Kitchen Work

Even though we closed on our house a couple weeks ago, we are finally putting our first color onto the wall. The picture below is the "before" picture of our kitchen. As you you can see, it is VERY ugly! I like the cabinets being white, but eventually want to change the hardware on it to a muted silver color. Ryan worked for hours, taking down the wall paper, sanding it, and priming it. (It was difficult because the wall paper was put right onto the dry wall.) It was finally ready to be painted last night! It felt great to get some color up. We still have a lot of painting to do, but hopefully, it will come easier and faster since there is no more wall paper to take down. Here are some pictures of the transformation of our kitchen so far!

Before: The ugliest wall paper in America

Ryan taking it down!:)

With all of the wallpaper down, sanded, and primed...it is ready to be painted!

The walls are turning green!

More green...with edging to go, and above the cabinets.

Come back to see more transformed rooms (hopefully) soon!

Silly Boys

Here are some pictures of our silly boys in action the past couple weeks:) Enjoy!

Josiah tormenting Aedan! This is not unusual.

Aedan is quite the little climber. He will climb on whatever he can, including on top of the little table that he and Josiah have.

Aedan: the lion and Josiah: the frog

They were so funny running down the hallway after each other with these towels over their heads!


Josiah trying to put a shirt on, even though he already has one on!

Josiah trying on his new Diego underwear over his shorts...I think he's ready for potty training:)

Aedan's Birthday

This past Saturday was Aedan's birthday. Since we already had the cake celebration, we gave him his present from us in the morning and then headed out to the park, once Ryan got to watch a little of Game Day:) It was a little hot at the park, but Aedan was able to take his nap during the ride. After the park we headed to Chick-fil-a, where Aedan had his first taste of Chick-fil-a chicken...yummy!! The boys loved playing in the playground area. I love that they have the toddler area. Aedan loved it! After naptime we headed over to the Bowlings' to watch the Clemson/Alabama game. (Shane went to Alabama.) Unfortunately, the Tigers looked horrible...we weren't surprised by their performanace...they never seem to show up for big games. Here are some pictures from the day:


There was a frisbee golf tournament going on at Cane Creek Park when we were there. As we were walking on the trail, a group of men going to their next location passed us. One of men (we think we was a sponsor of the tournament) gave Josiah a REALLY nice frisbee. Josiah loved it...here he his holding it (and his apples, and cup, of course). I tried to use this as a teachable moment for Josiah to explain God's grace to him. I told him that he didn't do anything to earn the frisbee. It was given to him because the (nice) man chose to give it to him. Like God's grace, we don't earn it. It is unmerited favor given to us from God. Of course, Josiah's response was "a lion...roar!" I think he understood what I was talking about. (haha!)

Aedan napping on his birthday

Brotherly love in Chick-fil-a

Aedan loved the Chick-fil-a toddler area!

Josiah and the Bowling boys eating together.

A year ago today...Aedan Micah

A year ago today, I went to my 38 week doctor appointment. The previous week, I had been in the hospital due to my high blood pressure. All week long, my blood pressure was high as well. I had a late doctor appointment, I think around 3:00 or so. When I showed Doctor Gernt my blood pressures from the week, she said, "I think you're going to have this baby sooner then September 6th (which was my scheduled date for the c section)...like tonight or tomorrow." She told me to go on over to the hospital, and I asked her if I could go home first to take care of Josiah's arrangements. I went home and told Ryan that we were going to have our baby that day or the next! Ryan quickly packed and took Josiah over to the Lowhorns. We went to the hospital and got admitted and stuff. A little later Dr. Gernt came and noticed my contractions were picking up. She was going to do the c section the next day, but decided to go ahead and do it that evening (as opposed to like 3:00 in the morning). They prepped me for surgery (which I thoroughly disliked). A little later after cutting, and moving around of organs...Aedan Micah was born! We are so blessed to have him. He is my baby of grace!

Happy Birthday Gigi!

Happy Birthday Mom!!! Thanks for being a great mom and Gigi! We love you!! We hope you have a great day! Love, Catherine, Ryan, Josiah, and Aedan
Thought you'd like this picture of Aedan representin' with his gangsta pajama pants on...haha!

"Let go new house!"

Ryan and I closed on a house yesterday! It is a 3/2 over in the Algood area of Cookeville. It's on the side of town that I wanted to live in, and it's close to Walmart! I was very spoiled in Clemson living so close to the Walmart, so it seems like our current rental house is so far from it (even though it's not really). Our new house it about 10 minutes from the church (about 4.5 miles), so that is good as well. It's in the back of a subdivision, so Josiah and Aedan will have areas to ride their bikes when they get older! The house was a foreclosure, so the inside is not so clean. The carpet is really yucky, so we plan on putting in new carpet. I'm looking forward to painting and getting it looking nice:) We closed in the afternoon yesterday at 2:30. Since it was was during naptime, my friend, Cathy came over to watch Josiah and Aedan. Friends from church, Brian and Jennifer, gave us a gift card to O' Charley's to celebrate the house. Jennifer and her two daughters came over to watch the boys. Josiah loves company, and always cries when they leave. After dinner we took the boys over to the house. The whole way over, Josiah was saying, "Let go new house." It was funny! Josiah and Aedan played all over the flithy floor. Here are some pictures of the evening.

Ryan and I at O'Charley's holding up our keys.

Here's Josiah in the car on the way to the new house!

Ryan and Josiah at the front door.

Josiah and Aedan crawling on the flithy floor!

I went over to the house this morning to try to vaccum the carpet. Even though we're getting rid of it, I don't want the boys to play on it with it being so yucky every time we're over there. I only got the main room and kitchen done. Aedan wasn't liking the pack-n-play, and went I let him out, he was trying to bite the cord. Also, when Josiah and Aedan would disappear into rooms, Aedan would end up crying. I'm sure Josiah was tackling him or something. Maybe I can get over there tonight after the boys go to sleep to finish.

Happy Birthday Mama!

Today is Mama's Birthday!! Mama is a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother! We hope you have a good day!! Love, Catherine, Ryan, Josiah, and Aedan