the grill broke

While you were gone:

The grill broke.

The bottom just fell off!

You can see right through to the bottom.

This can't be safe?

It is probably because no one ever cleaned it.

Nope I don't think even once.

Left out in the elements it rusted right through. We live in rough weather.

And no one mowed the lawn! It is close to a foot. If you look here we lost a soccer ball to the yard.

If you look at the first picture we are about to loose the grill to it too.

I hate painting

I hate painting, I really do. I do not like anything about it. I can never choose a color I like once it is on the walls. I don't like the way you can see brush strokes opposed to roller glides. I don't like the way the roller globs it heavier on spots. One of my friends told me it is not supposed to be like that and I just don't know how to paint. That may be the case but under frustration I do it sometimes.

Once the roof was finished they finished the entry way. Put up the drywall and spackled it. Now it needed to be primed. In the living room the celing had got its first coat of celing paint but need some touch ups. It was never getting done. I watched cans of celing and wall paint just sit there. I grew more and more frustrated as I would trip over all the stuff that need to go back into that room. However nothing can go back in until it is all painted and the floors laid which is waiting on it to be painted. SO I picked up a brush and started painting.



See my kid in the back ground? Besides the fact I don't like to paint that was the other reaason I did not want to. I have 4 kids to watch. If I am painting they can get into a lot! If I am covered in paint I can't pick up a screaming baby. As soon as I start someone will need fed, changed or bandaged. But I went for it and as I guessed it was a disaster. Baby luckily slept, the middle two fought, everyone needed things , it went so bad and ended up in me falling off a stool into a 5 gallon bucket of primer! I was furious. My leg was covered in paint and so waas the floor where I landed on one of my sons. My flip flop was ruined and the floor has a huge mess of a paint puddle and from the accident spot to the kitchen sink and then shower had paint footprints now too.



I still managed to get it done. Everything was primmed. Now that it was done I could paint this celing too when I did the touch ups in the other room.

Another brave day I got out the celing paint wand went for it. How unsatisfying painting white on white. So a few days later I got out the wall paint and started painting the walls a brown. Gasp I hated it. I went to differnt spots in the walls and tried it in all places hoping I might like it better in a differnt area. It was so DARK. It looked so thick. And then it dried and looked so uneven and what had I picked out. I did a second coat just hoping and let it dry figuring I could always paint over it. The second coat did not look to bad once it was on and I had been around it for a while. I figured I would just finish.

I had my baby princess with me to keep her safe from her brothers who I had put a long movie on for and left with cookies to keep them occupied. But they can't resist wanting to paint. They were constantly comming in bugging me to paint and I kept saying no because I wanted the ugly color to look nice not like a kindergartner did it. However after enough wearing down I figured why not? I would need a second coat anyways so why not let them help with the first. It would make them happy and keep them in my eye sight.



They loved to paint!



Smiley started doing a happy dance. Evan soon joined in. It was so cute and made me laugh. What goes through their heads?



It took forever to paint. I stayed up till 1:30 in the morning before I gave up and said I will finish later. But a lot got done. The color is still dark and the room is to little for shuch a rich color but it is growing on me and I like it SOOO much better than the drywall white. I like that I am moving forward.



I will finish the rest soon. I can't wait for it to be done. I hate to paint.

A new roof

It was supposed to rain that day, heavily rain but early in the morning the contractor came over. He was going to fix the roof. Okay why not. What is one more thing going on.

He started ripping the old shingles off and pulling out the nails while the older boys were still here. It left what they called a stary night inside our home. It was kinda cool.



Everything about this project was kida cool and amazingly fast. Which was good because the storm clouds were cooming in.

The roof was not in good shape.



It was worse than we had thought. The boards were complety rotten. When light touched by a hammer it went right through them. They had to be repaced.



The storm came closer and the skies darkened and the roof was disapeering.



When it was gone it was actually nice. It let a lot of natural light in. Can we maybe talk about skylight?



Oh my.



He was standing through the roof in to the children's school room. I did not get up there but I wonder what I would have seen if I did?

They were able to get the new sheets of wood up there pretty quick.



Then able to get the back under stuff (love my correct terms)on.



It is a good thing because boy did it ever storm. It rained all afternoon and night. Pouring and flooding many places. But everything worked. The inside was dry. And when it stopped they came back and put on the shingles.



It has rained many times since it went up and it still works. It is nice to have it done because then they were able to put up the wall and finish the entry area.



Still an ugly old door. One project at a time.

A little tired?

A newborn, big kids, and an almost two year old has worn us out. How tired are we?



