Bathroom Remodel: Check

The bathroom remodel is in the can. Ok, sorry couldn't resist. And really, it's ALMOST done. The outside wall still needs to be painted, but otherwise it's done! It is so nice. I love it.

Before:


And, after!




I can't fit in all the pictures. Instead, you can click through to our Picasa album and follow the whole process.

Christmas is Coming!

It turns out time keeps going forward whether or not you are prepared for it. So, Christmas has snuck up on us. Last weekend we ventured out to find our tree.
Santa & the elves starting off on the search

Found it!

Traditional picture of TT with tree for a head


Last night we went to see the neighborhood Santa. DT wasn't sure, so I had to fill in for Mrs. Claus


And we even managed some decoration at the house! I had two very eager ornament hangers this year.



Merry Early Christmas!

Sisterpalloza 2011

A certain sister had a big birthday this past weekend. To celebrate, we all met up in Denver, since it is pretty central. It was very fun! Of course, as all Augsburger family member know, one of the most fun parts of a get together is trying to take group photos. Some of these were taken by a passerby and some by timer. You can guess which ones are which.

Mega October Post

It's been over a month since our last post. We have been quite busy and at times overwhelmed. I'll try to catch up with the going ons in the last month in this one post.

We had a block party early in the month. Our regular organizer moved away, so it was a committee effort to put it together. The kids loved having a bouncy house in front of our house.

In early October, LT's school held its annual Walkathon fund raising event. Big thank you to everyone who made a contribution. LT earned a total of 22 miles, 17 miles walked, and 5 mile credit for leaving for a soccer game during the day. DT signed up as a junior walker, but did just one and a half laps (1/2 mile), and took the rest of the day off.

As we approached pumpkin season, we found time to visit our regular pumpkin patch. No everyone was in a festive mood. Maybe it was the hot day. Maybe we've gone to the same farm too many times. I don't know. We rode the hay ride, shot some mini pumpkins bazookas, got our pumpkins and left, leaving one cow train ticket unused.

LT had a special soccer practice last weekend. One of the kids on the team invited the team to his grandparents' winery for a practice/picnic. It was very beautiful and an almost surreal setting for a soccer practice.

Come Halloween, we all had a costume this year. S and T dressed as a bavarian couple for a Halloween party. LT was too cool to dress up, so he reused his ninja costume from last year. DT was the red Power Ranger Samurai, which complemented the ninja pretty well.

Oh, and remember that big project we were gearing up for in August. Well, after some delays and setbacks, we are under way. That will be for another post on another day, but here's a snapshot of the early progress.

LT's birthday party

LT had his birthday party last weekend. We had four squares, backyard movie, pizza, homemade rootbeer and cupcakes. That was enough to keep 20 kids very entertained for over three hours.

Beautiful Big Basin!

Last weekend we were able to squeeze in a camping trip between a soccer game on Saturday and soccer pictures on Sunday. I was having second thoughts about going, with so much going on, but it was so worth it!

Our campsite was beautiful, right in the middle of the redwoods. We went with friends which made it even better. The kids set up camp in a hollow tree right at the edge of camp and made a moss carpet and swept with tree branches. We took a hike to a waterfall and then had a delicious dinner over the campfire. In the morning we had a relaxed camp breakfast and were able to pack up in plenty of time for the pictures!





An excellent breakfast invention! Fried banana (dipped in maple brown sugar oatmeal and hot chocolate mix) in the bacon grease. Yummy!

Even the neighbor campsite girl joined in the fun!

TT had to retrieve the kid's ball once it rolled of the campsite and down into the ravine. Takes some skills.

Back To School Night

We got to learn about LT's 2nd/3rd grade class at back to school night while LT & DT, too!, got to enjoy a kids night out at the Ycare.

Looking around the classroom, there were some adorable self portraits above the board. This was, of course, my favorite!



(Sorry about picture quality, just had my phone and it was hanging high up!)

Odds & Ends

Just a few tidbits from the last couple weeks...

Tomatoes Gone Wild
We only planted 2 cherry tomato plants, for the record. We got a bonus and they just went gangbusters while we were on vacation. It hasn't been hot enough for most of the fruits to ripen.


School has only been in session 2 weeks, but that was still enough for some fun work to come home. Check out number 4 at the bottom of this one. An honest guy!

Here you can learn about LT's favorites.


We got a new toy. It's like iPad for those on a budget. (Aka, Nook color reconfigured as an Android tablet.) Now we can play Angry Birds and watch Power Rnagers on the big(er) screen. DT calls it the "big phone."


We've also been gearing up for a big project. Here is a little hint.

Second Grade!

Somehow summer has come and went and LT is back to school! He is in 2nd grade this year. He is in a 2/3 combo class with lots of his friends, so it is very exciting. The first day was tough going in as he was the last kid to come in (3rd grade starts at 8:15 and 2nd starts at 8:25 and we didn't realize his class was starting at 8:15 because of the combo). The second day he didn't even look back or wave goodbye when the line went in! I think he enjoyed the first 2 days.

Here's the annual picture!


Years past:
First Grade
Kinder

Chicago

I think this will be a picture only post.