Preparing for a new floor...

We've already mentioned here that the day was coming when we'd be removing the two layers of flooring in our dinette/kitchen/laundry room. We even posted a picture of a potential cork choice to replace the vinyl covered, hideous and slippery off-white, ceramic tile. Well, the day has come. These pictures show the prep work that went on all day on Sunday, wrapping up our not all that long ago refaced cabinets to protect them from the possibility of flying tiles, the stacks of "stuff" stashed throughout the living/dining room (feels like the great pantry project all over again), and even the powder room turned "breakfast bar" for the duration! There are also pictures of the guys at work, who in fact, have made SHORT work of the demo. (Under three hours, without a single flying piece of ceramic! - We were sooooo over-protected!) It's now 12:30 pm of the first day, the workmen have been out to lunch and back, and are now placing the underlay for the new cork flooring as I type. You know there will be more pictures when it's all done!

"yourcostamesafamily" a year later...

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since we started our family blog! It's been a busy one, what with a wedding back in April and all the wonderful time spent with George and Carol, the birth of another grandchild, friend and family gatherings, our Santa Barbara trip in January, our "mission" to keep visiting California missions when we can, and great times spent with Brandon staying with us. We're commemorating this "blog anniversary" with pictures of Sassy and Nica. The first was taken a couple of weeks ago, while Nica was still recovering from her "back attack", and they were both in dire need of baths and trims. The second was taken today - just a few days past much needed visits to the groomer. They're still reasonably clean and you see what beautiful eyes they both have!

Joint birthday celebration...

...for Sophia, who turned 4 last Wednesday, and for Joshua, who turned 1 on Sunday! It was family time at the Huertas house, with all six of our grand-kids there to share in the celebration. (As well as a David's mom and a couple of dear family friends rounding out the group.)

Teenager in the house...

We had a terrific time this past week with Brandon back in our home. He did a lot of work on our pantry clean-up and paint project. We hope he also had a fair amount of fun while he was here, too - swimming, skateboarding at the park across the street, playing Scrabble, hanging out with Belle at the barn, gaming on Facebook on his grandpa's computer, and exploring Fashion Island on Saturday with Larry. We're sorry to see that summer's nearly over and it may be a while before we can bring him back for another visit - he's a great kid and such fun to have around!

Sophia celebrates her fourth birthday at Long Beach Aquarium...

Sophia turned four on Wednesday and she celebrated at the Long Beach Aquarium, with dinner after at Bubba Gumps. Another cake and ice cream family gathering is taking place on Sunday, a shared celebration for she and Joshua who is turning one!

Our resident skateboard master in training...

Larry got these pictures of Brandon trying out his new board at a local park this week.

Jonathan in the pool...

Photos of Jonathon taken during his last of eight weeks of swim class. According to Heather he has progressed from not wanting to put his head under the water to now repeatedly diving to the bottom to collect toys! Our little fish has come a long way this summer!

Hard work has its rewards...

Brandon has done a lot of work around here this visit - and knows that there's more to come. But, Grandpa and Margaret decided that he'd earned the thing we knew he wanted most at the moment - a replacement board for his skateboard. Looks a little "fishy" to us, but he's a happy kid this afternoon!

Home improvement land...

On the day that demolition of the inside of our pantry was to begin, our "chief home improvement engineer" changed the plan... Fearful that the shelf span was wide enough to guarantee warping over time, the idea of adjustable shelving was canned. But, the inside of the pantry has been cleaned and painted, new clear plastic shelf liners installed and all the cupboard doors have gotten a fresh coat of paint as well, thanks to our temporary resident handy-guy, Brandon. This is what the floor of half of our garage has looked like most of the week! Of course, projects like this take on a life of their own. How can we not give the cupboards over the washer/dryer, as well as the door to the laundry shoot, the same treatment?

Ava with her eyes open...

and her hair done in pig-tails. Sooooo cute!

Heather with Jonathan and Sophia...

Ava and Riley...

When Larry went to pick up Brandon this afternoon he had his new camera with him and was able to get new pictures of Ava and Riley. Miss Ava was napping, but he had to grab one quick shot anyway. And, Riley was doing what growing babies do best - eating!

Out with the old...

... and so disgustingly grubby we should be embarrassed to post this picture! This is a section of our pantry that will be gutted and fitted with new adjustable shelves over the next few days. Larry is looking forward to Brandon arriving to help with this project. Margaret will just be glad when the cardboard boxes filled with canned goods and bottled goods, paper products, small kitchen appliances, vases, candles, craft supplies... (you get the picture) are off the kitchen and dining rooms floors! We'll let you know how it all works out ;)

Well on the road to recovery...

This is what a little gray dog looks like when she's at least a week overdue for a bath (and a trim would be nice too; it's getting hard to see her eyes!), but she's still on the activity restricted list for a couple more days. We're so grateful that she's feeling sooooo much better; we are happy to put up with her being dirty (and a little stinky, too!) for as long as it takes for her to be 100 percent again.

"Stumpy" is done...

Honey oak stain for highlights and a coat of urethane to protect - our sun/moon stump is ready for its close-up now! We did have a stump grinder on the property this week working where other trees had been removed. Some of "Stumpy's" root system on the sides and back were ground. Once the soil around it has a chance to cool down from the wood shavings left behind, Margaret hopes to set three yellow day lily plants in an arch behind our little "art" project. (The perks of being on the Association Landscape Committee!)

Bits and pieces...

It's been a week since we've updated the blog... And, for several days of that week, Larry and Margaret have been nursing a little gray dog with a very sore back. Last Tuesday night we took Nica to the emergency vet after she'd cried out in pain lying still on the living room floor, then began panting heavily. It was also possible to feel pain spasms run through her body. (We've been through this before with Sassy and were pretty certain we knew what the problem was...) X-rays and blood work were done, and it was determined that she has a couple of tiny spinal spurs that had caused her back to flare.
Luckily, she's very good in her crate, which is where she spent most of her time up till yesterday, allowing the pain and anti-spasm meds to do their jobs. As the days pass we are trying to allow her more freedom, while still encouraging her not to be stupid! We expect that full recovery is just a few more days away.
Brandon is scheduled to come back for another visit the end of the week. He and Grandpa have a demolition/construction project on their agenda - removing the existing shelves in our pantry and replacing them with adjustable shelves.
Little brother Riley is doing great - a healthy, growing boy who, for the most part is letting his parents sleep much of the night.
And over at the Huertas house, Heather and David are preparing for the birth of another baby boy, Isaac (middle name TBA) due in December.