Since 7am we have had 2 guys pounding on the roof, ripping it apart, sawing through it, at one point no roof, then tarping it and now putting shingles on it and yet each one of us (me, Jay, Smiley and Princess) have without a problem slept through a portion of it.

3 things not finished

1. Renovation

How is the renovation coming along? It is not. We have been in a dead stop for a while almost a month. The contractor has not been here in a month. Wait no that is not true. He was here last week to see how far WE came in our part that needed done. He was last here working March 22. I remember because I was in the hospital having Faith. But I don't remember what he was even doing. We were supposed to prim and paint. It is about 90% primed and we could not decide on a paint color. His visit prompted me to run out and just get a color. I hate picking out paint colors. I never like them on the wall. Well I picked a neutral brown.



I think I might just hate this one in the can even. It looks very dark. I am worried.

As far as fixing the roof. It has been such a rainy month he has not been able to work on it. And it is not tarped, don't know why, so not only does it rain out side yup it rains inside too. The buckets we collect the drops in well Smiley loves to dump them!

2. Easter

Well it is now 3 days away and I have so dropped the "egg" this year. I am not much further than I was at 10 days. I did decided to stay here. My parents decided to drop by our church for service and in there words "grab a burger afterwards". Inspired one afternoon I went to good will to look for inexpensive decor. I thought I could quickly throw together a party. Then we would have a delicious spread here not McDonalds. I found a jackpot of egg dyes there. For only .49 cents too! I grabbed for sparkle, marble, toy story and balls for Smiley.



At home I remembered I don't like to color eggs. I like to buy and stuff the plastic ones. And 4 boxes that is going to take a lot of eggs. I don't remember why I don't like coloring eggs but I will re-find out on Friday.

A trip back down memory lane...



My oldest 2 coloring eggs many years ago



While at good will I also picked up this bunny. It reminded me of something my mom had around the house as a kid. I think the boys will like it and for $2 I won't be mad when the break it.



I am still scrambling around trying to figure out Easter. I am hoping to get it all planned and maybe somewhat purchased today. I doubt it though I see a late night Saturday wal mart trip in my future.

3. belts for the boys

Since I was at good will I looked through there belt section to find the right type of belts to make a lego belt for my boys. No luck. I am trying to find kid belts with a flat buckel like this



I can't find them anywhere! Why does it have to be like that? I was reading a blog I like and she had this picture up



My oldest was looking over my shoulder and said MOM I want one of those can you make me one? Sure. They look so easy and I never though it would be this hard to find those belts. The boys are constantly reminding me they don't have there Lego belts yet. Glad they are at school no so they do not see me looking at the pictures of the elusive belt again. You can see the whole post on how to make it over at Crat-O-Maniac She makes lot of cool stuff I have put on my to do list.

All being said nothing will get accomplished if I sit here so I am off. A busy day, a long to do list, and I better get started.

Sickness surounds us but can't stop us

These last few days have been full of early morning construction, doctors visits and birthdays.

MONDAY



It was my birthday. Not quite the day I dreamed of but
1. I was not working. It has been years since I have not had to work on my birthday.
2. I was not in the hospital where I wanted to be. I know that sounds weird but I so very much wanted to have my baby that day. I wanted to share a birthday with my daughter. God wants her to have a different birthday though one all her own.
3. I still had a nice day.

It is also the birthday of one of the little girls from my AWANAS group. She called me up and asked if I would come over to her house and celebrate with her. Sure sweetie.


Happy Birthday Anna!



My boys came and helped open presents and devour cake.

Crazy Gregory. He loves party hats and boy I love him. Having them around me was such a birthday gift. They even remembered it was my birthday and wished me a happy one before they left to school with out any prodding by dad or their grandparents.



We also had a trip to the doctors for Smiley. He has not been feeling well and not sleeping. So we have not been sleeping either. Thankful the doctors confirmed yes he has a cold. Don't you hate it when that happens. But with him about to stay at his grandparents for a few days soon I wanted to make sure it was not something requiring treatment. A cold, I can't believe I took him in for a cold.

Tuesday

No one was feeling well. I was weak and miserable. There is no way I could have a baby feeling like this so I thought I might as well go to the doctors and hear I have a cold too. But my ear was throbbing so it really needed to be looked at. My diagnosis is, an upper respiratory infection. No ear infection. But with some antibiotics they said I will be feeling well and able to have this baby. And the rest of the jam packed crazy day kept on going as normal but with a few hiccups. Oh I need some rest and a break.

