Feast for a "King" City Fireman

Thanksgiving was spent loading and unloading mutliple trips in the van...in the typical NW drizzly rain, along with a little bit of painting because when I get an idea in my head I want to roll with it right away!

We headed out to Todd's station out in King City around 2 p.m. for a Thanksgiving feast along with 5 of the other firefighters, their family and a King City Police officer.

I am sorry right now to whom I may offend, but this was probably the most delicious Thanksgiving dinners I have had! Todd even went so far as to purchase me some saurcraute! He did not make the dinner, the guy to his right did. The yams, oh my. The stuffing with artichoke and rosemary, me oh my....and I don't like stuffing. Homemade rolls, turkey on the traeger, which was so flavorful and moist. Desserts aplenty. Pecan pie with real whipping cream. I do think I was sick. Then again, my tummy may have shrunk from being so busy these last few days and barely having time to eat! I think it's all stretched back out now.

It's nice being able to visit with these other families, moms who share the same schedule and time away from hubbys and dads on holidays like we do. We stayed for about 3 1/2 hours.

Once Brody took his pants off and started to dance, it was time to head home.

Kids helped me packing up their clothes.

Yes! My house CAN look messy!

I've been too busy to bed sad. That is a good thing. I've been too busy to sleep. That is a bad thing. The kids want me to start decorating for Christmas. Normally I would have had it ALL done by now. First I need to unpack! AFTER we put a few beds together.

Our new buyers are great. I feel like I'm friends with this gal just through our emails and I've not said more than "hello" to her in person when they came to look at the house. She even told me not to worry about the nail holes. Now I really love her!

Today on....This Old House

On any given day during these last few weeks Elmers place has been hopping with electricians, sheetrockers, surveyers, inspecters, renovating bids and so forth. Arlon has been running a well oiled machine out at this place! I may have to put him on payroll. The sheetrock in the garage is 98% complete! Just a bit more taping on Friday and it will be complete.

The pad and carpet was laid today. They worked from 9:30 to 5:30. He said the job was taking longer than he anticipated because it is a "tough, durable" carpet. Yes, that's what we paid for!

They called it quits when it got too dark (and too tired) to continue. I continued on my cleaning streak. It smells SO good in there! I have one bathroom left to tackle, but want to wait until these handymen are all done in there.

Todd is working today and Thanksgiving so I was calling him with updates and questions throughout the day. While cleaning the laundry room I called and said "I am so in love!!!" Yes, with him, but also with this charming old house. Especially now that I have it scoured and dusted. I never saw a speck of dust when Cindy resided here, but boys.....you gotta love em, they just don't have that domestic instinct. (Unless your name is Todd Lake or Mike Jensen).


Thanks to Nicole Jackson and crew for an 8:45-5:00 jobber with all 4 kids. Wowza, I did love that!!!!

Next edition: Carpet in the apartment and moving of boxes.

Today on....This Old House

Todd spent 2 1/2 hours last night as well as 12 hours today out at the Elmers house ("our house" sounds strange to me), tearing out carpet and disposing of it. His fingers are a bit raw!!! Now he has to work a 48 hour shift Wed and Thurs, then move our home Friday and Saturday. Good thing this boy likes projects! Arlon called to see if we wanted to keep this tanning bed. Mmm, no. It's a nice touch out here on the front porch though. I guess it won't clash with the Christmas decor if I just turn it on to light up the night.

I helped Todd load these rolls and pad....well he did 75% of it. 450 square yards of each! I can't believe he got it all in this truck and trailer in one load! Plus he had to unload it himself at the recycle center....tough work.

It was near 60 this afternoon. It felt like one of those cool summer mornings. I only sat for about 1 minute before Todd put me on another assignment. His hired hand for the day got layed up in the hospital, poor guy....so I stepped up at helping Todd out, although I kept gravitating toward cleaning in the kitchen.

You know in home magazines when there is a renovation project and they discover hardwoods underneath old carpet? Tah-dah!! Todd wasn't amused when I announed that I wanted to restore the hardwood and forgo the carpets. It could be done, but it would take a LOT of work and even more money....one day, 10 years down the road perhaps.

My project of the day was cleaning out the kitchen. I am a clean fridge snob. I've said this before...... It's pretty gross when one never wipes out the inside. We wipe off counters and sinks, but what about where all your food is stored day in and day out? People come on! Lastly I went over the floors after the tear out collecting staples and dust. We finally came home after the kids had called to say they were STARVING to have a yummy dinner. I whipped up a batch of cookies while Todd delivered the new pad to Elmer's house and the kids and I watched one of our reality TV shows while Todd hit the sack!

Thanks to Ashley May and Baylor for babysitting Brody. A special thanks to Griffin for watching his brother who is really good at being a two year old. And an additional shout out to Jackson's for letting us borrow this shop vac.

On our next edition: Carpet!!! And lots of it.

Sold....In 14 Days

In March of 1999 we moved into this home. Nine months later we welcomed Miss Camdyn into our family and since then two little heavenly spirits have followed. It's amazing the transformation that has taken place in the past 10 years, not only to our family but to this cozy little home. Todd and I have enjoyed making this a haven for ourselves and our children. We have upgraded all we can in a home such as this and I am finding it surprisingly difficult to say goodbye.

Two Sundays ago a prospective buyer came through and 30 min later called with an offer, they met our counter offer and that was that. Their realtor said he'd never seen a home decorated as nicely as ours was and it would be a treat to be able to bring the buyer in the next day for one more look around. How funny...especially coming from a man!

