::oh, that basement::

We're getting so close!

cabinets today

carpet Thursday

TV Friday

furniture Monday

YaaaaaaY!!!

Here's what our living room looks like (lights, door knobs, blinds, outlet covers, towel racks, etc)

And here's what our downstairs storage room looks like...

YiKeS

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a little bit of a neat freak, so you know this is driving me nuts!!

::vernal equinox::

Today is the official first day of Spring!

In honor of such a beautiful spring day, we went to the park (for the first time since early Fall!!).

That picture looks totally posed, but it wasn't!

Coops just stayed in his little baby cave :)

Chloe: I went on the monkey bars, went down the slides, climbed up the slides, climbed up the ladders, and all kinds of things!!

Porter: I falled off! I go down da big blue slide. And then I climbed up da ladda and you helped me. And then you take my pickcha (picture). And then I hang on da monkey bahs.

Mom: I took pickchas and a bird pooped on my head.

::disney on ice::

Yes, Disney on Ice!! We went yesterday with my parents and Billy's family. The kids loved it! :) We saw Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Lilo and Stitch, and Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy, AND the Zamboni ;)

When we first got there, Mom and Kevin had a surprise for us......

Then we headed into the show...

classic Portie face

another one :)

Coopie gettin' in some cuddle time with Grandma ;)

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, & Daisy

LOVING it!!

Simba & Nala

Ariel & Flounder

the Zamboni!! (Port's favorite part)

We had dinner at Buca Di Beppo after (so good!!), and then we headed home. Thanks to Mom and Kevin for such a fun day :) We love you!!

::porter: singer/songwriter::

Lyrics:
I wearin' my pants-sies
I wearin' my shirt-ie
I wearin' my PANTS-IES!!!!
I wearin' my cwazy UNDA WEH!!! (underwear)

Yeah...we're excited for a bright future in the music biz.

::moving on::

We're finally moving on to paint in the basement!

(well it's actually primer, but it's still the next step :) )

After my mom and I vacuumed up all the drywall dust from the floor and shelves, mopped the whole basement, and wiped down the walls; we got out the paint.

Chloe and Portie helped.

Also...

A couple weeks ago, Portie got a new bed! He was done with the crib, and since Cooper's been sleeping through the night, he hasn't really had a bed (he's been sleeping on a pallet of blankets on the floor in Chloe's room per his choice!)

So we bought it from a furniture store over the phone (which I do NOT reccommend) and Grandma and Papa Kitty brought it over.

Porter is so hard to take picutures of!

A good way to get a bed put together??

And, of course, they had to jump on it after it was all done :)

::grandpa::

On Sunday, we lost Matt's Grandpa Halling.

I didn't have the privilege of knowing him as long or as well as most of the rest of the family, but I loved him as if her were my grandpa. He lived a long life, and, while we're sad he's gone and we'll miss him terribly, we're happy to know that he is again with his sweet wife, his son, parents, and siblings.

I feel lucky to have known him, and so lucky to be a part of this family. Upon hearing the news that he might not survive the weekend, all of his grandchildren, and all but a handful of his great grandchildren came to see him.

Sunday night, after he was taken away to the funeral home, we went to Matt's mom and dad's house. Soon Brandon's family and Jared & Sarah come up. Everyone hugged, and ended up in the living room reminiscing and telling stories about Grandpa. Nobody ever said "lets talk about grandpa," or "lets all go sit together in the living room." Everyone just did it. It was so precious to witness and to listen to. I can't think of a better way to cope with losing such a treasured family member.

His viewing will be tonight and the funeral tomorrow.

Click here for Grandpa's obituary.