A week of projects

I finally had a chance to get to my to do list. Looking back on these pictures it's amazing how much I got done in just a week, especially considering I had two sick kids (we had the stomach flue going around our neighborhood this week).

Project #1 refinish chairs and stools

This was one of those projects I definitely was not looking forward to. Anyone who has refinished furniture knows what I am talking about. But my stools and chairs were looking pretty sad. So I sanded put a new coat of black paint, sanded some more, put on a coat of polyurethane(clear protective coat), sanded some more and put on the final coat of polyurethane. I hated every minute of it but they look great!

Project #2 frame for our family photo.

I was more excited about this one. Especially the great deal I got on this moulding. I was on my way to home depot to pick out some moulding and Ross just happens to be next door so I decided to stop in, just my luck I found a beautiful mirror with this moulding on it for only $24 about as much as I would have spent at home depot. I took the mirror home and completely took it apart, I was sort of sad it was a beautiful mirror. I had to cut the moulding down some to fit my picture and glue it back together but the bonus was I didn't have to paint it. You will have to click on the picture to see the detail of the moulding it really is pretty.

Project #3 Valance for my bedroom

This one is trickier than it looks. You really can't see it very well it this picture, but I had to make a wooden frame for it. Then staple batting to it, then staple the fabric over that. So it was more like upholstering than sewing. The trickiest part was hanging the whole thing. I measured like three times, and then held my breath as I drilled the holes for the screws. Thanks to my neighbor Tineka for coming over to help me hang the 10 foot long valance.

Project #4 painting

I finally did it! I got to paint a couple rooms in my house. I think they turned out great! Here is the before picture of my kitchen:

And the after:

Before of my extra bathroom:

and after, I think they both turned out great!!!!

And what was Shaun doing?????

This picture will give you a clue.

Our brother in law John invited Shaun to go to Florida with him for lobster season. They spent a few days spear fishing and catching lobster with nets. Shaun had a great time. This is a picture of John and Shaun headed down with the spear gun.


This is the whole group who went Shaun is on the left, John is second to the right.


Here is a sample of their catch.

You might think I want you to feel bad for me, stuck home with sick kids and a million projects, while Shaun was in Florida. No Way!!!! I was more than happy staying home painting my kitchen and bathroom. Shaun deserved a break anyway. So we both got just what we wanted!!!

And the winner is.....

I just finished up my spring cleaning, (technically it counts as spring cleaning if you start in the spring right?) I go through each room in my house and do all the things I usually neglect the rest of the year such as blinds, and baseboards. As I was cleaning I was thinking of the things that I just couldn't do without. Here are my top three:

1. Top on my list is the magic eraser, I use the generic kind, they work just as well. And seriously what did we do before magic erasers? They really are magic as far as I'm concerned. They get smudges, marker, crayon, well just about anything off of walls, baseboards, and tables. I used to scrub for hours then just give up and paint over a mark on the wall.

2. Second on my list is a good old toothbrush. They are perfect for getting into those tight spots that nothing else will get into. (just be careful if you have babies or toddlers) Sydnie loves toothbrushes and I caught her several times trying to brush her teeth with one of my cleaning toothbrushes.

3. And finally a pumice stone is my last pick. I used to scrub for hours with lime away to try and get rid of that yellow hard water ring around my toilet. A pumice stone does it in minutes and does a much better job at it.

I would love to hear your favorites! Anything to make cleaning easier and faster I love to hear about!

Lots of exciting things are going on around here....at least I think so!

First of all our new computer finally arrived!!!! It is so nice to complete a post in a few minutes instead of a few hours. So I have saved a few posts all in one so this will be a long one.

A few weeks ago another exciting thing happened! Kaylee and Brianne decided to get their ears pierced! I have always told them they could get in done whenever they were ready. I thought Kaylee might decide to for her 8th birthday, but she was still a little nervous about it. But when one of Brianne's little friends got her ears peirced, Kaylee decided if a five year old could do it so could she. Brianne didn't want to miss out on the fun and decided she was brave enough too. They did so well, Kaylee even laughed when she was getting them done, (she always laughs when she is nervous). And the lady who pierced their ears said they were the best girls she has ever had to pierce ears on.

Kaylee and Brianne showing off their pierced ears. Kaylee wanted to make sure I took a picture, so I could post it on our blog.

And a couple days ago the most exciting thing happened! We started to finish our basement!!! I have been waiting a long time for this one!!! Ever since Sydnie was born, our guests have been banished to the unfinished basement, with no heat and no bathroom.

Earlier this week Shaun broke out the sledge hammer and broke out part of the basement floor so we could move some pipes. Then two days ago, my brother in law Christopher came to help get us started on the rest. They have got allot done in the last two days, we are just finishing a room for the girls and a bathroom, but they finished out the framing, heating and rough plumbing and electrical. Now Shaun can start sheet rock.

So thank you, thank you, thank you, to Christopher, this would have never happened without him, he has been so generous with his time, and in fact is still working as we speak at 12:00 midnight trying finish up before he leaves tomorrow morning.

Shaun and Christopher working on some plumbing, and not expecting to get their picture taken.

The tub is in!! It only took three tries and it weighs almost 400 pounds!

We did manage to have some fun while Christopher was here,( and part of the reason they are working so late tonight) We all went up to Strawberry Reservoir today to catch some crayfish. Everyone had allot of fun and we managed to catch around 100 crayfish.

Morgan(who we were also excited to see as a surprise visitor with her dad) Christopher, Brianne and Kaylee. All holding one of our many catches. They are brave you have to watch out for their claws.

Kaylee and Brianne trying to snag a crayfish while Christopher waits for the net.

Fettuccine Alfredo with Crayfish was on the menu tonight. The boys said it was good. But I hate seafood so I will have to take their word for it.

I had to throw these last two pictures in of a trip we took to Strawberry reservoir with just our girls last Saturday. It rained pretty hard for a good 20 min so these two pictures were of us hunkered down under our umbrellas waiting for it to pass. Even with all the rain we still managed to have allot of fun and catch allot of crayfish. I thought these pictures turned out cute even though I did have my old camera so the quality isn't so good.

Kaylee waiting it out.

Brianne braving the wind and rain.

I'm really sorry but.....

I am sooo excited after months of begging and ultimatums, I finally managed to get Shaun to order me a new computer. It is in the mail and should arrive sometime next week!!! Our current computer is almost 8 years old and most days I just want to throw it over a cliff. It has absolutely no memory left and most likely a virus or two that makes it painstakingly slow. It takes me hours to do what should only take minutes. And is subject to freezing up at any given moment. So I have to apologize to all my fellow bloggers, and also do a little repenting. Because my computer usually freezes up whenever I open more than one window, I have hardly been able to look at other peoples blogs let alone comment. So I make a promise from the minute I get my new computer to be better about leaving comments.