Progress..Cabinets!

Yee-haw!  I'm beyond thankful for these amazing days!  I love the gorgeous, sky blue-pinkish-orange sunrises and sunsets, and this weather (except today's rain..) has been so nice.  No sunburns and heat rashes, and no heavy coats and colds.  I love this season. : )  (..ha! can you tell?)

The house is definitely coming along!  (another mood booster?)  We finally have most of the cabinets installed.  They are finishing up my open shelves, the corbels, and the island.  The painters need a day to sand them and get ready to prime the next day..maybe Wednesday, and start painting on Thursday?!

I'm having hardiboard siding put up behind Carter's mirror above his countertop and around the pool bathroom up to four feet, as wainscoting.  They got a little mixed up and did to up to four feet in his bath, and are working their way up to the ceiling in the pool bath!  That's a LOT of siding we didn't necessarily need.  I really want to see some blue wall and some white siding.  I really want it taken down.  Is that bad?

Pool has had no change.  A couple of the steps are way too high (steep, as in one is 13" and one is 14" high!), and the construction manager watched, and he opted to leave them that way.  I just can't let the kids fall off into the shallow end!  Can you imagine?  (Ok, picture ME falling off into the pool.  See?  Gruesome!  Hilarious, but in a bad way.)

Anyway, I requested they make the bottom one start higher, then add a whole 'nother step.  It'll eat into the shallow end, but I'd rather it be done right than speed through it.  The crew was in Kansas City on Friday, and I don't know when they'll be back.

I am finding depths of patience I didn't know I had in me.  Really.  It's been a huge growing experience.  I know it seems tiny, but for me, there are some giant steps.  Like my exterior lights.  They are on unconfirmed backorder (meaning limitless right now), for whenever.  To pass inspection (and therefore close on the house) (..and therefore move in!) we have to have lights.  Do we (A.) choose new lights? (none come close) (imho)  Or do we (B.) put on little cheap bearable lights to pass and hold us out until the good ones become available?

Ok, this may be easy for some of you, but it's torture for me.  I will have a funky-looking house for a while.  I care what people think, no matter how awful it is.  I know, I know, it's wrong.  It doesn't matter.  But just think, when my house is done, I'll be making up for lost time entertaining.  The kids just want a house full of kids over.  Those kids have parents.  They'll think I spent all my money on brick (well, I kinda did!), and didn't save any for those outside lights.  I don't want pity on us. ; )  So, just know we are choosing this.  And come back in January.

So, we'll tough it out, like we have so far, and I'll get my a-mazing lights in the end.  See?  Patience.  I have a ton of examples from this little ol' project, but I won't bore you.  I know it'll be worth it.

Wanna see some pictures?

Frames for Children

His new thing is opening his mouth for pictures!

He adores his big brother : )

Yum!  (open mouth again!)

Kitchen!  (remember this bare window?  Kitchen is looking good!)

Desk/Stovetop Area : )

Siding going up behind Carter's sink

Shelves in the kitchen!

More shelves!  I had to have them lowered to reach them ; )

Ok, that's it!  We are waiting for priming, painting, and then flooring..plumbing, lighting..not so far now. : )
Hope your house is farther along. haha, hopefully cleaner!  Hugs!

I'm investing in Sherwin Williams.

Would you like some cheese with that whine?  It's been especially whiny around here lately.  I think we are all getting a bit tired.  We rise early, have work or school all day, then an errand or two after school, dinner, check on the house, baths, and bed.  Whew, it's going fast!

We are also getting ready for our 2013 JDRF Walk to Cure Type 1 Diabetes!  Our team is coming together, always at the last minute!  T-shirt sizes are supposed to be in by tomorrow morning at ten, if we want to print Monday morning as scheduled.  Have we seen our t-shirt design?  Heck, no!  We don't roll like that, it'd be too easy!  It'll come together, I'm sure.  It always does, God willing.

