Tearing apart our house {phase 1}

By now, most of you know about the enormous project we are currently working on. Our house is over 100 years old and definitely starting to show it's age. After adding another member to our family this past spring, we decided we needed to do something to make the use of space in our home more efficient. We had to decide between adding a few rooms on or completely gutting and renovating the house. We went with the latter. The last few weeks have been spent going through our stuff, and getting rid of a bunch of it, either to the trash, goodwill or for a garage sale/consignment store. After packing up all our belongings into boxes, we moved ourselves out to our barn/garage and set up house in there for the next 6-8 weeks. Russ & I and Calvin & Gracie are sleeping in the barn, and Bradyn and Austin are sleeping in Phil and Emily's trailer.

The dining room/living room section of our "house". Notice the garage door behind the couch.

The bedroom part of our "house"

Tuesday night Dad and Mom Lotterman helped us move our junk.....ahem, I mean stuff into the barn. That was our first night in our new "home". Things went well, and we all slept decent for the most part. Early Wednesday morning we all woke up to some rain and thunder, but all was OK after that. Dad and mom Lotterman came back to help me get the rest of the stuff out of the house and took some things home to store in their basement. That evening, with the help of Cornelis, Russ began demolition. He started with all the trim and wood work in the house, and hauled it back to the burn pile at the back of our yard. After the kids were all in bed for the night, I donned my gloves and dust mask and went to work with my pick and hammer taking out the cabinets in our kitchen. We worked until about 11 that night and got almost all of the wood in the kitchen taken off.

The kitchen on Thursday morning looking from the back doorway towards the kitchen sink

More of the kitchen - looking towards the living room. Notice the lovely spindles are gone!

The pile of junk in the kitchen

On Thursday after the boys and I cleared out the huge pile in the kitchen, we went to work on the upstairs. I worked on taking off all the wood work, while the boys had a blast destroying the walls down to the studs. We were a dusty mess, but it was a lot of fun. That evening, with the help of Keith and my dad, the upstairs was almost completely gutted. I love how open it looks now that all the walls and closets are gone.

The former sewing/storage room looking towards the stairs (lower lefthand corner). This will be the new playroom, storage closet and hopefully half bathroom.

The former playroom. This will be the older two boys rooms.

All in all things are going pretty much as planned. God has blessed us richly with family that is so willing to help. We are overwhelmed by all who have helped us and who plan to help us in the future. Please continue to keep us in our prayers throughout this time of change in our lives. Pray especially for my patience as I try to make a home in our barn.

Nashville, Tennessee

The week after school let out for the summer, Russ and I and the kiddos were able to take a trip down to Tennessee with my parents and siblings at home and Matthew and Chelsea and their two kiddos. We left bright and early on Monday, June 10. After a few wrong turns (thanks to being in a remote area, and the GPS losing it's connection) we finally arrived at our cabin, our home for the next few days. We arrived in the early evening, so our first "day" was just getting all our sleeping arrangements set up and getting the tired kiddos cleaned up and down for the night.

On Tuesday, after us girls made a quick trip for groceries at the town Piggly Wiggly, we set out to find the local swimming hole. We made our way along the winding and curvy roads, trying to find this ever elusive swimming hole, and after driving for what seemed like FOREVER, we finally met up with a Houston County Sheriff, and were able to get his directions to our destination. We pulled in to the swimming hole, and experienced true "country life" for the next few hours. We met some pretty interesting individuals while we were there - think rednecks, and you'll know what I mean by interesting.... :)- The water was cold, but refreshing, and the beach was nothing like our sandy beaches here, but the kids still had a great time. We also got our first look at some Copperhead Snakes. I was personally unaware that they are extremely poisonous!! Thankfully we had no personal encounters with them!

Gracie modeling her swimsuit

Enjoying the refreshing water

Trying to convince Calvin to go in the water. (As you can see, mom forgot the swim diapers....oops!)

Some of the clan at the swimming hole

Calvin and Daddy

Gracie slept the whole time

Wednesday started off with a trip to Urgent Care for my poor dear husband. What we thought was a swollen eye and headaches, from getting hit with a construction square, turned out to be the Shingles Virus. We made a stop at Fred's pharmacy for his prescribed anti-viral, and then headed back to our cabin. We decided to just relax for the day. We had gotten a kiddie pool and some squirt guns for the kids, so we spent the day on the back deck, catching some rays and enjoying each other's company. Russ was able to rest for most of the day which was good for him too!

