A Couple of Things

I haven't told anyone yet, but I won at Bingo, twice in one day (same event, over a month ago) and I aced my math final. I am going to sign up for school again, which starts in January but will not be playing bingo until I get a job. Can't afford it. I was very excited to win, but it's very rare and very far between so it will be awhile for that. I enjoy school but am still taking it slow, I think another math class and speech, as well a my religion-institute class (which I love). I need a job and don't want to be overwhelmed with too much.

Went today to the movies with the G-kids. Emma and I saw The Tale of Despereaux and the boys saw Bedtime Stories. It was a fun time, but very costly. I must start going with my Husband, I feel kinda guilty that the only time I will go is with the G-kids to see a kid movie. I would like to see some adult stuff, just hate sitting still for 2 hours. Maybe I'll make an extra effort at a date night.
This stuff isn't too big of a deal now, but it was at the time and I just didn't blog about it.

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas. We enjoyed our family and lots of food. We had our traditional Christmas breakfast of eggs Benedict and sparkling cider. I love the help I get now, the boys pitch in and do most of it. Then we went to Patti and Randy's for dinner. Yumm-o! We had a beautiful rib eye roast cooked to perfection. Everyone made a dish to share. The kids played Wii and we had a really relaxed evening together.
Friday Barry and I cleaned the garage while Steve, our fabulous helper worked on the base boards, which are turning out so nice. We got a lot sorted and put away. Dusted and dusted. We worked late into the night.
Saturday Jess and I went to Brandon and Cheri's house to visit with Gregg, Melissa, Viktoria, Dustin, Heather, Kadence and Grandma Pat who were all there for the weekend. Again, fab food! The boys cooked a leg of lamb. It was so delicious, so tender, cooked perfectly, no gamey taste. It was nice to see our out of town family and to just relax. The kids take care of everything and I get to simply enjoy. We came home last night to find that Barry went to Laughlin to check on his rental with his sister Elaine. He will be home on Wednesday. I am babysitting my grand kids, Emma and Max for a few days this week. We are going to the movies tomorrow and we did lots of puzzles, books, and movies today. Also, Max got a Lego set that is huge and we are working on that. I can do that all day, I love putting them together.
So all in all I am enjoying the holidays and all the time spent with family.
Thanks to all who made it so nice.

Christmas Sugar Cookies

The finished product
Jacob, Max, and Emma

All my cookie making helpers.

Nick, Ethan, and Emma

Me, and some of the kids

Ethan

Emma

Jacob

Max and Emma

Yet Another Life Saved

I don't know if Harley was worried or anticipating an attack free life??

We almost lost Lily Fo Fo, she had an obstruction and I had to do the Hymlick Maneuver, which I barely know how to spell it, let alone do it! Yet, she lives, and thanks, I know you are all relieved to hear it.

It's Been A While...

I am working this!

Love the computer desk out in the den.

Great to be able to be on it and yet still apart of everything going on.

This stove top is in full swing now, I cook dinner every night and don't mind a bit! I still need to do the back splash. I'll worry about that this weekend.

My window is so nice and it's going to be framed the same color as the cabinets with a shelf made out of the crown molding.

My bedroom, not completely unpacked, but I do have a new sliding door and molding which I didn't know they came with.

We'll paint the frame around the sliding door white like the baseboards.

Love the refrigerator, it's really nice and was a perfect fit!

You can see the base boards and the flooring. It's clean at the moment.

I made monkey bread in the oven, actually 3 batches for Barry to take to work. We kept one for home. The oven even has a bread proof setting, and the rolls never rose so well before!

Jess's creations, she has even been inspired to bake. She made some really cute cupcakes with a xmas tree theme, but they were gone before I could take a pic.

I love having my girl in the kitchen, she knows her way around and doesn't need my help or advice at all.

One of my first meals that I cooked, Split Pea soup and Corn Bread muffins. We are so, so sick of fast food. I am so glad too that it's winter cause I love soup and beans so much.