Wednesday

Again back to the doctor. Third day in a row! Actually this was an ob appointment. It was planned. Baby is doing fine and still in no rush. I am holding at 2cm dilated and 170 pounds. No gain from last week that was good news. They are guessing she is 7.5 pounds. Wow a tiny baby, will see. My last was 9 pounds.

Worried because of all the deep coughing I was doing I asked the doctor if it hurt the baby. It feels like it is ripping the insides of me out. The doctor said no. But she also said this could be a good thing because I am tricking the right mussels in to thinking I am in labor. They are getting worked out and practicing. Yeah maybe sooner than later. But for what ever reason I think it will be this weekend. It feels like more than wishful thinking.

Thursday

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I did not do any special this year. The boys did not have parties so they were not to knowing of what was going on but they did wear green to school. They knew they would get pinched if they didn't.

I spent it in a way I enjoy. I watched QVC. I don't know if you have ever seen it but it is one of the days I love to turn it on and just let it run in the background all day. They show you such wonderful treasure and have preformers. They bring in music and food and tell stories about Ireland. If you have never seen it I would recommend it. And try not to order something. Everyone feels a bit Irish today. I tried to resist spending money but...




Can't wait till they get here!

As far as our house is coming along it is on hold now. Monday and Tuesday the contractor came near 6AM to work on the walls. They finished plastering the wall on Monday. It looks good. It has a bit of a texture to it. We went with this due to the boys. It will be eaiser to patch and cover up all their dings and dents. It also just fits better with the house I am actually very pleased with it.



Tuesday they finished plastering the ceiling and they sprayed this foam stuff along all the bottoms of the walls.



It blocks any cracks and keeps out the cold. And Smiley stuck his feet in it. He got it all over his toes and then cried because it was there. Crazy kid. back to being locked out.



But for now everything is on hold and I am actually glad. It will be nice to have a small break from them in the house making a mess everyday even though I appreciate the work getting done. They will be back in one week to do the insides of the windows. I bet that will look nice and by then I will be happy they are continuing with the work. I do so very much want it all done and to stop tripping over piled up furniture.

A new roof?

The rest of the insulation got completed and the drywall went up. It looks great. I can't believe how many nails it takes to hold up those boards. If each one were $25 dollars then I understand the budget.





Speaking of budget we hit that terrible point. We have officially gone over budget. What was all ready a step cost has now increased to where am I gonna find this extra money?



As they were ripping down insulation in the entrance way they noticed it was wet and the roof overhead of it will now need to be replaced. So once you walk in there is nothing there but bad roofing and framing. No walls no insulation, its pretty chilly. But they won't put up any new insulation or wall until the roof is fixed, what would be the point. How am I gonna find the money for this?

He hung some lovely drapery to block out the cold for us. The kids think it is curtains to a stage. It is too funny to watch them make their entrance again and again.



With the walls and insulation down more history of the house was revealed. Apparently before they added on to the front it used to be a brick house, well a fake brick house.


UGLY. I hate seeing this on houses.

The wet plywood to the roof that will be replaced.



It just looks like such a mess. Such a house of compiled garbage material. This is not a house worth saving, restoring but it is our house and we have to. But rather than the beautiful renovations you see on HGTV where they restore it to the time period or its natural beauty we are hoping to improve it to safe, dry and usable. And the I want to sell it. We will probably have a rental on our hands.




On the bright side avoiding construction I went over to the computer and a message popped up to come have lunch with my son. Quickly Jay and I gathered our self's dropped Smiley at a sitters. We really enjoyed being able to spend some time and a nice lunch with our surprised son.

The walls went up

Would you believe that I woke up this morning to a two hours school delay. Why...



Oh yes snow. Unpredicted snow. Is there any other kind? Who knew. Not the weather man, AGAIN.

But the snow just added inconvenience. I heard a scrapping out the window and looked. It was the contractor shoveling the walk. Remodeling was going to continue as normal.

I thought today was going to be another day of putting up insulation but I was surprised to see that they were putting up drywall.



This made such a difference. At first it started to look real enclosed and tiny. I know just a week ago we had walls and it was enclosed but I have moved on from that paneling nightmare and got used to the open framing.

They continued putting up drywall everywhere the insulation was done.



The more they got up the more it looked like a room. It was exciting. It was messy.



When the boys got home Gregory looked at the floor and was horrified. He turned to the contractor and asked are you the one who put this white dust all over the floor! It is a dust nightmare getting tracked all over the house, covering all there clothes.

They worked quite a while on it. There are still areas that need to be done.



And there are two sides that still need to be insulated first then dry walled but that is for tomorrow.



It is great we are moving along and it is starting to come together.