Bubble Bath Day?

I have to say, I'll be smiling the first time I get to take a bubble bath in this tub. For almost 16 years I've been getting ready and bathing in a very small bathroom. Now, it's not as small as the bathroom was in our first house here in Clarksville. When we moved in there I was pregnant and we had to change the sink out for a pedastal sink because I could HARDLY FIT THROUGH the door the bathroom was so small. That house was 50 years old when we moved into it too.

I am thankful for the things we have, and I try not to get carried away with things or outward appearances too much. I would never say I "deserved" something.  I'm grateful and thankful and excited about this new tub. I plan to use it and share it with my family...and, I'm hoping to find some new bubble bath under the tree for me.

1 hour 47 minutes

 

It took us just that long to put together a small desk for our new addition. The space was smaller than the desk we had and so we purchased this piece and tackled it as a family. Trey came over at about the 1 hour mark and helped us with steps 14-24. I was the reader. Sheridan collected parts. Erin organized the screws, hinges and other small parts. Lauren and Ryan...kept up with the tools and volunteered to go get pizza. It was a bonding experience with no tv and lots of laughter. It was the kind of long night that ends up with more than a nice desk for our computer but memories of family time.  

Getting closer

We had to hang Lauren's senior picture (Wow!), even though the wall hasn't had it's final coat of paint. There's nothing easy about moving, even across the house. It's crazy how the cobwebs have collected and the little things we've found! I figure by the end of the week most of our furniture will be moved...unless the plumber and painter don't finish their little projects left to do. Then, we'll get the back room ready for some boys.

Getting closer still...

 

Bricks are on, waiting on paint to match the rest of the house. Interior walls are painted and tiles are down and waiting for grout. We've cleaned up a lot of the yard and I've painted some of the transition. Rolle is exhausted from all the workers in the yard and the constant noise in her domain. Tomorrow we get the rest of the flooring and since the electricity is on, and the water is connected, I think I'll be moving items by the end of next week. I haven't handled the dirt and dust well, but I'm hoping to do a final thorough cleaning and prep for the move before the kids get home for the holidays at the end of next week. I've also called the adoption specialist and I'm waiting for her to call us back with our current status and next step. It's getting ready to get pretty exciting around here!  

 

 

The Build

 

 

The last time we built onto our house we were desperate for space. Sheridan was about 6 months old with no room of her own. We had a small master bedroom made even smaller with her crib. She was a great sleeper, but we needed space. (not like third world NEED, just more comfortable American want)

 

This expansion has far greater implications. It means we will have additional space for additional family members. It will put parents on one side of the house and kids on the other. It pretty much assures us that we'll stay on the Lane for many years.

 

It's fun watching the construction but I always feel sorry for the neighbors when they start banging away around 7:30am. It's going to be fun looking forward to moving in this room in December and the changes our family will make in 2013. There are two little boys out there who need a forever family. We are that family.

 

Changes on the Lane

Making changes on the lane. The swimming pool came down on labor day..making way for a master suite and office. After having the house on the market for 15 months, we decided we were staying in the house we are in. We are staying in the neighborhood we love, but we're going to make some changes, starting with more space.

 

Incidentally, demo day (tearing out the entire back deck, the two arbors filled with vines and roses, and the side fence) was on PreSale day. I didn't see the change until the next morning.

 

 

Mystery Solved

We've been talking about it for at least a month because every once in awhile someone spots a zebra on one of the farms on the way down our road. Now on this long road to the highway we do have lots of cows, a new herd of goats (the babies were SO CUTE in the spring), miniature horses, and now it seems...zebras. There are TWO of them on the farm beside the goats and it's so hot outside, they're probably right at home. Yesterday they were as close to the road as I've ever seen them so I stopped to get  pic. Although it would be awesome if our house would ever sell, I love our house...and even the road getting here!

Pine Sol

I am so not enjoying the packing and cleaning part of selling our house. I'm trying to expose baseboards and carpet space and we've manipulated every room for 15 years making the most of those two things with crates, baskets and cute plastic tubs!

The realtors are touring this morning. My prayer evolved this week into "Please let us sell as fast as possible so I won't have to clean like this every time someone comes to look at the house!" Call me selfish, but 6 of us live here, spit toothpaste in the sinks and have dirty clothes. There are always some crumbs under the table and grass is tracked in at the least twice a day when the dogs are fed.

I am venting. So sorry for those of you who actually read this and aren't my mother (who might have stopped after the first whiny paragraph).

I have a home, Pine Sol, Comet for the tubs, a mop and a pretty power-washed deck to enjoy. I need to keep the children who don't have any of that in the front of my mind.

Sign of the Times

courtesy of Just Another Day in Paradise

Another post about FALL

I'm not going to be a professional photographer...it's obvious. Yesterday afternoon I looked out and although it had been cloudy ALL DAY, there was this late afternoon sun shining right on this tree! Richard planted 5 trees in our yard two years ago. This is "mine," it's right outside our bedroom window. They are sweet maples and the colors are so beautiful.

Erin's tree is georgeous, and the biggest, as it is planted directly behind the pool. Lauren's is shadowed a little bit by the neighbor's trees and so is not as full, but definitely beautiful.