Jess and her friend Nicki next to our little tree. Nicely done Jess.

I haven't had my photo cord to upload current pics of what's going on around here. It's about 36 hrs before Christmas, my least anticipated ever! I haven't done a thing for it. Barry brought home a cute, nicely shaped little tree and Jess decorated it. That's nice, I do like it and am glad for their efforts. I have been so sick. My throat feels like I swallowed razor blades and I am really hoarse, generally feeling yucky. It's bad because I am watching my Adams G-kids this week and I wish I were feeling better. They have been very good for me and Emma mothers me cause I don't feel good. And Jacob loves to cook so he has been a real help too. We are going to make sugar cookies tomorrow in my new oven(s). Should work out like a charm. Then we are going to Marlene's for Xmas Eve. where we expect a very special visitor. I have not done one purchase of a present. Barry got Jess and Andy one thing and we are going to get the G-kids something each tomorrow. We are zapped of money, energy and time. Next year I will make up for it in a big way. I am trying to put together a special gift for all of my kids, but it may not be ready till after Xmas, in which case they will get a big I owe you!

As for the house. Most of it is done. All my windows are in, the sliders too. Steve is coming tomorrow to work on the base boards, which look very nice. They will frame my kitchen window soon and my fireplace needs to be done, but I haven't picked up the stones yet. Next week. We have some painting to finish, rugs and furniture to buy, as money allows. I still have many boxes to unload and a mess of a garage. I will do that a little at a time. But it is much better. I work on it every day and Barry and I do some each night after work. The wood floors are not easy to care for. I have to sweep a lot. I am hoping after all the stuff is put away the dust will settle and upkeep will be less. All in all I am exhausted, sick, but very thankful for all that we have been able to accomplish and grateful for how good it has all come together, me being an amateur and all.

I really look forward to when it's all done and I can have everyone over for a meal and just enjoy myself.

Merry Christmas to all, enjoy your families,
XOXO
Laura

It's Better, I See The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

They put most of my wood floor in yesterday and it's beautiful. These guys were great, able to install a floor with wall to wall furniture, clutter, and stuff. I am sitting at the computer in my kitchen, love that! Andy will miss me coming in every morning and typing away, I am sure of it! I can now be in the mix of things and still blog, whoo hoo. I will be able to use my sink and appliances today too. Everyone is looking forward to that. They just want to put to work at that stove. Truly we are sick of fast food for sure, and poor Andy is spending his paychecks mostly on food.
So it's almost done, I do see the light!

Rainy Day Schedule

It's raining today and I love it. It started last night and should last throughout the day. I can't be on my regular rainy day schedule because workers are here and I don't have a stove or oven working yet.
I love rainy day schedules. Always have. I can remember walking home in the rain, I was about 6 years old. I walked in the gutters and got drenched from head to toe. I came home and we had an elderly babysitter who live next door who was there to receive my wet self. She dried me off and made me the best grilled cheese sandwich I have ever had.
Then in elementary school when it rained they would say we were on the "rainy day schedule". I loved it. We got to stay in, eat our lunches at our desks and play games. My favorite memories of school.
I have wonderful memories of playing with my kids in the rain. Walking in the gutters, making boats and sending them down the street in streams, and driving my car through puddles to make big splashes. One time I made Brandon very upset because I sprayed a church.
Now my rainy day schedule would include making soup and baking. My kids know that on a rainy day we always have soup.
I will see what I can pull together in the mist of chaos. Hopefully you are enjoying the rain, by a fire, having a nice bowl of soup.

Something to Make You Smile

The ice was stuck on him and he couldn't get it off.

Most Current Update

The corner design, but upside down, opps.
My desk, Francisco is making a 4 inch back splash to finish it nicely.

The counter between the living room and kitchen.

Francisco, the granite artist and the nicest, most hardworking guy.

Steve, the painter, also very nice and hardworking!

I love the design.

My granite, the color is off but you get the idea. He finished today and I do have more pics and will put them on when my battery charges.

