3.24.2007
Ongoing Renovations.
I cannot believe that we got a call this morning from Home Depot - our kitchen is in!Can you believe it? More than one week ahead of schedule. How does that happen? Everything is in except for some of the cherry end panels, that wouldn't go on until the end anyway. And we are still not even ready with the plumbing in there anywhere.
This may mean that within two weeks my house could be back to normal! Is this true??? Am I dreaming???
Here are a few pictures of the (almost) completed family room. Thanks, Dad, for all of the hard work. He did the ceiling, built the bookcases, painted them (and the walls and trim) and scrubbed the floor over and over and over for us (hint: never put in a new floor before everything is finished!).
Labels: family, family life, house, remodeling
link | posted by editor at 10:20 AM
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2.02.2007
I am the Crafty One!
Sometimes - I , well, I just amaze myself.Doodles would say that I watch too many HGTV and TLC Home Decorating shows, but you know what? Sometimes, the great ideas just pay off.
I bought the following lamp base (2 of them) for $4.99 each, and then I found the lamp shades elsewhere for $7.99 each. I wasn't sure how they would look together, so I shopped for some trim to try and dress them up.
What do you think?
The final result:
I wonder what else needs some trimming. Just give me a hot glue gun and watch out!
I am thinking that I need a mirror above the fireplace - ooh, which we finished in black granite. Maybe I can trim that...LOL.
Oh - what about my new drapes? I made the tie backs with tassels myself!
Labels: family, family life, friends. housework, house, remodeling, shopping, Teri, women, work
link | posted by editor at 9:21 PM
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12.20.2006
The Countdown Begins!
Ok -3 Days until Justin's Birthday!
5 Days until Christmas!
Hours from going CRAZY. Making cookies. Wrapping presents. Getting the kids in bed. Wrapping presents. Cleaning up the kitchen. Figuring out what else I need to get before Christmas. Wrapping presents.
Try not to go too crazy!
Oh - I almost forgot, I have one less thing to go crazy about. Justin is in the clear. His bones are finally growing together and making new bones ! YAY! No more appointments for two weeks!
And maybe I should try and write out my Christmas cards that have been in a tote bag that I brought to Justin's last surgery. You know the ones I was thinking I would have a chance to do them then - which I have basically forgotten about until now. Will they even get there in time?
Should I just forget everything and just go CRAZY now???
Labels: birthdays, boys, Christmas, Christmas Presents, daughter, doctors, family, family life, girls, house, husbands, kids, presents, son, teens, work
link | posted by editor at 9:04 PM
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11.13.2006
Got a Job?
Please.I am begging you.
Someone.
Someone, please.
Give my husband a job.
This "let's pretend we are retired" thing just isn't working for me. It has been 123 days now (but who's counting) and hubby is starting to get on my nerves. He started playing Christmas music today , and wants to know where we are going to put the Christmas tree.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE???
Honey, we will have no business celebrating Christmas if you don't start adding some dough to the bank account. I can't support us for ever, lol.
And I swear to God, if he brings it up one more time that we have X amount of money to make X amount of mortgage payments and pay the bills - I will fu***** scream!
Get a J-O-B!!!
By the way... hubby doesn't know where to find this blog, so please don't tell him.
Labels: blogging, Christmas, Christmas Presents, family, family life, house, husbands, life, work
link | posted by editor at 8:54 AM
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11.11.2006
Getting to Know Me - Pass it On!
A fun little "Get TO Know Yo" List.The titles in bold are the things I have done.
What have you done??? Pass it on.
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris (the Hotel in Las Vegas)
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper (only a few hundred times)
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon (just a short one, for about 15 minutes, but I did!)
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne (on just one glass - I am so lame!!!)
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk.
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe.
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow (and a goat)
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured an ancient site
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played Dungeons & Dragons for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice (Does it count at the Venice hotel in Vegas?)
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert” (Does a magazine article count?)
83. Got flowers for no reason
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone (does my house count???)
