Sneak Peek...

As promised, I worked my fanny off yesterday to get some more stuff done at home.  This little sneak peek doesn't do the project justice {really, it doesn't} but I totally heart the wall.  It's really kind of stunning to look at.  The frames kept catching my eye every time I walked by or through the dining room.  And the frames make the space appear so much bigger.  They kind of stretch the wall.  I am clearly not done because, duh, there are no pictures and there are still frames on the table but hey...

I also moved past my freak-out feeling over totally overhauling my bathroom mirror.  Typically I wouldn't think twice about doing that but this is a new mirror that I just paid lots of money for.  And to think I wanted to totally change its appearance was a bit unsettling to me. {oops...I forgot to turn the pic...oh well, it's a circle...it looks the same at any angle}

Okay, I'm ready.  I put on three coats of deglosser/liquid sander and the mirror was still this shiny.  Nervous.

Too late.  I took a deep breath, closed my eyes {for a second} and began spraying primer.  Whew!  It was fast and it was done!  Stay tuned for the final product. {I sprayed two coats of gloss white on it last night as well, but didn't take any photos.  Hope K didn't want to keep these sawhorses yellow...oops!}

Lotsa...

Okay, so I'm totally attacking something this weekend. {or someone if they get in my way}  My Pottery Barn hardware arrived yesterday.  It was a fun surprise.  I am super excited to put all that stuff together.  I can also keep on with the mirror.  When painter guy came over last week, I think he put my block sander in with his supplies because it is gone.  Guess I should have gone next door during lunch.  Oh well.

I'm also working on my plan of attack in the dining room.  One of these days I'm gonna post the befores and afters of sooo many projects.  Just sayin'.  I have an idea I want in place before the Mother's day festivities take place next weekend.  I've actually drawn up a calendar of what needs to get done between now and next Saturday.  I haven't thought about putting house stuff on there.  Til now.  Staff App and the walk are taking precedence on the list but my house needs some lovin', too.

Did I mention we basically ripped apart the laundry room?  And that all my supplies that used to be hidden in a cabinet are scattered all over the floor?  And dryer?  Add this to the list.

And then there's the living room.  I moved my furniture around and have a big gaping hole where my new tv console and two chairs will go.  The problem is I don't have the console.  And I don't have the chairs.  Details.

I posted a bit back about totally revamping my kitchen.  My hubby faught me tooth and nail over it.  Kind of.  And then he didn't.  He told me to do whatever I want {which he always says...the inside is mine.  the outside is his} but he evidently didn't mean it because he got so super mad at me over making plans for us with our friends.  Are you kidding me?  He is the social butterfly of the century.  He was so mad I didn't run it by him first.  Because I never do.  Whaaaat??  I figured out quickly that he obviously had something else on his mind.  The Kitchen Reno.  That's what it was all about.  Lucky for him the tile I talked about getting back from a friend already had its use set and so there we are.  K said we could rip up the tile in the entry and reuse it in the kitchen.  We're both a little nervous about that.  So I have let go of my dream to get rid of that pesty intrusion in the middle of my kitchen so that the whole business functions properly and instead have settled on new grout, paint, countertops and backsplash.  Sigh.  I guess it's still plenty of work.  I have promised {with fingers crossed} to wait until the other projects are done to start this one.  Looks like I better pull an all-nighter!  Since I keep stalling with all projects in my life, I will at least share some of my inspirations...

This seems like a strange choice for the bath but this is just an inspiration photo...

With all the hard lines in my living room, I really want a soft lined coffee table.  Found one on Craigslist awhile back but never followed through.  Recently I found a table that might work at an antique mall in GH.  Still contemplating...

I've been toying with this for months but had no idea where to do it.  The painter guy freed up some space for me and I think I know right where these are heading...{got the frames for Christmas from Larry}

I just found this on Craigslist.  Emailed the seller to get the dimensions...50-58"x38"+???  The downfall is it lives in Lowell.  {and I can reuse the pulls}...

Another Craigslist find.  Looks like it just needs to be refinished and it's good to go...

Okay, enough with the ideas.  Easter was super great.  We didn't have the bigs for church.  Bummer.  Kyle looked handsome.  I swear I made a deal with the devil when I promised him I would only make him wear a sweater vest for Easter and possible Christmas every year.  Two times each year.  At most!  He'll remember that til the day he dies.  He wanted K to wear a vest.  I laughed.  Thankfully he doesn't own a vest.  Instead, however, he wore a sweater.  A burnt orange color.  With black pants.  I was married to a pumpkin that day. ☺

The church service was wonderful.  The choir accompanied the musical group and the sound was amazing.  The church was full, which I haven't seen yet first service.  Kyle still enjoys it immensely.  Cannot complain about that.  Afterward, we visited with K's family for a few hours.  His parents just made it back from Arizona a couple of days before and we were all so glad to see them and know they made it home safe and sound.  Later we picked up the boys and headed to my parents' house for an egg hunt and dinner.  We definitely did not go without.

Catch Up...

