Just Your Average Weekend...

A few projects around the house, a little baking, a bit of birdwatching, time spent just playing around the house...that's pretty much a nutshell of our weekend. And it was really nice! I'm starting to feel like we are making baby-steps progress towards getting Drew's new room ready so that the baby can move into the nursery. Oh, I got a lot of the out-grown clothes organized last week...that's a nice feeling...still have a few more closets to tackle, but it didn't take as long as I though it would, so that gives me renewed hope for the remaining ones!
Some HVAC work that needed to be done in Drew's new room was knocked-out yesterday, so now we can paint!

The pipes you see in this photo along the wall & near the ceiling are now gone!

Well, before I get ahead of myself...we still have some boxes & artwork to clear out of the room & find new homes for (oil paintings anyone?)

And I need to choose a paint color...but before I get overwhelmed, back to our weekend...

Friday night we enjoyed a simple dinner & then all curled up on the couch for a simple movie night. It was so fun to just snuggle with the kids & relax! A great way to unwind after a busy week...and I love that something as simple as sitting down to eat popcorn & watch a movie together is still considered a special treat to our kids...I dread the day when they will consider such family time lame...and I pray it is a long, looonnng way off!
Saturday morning dawned clear, but cold. We busied ourselves around the house with a few projects...

 First, we put Sophie & Darcy to work improving our little kitchen table island...

 They had a little help from the Big Guy!

 Adding casters to the legs to give a little more height & also for ease of moving around. 

 They also added these nifty towel bars on each end! I'm hoping this will solve the towels always being just thrown down on the counter (or the floor!)

 Nice spinny wheels!

And the finished product! I love it!

 While they worked, I worked on whipping up some yummy blueberry chocolate-chip muffins...I hope to share this recipe soon, but I didn't feel they were awesome, so I want to tweak it a bit first!

 Drew wasn't complaining though!

 And Darcy thought they were pretty yummy, too!

 All grins when "chocat" is involved!

 Here Zoe!

 Sit!

 Got your nose!

 Good girl!

 At some point in the afternoon, Jeff noticed that "our" hawk had landed on a tree branch right by the barn. 

 We don't often get to see him (or her?) up close, so we grabbed the zoom lens to snap some photos.

 Even with the kids banging on the window & us snapping photos, he stayed put for a long time.

 Jeff was even able to walk out a bit closer to get some photos of his face, but it was difficult with all of the tree branches!

Finally, he got tired of the paparazzi & flew away...I know this isn't the best picture, but I think it shows how big his wing-span is...a really beautiful creature!

Drew has been busy preparing for his upcoming role as "big brother"... 

 He loves getting one of the girls' many baby dolls, putting her in a stroller, filling the stroller up with toys & then taking the baby on a little walk.

 Through the kitchen...

 down the hall...

and back again! 

Oh, now there's the cat...for now the cat outranks the baby doll!

 Darcy entertained herself for a long time dressing up her magnet dolls.

And just in case you were wondering, Jack was at a birthday party & then a friend's house for most of Saturday...that's why there are no pictures of him! 

Oh, and Jeff & I got to go out on a date Saturday evening! Thanks to my parents for babysitting the kids, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner out, alone! Then we headed to our friends' house for dessert & games with several other couples. It was wonderful & much needed couple-time! 

Sunday was busy like Sundays are with church & Sunday school & serving in Children's Ministry. This Sunday was a particularly moving & special service at church because we were celebrating Sanctity of Life Sunday. Some dear friends dedicated their newest baby to the Lord & some more dear friends shared a powerful testimony of how God had led their family to adopt. We are so blessed to have so many amazing friends who live their lives for the glory of Christ in many different ways, what an inspiration & encouragement to us! Before heading back to church Sunday evening, we were able to enjoy a little down-time Sunday afternoon...

Drew taking another baby for a walk

 "Babysitting" while he works at his tool bench

 Kisses for the baby...yes, I think he's going to be a super big brother!!

 Darcy in motion

 Drew found a new toy for the baby...

 Sweet sisters!

 Silly sisters!

 Best friends!

She did it!

And that, folks, is pretty much a wrap!