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently well enough to have a decent conversation
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised (raising) children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (Poor Henrietta, the Pig.)
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
151. Finished a marathon
152. Buried a Child
153. Graduated from College
154. Cooked an entire meal
155. Said a Prayer
156. Told a lie
157. Skipped School
158. Faked being sick
159. Egged someones house
160. Got an idea from this list of something that you would like to before you die
Labels: blogging, family, family life, friends, house, jobs, kids
link | posted by editor at 11:26 PM
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11.03.2006
Johnny's Room.
Johnny's room deserves it's own post.
It started last year when we stayed at The Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World. We had a room overlooking the Savannah, where giraffes would actually come within reach of our balcony. The inside of the rooms were made to look as much as the outside. The beds were made out of logs, and everything was Africa themed, very Safari-like.
This is where Johnny came up with the idea.
So Jeff & I hunted for the perfect border, and Johnny (thankfully)loved our first choice. We painted the bottom of the wall to match the tan background in the border, and the chair rail to match the green grass in the border.
Johnny wanted a tree. So daddy painted him a tree.
He wanted his bed to be made out of logs. We couldn't find the right sized logs, but we found horse fence posts, so daddy & Mike constructed it out of that. And honestly, it turned out better then any of us had planned.
We just couldn't find the right objects for the large wall spaces by his t.v..
One afternoon, I came home and when I asked where daddy was, Johnny stated that he was up painting his giraffe. I thought to myself, what the hell did he buy now. Was I ever shocked to find him painting a giraffe (with my makeup brushes) by just looking at the giraffe in the border. WOW! He followed that with an elephant for the other side.
The rest of the room came together with different safari/animal/Africa themed objects that we pick up here and there. And the old luggage idea came from Johnny - he felt he could fill them up and take everything with him for his real Safari - in his mind, I guess.
Johnny loves his room, and we are very happy with the way it turned out too.
Now, if we can only get him to come down from there every now and then, that would be great. Oh, and teach him that it is okay to sleep in his own bed, and not have to use Joey's spare bed almost every night, you know, to keep Joey company. I so knew that was going to happen!
Labels: boys, family, family life, house, husbands, remodeling, son
link | posted by editor at 3:22 PM
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11.02.2006
Leave Me Alone!
The kids, the phone, the dog, the phone, the kids, the husband, the phone, the phone, the phone...In the last hour-
I Gave Caci money to go with her friend to get Ice Cream.
Answered the phone.
Found a glue stick for Joey.
Answered the phone.
Answered the call waiting.
Helped Joey make a man out of leaves.
Installed a computer program for Johnny - while answering the phone 3 more times.
Helped Joey tie his shoes.
Answered the phone.
Let the dog out. Cleaned up his throw up while answering the phone.
Told Justin to turn the music down.
Called to check in on Caci.
Called for Joey to come in while answering the phone.
Told hubby which windows I wanted - as if he will listen.
Answered the phone.
I had to physically bring the phone up to Justin because the music was still so friggin' loud that he couldn't hear me yelling for him.
Emptied the boys laundry basket.
Answered the phone.
Got the dog some fresh water.
Tried to make a grocery list - but the phone rang again - and I had a beep coming in that I refused to answer this time.
Tried to complete grocery list.
Called to check on Caci again because she may have been the one beeping in.
Ignored the ringing phone while I helped Johnny find the computer games guide book.
Answered the door while the phone was ringing again.
Called Caci, as it was her that called when I was answering the door.
Grabbed a bag of fun size M & M's closed my office door, and sat down to check my e-mail and wound up writing this lame post.
You think I would be 100 pounds by the way I never stop.
Perhaps, I should give up the M & M's - and probably food in general. And stop answering the phone ;)
Labels: blogging, candy, daughter, family, family life, house, husbands, kids, life, son, teens, women, work, writing
link | posted by editor at 4:49 PM
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10.28.2006
One Cruel Mother.
My kids hate me today.I am one cruel mother.
Why?