Sheridan's tree is still completely green as it is protected between our garage and the neighbor's house.

Ryan's tree is just thankful to be still standing. It is between our house and Trey's house. I can't tell you how many times those boys ran into that little seedling tree when we first planted it. We almost wrapped it in glow-in-the-dark tape, but we didn't, and we're thankful it survived the first years. It's almost lost all it's leaves, not sure if someone ran into it, or if they were blown of in the last rain shower.

It's very cool outside, I've got the windows open and I'm drinking hot tea.

Just a side note: I've got to go attack the paper in our house. I asked Richard one time if he thought I'd ever be on HOARDERS, he said, "Not unless they change it to PILERS." I do have a lot of piles. I'm going to go make a dent in it right now!

On the Lane

As unseasonably hot as it was in June, July has been very wet! All the rain has kept the flowers blooming.

I love this lily. My neighbor down the lane gave me the bulbs two years ago. I couldn't resist trying to get a picture of it with the rain on its petals. I'd love to build a little flower garden in this north east corner of our house. I can picture a few Adirondack chairs and lots of mismatched pots with colorful annuals. We've already begun with my favorite hydrangeas (from my dad), several elephant ears we planted after being at the Biltmore, and these lilys.

The pool is now cool, the flowers are blooming and the grass is growing! Summer!

Roses

Today when we woke up the arbor outside was FILLED with roses. Yesterday I saw a couple of dark buds in the leaves and today....this! The blooms are dark pink, but were covered with a light layer of frost and looked so pretty.

I love a flower with a sweet smell. Iris, roses and honeysuckle are so prominant right now here and smell so sweet!

I think Jesus is called the Rose of Sharon. I'm going to have to look that up.

Blooming in the Backyard

Yesterday there were one or two flowers poking out of the arbor. This morning there is a light cover of frost on the roses but the blooms are crazy!!

TGIF

Seriously, when I left town early MONDAY morning the biggest problem in my house was that the ants were driving me crazy! I had already reconciled with the fact that our outside spicket/pipe had burst and not only flooded our bathroom but our kitchen too. The insurance adjuster arrived right before I left and I was OK because Richard was OK.

I wasn't expecting the floor to be torn up with high powered fans and de-humidifiers running!

It does make sense that there were SO MANY ANTS because they were probably coming in by boat. Those guys are so PERSISTENT. ...

I arrived back TUESDAY just in time to pick up Sheridan from school. (more on my fantastic two days away later) Richard tells me were getting new flooring for our kitchen and both bathrooms. I'll need to pick it out by Thursday. Evidentally wood and water don't mix...there goes my one year old laminate. No problem.

Have I mentioned that we had both bathrooms re-floored TWICE (in the last 90 days) before we realized it was the outside pipe that burst and not just a tub or toilet leak? The floor guys and I are on a first name basis.

WEDNESDAY morning: Bible Study, meet furniture guys with new beds for the girls room (the final pieces of their Christmas room makeover), re-fill cabinets and fridge with food, substitute for one half day at the middle school, children's choir at church.

THURSDAY: spend 3 and half hours looking for flooring. Find something perfect. Family meal night: spaghetti, roasted zucchini & Parmesan garlic bread. Watch and cheer for my friend on Wheel of Fortune. She did awesome and we were INTO it!

Today, FRIDAY: Floor guys arrive at 8:30. Seriously, I had to do some personal laundry. And make sure my personal laundry wasn't hanging in the laundry room. It's amazing some of the things you can pack away in the laundry room.

By 9:30 I am a wreck...the fridge is in the living room as well as ALL the furniture from the kitchen and dining room. When they pull my stove out it is disgusting as I ccould see everything that has ever run down the side of it. I can also see the floor under the dishwasher. Ug! I'm getting claustrophobic and it's 10AM before we can disconnect all the wires for our computer and get it and the desk moved to the back of the house. PRIORITIES, get me some internet!! The wires are hooked up but won't work. Suddenlink guy will be here sometime after 2:00. I leave for an hour and come back with a new pair of sandals.

11:30AM : Lunch with Sheridan, Hamburgers for Richard and I (think comfort food), the flooring looks great but wait...we can't step on it until Sunday morning.


They will grout it on Monday morning.
They did leave my washer and dryer available, I just have to take my laundry outside and through the garage and around the 2 doors to that room.
I am thankful, I tell you, I am thankful. (just a little out of sorts)

Tonight: Erin is at the district track meet one hour away, Ryan plays a baseball double header 35 minutes away and Lauren has her final home soccer game here. I choose soccer for $250.

Tomorrow: my son's first prom.

Busy, busy week.
Lord, help me keep my eyes on You.

The Lane

I love sitting on my porch and seeing the beautiful flowers and trees on our street. It's a thrill for me to see what God has so creatively provided for our enjoyment. Is this what is behind the statement "stop and smell the flowers?" or "Be still and know that I am God?"

How could there be so many varieties, so many colors, so many scents? The Bible says the rocks will cry out in praise if we don't. I think creation also gives God glory and to miss it would be a shame.

Counting my blessings...

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -
His eternal power and divine nature -
have been clearly seen,
being understood from what has been made,
so that men are without excuse.
Romans 1: 20