Barry and Harley ripping up the carpet. He says, "those stains aren't from me!"

The living room. This color really complements my cabinets. Steve came and painted the rest of the walls today. Thanks so much, Steve, they look great.
Jessica's inspiration for her room, one wall black and the rest white. She is going for a french look and wants to stencil some of the walls.

My den, which is opposite of the living room, which is all gold except the wall w/ the slider which is cranberry. My daring attempt at contrast and color. I still dream of Swiss coffee color, but am adjusting.

My to do lists, I need to organize my lists!

This shows the wrong choices I made, now all of the walls and hall are like the color on the right.

I do have the cranberry color where my slider is.

My knobs and pulls. Love them.

What's New?

The paint, some is good and some wasn't. My mom and Steve are coming this morning to help us paint over the one that wasn't. It was a serious shock, the paint. Not used to color at all and I went BOLD! Love the cranberry color, the gold is growing on me, it changes so much with different lighting. I had a breakdown, sobbing, the first night I had the paint. Thankfully, I raised a reasonable daughter. She called her big sister, also reasonable, and made a plan to come over the next morning and see what could be done with the mistake I made. I felt I had ruined the house. Jess said, "mom this is not that serious, there are more important things going on in life, calm down, it can be fixed". All the while Barry was upset because I was upset. Any way, Patti and my mom came over the next morning and I felt so much better. They liked most of it and what they didn't like will be fixed today.

My granite came and it is beautiful, it matches, thankfully. You forget and start second guessing yourself. It's not all in but will be today. My knobs and pulls came in. I ordered online from Ebay for 1.79 and 2.49 each, in the stores they run approx. 5 and 7 dollars each. Huge savings, but I was worried about quality and color, but they are just what I looked at in the high dollar range at the stores. Hooray! 50 knobs and 12 pulls for 120 dollars.

My flooring is here and I was worried that was too dark, but it's not, I love it. Nice grain. Good Price. Another score.

My fireplace stone is in the process of being made, should be done this coming week. I need to find a hearth, maybe I will have a new fireplace for Xmas.

Last night Barry and I tore up the rest of the carpet, except for our room. Hard job, poor Barry. He was up the night before with the granite guy until 2am, then went to work, then came home and pulled up carpet till 12:30am. I had taken off the tack boards the day before. You can not imagine the dirt under the carpet and pad. It was like a beach, fine sand and buckets full. Sick!!

Monday, windows and flooring will be started. And maybe Jess and Andy will switch bedrooms and sort their stuff, please, please, please.

We are in the home stretch. But it may take years to clean all the dust up that has settled on everything I own.

House Update

It's so bad I can't even write about it. The house is thrashed! It's being painted, I hope I picked the right paint, wanted to be safe and do my traditional Navajo White, but went with color like the kids suggested. I will see tomorrow how it looks. I am spending the day at Grandma Pat's again, Jess is going to her girlfriends house and Barry and Andy are going to work. There is no where to be in this mess, we must leave. Thursday night we will finished taking out carpet, the pads, and the tack boards so the floor instillation can begin on Friday.

It's not beginning to look a lot like Christmas and it's kinda sad, I feel like I am going to miss it all together this year. I feel bad for Jess especially, she loves holidays. Maybe at the last minute I can pull something together. Right now I feel very overwhelmed. I think this is the worst, so it must be on the way to getting better. I am very thankful for all we've gotten done so far, I really appreciate being able to make these improvements to our home, just can't wait till the big stuff is done.

Misty Morning

Click to enlarge to see up close.
I walked outside this morning and it was misty and cooler than usual. All the plants looked refreshed and I noticed the little spider webs that must have always been there but went unnoticed until they had the dew land on it. I think it's beautiful and am grateful to have seen it. I love the cooler weather. Our trees are just starting to change and the colors are beautiful.

Coming Along

They are working on the molding, I like it so much!
Oh my gosh, my oven is in, can't wait to use it!

More molding.

Notice, I have lights that work!