Living room transformation... again

So we've been working on the house again. I've decided to get rid of the carpet in the common areas and am totally happy about it! Keith installed hardwood floors in our living room and kitchen. So for comparisons sake, I have attached the stages of the living room from when we first re-aquired this house to the current look.
Here is what the house looked like when the renters moved out.

And how it looked for the first year and a half of us living here. (minus the christmas stuff haha)

After my first "I'm sick of this freaking house" overhaul. i was really glad the floral type wallpaper and glued-to-the-wall mirrors were gone.

And now with my new floors and lighter paint.

But this is my favorite part- the fireplace media center. I wanted one so bad at christmas time, but I was patient and waited till after christmas and got it on clearance! :) YAY!

So thats all... the end

Yup, it's time...

So, I haven't sat at the computer in... well a long time. I feel the need to give at least a brief rundown of what's been up. So We'll start in the spring...
Arkansas is awesome for it's beautiful and easily grown plants. Here is the kids at the tulip festival.

Then life was boring for a while. Derek finished first grade and got awards for being top of his class in math and reading...

We hiked alot. Are you suprised?

Then we went to the beach. We saw battleships, fed seagulls, rode ferrys, saw mexico, visited lighthouses, and of course swam

Nico came shortly after. We went hiking, crystal digging, theme parking, and lazing around.

Then we took him to Kentucky, ate food we dont have here,and played. And you can't go to Kentucky without riding horses.

Nico then went back home, Derek started second grade, and I got ready for my first long trip without my kids... mini freak out attack, but they didnt die while I was gone, so that's good. Anyway, dad got married in september. The theme was awesome hats or hairflair...

Then Gina took JD, Monica and me to Big Bend National Park. It's awesome. Everyone should go there.

Cassie's fourth birthday happened next. It was horse themed. She had a wonderful time.

Which brings us to the present. We're on day 2 of Halloween. Halloween usually lasts at least a couple days around here. Here are the kids last night before going to the theme park. Today we have down town festivities and tomorrow Halloween.

I'm caught up. I feel better haha

Especially for my Lauritzen Family :)

So Cassie was in a singing mood this afternoon. I have been trying to get this video for a while... no success (she has HUGE stage fright), but finally I was successful, even though it's just part of the song :) (trust me, she pretty much knows the whole song haha)

Our morning adventure

So today has already been interesting. It started snowing this morning, but Derek's school was still in so we packed him up and took him to school. At around 8:30, the school called to say to come get the babies. So we got bundled up to get him. A 15 minute drive turned into 40 minutes and gave me a few grey hairs. Between all the nice icy hills and the crazy drivers, I never want to drive again (not to mention I'm driving someone elses vehicle). So we start our drive home, watch people crash into each other, semis jacknife and roll over and school buses heading back to the school. What fun! Well the hill back to our house is pretty uppy, and as I watched people attempt to go up and fail miserably, I decided we were going to have an on-foot adventure instead. :) First time ever I've walked home because I was too scared to drive.

Little Derek walking the trail home :)

Here it goes

Okay I am way behind. I tend to put this off because I dont like to just pick up again and act like nothing happened in between, so here is a VERY abridged version of the past few months...
Cassie had her 3rd birthday. It was wonderful and she loved it.

Then Halloween... we were graced by the presence of Ironman and princess Cassie this year.

We drove down to Texas to steal a bunch of stuff my dad was going to get rid of... and of course, visit everyone. We got to see Amy and her new home, which is lovely. (no pictures of the home though... sorry)


We spent Thanksgiving in Kentucky with my bosses. They are awesome and I enjoyed our time there very much... so much that we will be visiting again this summer. Kentucky's gorgeous guys.

Then Christmas came. It was it's usual crazy, exciting, hectic time.

We rang in 2011 by going north and hiking for 2 days. It was awesome. I love hiking. This is Hawksbill crag... very long fall if you loose your footing.

Then it snowed for us. Derek was elated.

Keith's birthday is the final thing on my list. He had a birthday a couple weeks ago.

Other than that, it's been business as usual- work, school, housework, more random outdoor adventures etc. I am now caught up. No more excuses not to post. :)

Side note: I have decided to put the loudest, most obnoxious colors on my blog to cheer me up. Winter drab sucks... being cold is worse... ready for spring so it can naturally brighten my life... I miss my flowers very, VERY much.

My weekend

This weekend, I got to go on a mini trip by myself for the first time ever (well kind of by myself- went with the boss, but first time without family). I went up to Kentucky with them. It was such a relaxing weekend :) They toured me all over the place, including a gazzillion HUGE horse ranches, beautiful little country roads, and the capital.



When I got home today, I gave Cassie her little gift (a bunch of hair trinkets) and she wanted her picture taken.

And I just have to put a picture of my big guy in his scout uniform (he just started this month). He's so excited about it and he looks pretty cute in his uniform :)

First day of first grade

Today is Derek's first day of school. He woke up at 6:00 (his alarm was set for 6:30) and was ready before I even got up and about. I think he's a little excited :) Cassie has her second day of daycare today too, so they were feeding off each others excitement. Pretty cute. So here are a couple of pictures of them all ready to go, with Derek in the outfit he hand picked from the store to be his first day of school outfit :) (please forgive my camera-it was super foggy because of our lovely hot and humid weather this morning)