Family room- Before and afters!

Ok. Here is a picture of the family room BEFORE!!! Please don't be fooled- we do not have giant crucifixes on hideous pink walls. Anywhere in our house.

You should have seen the walls when Ben removed the horrible shelving... they had installed it when the paint was still wet and so big chunks of drywall came off. It was kind of funny. And sort of expensive. But mostly funny.

And here is the family room now!

Our trip to Carnaval (Quebec City, Feb. 2010)

We just finished our vacation to Quebec City. I can't believe I have never been there. It is so beautiful and Jack had an absoulte blast at Carnaval (the big winter festival). Some of these pictures are a bit out of sequence, but I'll do my best to explain.

This first picture should be the last, but I can't seem to move it... Ah, technology. Anyway, this is our last night at the Chateau Frontenac. We kept walking by the beautiful restaurant and wishing we could go in, but it just didn't seem like a good idea with Jack and Rory. Luckily, we could order the same meal in our room, and they even brought up a lovely table so we could eat a 5 star meal next to Jack, who was in bed. Dining in style while vacationing with kids!

There was a great swimming pool at the Chateau Frontenac. We went swimming every night.

This is on our first day, heading out to "find the fun", as Jack put it.


Beautiful streets of old Quebec.

Jack and Ben on one of the ice slides.

They had a funny little ice-disco for kids. Jack loved it.

More sliding!

Jack and Ben tubing.

Rory taking in the sights.

Back up the hill.

Mom and Jack tubing.

Walking through the wall toward the castle.

Peek-a-boo!

This is the Chateau Frontenac, where we stayed. Such a pretty building.

Seeing Bonhomme at Carnaval!

Bonhomme's ice castle.

We went dog sledding.

Rory's preferred mode of transportation.

It was great because he could nap while we did the activities with Jack.

On the last night we went on a horse drawn carriage all around Old Quebec. It was a great end to the trip.

Out of the mouths of babes...

Jack-anese:

(Context: Discussing the minister coming over to talk about Rory getting baptized.)

"When is God coming over to talk to Rory about the bad guys?"

We are clearly not on top of his religious education.

More house pics.

Ben and Paul installing the hardwood floor in the livingroom.

The livingroom from a different angle, all finished.

The "Cars" poster by the hallway was up for Jack's birthday party... not a permanent fixture.

:0)

Before and afters....

It has taken me a long time to get the before and afters up, and they may be slow in getting posted because it is taking me a little while to get everything into it's "after" state... but here are the boy's rooms!

This was Jack's room when we initially purchased the house. LOVELY Canada Goose mural, brown smelly carpets... we really had to use alot of vision to get this one to it's after state!

Bye bye Canada Geese! (and yucky carpets too!)

Jack's room now. (post-hardwood, paint, decorating, and lots and lots of love.)

He is pretty pleased with his car and firetruck picture frames.

Jack's messy cubbies (and pretty floor)

Beautiful painting that my sister Sarah did for Jack's room.

And now for Rory's lovely "before" picture... no large scale animals on his walls, but it was still pretty scary in terms of decor...

Rory's room now! (Can you spot the baby?)

Rory's snuggle corner.

More to come soon!

A winter's day...

Today was mild- a nice surprise. Jack and Ben bundle up and go out even when it is really cold outside, but Rory and I like for it to be a bit warmer. We took advantage of the weather and went for a walk around our neighbourhood in the sleds.

Rory had a great time sledding with Jack!