the "best day ever"

to be excited about these photos seems insane, right? but we had the best day ever (quote straight from matthew's mouth) yesterday. by the time we left no one could stand up straight. everyone had something that was cut, scraped, twisted, bruised or in some other way injured, and from YOUR point of view (well .... ours too haha) the house is still a total wreck. BUT we also had so much fun working together!!! all five kids jumped in and really truly worked like crazy. we laughed and sneezed and joked and coughed and played and had a total blast. what did we accomplish? the kitchen is now ready to start being created - old hardwood and two linoleum floors are gone (HUGE project) along with 5,000 nails in the floor attaching said flooring. all previous counters/cabinets/applianced/sink/everything is gone and ready for our fresh clean new dreams! and the kids also started painting their bedrooms. tom had already taken care of ripping up all the flooring in those rooms so they could come and paint. i took and deep breath and let my kids each choose their own paint colors (very difficult for my controling personality) and i think they have ruined the upstairs - ha! just kidding - they each chose something that looks exactly like them. and as matthew told me....mom - this is going to be a hard move - but since you're letting us design our own rooms, it's really starting to be fun and i'm getting excited! who knew my little man would be the one to say that....but i think all the kids felt the same way. so again....try and look past the monumental mess and see the smiles and know that we have a dream and that working together to achieve that dream has and will be harder than we ever thought....but also has been more fun and rewarding for each of us than we ever imagined!!!!