While Daddy was away...

John got home yesterday, a day earlier than planned, from 11 days in South Africa. This was the Big Doozie conference he and his staff have all been working toward, and he worked hard for those days. We were able to talk every day, which was great, and I sent him pictures as often as I could. Besides Oktoberfest, here are a few things captured by the camera of our time at home:


I helped Lucy make a paper caterpillar, and each day at breakfast she took off one link. Then she could count for herself how many days until Daddy came home. This was a looooong caterpillar, and after about Day 3, I was counting the links, too!


We stayed in our pajamas extra long on several mornings. The kids love to 'wrestle' and giggle. Here, Josiah is showing his brute strength, and that he's catching up with Lucy's size.


WARNING: Plastic bags are not toys. Do not let children play with plastic bags. If you do, you're a terrible parent. (Really, he just wanted to unravel them and stuff them back in, and I had to limit what I said 'no' to.)


My mom came to visit for the last few days on John's absense. She was a tremendous help in accomplishing some projects around the house. Here is Josiah's lavender bedroom BEFORE...


...and AFTER! This creamy yellow was half way between Eggnog and Cornsilk. It's perfect with the nursery decor.


Next we tackled Lucy's blue room. Here it is BEFORE...


...and DURING (we let her help after covering the entire floor in plastic, which wasn't hard since she has no furniture right now except a mattress on the floor and a bunch of stuffed animals)...


...and AFTER! The soft petal pink is perfect with her new flowery bedding. It's wonderful to have her in a girly room after having to share with Josiah for so long and match the neutral crib bedding.

Hooray for paint! Hooray for a visit from Grandma! And HOORAY that Daddy is back at home with us!