More house updates!

We were blessed to have Rich and Lavita's company again for a few days this week.  While here, they tackled the finishing of the lighting project at a much smaller expense than what I had anticipated.  Remember how I priced those bulbs/trim combos around $40 a piece?  Well, Lavita found the right bulbs at Walmart for less than $11 a piece!  Add that to the cost of trim for each fixture, which was about $6, and what a bargain!  It turned out looking great too.  She also helped me pick out the light fixture for over the bar area, which was not as simple to install as we thought!  The men had been out transplanting palm trees and were taking a much needed break at this point, and our laughs and confusion made it so much more fun to watch!  Who knew that track lighting doesn't require a wire to each individual bulb?  Or that there's no way to perfectly balance 3 globes while still having the electrical box in the center of the fixture?  Or that we'd need to screw and unscrew the whole thing multiple times before it was right?  The best part, though, was that Lavita and I had similar notions of the whole project, and were equally stumped at each obstacle.  I don't know if we naturally think alike, or I'm thinking more and more like her the more time I spend with her.  Either way, it is always a pleasure to work together, and I learn so much by her example and her letting me try things out on my own. 

Here is what the semi-finished project looks like.  We still have to repaint the ceiling after taking out the old fixture and texturizing the ceiling, but we'll get around to that.  The part I dread is finding out that once we paint that section of the ceiling, we'll have to paint the rest of the ceiling everywhere else to make it match.  One step at a time, Heather.  One step at a time.

We also found this bookshelf at the same thrift store were we bought our couch, our chairs, and the lamp now sitting on one of the smaller bookshelves from the garage sale.  What a great store!  It's in really good condition, and now just needs to be lightly sanded in a few places and stained or painted the color of our choice (to match the smaller bookcases, of course).  

I almost forgot about the couch!  Lavita was so quick to reupholster that couch and it looks SOOOOOOO much better.  Don't you think?

And the lamp...

I really enjoy having Adam's parents around, not just for the help, but for the way they always teach us something while they're here.  Thank you again!

Scary Story

It's stories like this that make me wary of my profession, and also wary of sending our future children to public school.  It doesn't sound like they have all the information in this case, but there is a lesson to be learned nonetheless. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9111572/10-year-old-girl-dies-in-after-school-fight-with-11-year-old.html

Since some of my students have been not only participants, but also instigators of fights like this, I'm debating whether or not to read this to the class to scare the crap out of them. 

Valentine's Day!

I realize this is coming AFTER the President's Day post, but I still don't know how to back-date my posts.  Help? 

I feel I wouldn't be an appreciative wife unless I recounted the wonderful Valentine's Day I had!  I had my worries the week before when asking Adam if he had any plans.  "On Tuesday?  What's Tuesday?" was Adam's general reply (I'm paraphrasing, of course.)  Even Monday afternoon, when Adam called at his usual time to let me know he's getting off work, I asked, "Do you need the car this evening... to plan anything, you know, for tomorrow?"  (I'm so subtle, I know.)  "Uh, no.  No, I don't need the car.  For what?  Oh, yeah...for tomorrow.  'Cause it's Valentine's Day.  No, I don't need the car."  He used the same manner he had when asking me out for our first date in a way that made me think he was just realizing that it was a date, or that tomorrow was really Valentine's Day.  Sneaky man. 

So upon picking him up promptly at 5 o'clock, as was his specific direction not to be late (I've been reading a lot of Jane Austen recently and I see it creeping into my writing sometimes), he came to the driver's side of the car and gestured for me to get out so he could drive.  Curious?  So was I.  I got into the passenger seat and we were off.  It literally took less than a minute to figure out where we were going, since it is my favorite restaurant ever. Olive Garden.  But he had actually made a reservation, so I knew it wasn't last minute.  He even gave me a choice at the end of dinner between having dessert at Olive Garden or going out to Cold Stone for ice cream.  The obvious choice for anyone married to a man like Adam was to go for Cold Stone.  How often do I get him to go to more than one place in an outing?  This was a ripe opportunity.  And it was delicious.  I found a new favorite: Chocolate Lover's Delight with Raspberry Sorbet instead of Chocolate ice cream.  Sweet and tart! 

It was the perfect surprise, and perfectly un-crowded as it was the day before Valentine's, so we didn't have to fight other lovers anxious to show their significant others a good time.  I thought Valentine's was over for us, but was ok since I knew I'd be getting lots of candy and Valentine's from my students the next day (which did not fail!  I got two stuffed animals, lots of candy, and lots of handmade hearts that say I'm the best/prettiest teacher ever!  They do know how to be sweet when it counts, I guess.).  But Adam surprised me again...around 2:00 my coach walked in with a beautiful arrangement of roses and mentioned as she put them on my desk that they were not from her.  How sweet!  The students urged me to read the card out loud (I also have some romance-stricken girls in my class), which said, "Pretty flowers for a pretty lady."  Awwww!  It was perfect!  He definitely won me and the students over! 