{hey mom...where are my pretty eyelashes? huh? huh?}  Isn't my sister sooo pretty?  She's gonna read this and make some smart comment but who cares?  She's just so pretty. ♥

Saturday we celebrated Andrew's birthday with my fam at the bowling alley.  I'll host a steak and lobster dinner next year instead for the price of bowling!  Holy cats...our family's total came to twenty two eighty and we were a kid short, bowled only one game and I brought my own shoes.  Shut it!  The price I paid was well worth it in the end.  Yeah, I was high scorer.  Yes, I beat everyone.  And Keith even had practice from the night before.  One fifty four, baby!  I know.  Y'all are jealous.  It's tough being me.

 These yahoos just wanted to be part of the action...

There's something nostalgic about bowling and bowling alleys to me.  Boy, I love me some Ashley TenBrink!

After bowling we all headed back to our house for cake and root beer floats.  My sweet son gave up ice cream for Lent, so after serving floats two nights in a row, I promised him an ice ream sundae from Mickey D's on Easter. {his choice}

Do you want to know what I realized Friday night?  I realized kids get louder as they get older.  And stronger.  Andrew had some friends over and I swear my house was going to cave in.  I curse my hubby for ever letting kids use my basement as an arena for sports.  This year no ceiling tiles were broken , but the carpet detached from the stairs at the "safe" spot.  And I swear I should print a disclaimer and have all parents sign a waiver stating I will not be held responsible for torn and totally trashed pants and socks.  It happens every single time.  Poor Jack wasn't even wearing a sock Saturday morning.  He was wearing an ankle warmer.  Where did the extra toe material even go??

The painter came this morning.  Poor guy...he's probably still there.  I forgot to leave him the actual paint.  He wants to patch some settling cracks in my ceiling and that paint is original to the house.  I have every paint can left from the previous owners.  I brought up nine cans of white paint.  Three are the same white, two are another same white, and the rest are all different whites.  Good luck, painter guy.  i was so involved with those cans I totally forgot to get the new stuff out.  Oops.  Serves me right to stash stuff in the garage instead of putting it all away.  He got to see all my dirty little secrets. ☺

The good news is I will have hand print-free walls...for at least a week.  What totally sucks though is that we have plaster over drywall and every little tiny nail hole is now a big mess.  And the toggles that were placed to hold screws to hold my mantle and three other shelves have left craters in my walls.  I can see the ocean through them.

Super fabulous news...I think I have come up with a solution for my hardware dilemma in the bathroom.  I gave up on what I wanted because I couldn't get anyone to answer my questions so I am settling, but not really, for something new.  I finally found something wide enough to cover my current holes instead of something that measures less than a quarter inch bigger than my current holes.  Super fab.

Pottery Barn offers these in satin nickel, which I bought, and I picked up three large pulls, two small pulls and two knobs.  I opted out of the hook...didn't need it.  And bonus!  I got free shipping to boot.  Cannot wait to get those babies on their drawers and doors.  One step closer to ending this year long project.

Someday I will post all kinds of befores and afters...I promise!

Doom Pa Dee Do...

I totally didn't plan to blog today.  No, wait...I totally did but then I forgot my camera and my notes at home so I was going to leave this for another day but now...NOW I need to blog NOW!!

Andrew attended a theatre class during spring break {i think i mentioned that}and was given the opportunity to try out for one of two summer plays afterward.  He didn't "qualify" to try out.  He just had the opportunity for open casting calls and it just happened to be right after his classes finished up.

{ah, yes i mentioned it...i posted pics of his wacky costume}  Anyway, Willy Wonks Jr. is a musical and Alice In Wonderland is a play.  Both auditions happened at the same time.  Actors could try out for one or both.  Andrew decided to try out just for Willy Wonka maybe based on my advice to keep his summer open.  He received a call-back for last Tuesday.  He was so excited.  I told him {and Keith and Kristin} that it was too early to get excited.  A call-back could be for a number of reasons and I didn't want any false excitement leading to crushed spirit.  That was last Tuesday.  Saturday we received another call requesting another call-back.  It's hard to not get excited, but again, it was too soon to tell.  He went back in yesterday to do a little more singin' and readin'.  He's been looking forward to today for more than a week.  Today's the day parts are divvied out.  This is what I just received in email...

Andrew, I would like to offer you the role of one of eight "Candy Kids" as well as an "Ooompa Loompa" The Candy Kids have a couple of numbers and the Ooompa Loompas have four numbers. Please let me know as soon as possible whether you accept or decline these roles.


Your first "Candy Kid" rehearsal is Friday, April 22 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Nuveen Center in Montague. Your first Oompa Loompa rehearsal is Monday, April 25 from 7-8:00 at the Nuveen Center. (8697 Ferry Street-Montague) You can see an entire cast list on the Nuveen website by the end of the work day tomorrow. (Tuesday)

I am looking forward to working with you. Alice Gambel

I am so proud of him.  He's gonna be awesome. ☺ 

Two parts means double the rehearsal time.  I figure I already don't know where I'm at, where I'm going and when I'm supposed to be there, so this is going to be cake.  {please shoot me with a stun gun...it's the only time I'll be standing still til mid june}  Nah, I'm not complaining.  I'm super excited.  Just comes with the territory, ya know??

Tween...