Because it is pouring outside. With high wind warnings. Just plain nasty weather.So yesterday, hubby and I decided that we are all staying home today. We just didn't need to go anywhere. And it would force us to tie up some loose ends of things in the house. You know the things that get pushed aside when working on a huge project. So that is our plan.
And, kids - I am speaking to you - that means...
No skateboarding at the indoor skate park today Justin. No Friendly's, no movies. You are staying home. Really, Justin. I realize it is a new concept, staying home. But that is what you are doing.
No going to the Mall, Caci. That $15 in babysitting money and Limited Too 20% off coupon in your pocket will wait until another day. Just because you think you are a superstar and that I should cater to your every whim and need - I am not your assistant, my dear.
Johnny, he will not get to turn in his recycling cans to add to his change collection in which he wanted to cash in and buy some goldfish, or rather beta fish, today. Where he even came up with that idea is totally beyond me, we will be having no more pets!!! No, Johnny - nope. Staying home.
And Joey, my dear Joey. We know you love to run around in the in the leaves and ride your bike through your little piles you are building all over the yard. And really, I know that you don't care that you will be getting drenched in the rain. You are in the house - no fresh air for you!
Kiddos - hear me again - you are all in the for the day.
And I have heard it from each of them at least three times that they don't care, and I am just being mean, and I don't care about them, that it is the weekend... blah. blah. blah.
Spoiled Brats!
They have no clue what a cruel mother really is - so I will take my new little title with a grain of salt.
Labels: daughter, family, family life, house, life, mothers and daughters, son, teens
link | posted by editor at 12:15 PM
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10.26.2006
Gotta Get it Done.
While my husband is outside helping to get the siding on the house -FINALLY- I should be grateful that he wants to pitch in and get it done before the snow flies.But of course, I had to piss him off and complain.
But...
IT. IS. NOT. THE. RIGHT. COLOR.
You see, I picked out the color a few months ago. And he decided the beginning of the week that it should be sided - by the weekend. And because my color is a "special order" he went with the next closest thing - and really, yes he really did think that I would not notice. Not notice that it is a much lighter shade than I selected. Or that the boxes somehow say Clay on them instead of Driftwood.
But my hubby - gotta love him and his forever attempt to get things done and NOW!
ARGHHH!
Labels: family, family life, house, husbands, life, remodeling
link | posted by editor at 2:30 PM
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10.22.2006
Sunday - Sunday - Sunday!
Sunday.What a wonderful day.
A day with the family.
A day to hang around. Go nowhere. Stay in jammies 'til noon.
Fun!
Ugh - the phone rings. The conversation between hubby and caller goes somewhat like this...
"Excellent!".
"When?".
"No problem. See you then.".
I asked him who it was, and he said friends were on their way over to see the house. Now.
I yelled up to the kids to get their rooms spotless and pronto!
Hubby took care of the downstairs, I went up to help make the beds, as Joe-Joe and Jon-Jon try, but they haven't perfected that just yet. But they picked up their rooms mighty fast.
I realized I was still in my pj's/sweats. Ran to get a bra on, it was the least I could do, and grabbed the vacuum on the way up. As I was finishing up, I noticed them at the bottom of the stairs.
Geez - could they have not heard the vacuum and admired my new laundry room / mud room / entrance way / office on their way in? And how 'bout the $2500 washer and dryer - now that takes some admiring. But seems they were none too impressed, and just wanted to see the upstairs.
So, hubby gave them the 10 cent tour, and they were here for a whole total of 20 minutes.
They liked it. They were especially impressed by hubby's freehand artwork on the kids walls. Which, hey, it is impressive. But what about my new washer and dryer? They noticed that on the way out - to which the wife wanted to go shop for a new pair as soon as they left.
Anyway - they were gone.
Phew - can I get back to my Sunday now?
Maybe it will teach us that we shouldn't answer the phone on Sunday! Now there is an idea!
Labels: family, family life, friends. housework, house, life, remodeling
link | posted by editor at 1:56 PM
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