Christmas break 2014. Who said break?

Clay took two weeks off to coincide with the kids break. 

So obviously, we worked on the house.

Child labor. 

Lucy is 5'11 1/2" now.

That is kind of a big child.

So, it really doesn't apply to her.

She is taller than me!!!

Before Clay installed our Lowes off the shelf

 kitchen in the apartment.

After!

Audrey manning the hole. 

Her job was to stay near to get Lucy and Clay what they needed 

while they were under the house. 

They were insulating and plumbing.

What a great Christmas break for our kids.

Memories come in different ways.

Hopefully these will last forever.

Remember when mom and Dad made us work over break? They are so lame!

The apartment bathroom. 

Clay makes Lowes in stock tiles look fancy. 

Audrey learned how to tile and use the spacers.

Wait...I don't even know that!

We are prepping her for her career in design.

The kitchen. 

Note the Butte chandelier in the top left corner.

That's an Alaskan reference.

Ask Dad.

Wood floors were delivered to put in the kitchen. 

They need to be delivered 2 weeks prior to installation to acclimate.

Who knew?

If you are wondering what my jobs are while we remodel... 

Let me tell you!

1. Be supportive. Seriously.

2. Not complain. I have perfected it!

3. See the big picture for our life here.

4. Still be a mother of 4.

5. Design the interior. That is work! 

6. Paint the interior. 

7. Clean up the interior constantly.

8. Call or make appointments and say things like...we need a blah blah tank for our septic. See, even I don't want to remember that. Apparently, I have been reassigned due to my lack of enthusiasm.

9.Seems like I don't do much. But I do. 

I am positive I had more energy with newborns.

10. Do more stuff that I can't remember. 

Oh, and be patient! 

We are so used to having so much convenience in life. 

I have learned I am capable of far more patience than I thought.

Clay is working full time in Charlotte now so, patience is a must. Not just in our daily life with him gone 

but in putting a project this large on hold is....huge!   

There's the trailer park mustache again.

Memories.

Or nightmares.

It was very cold the week after Christmas. 

So cold, the sky just stayed a frozen blue hue.

There is no filter on these photos!

Across the street from our post office in the canyon.

Chester playing in the front yard. 

It was -3 out.

Crazy boys.

Our winter bunnies.

More winter bunnies.

We took an afternoon to sled the day after Christmas.

There is a little hill by the middle school.

This is how we will be approaching 2015.

Full throttle, all together.

It's the journey that matters.