Alas, it is time to move on.....and we've got some great plans in store for our next residence, which just so happens to be my DREAM home since the moment I layed eyes on it!
For more details on that......see next post below.

Our New Home for the Holidays

This lovely Northwest jewel belongs to some wonderful and talented friends of ours, the Elmers. I sent a friend of mine out to see it after they moved in and she later said to me in a serious tone "Stacey, I have never seen anything on Earth like this".

A few interior shots give a visual of the charm and warmth that the Elmers know how to create. Pictures do not do it justice!

So one can only imagine what this, their previous home for 33 years, looked like before they moved out 3 years ago.............This is where their story ends and ours unfolds.................

Thirteen years ago I stepped through the doors of this historical craftsman home. I was in complete awe. I do believe I had a hard time keeping my jaw from dropping! The Elmer's home inside and out was filled to the brim with charm. Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE anything historic, old, or vintage.... especially when it has a story to tell. 33 years ago the Elmers bought this 1910 Craftsman when it was in a complete state of disrepair and made it into the historical home it is today, building on additions as their family continued to grow. I told them from time to time that when they were ready to sell I wanted to at least be able to make an offer, they would then have to reject it, and we could move on.

It's interesting how fate took a hand in this turn of events. I daresay I can recall how it all began to progress.....but I will say this: There is no one more in love with this old home than myself, Todd and our little kiddos. For 13 years, whether it was coming out to swim, visiting teaching, giving tours of the home to family and friends or just riding past on my bike....I have always been completely smitten with it's charm. Elmers have expressed their joy in knowing all the time, love, labor and memories they once had put into this home will be returning with the care we'll be rendering inside and out.

Nestled against the hillside of Green Mountain and situated on 6 acres, the view boasts picturesque settings from all angles.

Todd and I love projects. With over 5000 sq feet, we will have many years ahead to complete them. This is Brody's room. He loves to come to "Ehr-muwh hows" and see his room.

The girls room has this additional nook area to use as a play room or vanity, or even an extra space for a bed.

The other section of the house, which I always called "the apartment" has a wonderful bonus room so the kids can have all the friends over they want. Now we can finally buy a ping pong table! Really, I think those are fun. I just want to be like the Jensens :>

I could cry for joy when I look at this laundry room! I've had about a 3 foot breezeway into the garage with room for the washer/dryer and that's it!

The girls like this carpet in one of the guest rooms in the apartment, but we're hoping to just do it all the same....for continuity.

15 years ago they remodeled the kitchen and added on the great room. I LOVE this kitchen!

Driving out with the kids on a beautiful Fall day and seeing this view from the front porch feels so Northwest to me.

Brody's favorite past-time all last summer was wanting to go "shwimmy". Now he'll have his wish. I'd better brush up on my lifegaurding skills.

My mom said to me when we were in the process of finalizing details with Elmers and getting ready to list our home that "it will all work out if it was meant to be". Todd and I truly feel there was a guiding hand in this whole process; with how everything fell into place. Many times we'd look at a home and come away with doubtful feelings, knowing we'd have to sacrifice too much for the kids sake. This home keeps our children in their same schools and puts us back in the first ward we were in when we moved to Vancouver, before it was split.

I like keeping things pertaining to our family matters close until all details are finalized and these little buddy kids were the best secret keepers ever! I promised them a Dairy Queen Blizzard if they'd stick to the script I had layed out for them and they passed with flying colors! Mmmm I love a good DQ treat!

Rolling into Fall

Miss Kennedy celebrated her 7th Birthday. She enjoyed a full day of activities. Todd took her out of school to "Panda Bear" for lunch. After school just she and daddy went bowling. We had a family party with her favorite dinner, chicken broccoli and Oreo pie for dessert. Kennedy was so animated while opening her presents. She was so grateful for all her gifts. Kennedy brings a sweet spirit into our home. She plays so well by herself, is a loyal and trusted daughter and just has so much charisma!

The deacons did an Ironchef on mutual, splitting up into groups. We offered up our kitchen. It took a few hours to get the smell of burnt marshmallow popcorn out of the house. Poor Joni's pan is now permanately blackend! It was pretty funny watching these 'missionaires in training'. They were playing with Brody all night and had to call me "mom". Saturdays continue to be filled with soccer games.........
Last week I let the kids have a friend come over for a low key Halloween party with mummy hotdogs, cider, brownies and a Halloween movie. Mason is a PERFECT friend to have to these parties in which there are lots of little girls running around, since he himself is surrounded by them daily.
The girls wanted to dress up and they just happened to all be witches.

Our best guests

There is always much fun to be had when Annie and Papa come for a visit. Mom and I had a day of walking downtown, through Pearl and along my running route on the waterfront...... Did some antiquing.....

Made some goodies.....

Visited old hot spots....like HOT LIPS PIZZA,

Made crafts for the girls..... Pink glitter pumpkins!

Papa took the kids to Big Al's to play and have dinner while watching the BYU game. No, those aren't Camdyn's real teeth!

We stayed a night at Cannon Beach sans Mr. Boy. He stayed with the Jackson's and had a marvelous time!

Kennedy feeding the birds,Getting our feet wet,
Digging for shells,
A picnic view to rival any other along the Oregon Coast at Ecola Park.
This was one of the warmest days I have even experienced at Cannon....and we stay here a lot!!! After my run on the beach I told the kids they HAD to get in the water with me. After the initial shock, we couldn't get them out.
Papa nearly lost my camera getting these action shots!

Thanks Papa and Annie for a wonderful visit and lots of cherished memories.