This is what twelve looks like...

I'm gonna do the cheesy twelve years ago today thing and simply state that twelve years ago last night I experienced the worst pain of my life.  Okay, not so simple.  Holy HELL!  I have {mostly} gotten over it and am so over the moon with the product of that pain. 

Andrew is definitely his own person.  He has his own style, his own thoughts and {sometimes} his own agenda.  He's a smart cookie who sometimes walks in the shadow of his older brother for no other reason than other people's inability to separate them. Andrew can stand alone successfully any day of the week.  He want to act.  He wants to sing.  He wants to move to California.  Or New York.  He's a dream away from getting everything he wants in life.  I am so proud of him, the young man he is becoming and the man he will be.

I cannot help using some of these over and over again...

HApPy BirThdAy,AnDrEw!!!

{facebook, cell phones and boy/girl parties are all in your future!{wink!}}

Love...

Let me set the scene.  We thankfully found a pair of cleats in the bin to fit his feet for t-ball. {after outfitting the other two, there were no funds left.}  He wanted his cleats on even though Keith was not leaving for twenty minutes.  He said he'd just hang out in the kitchen.  Twenty minutes ended up being a long time.  He just kind of sulked on the stool, but looked sweet wearing his ball pants hiked up like his brother.  Aww...

Me: Kyle, you look so cute sitting there.

Kyle: So take my pitcho then.

Yesterday Was Just Thursday! {of last week!}...

Oh, my sweet, sweet {sleeping} baby.  Isn't he too adorable?

Here?  Maybe not so much.  He fought the rim and the rim {and backboard and net} won!!  Poor dude.

 Hey, we've finished a project!!  My guests from two weeks ago will be impressed.  Unless they were also the guests from Labor Day...in that case...haha!  We didn't find it utterly annoying to microwave food in the garage all these months.  After awhile we never thought twice about it.  I came home from work last week and told Keith I was selling the outdoor microwave so he could do whatever he wanted to with that information, but after Monday we'd no longer have the one sitting on sawhorses.  Once the new one was installed {with help from Jimmy because I cannot "project" with my hubby} we both noticed something we didn't think we noticed before when ours was up and then laughed because it had been so long that we figured it was why we couldn't remember it.

 So I mentioned in my last post something about a cleaning lady.  My girl, Kris, promptly gave me the info I was looking for and I called the cleaning lady the very next day.  I want her.  She asked what I wanted form her and I told her I was so giddy to call that I never considered anything!  I scheduled a visit with her for Tuesday.  Then the ball went rolling.  I decided to call my painter to get an estimate for repainting my living room, hall and stairs.  I also finally put calls in to get carpets stretched and cleaned.  The painter guy was Friday, the cleaning lady was Tuesday, the stretcher was Wednesday and the carpet cleaner was Thursday.  I realized how obsessively out of control I had become but the damage was done. 

Painter guy brought me an estimate and we moved the living and bedroom stuff to the kitchen.  We had big plans for the evenings this week so, being totally out of character, I decided to get a move on early.  Good thing.  We were at it pretty late and still moving things last minute Tuesday night.  We camped out in the living room with only our mattresses and the tv.  Wednesday night we moved everything else.  Everything.  We never really realized how much carpet we have until we had to move everything off it.  BLEH!  I really wanted to save money somehow.  The cost per square foot was 28 cents if I moved stuff myself, otherwise it's 43 cents I think.  We've got lots of square footage! 

The past two nights we've slept in the basement.  It may have been a cozy setting, but the comfort was far from cozy!  We ran out of hard floor space upstairs and resorted to the basement.  I don't want to ever bring stuff upstairs again.  Actually I don't want to move anything back in period.  The rooms look so fresh and clean...like we're moving in for the first time. ♥  Now we have to move three boys worth of stink back in.  On the plus side, Kyle is eager to help knowing it means he will finally earn the money to buy Andrew's Nano.  Bonus. {lovin' the pink blanket on Kyle's bed. lucky Caleb was at a friend's...where would he have slept?  we only have two couches.}

I've been so busy this week I've not been able to mention Andrew's spring break plans.  He's been taking a theatre workshop all week and today he auditioned for a part in the Willy Wonka Jr. musical.  He has been over the moon all week and a little nervous today.  He wanted to try out for the part of Charlie.  I told him to go into it with an open mind and be available for anything offered.  I reminded him that most famous actors and singers don't get their big breaks right away. ☺ He was told to dress in costume, but not from anything on tv.  He needed to dress in his own wacky way, in line with the wacky character he may be portraying.  I don't mean he was supposed to dress like a character from Willy Wonka, but since it's a wacky play, he needed to come up with something original and wacky himself.  Enter the costume box.

I'd say he about covered it.  He's a little bit munchkin with a little rebel thrown in, along with a little KISS and QUEEN.  Add to that a little rodeo clown skater with redneck sprinkled on top.  Couldn't be more wacky if you ask me.

I am certain there's something else but I don't know what it is.  I doubt it's Caleb because I haven't seen him much this week.  I have a feeling it's about Andrew but it's five o'clock Friday and my head is somewhere else!  Hope everybody has a great weekend.  I sure plan to!