Never say Never.

Despite all my whining about tiling, for some demented reason I am at it again. We were going to acid wash/stain this front floor, but we learned that it would be cheaper and longer lasting to lay slate. Also, we have some transition issues with concrete to the brick and height issues to the doors. The extra height slate gives us helps alleviate all these concerns.

So, once again, while Dad was out in the barn battling his slate and Mom was painting, I tackled this floor. Brian spent his Saturday with Dad grouting--yuck, way worse than laying the tile if you ask me. Despite my slower pace these days, he'll get to grout this room (if he has any fingers left) when he gets home from work this week.

"You are suppose to hit the volleyball, not eat it."

Since Brian and I are still running Stake athletics, I've been taking part in weekly volleyball with the women. This comment is what one gentleman in our stake informed me of as we were leaving last week.
I realized I haven't posted many belly shots. Although laying tile is not my most flattering belly shot, I believe it will due. You can see that my belly has become the best place to wipe my hands. 4-5 more weeks to go!

If you chance to change your mind...

Tear it out and try again.

We (meaning Mom, Dad, and Brian) are back to working on the barn. When minor modifications were made to the barn in the original plans, we gained a small room (by moving the HVAC and water heater). We talked about a closet, desk space, and a number of other ideas.
When my sister came up to visit she noted it was too bad we hadn't planned for this to be another bathroom. Mom and Dad, after considering this idea realized that yes, it was too bad. With as many people as we have and will have out there for group functions and extra bathroom would come in handy.
Unlike me who would have looked at it and considered it a missed opportunity, Dad looked at it and started thinking--always scary. In less than a day and a half, dad had the concrete cut out, dug a hole about four feet under the foundation to meet up with the other sewage pipe, plumbed both a toilet and sink, re-poured his own mixed concrete, and changed the entrance to the shower from one room to the next.
Whew, I don't think he'll ever get old.

New Shower Door

Patch up the old door

Good friends

Lavell just got done chasing a car down the road...but he stopped when I yelled at him to stop. He's come a long way.

Some highlights from Lavell's life as a member of the Williams family:

#5: Lavell comes home...yes I did hit my head on the garage door; the same thing would've happened to the rest of ya'll should you have been born a Williams. We run into stuff and spill on ourselves...it's what we do.
#4: Lavell learns to shake and roll over...and to chase his tail.
#3: Lavell and toddlers. It has been fun to watch Lavell interact with our nephews and to see he is as good as advertised with people. Him and Wynn are sure to be good friends.
#2: Lavell dyes his hair with mud

#1: Lavell our loyal friend

Lesson learned: Good friends are a blessing...even the four-legged, slobbery ones.