Staircase Update

One of the things I have never been a huge fan of in our home is the stairwell. There were three main things I disliked about it:

1. Carpet on the stairs
2. The hand rail on the wall
3. The fact that it felt very closed in

As with all things I do to the house, it took me awhile to pull the trigger, but I finally did. The project started in April and just got finished up. Due to us needing to be out of the house for several days in order for them to stain the stairs, we felt it best that we do it during a time the boys were gone since they are the ones that go up and down the stairs. They were going to finish them in July when the boys were going to go to my parent's, however since I had COVID and that trip got cancelled, we waited until we were gone to Florida.

Before photos:

In progress photos:

I absolutely loved the natural wood and 
wished it could have stayed that color

Finished photos:

The update opened up the space and to me, looks cleaner! Just what I was going for. Next up, new flooring upstairs!

First Day of School 2022

Both boys headed to new schools this year. Camden is now in the 7th grade and has moved on to Willow Wood Junior High and Casen is now at Northpointe Intermediate with his daddy. Casen has great teachers, including Camden's favorite teacher, Ms. Whitley, and from what we hear, Camden's teachers are supposed to be great as well.

Casen has taken a picture with
Charlotte since Kindergarten. This year
he if fortunate enough to have their
 mom as one of his teachers.

This will be my 12th year in the school district (26 years as a nurse) and Shane's 11th year as a teacher. We are all looking forward to a great year!

While Melissa and Shawn took Braden back to OSU, we got to keep Bella. This, of course, meant that we needed to take the dogs for a walk. We ended up at two different parks, where the boys took the opportunity to have a photo shoot with the pups.

Hoping for a great year for Mason and Braden too!

Time in the Hill Country

Since me having COVID interfered with the boys going to my parents for July 4th, they had one last open opportunity in their schedule to go this past week. So on Sunday I met my parents in Luling to hand off the boys to them. Talking with them each night, it sounds like they played a lot of pickleball, ate some great food and on Friday night went and ate at Alamo Spring Cafe and then went and saw the bats come out at Old Tunnel State Park in Fredericksburg.

I drove up Friday night after work so I too could enjoy a little time up in the hill country. Saturday morning the boys had an 8:00 appointment to play pickleball with all the folks that play there. I showed up to watch a bit later and I must say it was fun to watch them play with the adults. Both boys have really improved and enjoy the game.

After playing pickleball we went to check on my dad's bees. Since has mastered how to get his koi to reproduce and is able to tend to the babies until they are big enough to release into the ponds, he has recently moved onto bees. I can tell you, I had no idea there was so much interesting information to learn about bees. I can't wait to try their honey!!

The boys always enjoy their time in Kerrville. Hopefully they are nice and rested because tomorrow Camden starts two a day soccer camp to get ready for the soccer season.