Home Improvement: Bathroom Addition

We did a home improvement project over the summer. I say we. We didn't do it, a contractor and sub-contractors did! Can I get an Amen to that?!? 

When the previous owners renovated our house, they ran plumbing up to the third floor. But they didn't go ahead with a bathroom up there. We knew that when we bought the house and it was actually a good selling point for us because we knew we would be utilizing the third floor. We decided no time like the present to get the use of a bathroom up there, so we went for it! 

The plumbing is actually behind the wall of Nate's room, so there were not really any other options of relocating the bathroom to be between the bedrooms up there. Score for Nate, who gets a bathroom in his room! 

Here is what it looked like when we started...framing. 

This is the shower area on one end of the bathroom.

The footprint of the vanity...

The commode area on the other end of the bathroom.

We have drywall! It was so exciting to see each step come to completion.

The shower after it was framed and waterproofed.

The plumbing is there for the sink!

The little nook created inside Nate's door.

The floor tile is done! It is white hexagon, which matches the second floor bathroom.

The shower is subway tile, with a gray penny border, which also matches the tile layout of the second floor bathroom. We tried to make the bathroom match our other bathrooms, so it was pretty easy to pick out finishes.

The finished bathroom! We LOVE the way it turned out!

It's a pocket door, I haven't taken any pictures since that was finished. Scott did the trim and it looks amazing!

Overall, we had a good experience with our contractor and the people that worked on the bathroom. But I'm glad to have my house back:) On to the next project!

Georgia Trip 2017

We all made the trip to Georgia in July! I think the kids look forward to this week all year long! We got lots of good time with Mimi, Paka, Aunt Amanda, Uncle David, Noah, Gavin, Levi & Asher!! 

Here is Lila meeting Asher. She was smitten:)

Nate was pretty smitten too...he liked the idea of the oldest and the youngest being together. Sweet Nate is 11 years older than Asher. It's a scary thought to think when Asher is 11, Nate will be 22. Ahhhhh....

Our annual picture for Mimi...the kids all cooperated so well. No, for real. They did. Anything for Mimi!

Oh my gosh. They are sitting next to each other and are not fighting. This situation does not happen very often. For real.

Well. This is a lot of people to get together. But they did it! There was only a minor catastrophe in between takes. Lila hit her head somehow. I don't even remember how now. But she survived...

Annual tradition of going to Stone Mountain! How are they all this big?!?!

Sweet morning cuddles with Asher.

One day, we decided at breakfast to head to Athens to the UGA campus and to eat at the Grill. On a whim. Totally unplanned. With 6 kids. Who are we???? But it was totally the BEST day! Eating at the grill...feta and fries...YUM YUM. Notice Nate and his button their shirt all the way up posse. Ahem.

I'm so proud of this picture! Amanda & Scott & their kiddos under the Arch! I absolutely love it.

While on campus, we visited the fountain where Scott proposed to me almost 17 years ago...December 18, 1999. I was so happy to be back there. The kids? Eh. They weren't super impressed. But oh well, they can say they've been there.

A bit older now...and wiser!

Lila & Gavin...sweet kiddos.

We also went to the Atlanta Zoo when we were there. The Pandas were so exciting! I love them. We were there when Nate was little, maybe 2008. This is him now.

And back then...whaaaaaa....where did my baby go??

I know Mimi feels the same way. Here they are now. He's almost as tall as her!! Very soon, very soon. Tears.  

I love this boy. He is growing into being such a fine young man. And a wonderful cousin/friend for Nate. I wish we lived closer to them. Truly. I wish that all the time. They have such a special friendship. All the cousins do. Warms my heart.

All the hooligans at the Zoo! Love all of them SO much!

Nate & Levi...Levi is such a sweet big brother. And is growing up toooooo fast!!

On our last night there, we met Patrick, Nicole & Ellie at a restaurant that had an outdoor space. Kids? Outdoor place? We're there.

They were playing football. With tables around them. Yes. Yes, I was a very nervous mother.

Yes, that's Nate about to tackle somebody. He doesn't get it from me:)

And to end this wonderful post, Scott meeting his newest nephew...so sweet!

Summer Things

Nate did a camp at Fontbonne University in July, so Lila and I had a couple of days to ourselves. She had been asking to go to Flying Spider, which is an indoor trampoline park that also has ball pits and an obstacle course. She LOVED it! 

Lila & Scott also spent the night at the Zoo in July. Yes, in the zoo. In the sea lion tunnel to be more exact. They had a wonderful time!! Lila with her friends G & N, who are also our neighbors!

Nate & I went to the Post for dinner while they were at the Zoo. It was nice to eat with my oldest baby.

I think Nate & Scott were at the Muny on this night and Lila had gymnastics. So we hit up CFA afterwards. We are so proud of her gymnastics! She started at a new gym this month and loves it!

This was one of our library days. In the children's library, there was a cup challenge. Nate stacked these up in no time and the librarian even took a picture for her wall! Bonus points that he matches the cups:)

We had many MANY many pool days this summer. One day I came back to my chair and this is what I found. Stylin' and Profilin'!

Lila got a big idea this summer that I should start making her peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in "fun" shapes. This is a soda/straw with bubbles coming out. Very creative right?!? Well, I've never claimed to be creative. Ha!

I texted this picture to my mom one Sunday morning after we got to church. I titled it "Fatigued by Motherhood." I mean. Tie dye t-shirt, jean shorts and pearls. To church. Because of course. I was too tired to argue about it, so off she went!

Baby Boys

We added two very special boys to our family over the summer!! 

Asher William Odom was born on May 29, 2017. Congratulations to David, Amanda, Noah, Gavin & Levi on their new baby boy. We go to meet Asher in July and think he is so very sweet! 

 Wilder Corse Collins was born on July 10, 2017. Congratulations to Ben, Emily, Bluet & Ilona!! 

We have not met him yet in person, but we get to in a few weeks! So excited! 

Back to Blogging & Swim Team

Sigh. I was a terrible blogger over the summer. But just when I was ready to give it up all together, I decided to press forward, as I do love reading other blogs and mostly having a record of our happenings around here. So I'll attempt to catch up. And then I may go silent again for another few months. Ha! 

Swim team seemed quick this year because we were gone to Switzerland for 2 weeks of it and then also the season was a week shorter than normal. We enjoyed it while it lasted! 

Oh Lila...always the jokester!

Nate, after a race, telling me not to yell. He does strongly dislike it when I support him in any way at a sporting event. I'm trying. Sort of:)

Lila doesn't mind if I yell, so there's that. Give it a few years though!

Proud of our swimmers and their hard work this summer!