Renovations....AGAIN!!!

I married a do it yourself kinda guy that loves to work with his hands so in celebration for his return home he decided that now was the time to tear down some drywall and rip off the carpet on the stairs. I like the ideas but I don't like the mess and shambles my downstairs has been in the past 2 weeks. I feel like I am cleaning all day, everyday, and even when it is clean it looks dirty and dusty. But I have had tons of fun working with Ben and the new helper Lathan. As he has grown he really likes to help and show us that he is a great helper. He has been earning an allowance since we began all the work to encourage him that it is good to help around and that responsibilities can be fun and exciting. Here are a few pics of our start and our progress so far. We are taking the walls out and putting in a banister and ballistrades to open up the stairwell. This project has taken longer than thought because Ben has been busily registering for school at UNM which he starts on Tuesday, but it looks great so far and we are excited to see the Final Outcome.

Nicknames

Since Ben has been home, I have been called by many of his very original nicknames. I love them all, but what I have especially been enjoying is having not only Ben call me by them but Lathan as well. He hears papa say,"Nummas where are you...Nummas???"And then shortly after I hear Lathan yell out,"Nummas, where are you? Nummas!!!!" And that is how it began. Then there is Bella. "Bellas...Bella do you want to go with Lathan and I to the mountains?" And then Lathan with cheerful questioning eyes comes up and looks right into my eyes and says very expressionably, "Bella, you want to come with me and papa to the mountains???" How can a momma say no to those beautiful words and expressions of love and want for a momma's company with him and papa? The latest and most funny repeating of nicknames came just last night when Ben boomed out in his loud voice, "Wifee...Wifeee? Watch this Wifee!" He then carried on with what he was doing and about 1 minute later, if that, Lathan boomed out, "Watch this... Wifee!!!" Ben and I looked up and just started to roll in laughter. It was so funny, and Ben goes something like this, "Man you really have to watch what you say don't you." And so there it is. I have been enjoying both of my boys call me Bella, Nummas, and Wifee.