Birthday Fun!

Steven and I have had to put some of our big projects on hold for a while because of the latest edition to our family! Cali is 15 wks old today and growing by the minute! Since the last post we've enjoyed several major events including Steven's 25th birthday, Father's Day, and several firsts for Cali.

Amanda and I surprised Steven and Ronnie with a 25th birthday party, full of cakes, food on the grill, a keg, plenty of music and of course 3 dogs running around. I don't need to say that we had a full house. The surprise worked out very well for both boys! It was a good crowd of friends from all over the state and I think we all had a great time. Check out our new patio furniture :)

Cali gets some one on one time with her godfather, Will

A friendly game of beer pong

And here come the cakes... poor Amanda got cut out of the picture

Great friends..the picture not so good.

Steven and I celebrated his birthday with a surprise trip to Lynchburg to meet up with the D'Antonio family and Sarah who was in for a couple days. We celebrated his actual birthday, May 13 with a quiet dinner at home with some presents.

Cali comes home!

Wildwing Haven California Pearl D'Antonio. We just call her Cali <3

Spring+Green thumb+Designer=One very large project!

From previous pictures of the house I'm sure you recall the overgrown boxwood and holly bushes in the front of the house. Well, the time has come I put my design skills to work and enjoy the beautiful weather outside!

First step: get to the bare bones

Second step: dig up one bush at a time

Third step: end up with a blank slate!

Fourth step: make sure to get all the remaining roots, even IF that means digging to China!

Fifth step: Tackle other side! See all that ivy! UGGG!

The pathway looks bigger with the bushes gone!

Our dogwood finally is in bloom!

Decisions Decisions!

Happy Easter! Here are some pictures of the house in the springtime!

This look unfamiliar? It should! We moved the family room into the living room.

Steven relaxing after a long day!

Easter table

Easter table

Lemon curd trifle in Davis' bowl.

My easter feast that I prepared

Last weekend we did some yard work, I cut down a tree!!!! It was awesome!

Slate that we took out and will use in another place.

Living Room

Thanks to the most wonderful MIL (that's mother in law-for those not up on the lingo) Steven and I are proudly sporting some BEAUTIFUL curtains in the living room! In the back of the JoAnn fabric store in Roanoke, at the very bottom of a sale bin lay just enough fabric for 2 panels!
Little by little Steven and I are starting to add more furniture and accessories to our house making it a home. Check out the new rug addition!

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day 2010 is another first for us- our first red heart holiday as a married couple and in our new home! Most importantly though, it is the 2nd Valentine's Day I have not been sick! I think I've broken the tradition. February 14th, 2006 was a very eventful day, I was transported to the ICU unit. Steven and I spent our first Valentine's day together in the ICU unit of Lynchburg General Hospital. I had to get 2 different Doctor's permission for Steven to visit me because they were still unsure of my diagnosis. Valentine's Day 2007 and 2008 followed suit with some form of illness. We celebrated this year with a sushi dinner at our favorite hole in the wall restaurant in Carytown followed by a waffle cone at the homemade ice cream place next door. Oh, and I got 2 dozen roses!

As per another tradition, Ronnie usually is with us for part of the holiday. He and Steven did some home improvement projects: Storage unit for the bathroom and 2nd ceiling fan in the bedroom.

One room is finally finished!

Thanks to Mr. Williams for lending his assistance in putting the finishing touches on our dining room! This room is Officially done!

Update on the House!

Ok so here are a few pictures of what Steven and I have done on the house. We take comments, concerns, and suggestions.

Steven's birthday present 2008-tickets to the US Open at Torrey Pines. His homeownership present was having the poster framed and allowing it to hang in the den.

Starting to become "homey" by adding curtains!

The master bedroom.

Where the study action happens

The guest bedroom which no longer has green walls with flowers and vines painted on it!

Guest bedroom shot #2

Snow Day!

The Williams came for the weekend! Blizzard 2010!!!

Thank you for sitting still.

Scout jumps up to eat snowballs!

Snow angel on the deck.

I'll throw a snowball at you!

playing in the front yard. Samantha is covered in snow.

Scout likes to watch the snow from the window.

Scout likes to roll around in the snow

Merry Christmas!

Even though we spent about 2 weeks in California during the holiday season, Steven and I both wanted to put up our faux tree for the first time in our new home! The pictures will also show off the new wall color!

Our first Christmas pillow from Mom :)

Dear God, please don't be mad that we only have white candles on our advent wreath.

Love,

Lara and Steven