The Roby Family

Several months ago we were approached about being a part of a campaign to showcase the diversity and exciting things happening in north Tulsa. We quickly agreed and shot photos showcasing our family and home this spring. The first advertisement was released in Tulsa Kids magazine this month. Here’s a link to the ad:

http://www.pageturnpro.com/TulsaKids-Magazine/29996-September-2011/64.html

Please pick up a copy of Tulsa Kids, be on the lookout for future ads and spread the word about the potential of north Tulsa!

The time has finally arrived for the Roby family to seek larger digs.  With bebé número tres on the way our two-bedroom bungalow will finally be just too tight.  The last several weeks Jenny & I have plotted and schemed on just what we want to do to the house before we slap the “For Sale” sign out front.  Step number one kicked off tonight…paint the hallway!  We’ve wanted to paint this little area for 5+ years but just never got around to putting paint on a brush.  After holding paint chips this way and that way we went with Valspar 93-4C, which for those playing at home is also known as Cliveden Leather.  We got to taping the trim and as of tonight it is 56.3% done.

We interview our first Realtor® tomorrow and hope to have the sign in the yard in two weeks.  So, if you’re in the area and want to join the paint party, don’t hesitate to knock!

Spring keeps trying to come to Tulsa.  We have experienced 80 degree days followed by 30 degree days.  Jenny’s tulips are beautiful and the phlox is a carpet of multi-colored blooms.  The fescue in the back yard is finally coming into it’s own and the redbud in bloom might be my favorite part of our landscape.  After completing a few routine maintenance tasks Saturday I snapped a few flicks.  Hopefully I was able to capture some of the charm we have worked so hard to create.

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Since we said our “I do’s” we have enjoyed a dining set that is a family heirloom of Jenny’s.  However the abuse doled out by two toddlers named Jacob & Jefferson has taken a toll on the table and chairs.  So, for the last year we have been browsing, searching, shopping & looking under rocks for a dining table that would be stable, stylish & of course a steal.

Yesterday after watching a really cool episode of This Old House we were inspired to trudge out in sunny but yet frigid temps to find a new table and chairs once and for all.  We visited a multitude of places including,

• Furniture Row
• Snow’s Furniture
• Rooms to Go
• BCBC Modern (in spirit but not in the flesh)
• Sunshine Furniture

And that was just before lunch.  The boys really hung in there and were great sports.  Check ‘em out…

To ward off the possibility of a hunger paned decision we rolled over to our favorite lil’ buritto joint, Chipotle.  Jeffer killed a burrito bol.

Following lunch we hit a few more stores…

• JCPenney Home Store
• Basset Direct
• Mathis Brothers
• Furniture Factory Outlet (Which apparently we missed the “going out of business sale” by a few weeks)
• Snow’s Furniture (yep, a second time)

Having now hit basically every furniture store in Tulsa we decided on a basic, black round table from Snow’s.  So we did a whole lot of driving to buy something at the second place we went.  Always works like that, right?? Follow our trip here…

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Well, we got it home (thank goodness for luggage racks and rope) and put together.  One of the chairs had a sizable gash in the leg and the table top had a nick in the rim so they are going back today.  However, we were so excited we couldn’t help but model it even for all its blemishes.

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Can’t wait to have you over dinner soon!

In our typical holiday tradition we drug all of our decorations out of the attic and began to deck the halls Thanksgiving weekend.  Jefferson absolutely loved watching me put the ornaments on, but he loved even more trying to take them off. 

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Sunday we rolled up our sleeves and got to workin’ in the yard.  We transplanted some nandinas from in front of the porch to the area along the walk way.  We then filled in the area where the nandinas were with boxwoods to match the other side.  It will take a year or so for it all to fill in, but we think it is a good change.  I also planted about 40 tulip bulbs of all colors in the front beds.  When spring hits come on by the house and check out the tulips but make sure you bring your wooden shoes.

Josh also disobeyed doctor’s orders and built a new firewood rack for the backyard.  Then proceeded to move about 3/4 of a rick to the new rack.  Jacob helped, but unfortunately we didn’t get any new pics of that.  Of course, his shoulder hurts today.

As you know we have been toying with how to arrange and possibly slightly remodel our kitchen. Well, the first step was doing a little swap of the oven/stove and the refrigerator. To accomplish this required moving a gas line. Simple enough. Papa came up yesterday and for Father’s Day helped me (really I helped him) move it. It took us a few hours of crawling around under the house but soon enough everything worked great.

Well, that was until I jumped in the shower this morning and realized we had inadvertently disconnected the gas line from the hot water tank. Rather than have me call a plumber Papa came back and fixed our error. The only problem was that due to the 3+ inches of rain we received in the last 24 hours the crawl-space was filled with about 10-12″ of muddy H2O. Without flinching Papa climbed under the house and in about an hour or two had the hot water flowing.

In other news, Jenny was sucked into watching the Rocco vs El Tigre golf match. Jacob apparently enjoyed watching it, but seemed to think that everything Mr Woods did, daddy could swing just like it or putt it better. Jenny says that all little boys think their dads can do anything and are the best at everything.

Well, I hope I never grow up because my dad proved this weekend he is willing to do anything and is the best!

Happy Fathers Day!

P.S. We will get some pics up of the switcheroo soon…

Thanks to President Bush and our Congressional leaders we were able to do our part to assist the economic recovery of the USA by purchasing a new refrigerator. It was delivered yesterday and in comparison to our old refrigerator and our 1940′s kitchen it is HUGE! Our old fridge was 14 cu ft, the new one 26 cu ft. It also has ice & H2O in the door (Thank you Pres Bush, because I don’t have to fill ice trays anymore!) so let’s hope Jacob & Jeffer don’t flood the place.

Here is a pic:

And, no ours isn’t arranged that perfect.

Since this new fridge is so big and doesn’t quite fit we are embarking on a mini-makeover of the kitchen. Details to follow…