So..I have a great excuse for why I haven't written!  (this time, ha!)  My computer went to sleep Thursday night after a very long day, and it never woke up on Friday.  It visited the Apple store Friday, and was not to come back to me.  : (  (well..for a minimum of $469 plus tax it might come back..if nothing else was wrong..fried circuit board at minimum) So..we have welcomed a new baby Apple (applet? seed?) into the family.  She is a twin to the old one, but I will have to get to know her. ; )

So, I have all this fun stuff that's happened!!  I took Carter to Farmland Adventures, and I fell in love with the baby animals.  Piglets (6 days old, and 8 inches long!) stole my heart.  The precious baby goats (about 12" tall) took a turn with it.  I was gaga over all the cuties.  Even the massive cows that followed us on the tractor ride were beautiful.  Here are some pictures:

Playing in the CORN box! : )

Check these goats.  Adorable!!

Cute, cute, cute!  He was just squealing since one licked him. : )  He really loved it there!

Courtney and Bo Christian with Connor behind them-we had a great group there!

Aren't they pretty?  Their tongues were about 20" long!  We fed them tortillas. : )

Beautiful.  All I can think of is Cari's cow paintings at Red Hill.  She's AMAZING!!  And that girl can whip out a cow in no time flat.  I have one of her pigs, but a big ol' cow is next!!

Sweet Veronica did all the pulling.  We love her strongness. ; ) Isn't Isabella sweet holding little Kiersten? ; )

Sweet Isabella is making a cake with Carter.

What an wonderful time we had!  Courtney found out it is a home-schooled family who runs it all on their own land.  I met the sweet young man who makes little hay bales for profit and the young girl who was selling feed for the animals.  They were so sweet-and very smart!  That corn box was the bomb.  The kids loved it!  Ethan can't wait for me to take him!!

And..our house is coming along!!  I'm over-ready for it to be done.  I need to get to my stuff.  It is fall now, and we needed jackets this weekend when the temperatures dropped drastically.  I have now dug (involved balancing and climbing on piles of tubs!) some clothes out of storage and Ches found the jackets Sunday.  I bought a few things for the kids yesterday (jeans!!), so we'll make it. : )

So..are you wondering what all has been done?  Well, the trim is done, the painters have caulked and filled holes, and we are ready for paint.  The cabinets are supposed to be delivered/installed tomorrow, but I'll believe it when I see it.  We've been waiting on them for a long time!  The laundry room/mud room lockers are installed, and the pool is finally progressing.  We had a couple big rains, so we had to sump-pump the water OUT of the pool! : ) haha!

Woohoo for kids' jackets and back packs having a home and not *touching* each other!!

I haven't told you, because I care what you think.  We are putting a swing in the house.  Right smack dab in the middle.  Don't judge.  You'll want to swing on it too. ; )  The wood trims the silver eye bolts in the ceiling.

This will be a framed mirror in my closet.  Cool, huh?

So..I've been in paint dilemma.  There have been other lovers: Warm Stone, Urbane Bronze, Citiscape, Grizzly Gray, melty chocolate ice cream (called Sticks & Stones), and a few more...

(Did I mention Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue?  A beauty.  But I'll have plenty of it inside.  I wanted to match the house trim..but not make the doors stick out.  I knew the brick was busy ('cause Courtney reminded me!), and wanted to keep it calm.  I decided on Amazing Gray siding, Mega Greige trim and doors.  Calm, average.  Not trying to be loud.

'Cause I'll let the pool shine!!  It is coming along!  Concrete bottom was poured yesterday.

Today they got down to business.  Gunite went in.  Awesome, and sorry about the pictures, guys.  I'm excited!!

Garage door color..had to play with about 8 shades of khaki to get it right. : )  Our plan is to stain the cedar trim chocolate-ish to match the soffit and fascia.

So, this one is a wee bit late.  It's the lockers, pre-installation. ; )

Since you didn't see enough painty colors already. ; )  Isn't he adorable?!  Yes, totally got paint on that shirt.

Gotta go to bed, another big day tomorrow, and I'm exhausted.  Praying your family is healthy, your pantry is full, and your heart is overflowing. ; )  Hugs, y'all!

