September

I took a beginners quilting class from "Sew Memphis" in midtown.

I really enjoyed learning all the techniques and tools for quilting.

So far I have several squares quilted and hope to finish in October...stay tuned

  

Still taking baths in the sink until we get our bathtub finished

Teaching good habits

Benjamin now has 6 teeth! (4 Upper / 2 Lower)

We shopped till he dropped : )

We enjoyed taking breaks from all the cleaning, fixing, and construction

 at our house by going to the park

First time down a slide (with dad holding on of course)

Meal time fun

He is finding his voice

After dinner stroll in Central Gardens

We have met some of the best neighbors!

They are excited that we have moved in and

that our house is getting much needed TLC. 

First time with all the kids at our house for date night

First Major House Project: Installing Central Air

2 weeks of noise, sawing, dust, and hammering to install a brand new

A/C system -but it was so worth it after sweating for 2 weeks while unpacking

No more window unit!!

A 4 ton unit for upstairs and 3 ton unit for downstairs

Big Project #2: Tree Removal

We found out that the large trees in the front and side yard

were both sick, old, and dying. After having a new roof put on the week before we

decided it was best to take them down. A crane blocked off Harbert for 3 days!

Do you see that branch the crane has (above) it's as big as some trees!

It was a large project but glad it's done and we can sleep better.

After cutting the tree down we realized what a good decision we made

This tree was rotten to the core!

Most of the wood you do see was spongy and had no stability

to support the weight of that 120 year old tree!

We have had late nights fixing...

and late nights cleaning...

But it's starting to feel like home : )

Front Entry

Living Room (above/below)

Sunroom

(Garage sale storage until Oct 20th)

           Dining Room

Office Nook

Our lovely kitchen last updated in the 80's

I can't complain its clean and functional

It's on our re-model list...in about 10 years : )

The "Maid Stair"

Not for our maid (since that's me - lol) but it used to be when the maid lived in the guest house

 and would come in the main house through the side door "maid's entrace"

There is still a shower & toilet in the basement for the maid

Guest Bedroom

(Current Attic Storage)

Our next big project is cleaning the attic and moving our things up

now the A/C guys are finished

Our Favorite: The Master Suite

Master Bath

(Future re-model project)

Sitting Room off the Master

Hall Bath with laundry closet

Excited that our new washer and dryer fit upstairs

The other alternative was the basement...scary!

Benjamin's Bedroom

Playroom

Patio

Project: Restore Guest House

Frank has now stabilized the guest house so it won't fall over

He is currently fixing the chimney and the next step is to start repairs

 October To Do List:
- Iron Gate for Driveway
- Plantation Shutters for 40 windows (wow)
- New Couch Delivered
- Begin repairs on Guest House
- Garage Sale Oct 20th!!!
- Clean/Organize Attic

August 2012 - The Big Move

August has been one busy month!

Traveled to NC for my cousins wedding, play dates, packing everything we own in boxes, closed on our house on 28th and moved...unpacking continues

(reason for late blog post)

Monthly play dates

On the way to the dog park Benjamin was cracking up at Valkyrie
Love his laugh!

Frank sent me this picture while I was at work and said

"Just call me gangsta papa"
It made me laugh out loud!!

So glad to see McKenzie and Kimberly before they went back to college

 Benjamin and I flew from Memphis to Kingsport with a connection in Atlanta. We had to travel without Frank because he could not get off work for the wedding. Nothing went as planned. Our flights were delayed, cancelled, and then had to sit on the plane for 2.5 hrs before taking off! Throughout the adventure we had many blessings. I got to meet my dad in the Atlanta airport because he was on his way home from England. We flew standby together back to Kingsport. On the last flight back to Memphis the sweetest guy in first class gave up his seat for me! He said he had an 8 month old boy and would hope that someone would do the same for his wife if she were traveling alone. I was SO thankful that Benjamin was flexible throughout the entire trip

(more so than his momma). LOL

Quite a handful going through security

On one flight I had an extra seat next to me.

Before the plane took off I let him play while buckled up

Camping out in the Atlanta Airport for 4 hrs after flight was cancelled

Congrats to Anneke and Jason!

I was so glad to be there for their big day!!

Uncle Michael and Aunt Brandy held Benjamin during the wedding

He did great - glad it was outdoors

I enjoyed getting some brother/sister time while in Asheville

Although he is not doing it all time time he has had moments of standing on his own!

The famous "pot picture"

Michael and I both had the same picture done when we were babies

Benjamin made a new friend, Evan

He is Mimi's "Kingsport Grandson"

I met the sweetest people on the plane that helped me juggle Benjamin and all our luggage

Sleeping while we wait to take off

Once we got back to Memphis the packing began...

Benjamin LOVED to pull up on the boxes then pull out items I had just packed

Yes...That is our son the "blur"

He is moving all the time now!

Happy 3/4ths B-day!

9 Month Checkup

Healthy boy: 75% Head / 50% Height / 25% Weight

We celebrated Aunt Chele's B-bday with dinner and Yolo

I went to this wonderful "Meal Party" hosted by Tastefully Simple

I helped prep one freezer meal 15 times and when I left I had 8 different freezer meals to take home!

They have been time savers and delicious during our big move.

Hot Roast Beef Sandwich

Chicken Stir fry

Garlic Bread - Frank said it was the BEST bread he has ever had.

After the final inspection it was official

SOLD!

New "Toy Box"

"Oh dear"

"What's next?"

"Got this one packed momma"

Goodbye

233 Palisade St.

Hello

1766 Harbert Ave.

Built in 1922 in the heart of Central Gardens

Front Entry

Living Room

Master Bedroom

Yes...we have a fire place (above),master bathroom, and a sitting room (below) in our Suite!

This will be a perfect room for our times with the Lord each morning

Side Door/Stairs

Sun Room

This will be my "Craft Nook" in the Guest Bedroom

Can't wait to set up my sewing machine and scrapbooking table!

A Special Thanks to all our friends/family who helped us on moving day! They were troopers moving us in without central air! We appreciate your sweat, elbow grease, and muscles!

This was on the final day that we had to be out of Palisade

We basically had to shove the last truck load in the front door so we could lock it to return the moving truck on time.

Chaos!

My mom, Benjamin's "Mimi", came to the rescue and watched the little man all week while we moved!

With "Mimi Magic" she helped us drop the 3rd nap and he has been sleeping better than he ever has in his life!

What would I do without my mom?!

Bath time in the sink

My dad flew into Memphis after another work trip to England to help out with the move.

This is Frank and my dad getting our deep freeze into the basement.

They only had 1/4" clearance on each side to take it through the door and down the stairs

Good thing they are both engineers : )

Moving is exhausting!

Did I mention NO AIR CONDITIONING?!

Marley and Valkyrie are tuckered out too

Harbert Project List:

Security System Installed

Central Air Installed

Gate for Driveway

New Roof

Baby Gates

Secure Guest House

Tree Removal

Order Plantation Shutters

Painting

Garage Sale - Oct 20th

Organize Attic

**And that's just the short list**

It has always been Frank's dream to live in Central Gardens and restore a historical home to its original charm. We are excited about this new adventure and are thankful to the Lord for leading us every step of the way.  Updated pictures of the house will be in the next posting

 Stay Tuned!