See this little storage closet in our basement . . .
It has been as awesome storage closet, with deep shelving all the way around three sides (and it was packed full!).
But the shelving has come completely down! The door and the wall will be coming down this weekend, too. My dad and brother are tearing it out and finishing it off to make our downstairs living room bigger. We can't wait!
But, we did't just throw away that shelving. Oh no . . . shelving like that is gold in my world! I would not let it go to waste. Not only did our good friend, Brian Wulfekuhle, tear all of the shelving out, but he also put it back up in our utility room (with Jason's help, of course).
WA LAAA! As of last night, we have new storage shelving in our utility room. I am so excited! Thank you SO MUCH Brian for all of your work!
Less than 24 hours later, I had that storage space completely filled up! (Thanks to some help from Libby.) Since we eliminated the previous storage closet and we are going to have a renter again in May, this is now our only storage space. I'm thankful I got it all to fit.
And the other change that is happening is that wall on the left . . .
Which is the wall on the right from the kitchen view . . .
That wall is also COMING DOWN!! Our kitchen is pretty small, so we (well, my dad and brother) are knocking the wall down on Friday to make it more open. We've been planning these remodel projects for awhile . . . and I'm so excited that they are really happening! And yes, they are happening this weekend, the weekend of Abram's birthday. Kind of crazy, but I'm thankful to get started.
Second, the last of the first year monkey pictures.
And third, Abram's birthday was made complete by me getting to talk to Abram's Tia Leti on the phone for 30 minutes after his party. It was an incredible blessing and the perfect end to Abram's first birthday.
Cheesing it up in front of my monkey tree. 
Monkey cupcakes.
Monkey cups.
All the monkey goodies.
Jaida came to my party!
And so did Reese!
Aunt Kate got me this fun monkey helmet . . . as if I wasn't already a monkey enough!
Everyone started singing Happy Birthday to me. Mom was trying to take a picture of me to send to my family in Texas.
I didn't know what to think about that big monkey cake, so mom gave me a cupcake. I just picked at it for awhile.
Mom thought it was time I get more of it in my mouth.
It didn't take me long to dive into it!
Then I got to open lots of presents. I got a lot of baseball and monkey stuff! Grammy out-did herself again and gave me a rocking chair that matches my room. The rocking chair actually used to me my mom's . . . Grammy said mom got it on her first birthday from her Grandma Hotze. What a great gift!
Rockin' it in my new chair!
Check out my new monkey rain boots!
Grammy is trying to help me with my swing.
Mommy said this is her favorite picture of the weekend. Something about me being a really big gift from God and this being the best year of her and daddy's life so far.
It has been as awesome storage closet, with deep shelving all the way around three sides (and it was packed full!).
Less than 24 hours later, I had that storage space completely filled up! (Thanks to some help from Libby.) Since we eliminated the previous storage closet and we are going to have a renter again in May, this is now our only storage space. I'm thankful I got it all to fit.
And the other change that is happening is that wall on the left . . .
Which is the wall on the right from the kitchen view . . .