Adding the Pool

Progress is always good!  We have been watching things change at the house every day, and it's getting exciting.  I love seeing trim, smelling wood, and watching the house transform.  Almost as good as growing a baby. : )

Front Porch..expanded.  Much better.

Dining Room ceiling.  Hopefully that white ceiling will temper the navy walls. ; )

Back of my closet is done.  Love that window for light!!

Inside Front Door

So here goes our next adventure..and here's praying it all ends up finished at the same time! : ) 

Mary Claire climbed right up..and wanted her picture made!  The equipment left on the property has been at least as entertaining as the house itself!

After a lot of deliberation (and estimates, budget-busting, and shopping around..), we decided to go forth with the pool.  We had one at the last house, and it was used nearly every day from May till Halloween.  They loved it.  And it meant family time.  Ches just couldn't see moving and not having one..it made moving worthless he said.  So, we limited some of the things we'd wanted, like size! and changed a few things to make it work.  We also ordered our own tile, and it came in a couple weeks ago.

..obviously didn't edit this one!

We saved so much just on that!  It's the tile we used on the last pool..but this time, it was going to be $1800 just for the tile!!  Yes, absolute cray-crazy.  Found it from the actual distributor for half.  Ches did have to drive to Ft. Smith to pick it up, but all's good.

Can you tell he's excited?!  He can almost fly.  He transmogrified into a bird..and really believed it.  :scary!:

Here is the shape dug out, framed with rebar, and plumbing half finished.  We should see some gunite by next week.

So..with that going up, and the house getting closer (maybe 6 weeks out now?), I'm still looking a few weeks ahead.  I found some chandeliers online today for my closet:

Seriously..only $218 for two with my Overstock coupon.

and for Mary Claire's room:

She loved it.  She wants her room very French.  We'll see.  $99 (on Amazon.com)

I obviously had some time today..this morning we had lunch with some friends.  But..this afternoon?  Ches took the big kids to the movies, and Carter took a great nap.  I am drooling over one more light..but I have to see if I can make it work.  I requested two lights in my pantry, so there are two sockets. (I know there is a better word..I just can't recall it this minute..or the next.)  The light fixture I love is a one-holer.  I'd have to have the socket moved, and the other two sheetrocked over.  Is it worth it?

See?  Pantry worthy.  I know..but I love it!!

And while I couldn't decide, and left this one decision still up in the air..I got to love on this sweet boy.  He loves those days when I make my bed..he crushes my squashy pillows, and messes it all up.  And I just want to take pictures of him!

Mary Claire took this with her iPod!  She sent it to me...I love it!  He just adores her.  She said she bribed him with a Twinkie.  Good Lord, he's cute.

Better wind it down, I'm heading to Joplin early in the morning to hang out at 2Friends&Junk.  I can't wait!  Hopefully I won't bring home too much junk. ; ) haha! 
G'night, hugs!

We're Crazy

There once lived a crazy family.   One who chose to take their four littles on an adventure.  A big adventure that is still changing their lives.  Nothing as amazing as the Carneys going to Africa to staff a home for kids, or anything like that.  Just crazy in our little part of the planet. ; )

Our garage doors are CLassy.

They learned sacrifice.  Like when the biggest sleeps on the couch so he doesn't wake the baby sleeping in his room.

They learned patience from watching their home grow s-l-o-w-l-y.  And when watching things get fixed slowly, but surely.

 

The littles learned to p-l-a-y on big equipment, in sand and brick chunks, and even in wood scraps.  (They also learned to love the baths that came soon afterward each night.)

They learned kindness when they entertained neighbors each night by showing them around.

They practiced sheer giddiness when they saw the storage.  And were thrilled for their family to be able to store Sam's quantities of paper towels, toilet paper, and Cheerios.

They learned wild abandon when they saw the pool outline.

And they learned respect for the awesome men who've poured their days into a house that they won't live inside.  The workers who do an honest job, and incredible work.  This is why you let people do what they are good at..they rise up and excel at the gifts God blessed them with.

Prayers for your family and mine..that we can rise up to what God calls us to! : )  Whether it's mission work, home building, bringing joy to others, or just building a family.
Hugs to y'all!!