Gracie chilaxin' with mom

The kiddos having fun with Aunt Chelsea and Aunt Ashlinn.... :)

Calvin, Austin and cousin Malaya taking a bath in the Jacuzzi tub

Thursday we decided to go into downtown Nashville. My sister Chelsea was taking her friend out on pass from the Mercy Ministries home there, so we all made the trip. We found a reasonably priced outdoor waterpark near the Grand Old Opry. It had a couple of BIG slides, a wavepool, a kiddie pool, and some medium slides as well. The kids LOVED it, and even Calvin and Malaya were able to go on the slides with their daddies.

One of the BIG slides, it was Bradyn's favorite

Bradyn on the slide

Calvin and daddy on a slide

Austin after a trip down the slide

The wave pool with the slides in the background

Gracie testing out the water. She liked it!

Gracie and Simon in the wavepool

After we left the waterpark we headed on over to the Opry Mills mall. This is the same mall Russ and I walked through on our honeymoon. We spent a while there looking in some different stores. Austin was super excited to find a LEGO store, we couldn't get him out of there! We ended with supper of pizza and subs in the food court and then headed back to the cabin with some super tired kiddos (and parents too!)

Friday was a day mostly at the cabin again. Chelsea had a luncheon at Mercy Ministries for their 30th anniversary, so while she and her family were there, the rest of us were able to relax while my dad and Russ took the kids to a local school to play on the playground and shoot some hoops. Friday evening, Russ and I were priviledged to be able to accompany Matthew and Chelsea to the 30th Anniversary Celebration for Mercy Ministries. This is the organization that helped Chelsea through her struggles with an eating disorder about 5 years ago, and the celebration was attended by many Mercy graduates and their families. Dave Ramsey is a huge supporter of Mercy Ministries, so he was the MC for the night. There were also a couple of musical guests including a daughter of a Mercy graduate and CeCe Winans. The night was truly amazing, and it was so neat to be able to share this special event with Chelsea. We are so very thankful that God led Chelsea to Mercy Ministries and for the part it has played in her life. I truly believe that it is thanks to that wonderful organization, that we are blessed to have Chelsea with us, whole and healed today.

Dave Ramsey on stage

CeCe Winans

Russ and me with Dave Ramsey....the highlight of Russ' night!

Saturday morning we were up early, so we could be on our way home at a decent time. Our trip home was uneventful, and we made it home by about 8 pm. We are thankful that the Lord gave us a wonderful week away, and also thankful that he was with us and brought us safely through all our travels.

Looking up to the upstairs of the cabin

Our spacious room

The living area

Looking at the cabin from the road

Gracie is 3 months old!

Gracie Ann, you are THREE months old!!

We don't go for a well child visit until the middle of July so we don't know for sure how much you weigh, but if we had to guess you're probably around 14-15 pounds by now.

You have become quite the chatterbox in the last month. You love to hear yourself make noises and you are constantly squealing or cooing, even if no one is around to talk to you.

You love to give us your beautiful smile, and we all enjoy seeing it!! You've even started to giggle if we tickle your feet or your belly.

You continue to sleep well at night and have been sleeping through the night for about six weeks now. You still love to be swaddled and to sleep on your back.

You are fitting well into your 3-6 month clothes, and you are in size 2 diapers.

You continue to nurse very well, and still haven't had to have any formula to date.

You've discovered that you like to suck on your 2 middle fingers to soothe yourself, and mom occasionally hears you doing this in the middle of the night too!

We cannot believe you've been in our family for 3 months already!! We continue to be blessed by every day we get to spend with you and are so thankful God has blessed us with you, our precious daughter!

Gracie is 2 months old!

Gracie Ann, you are TWO months old!!

Here is what you've been up to lately ~

We took you in to the doctor for you 2 month well child checkup on May 15. You are getting sooo big!!

You weighed in at 12 lbs and 10 ounces, and you were 23 inches long. Your pediatrician says you are a VERY healthy little girl!! You got 3 shots that day, and aside from being a little cranky for the rest of the day, you handled them well.

You continue to nurse like a champ and eat every 3 hours or so. So far we haven't had to supplement with any formula, which makes mom very happy.