So, since I failed on the birthday account, see previous post, here are a few reasons why I love Adam: 

1. He's perfectly, and sometimes annoyingly, practical. 
2. He makes me laugh.
3. He forgives me for my foolish and often selfish mistakes.
4. He has a great laugh!
5. His surprises are always unexpected.
6. He is a good singer, though he doubts this very much.
7. He agrees with my ideas of discipline and structure for children. 
8. His knowledge of the gospel, which I constantly rely on.
9. His love for reading!  We have so many books to share with others (and our future children) because of it.
10. He is NOT a picky eater.  Thank goodness!
11. He is so cute when he's sick.  I don't feel burdened when taking care of him. 
12. His ability to relax.  I tend to worry over everything and have a hard time staying in one place for long, but he's mellowed this out of me a little bit. 

There are dozens more, but this will do for now.  The other reasons I can share with just him.  I wish I had some pictures to share, but as it was unexpected, I didn't have my camera.  Oh well.  Here's an oldie for now.  He really uses that pocket protector, by the way, it's not a prop. What a cute nerd!  I love you, sweetie!  Thanks for a great Valentine's Day!

President's Day Weekend

I'm a little late in posting this, but what a great weekend!  We started it off right by going to Red Robin with Adam's parents (where else would we go?) on Friday night.  Saturday morning I had a fun visit with that pretty lady in the above picture, my old roommate Dani, and her new baby Chloe!  (I blame my new makeup for the awful shade of orange my face is taking on in this picture.  My students actually asked what was wrong with my face.  They are still severely lacking in social etiquette.)  We both had new things to show off, she the baby with adorable chubby cheeks, and I the house with it's infinite list of fun projects.  It was all over too soon, but we had a really enjoyable visit, and I look forward to her return for Easter!  Maybe we can have a couples game night or something so Adam and Tanner can hang out.  

As soon as she left, we were on to the latest project (which was already begun when she got here, so I was late in joining in).  Rich was out trimming more fronds off the palm trees, which look OH! so much better!  Lavita was patching our old stove vent and measuring the spacing for our recessed lighting in the kitchen.  Adam was helping Nathaniel de-stress by playing video games with him.  So I maneuvered back and forth between inside and outside projects for the day, which were both very refreshing to get my hands into.  It was a beautiful day for trimming trees and the experience of learning how to do electrical work was so rewarding!  Once Lavita showed me how to strip the wires and place them in the correct place (I'm still not down with the electrical lingo, but maybe I will be after the next electrical project) I think I managed to complete 5 lights!  Thanks Lavita for the picture! 

We made such a terrible mess with all the drilling, cutting, and insulation falling through the ceiling, that our kitchen was covered in layers of dust, as well as our mouths, noses, and lungs!  

It was so worth it in the end.  I haven't bought the light bulbs or trim yet, but I've priced them at Home Depot.  Holy COW!  We'd like to save money in the long run by getting energy-saving bulbs, but I was overwhelmed by the initial cost...$39.95 a pop!  That's for the good kind.  I assume there is a less expensive brand on the market somewhere, but I haven't been very extensive in my search.  If you know of any place besides Home Depot with inexpensive, energy-saving lighting alternatives, PLEASE let me know!  

Anyway, here it is as a clean kitchen.  

Sunday morning, Adam's parents made us a delicious birthday breakfast before our heading off to church and their heading home.  Lavita even went to the trouble of baking the cake I bought to make for Adam, since it was my turn for the birthday this year, so I had nothing else to do for him than lay around and watch the Liam Neeson movies I gave him for his present.  A pretty good way to relax after a long Saturday of work, if you ask me!  So, I'm sorry Adam.  I kind of dropped the ball on big birthday plans.  I will do better next year.  :)

On Monday, I got restless again and went to Home Depot and bought paint for the family room/dining room/great room.  I have most of it finished and am working my way down the hall to our bedroom.  I still have to go get the Stone Brown color for the accent wall and the bay windows, which I think will turn out great!  Maybe I'll tackle that part next weekend.  Oh!  And Megan and Chad brought us a free HUGE dining table when they came on Tuesday!  It's more than double the size of our old one!  A friend was giving it away and we said we'd take it.  It's plain and simple with straight lines, but that's how we like it.  I've already got some ideas rolling around in my head for refinishing the tabletop, since it kind of slopes inward, and Megan and Chad both gave some great suggestions.  I haven't taken pics of it yet, mostly because the dining area is covered with paint supplies still, but that's also on my list. 

In comparison, this has been a lazy weekend!  I feel completely useless today, but that's ok.  Some days are just meant for relaxing and reflecting.  And calling my visiting teachees so I can stop neglecting them.  For reals.