I've been meaning to put pictures on for a long time - and now that it's quiet in the house, I'm making the time. I can't guarantee that it will be quiet for too much longer, but since Margaret's asleep and Savannah's asleep and I'm almost asleep... here you go.
Our family is doing well. The girls and I are holding down the fort while Andrew is in Utah building houses (and loving the challenge that this new adventure brings). We've had our fair share of challenges at home, but our family has been strengthened even in the process. I feel it's a bit like bending steel. First you have to heat it up, then you can mold it and finally it cools off. While I freely admit that it's not easy being apart, Andrew and I are thankfully able to talk daily, and he is still my strength when things get tough. I know that we can rely on each other for everything!
Savannah started a community education class, and she loves it. She goes back and forth between calling it "school" and "my class" - I think it's going to be an excellent experience for both of us. For her first class, she made square eggs (I've never seen it done, but it sounds easy), learned to make an egg salad sandwich, planted a bean in a "living necklace" and had lunch with about 11 other kids! Socially, it will be good for her. Mentally, it will be good for me. I love to hear her excitement and the way she is growing and learning. She was sad that the teacher didn't talk to her during her class, and we had a nice talk about the world not turning around the things she says - I know that she's only four, but I hope that SOMETHING sunk in there! We talked about the similiarities between sitting and listening in Primary and sitting and listening during her class. And I acknowledged that it's hard for her not to talk - because she likes to talk (this may be a gross understatement) - personally, I'm hoping that this class will help her learn some valuable sharing and social skills - and how to listen instead of talk all the time...
Margaret is growing faster than I want her to. Her hair is coming in redder, her smile is getting bigger, and she thinks it's funny when her "bum burps". She doesn't laugh at gas yet, but she does smile bigger after she hears that particular funny noise. She doesn't laugh when she scares herself with it though... Just gets a funny startled look on her face. We all laugh at that!
As for me, I'm getting lots of sleep, and singing happy songs when the rest of the house isn't so happy. I've decided that I refuse to allow someone else to make me sad. I'm just not going to give in to the old adage - "If mom's not happy, nobody's happy" may as well just be happy with what I've got. It sure has changed the way I look at things!
And on that note - I'm going to get some much needed beauty rest.
This used to be the wallpaper wall... and the view down the hall.
The entry way. Changes include the coat closet and taking the door to the stairs off. It has opened the area up immensely!
Looking toward the woodstove - installed in January, and already worth its weight in saved heating bills!
Our dining area... note that the chandelier doesn't seem to be the only thing in the room anymore! (Or maybe it's that people were looking for a distraction from the rest of the walls... the floor doesn't seem to be as hideous either.) 