You have been sleeping really well at night, often times sleeping for 6-8 hours straight. You always wake up very happy and have a BIG smile for mom.

You are wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes, but you still fit into some of your 0-3 month clothes. We just switched you to size 2 diapers this past weekend.

You handle the loudness and business of our family very well. You will often sleep in your bouncy seat or swing, even though mom is vacuuming or your brothers are yelling and running around.

You LOVE to be outside, and just take in everything around you when we are out there.

Your brothers love you to pieces and are constantly asking to hold you.

We are so thankful that God has given you to us for over 2 months already!! You have been such a blessing to our family!

Gracie's Baptism

This past Sunday, April 28, 2013, Russ and I were blessed and priviledged to be able to bring our precious daughter before God and our family and friends, to be baptized. We are, yet again, humbled to be able to do this, and also humbled by what the sacrament of baptism signifies for us and our children. The washing away of our sins through Christ, and that God makes an eternal covenant of grace with us, His children, and adopts us to be His children and heirs unto everlasting life.

I was approached by one of the guests of one of the other couples who had their baby baptized and she pointed out to me in our conversation that even though we may be nervous going up in front of the whole church, being the center of attention and such, if we look at the big picture and what the true meaning of the whole day is, it should bring us such peace to think of what is actually happening during baptism. I admit I hadn't put a lot of thought into the day in that way, so I am thankful for her kind words.

Gracie did very well, and slept through the entire service. We had the 3 boys sit with my parents, so it was nice for Russ and I to be able to sit through a service without interruption from Calvin who lately has had to be taken out 2-3 times a service. Rev. Eriks preached a very fitting sermon from Proverbs 4 on how we need to warn our children of the path of the wicked.

After the service we had a cake from Costco (thanks Lindy!) and some various goodies from the homes of all our relatives who were able to join us for the special occasion.


The yummy cake


My mom holding Simon (of Matthew & Chelsea) named after my great grandpa Buquet and my dad holding Gracie, named after my great grandma Buquet


Our family


My sister Chelsea and me with our babies. They are about 6 months apart.


Simon and Gracie visiting with each other


Gracie in her dress






A close up of her shoes and leggings :)

I happened to stumble across this blog post from another blog that I follow. It was something that I really needed to be reminded of today and will continue to need be reminded of, EVERY day of my life. I know I'm not the only person that struggles with feeling like they need to please people and with the worries about what they think of how I do things or how I look. Therefore I'm posting this because I KNOW there are others who would be encouraged by this as well.

I tend to be more of a horizontal thinker than a vertical thinker. HUH??? This means I tend to worry more about what PEOPLE who are horizontally arranged around me think, than what GOD who is vertically arranged from me thinks. I NEED to remember that the audience that is MOST important to please is my audience of ONE.....God. I can't be so worried about what others think about how I parent or discipline my children, such as when we decide to start having them sit in church, or how long we keep our newborn isolated instead of letting her get sick to build up her immune system. I can't worry about what people think of how I look, or about how long it's taking me to lose the extra baby weight I gained. (Believe me, there are people I know that are not afraid to let me know how they feel about all of these subjects). I need to remember that as long as I'm doing what is right in GOD's eyes, that is all that matters. This is something I tell my kids all . the . time. Especially when they come home from school, hurting because of what someone has done to them or said to them. Looks like I need to take my own advice and put my focus fully on my faithful, heavenly Father. He's the only one that I should be focused on pleasing.

Audience of One by Big Daddy Weave
If you'd like to watch this video, you may have to scroll down to the bottom of the blog and turn the sound off on my songs. :)

Gracie is one month old!

Gracie, you are one month old already! It's really hard for us to believe that you've been here for that long!

We had your 1 month well child visit yesterday and your pediatrician is very pleased with your progress.

You weighed in at 10 lbs 9 oz and were 22 inches long.

Here is a little bit of what you are up to these days.
~ you take two good naps a day
~ you are a champ at nursing and you eat every 3 hours or so
~ you are in size 1 diapers
~ you wear size 0-3 month clothes
~ you love to be swaddled at night
~ within the last few days you've started really watching us and even giving us a sweet smile once in a while.
~ you are especially fond of your dad (who wouldn't be) and smile at him the most