Best $24 dollars ever spent

Hot of the download are the latest pictures of our remodel. Doug and I have been working none stop on this house to get as much done as we can. This week I started roofing and it has made it more challenging for me to be there during the day, but Doug has been a great help.



We have been sheet rocking, mudding, and sanding lately. We rented a lift to help with the sheet rock and it was the best $24 I have every spent. We had 12' pieces that were 5/8" thick. Heavy!






The latest remodel we decided to rip out the half wall in the entry way, which meant we also had to rip out the old tile. The tiling has been added to the get done list as well.

The renovation!

Nature has a way of evolving - tadpoles turn into frogs or caterpillars changing into beautiful butterflies. Our family has changed as well since we have been in this house. We started with just one, but now realize three kids later that we have out grown our home.

So we have decide to utilize the empty space in our house and make another room. I am in the process of closing off the vaulted ceiling in the family room.


This is our room when we first bought the house. Brooke set up her painting in the living room.
Day 1 & 2: Obviously this wasn't the first day of this renovation. We did many things before this day, such as, working with Rob (many thanks Rob) on the plans, taking them downtown for approval, calling for bids, etc. But this was the first day of actual construction. I got a big load of wood and started wripping off sheet rock and putting up the ledger boards.





Day 3: Doug came for a visit to help lift the big stuff. It was nice to have him here to help (ok I was actually helping him). Got the floor up.




Day 4: Finished framing!



Tomorrow we have the electrician and AC guys coming. Good that the AC man is coming because ours isn't working! UGH!

Growing up so fast!

I can't believe how much can happen in such a short amount of time. Ok, so it has been a while since I posted, but number four has been quite the change for us. There isn't as much spare time as there used to be. But it has been a good time filler. Andrew continues to grow and is now the next Cottle boy to suck his fingers.

Liam and Ethan have enjoyed the outside, once in a while it does stop raining here, but not much this spring. They love to go out and run in the sprinklers, play with their soccer or baseball, or just explore in the garden. Ethan in particular loves to be out in the backyard. He will run out there at any time of the day.


I even got a nice shiner from our little Ethan. He kept getting out of bed and I would have to run him down (we put the lock on the door so he can't get out now). I got him and set him down. I reached behind him to get his blanket and he bucked back giving me a sweet bump within seconds. The eye went pretty black the next day and I couldn't open my eye to well. After a week of "are you wearing make-up" comments, it is finally almost back to normal.

Brooke took an abserd number of photos of the boys, so I will post a few for you. They are pretty cute though.







Finally, we got to have Elisa over for her 21st birthday! It was fun to celebrate the day with her. Elisa was very excited to get her "cheap" haircut and gifts. It is always nice to have family around on those occassions.

New pics

Brooke actually posted this! I am so proud of her. Maybe next time she will write some comments to go along with the pictures!

That's my boy!

Ethan is learning at a young age! I actually wouldn't let him go to bed with the new ball in his bed, but after lights out he quickly got it and slept with it in his bed. He takes it to bed now every night. Any time a ball is around Ethan is the first to get it and won't let anyone else touch it.

I do have to say my boys are some crazy sleepers. They sleep in all kinds of positions and are constantly moving around. I go in multiple times a night to move them back onto the bed. Ethan doesn't even stop at night in his sleep! Quite the busy little boy.

OBOB & Silver Falls

The Thunderstruck Geckos!

Ethan was in there for about 5 seconds before we realized he had to go in the hall and wait.

Avery had her OBOB competition in Salem on Saturday and her team did fantastic. They earned enough points in the first two rounds to get to the finals. Unfortunately they lost their first match and were out of the competition. The Thunderstruck Geckos did great! To make it to the top 8 teams in the state is amazing.

After the competition we went with the Hansen family to hike Silver Falls. It was beautiful! It is about a five mile loop with two water falls. The kids were real troopers. I had Ethan in the backpack and Liam did well while he was hiking. He only got tired at the end and I had to carry both of them up the hill. Brooke and I realized we need to do more hiking this summer.



Ethan didn't stay out of the backpack for too long.

Liam and Bennett having fun.

5 & Blessing

5 days, 4 days, 3 days, 2 days ... today was finally Liam's birthday! Liam was more excited for his birthday than Christmas. Every day he had a count down for it. Today he got up at 5 am and was ready to open some presents (unfortunately mom and dad were up 'til 1 getting ready for his birthday and Andrew's blessing day). It was a great combination day - birthday and Andrew's blessing day.

Alissa and Robbie (my sister and brother-in-law) came with their family to be here and support us. It was nice to have them here. Elisa (Brooke's sister) was also able to come and be here for the special day. The blessing went well. Andrew was great and wore Muma's blue booties for the special occassion.

Liam was very excited for his special day. After our nice lunch Liam was dying to open his presents. We tried to make him wait until after the cake and ice cream to open them, but he saw the one he wanted and attacked. He knew right where the Transformer was and got to it before I even realized what was happening. Before I noticed what he was doing he was kneeling on the table and had opened 3 presents and was starting on number 4. Liam was a present opening machine. He had them all opened in about 3 minutes, tops. We all enjoyed Brooke's Lego cake and conversation. It was fun to have family here to enjoy such a great day.


Liam and Ethan singing Happy Birthday!

Liam goin' at those presents.

Cute Andrew.

Our little (not so much now) family

The Parker family.

Liam and Emilie playing outside. They had fun in primary together.