once since we received them as wedding gifts. The best part? There were no plastic plates or cups (except what we gave Meredith--fancy does have limits, you know) and the kids used their fanciest manners. Parker even brought some pennies from his piggy bank so he could pay the handsome waiter (a.k.a. Dad) We had salmon, rice, and grilled vegetables--and the kids ate everything! I'm thinking we might need to break out the "fancy-ware" more frequently if it gets results like this! To top off the meal we enjoyed cheese cake. It was a really fun night and is the beginning of a great family Valentine tradition.

When Meredith saw me preparing the cheesecake she pulled up a chair and got her apron down and before I knew it, I had a helper!

When Parker realized that we were having a special dinner, he wanted to be dressed for success so he went and put on a button-up shirt.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Closet Encounter

At the beginning of the school year I arranged the girls' closet so that Madelyn would have access to her clothes. This had two purposes: She has always been an independent kid and likes to be able to do things herself, and putting clothes away is my least favorite part of the whole laundry process! I installed (doesn't that sound professional--it is a wooden dowel with holes drilled on either side and strung up with a rope) a second rod on one side of the closet at just her height. I then made some of these nifty labels out of craft foam and my trusty Sharpie. She loves the control it gives her and I love that she gets to put away her own clothes! I just installed a rod in Parker's closet last week and it seems to be equally successful!