We have CONCRETE

 After two weeks of uncooperative rainy weather our concrete was FINALLY poured this week. It seems that no improvement project happens on schedule even when we are paying someone else! Despite the concrete our yard pictures are still far from complete.

We still need to add and paint the front board, paint the two back support posts, clean the bricks, and add lighting. Oh and of course, position our furniture!

The concrete was poured two different days and the color variation will fade. This picture below shows where we need to add dirt prior to planting grass. We plan to move dirt and plant next weekend!

Our new sidewalk!

She's HERE

After months of anticipation Anna gave birth to a beautiful baby girl last Friday September 23rd. Miss Annalisa Acino Vogt weighed 7lbs 3 ounces and was 20inches long at birth. Mother and baby are doing great. I've seen them two days in a row but didn't think to get a picture yesterday and forgot my camera today.

Anna and Annli on their first day home

Go CARDS

Stuart and I were able to host a gathering for the UK U of L football game a couple of weeks ago. It was an evening game so I worked the night before and was well rested by 7pm and Stu and I were even able to do some shopping before the game. Stuart rearranged the living room for the occasion to make it more guest friendly. He even sat up Rachel's tv so that we would view two games at once.

Justin, Bobbi and "little baby" were happy Cards fans. While Phil was upset at his Cats.

Just trying to stay awake after a long day but supper happy about a great win!

More work in the back yard

As you may know from previous blog posts we started a major landscape project months ago. We started planning in the early spring, took a ton of trees and scrubs out in early June (http://clemonswilliams.blogspot.com/2011/06/yard-work-and-deck-progress.html), and have made some major updates to the deck since April (http://clemonswilliams.blogspot.com/2011/04/spring-is-here-well-maybe.html) . Now as Labor Day draws near we are making more progress. I would say the end is in sight but honestly it will probably be October before we get grass started and spring before we do any other planting or mulching. Over the weekend Joe, Ellen, and Stuart completed the addition to the creek-stone wall under the deck. They extended the wall out and away from the house. The plan is to fill dirt in behind the wall to direct water away. We have also decided on a concrete company and they are going to be able to come in and pour our below deck patio and sidewalk in a couple of weeks. We are so EXCITED that our plans are finally becoming a reality! After the concrete is poured we will bring in dirt to create high areas so that we can direct water where we want it to go.

View from under the deck near the house. Soon this will be a nice concrete patio and the mound of deck from where we removed the coy pond will be a nice grassy yard.

Close up of the extension of the creek stone wall, concrete will come out 5 feet from the post.

A before concrete picture of the area where the sidewalk will be. Looks so much different with all the bushes gone from around the house, door, and stairwell!

Backside of the wall. We plan to fill dirt in here to keep water away.

View from the front corner, I still have to decide what plants or scrubs to put here. Any suggestions?

Baby Shower Fun

Since our "bestie" Anna is now 35 weeks pregnant with her first Kelsey and I took it upon ourselves to host a shower for her. We set the date months ago and I got the invitations out on time but in my usual way I was working like a crazy woman getting everything together the last week. (Note to self don't plan a shower on a Sunday and plan on working the two nights prior without planning for the stress!) The day of Kelsey and I were both thankful that we decided to divide out the responsibilities. There is no way I would have found time to plan games or bake a cake. I am especially thankful that Ellen came over to keep food out and take pictures, I could not have enjoyed the event with out her here, I would have simply been too busy. Here are some pictures of our fun!

Annalisa's room got a ton of cute owl decorations

the food spread

my amazing co-hostess Kelsey Hughes

Oliva was a huge part of the entertainment

Ashley attempting to "be pregnant" prior to one of Kelsey's games!

Liam, our youngest guest

how big is Anna?

A nice trip

Summer is quickly coming to a close. Stuart and I are on our way home from a delightful vacation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We had a great and relaxing trip and enjoyed getting to know (and spoiling) Titus and Elsa while catching up their parents. We enjoyed Tiffany's cooking and I'm appreciative and excited to try new recipes. We also indulged multiple times in delightful New Mexican cuisine, I love green chiles and sopapillas with honey. Stuart starts fall semester in a couple of weeks. And I have a baby shower to plan for Anna. Rachel is staying at our house until she leaves for Italy on August 18th (its going to be a long few months with her so far away!)

Date night was lots of fun new mexican, mircorbrews, and the arcade!

home pedicures are much more economical

 

our beautiful toes post pedicure!

Elsa and I all dressed for church

a unique root system on our hike

Stu and I hiking the Sandias

At an Isotopes game, Titus didn't like the mascot!

just relaxing on a rock

the wildflowers where taller than me!

vacation to DC

Staurt and I had a lovely trip to DC last week. However, after almost missing our connecting flight in Atlanta on the way there and have our itinerary changed by Delta on the way home we will strongly consider driving when we return in the future. Since our flights weren't direct the amount of travel time plus the amount of time needed at the airport prior to departure plus the stress of flying makes it almost easier to drive for trips of that length. During our time there we were able to check out a variety of touristy stuff: Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, FRD Memorial, view from the top of the Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Smithsonian American History Museum, Holocaust Museum, National Archives, Library of Congress, Supreme Court Building. We also went on a capital tour and to the Senate Gallery during session.  During Stuart's workshop I went to Ford theater and National Gallery of Art and to the Newseum with my friend Chelsey.
The highlight of the trip was being able to have dinner with many friends from college. On Sunday night we went to Fireworks Pizza with some Kappa Sig's from Purdue. On Monday night we went to Alexandria to eat at an amazing seafood place with Chelsey and Bill. Tuesday night we had a delightful dinner with Rick and his new wife Leah. On our last night in the city we had ice cream and walked around Georgetown with Chelsey, Bill, and their dog Little Bit.

Jefferson Memorial: Saturday night

Lincoln Monument Saturnday night

Squinty Sara on the Newseum Balcony with view of the Capital

At Gravely Point with Chelsey and Bill watching the planes land. One the highlights of the trip!

An Artist making a copy of one the the paintings in the National Gallery of Art

With my wonderful husband prior to our capital tour

With fellow McConnel Scholar Trey Pippin