A little more remodel

The last two weeks, I've been trying to do as much remodel as I can fit into my schedule.  I've finished painting what was left of the living room, painted the rest of the upstairs game room with a sea foam green, then did the wood work up the stairway and painted that.  My mom even made a sun shade curtain for one of our windows.  The great thing was that all the kids were helping out all the time and never complained.  Ethan, Brad Jake and Eli all helped.  The one most excited to help was Ava, so she was the one to get her picture.  She did awesome at painting for the first time.  I should have taken a picture of the others, but I didn't think about it in the moment.  Little Eli was all willing to help also.  He was pretty cute trying to get the roller and paint brush for me all the time.  So, now that these big areas are done, I will be focusing on the kitchen next.  After the kitchen, it will be Nichole's and mine bedroom.  The kitchen will take a little bit of time because I'll be doing brick work in there and the same with my bedroom.  I'll be doing wood work, cabinets and stone/brick work.  It's kind of fun trying to brighten up the house.  Hopefully, some day, I'll save up enough $ for new carpet throughout the stairs and upstairs.  I tried laying hardwood upstairs in the game room, but Nichole and the kids made me take it back.  They really want carpet because they say it is more comfortable

These are the drapes that my mom made.  It's a simple sun shade.  I'm glad she made it white.  When I called her up, I asked her if she had any leftover fabric that could be used for this small and simple 30"x24" window and she was glad to make them for me.  What a great mom.  She didn't feel like leaving the house so she gave them to my dad to deliver them over to my house.  What a great team. Thanks mom and dad!

Ethan turns 18 and becomes an official "adult"

Ethan just turned 18 on the 19th of September which was a couple weeks ago.  As a dad, and I feel a young dad, it just seems so bizarre and weird to me to have an adult for a son.  I just can't believe it has been 18 years since he was born into this world from the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. and of course when he came from his Heavenly Father's presence.  It has been awesome.  I sure do love, admire, respect and adore my oldest son.  He is a great example to his younger siblings.  He has his little quirks, but he genuinely loves his siblings.

For his birthday, Nichole and I decided to get tickets for these 3 awesome sons of mine and myself.  It was soooo fun!!  We thought the game was going to be too late for Eli, and Ava wanted to stay with her mama. We ended getting tickets in what ended up being the party section of the stadium.  As the game started, many people in the stadium started to sit down.  I soon realized that we were going to be standing the whole game after the game went on for a few minutes.  How did we end up in the raucous section?!  I think the boys loved it, because it really added to the atmosphere.  Soccer is Brad's favorite sport and I have since realized that Ethan has put a RSL sticker on his car.  Ethan, Brad and Jake each got an RSL shirt.  They were cool shirts, and I was glad they liked them.   I think they loved the game. 

Just yesterday, I had a good experience about EThan.  Yesterday, as we went about doing all of our Saturday chores and duties cleaning up both the inside and outside of the house, it came time to attend the Priesthood Session of the General Conference.  Because I was so tired, I thought it would be best to watch the Priesthood Session on TV as opposed to going to the Stake Center.  As I went inside and turn the TV on to watch it with these three Priesthood holding boys, I realized Ethan was not here and that his car was gone.  I initially thought, "that little terd.  I can't believe he took off right when Priesthood was to start."  I was a little perturbed and disappointed.  I thought he had taken off to go play with friends or do something else.

Ethan was gone for the whole time during the priesthood session and then a few minutes after the session had completed, I realized he had come home.  I went to his room when I noticed that he was in his Sunday dress.  I was humbled and got a little choked up inside but didn't let him notice.  I asked him where he had gone when he responded that he had gone over to the stake center to watch the session.  He had done that on his own.  I told him, "Ethan, I have to honest with you.  I was a little upset because I thought you had bailed on watching the session."  He was funny and replied, "Dad, I have to be honest with you, I just wanted to get away."  We had a good little chuckle.  But, I was proud that he would go do this on his own.  When asked why he went to the stake center, he just simply said that he thought he would get more out of it by watching it there.