My Daybook :: July 7, 2010

Outside my window... we have been seeing a momma turkey with all her little babies!  They are so cute when they are little. . .  Then they grow up!

I am listening to... the contractors hammering away while my children amazingly sleep through it all. (It is currently 6:30 am.)   I am so amazed at all the progress that they have been making.  The old exterior wall came down yesterday and I am pretty sure the interior framing will be completed today!

This is looking from new dining room towards the new kitchen.   I am very thankful for that big black sheet of plastic keeping the dust out of the rest of our home! 

I am sure once the walls are up, and all the cabinets are added, it will be a little smaller, but right now it feels HUGE!! 

And here is a picture looking the other direction towards our dining and family room area.  I love that it is going to be so nice and open! 

I am thinking... about all the decisions we still need to make.  We've decided to go with Tile floors in the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms, with Hardwood in the dining and living rooms.  However, we still have not decided on the colors/styles yet.  I also need to choose paint colors. . .

I am thankful... for the new associate priest in our area!   (I posted one of his homilies on Father's Day.)  We got to meet him at a 4th of July BBQ.  He was ordained in our diocese a year ago, but did spend the past 5 years studying in Rome.  We really enjoyed visiting with him and hope to have him over for dinner a BBQ, soon!

I am hoping and praying... that we will not be without a kitchen for more than 6-8 weeks, as predicted by the contractor.  It is going to be a crazy summer.

From the kitchen...  Hummmm...  This is a hard one.  Currently I do dishes in the bathtub, keep all the food out in our detached garage (which isn't sealed very well and has already been raided by animals a couple times) and we cook and eat on the front porch/deck or the back patio.   It has been interesting to say the least.

From the learning rooms... My children are LOVING Summer Bingo!  Our oldest three all earned Blackout's last week and are already off to a great start this week.  It has been a little harder for Chiquita but I made her card a but easier this week.

Living the Liturgical Year at Home... I just posted the compilation of recipes for the month of July over at Catholic Cuisine.

I am creating... practice sheets for Captain.  He didn't do as well as I would have hoped in some areas of the practice test for his state required testing, which is scheduled for next week.   We will be studying up on test taking skills as well as subjects, predicates, punctuation, etc. a little bit each day.

I am wearing... Teething Bling for my sweet teething baby!

I am reading... The Christian Mother: the Education of Her Children and Her Prayer a little bit each night.

On my iTouch... a new case, so hopefully it won't break the next time I drop it in a parking lot! ;)

Our little Rose... is really getting around!  In fact just this last week, she started pulling herself up to a standing position in her crib.  Why, oh why, is she so determined to grow up SO FAST?!?!

Noticing that... I've had so little time for blogging and responding to emails since our remodel began.  I kept thinking things would slow down a little bit, and am now realizing that they probably won't.  At least not for awhile!

Around the house... I keep finding staples and nails everywhere.  I wonder how long it will be before my "Swagger Wagon" ends up with a flat tire! I even added a couple squares on the girls Bingo cards this week for picking up nails.  :)

On keeping home... I love this idea for a "Cup Station." Shelly even made one for my children and so far it is working great.  Thank you Shelly!

One of my favorite things... our little red grill!!   It was a gift from my Aunt & Uncle awhile back, along with the griddle accessory, and can't believe we've been waiting for a camping trip to use it.  

Isn't it beautiful?!?!   I just ordered a stove grate, which should arrive tomorrow, and I am actually enjoying life with out a kitchen.  At least some of the time!  ;)

A look at our week:

Monday: Work around the yard
Tuesday: Play Date with Friends
Wednesday: Meet with Cabinet Maker

Thursday Morning: Summer with the Saints (possibly?)

Thursday: 3 on 3 Hockey Game for the Boys

Friday : Mass & Benediction

A Picture thought I am sharing:

A few more pictures taken at my niece's Baptism!

My Dad with his youngest two Granddaughters

Not Quite "Magazine Model" Clean

I thought it was funny when Patty asked how I was able to get my "kitchen to look like "magazine model" clean". . .  It's amazing what the right lighting combined with finding the perfect setting on the camera can do to hide the dirt that is most definitely there!  I thought it would be fun to share a few more pictures of our so not clean kitchen.  

Here's a picture of our super packed kitchen from last week . . . 

The contractor was seeing if he could "flip" the door so it would open the opposite direction for it's new location (it worked!), so that is why I have a glass door leaning up against my fridge. 

On Saturday evening a couple of our friends (thank you Tony & Greg!) came over and helped Hubby move out the furniture and appliances from the laundry room and kitchen. (Our washer was just temporarily hooked back up last night in our detached garage - at least I will be able to do cold water washes this summer.)  

I was amazed at how much more spacious our kitchen seemed with everything moved out!  You can even see a little bit of counter space now that the drainboard has been moved to the kids bathtub and the coffee machine and other small appliances are in the school room. . .  ;)

Yesterday morning, when the contractor began tearing out the kitchen, it was so cute to hear my concerned little Snuggles ask the contractor "Are you BREAKING it?!?!"

Check out the wallpaper that was under the paneling in the laundry room. 

This house has so many layers! 

Our whole laundry room/guest bathroom and kitchen (sink and all!) was torn out in just one day!

We stocked up on disposable paper goods at Costco this past weekend and plan to BBQ a LOT this summer!  It is going to be interesting. . .  However, it will all be worth it.  At least that is what I keep telling myself over and over each day!  

Oh, and I promise that I won't turn this into a "Home Improvement" blog.  I'll be back soon with a post on how I am keeping our children busy (and out of the contractors way!) this summer.

Mixed Feelings

I just had to laugh at myself for getting all sentimental seeing our trusty OLD harvest gold oven being tossed out of our kitchen today!

 You have served us well for the past 10 years that we've lived in this home.

I will miss you. . . At least for the next six weeks or so! ;) 

This Week's Progress

 ~ Monday, June 14th ~

 (The boys were both hired by the contractor, one on Monday and the other on Thursday, to clean up!) 

 ~ Tuesday, June 15th ~

 ~ Thursday, June 17th ~

Photo Credit :  Rascal 

~ Friday, June 18th ~ 

My Daybook :: June 9, 2010

Outside my window... their is a big concrete truck and quite a few contractors working on our foundation!

I am thankful... that I was well enough to attend the Blue Knights Festival and our Little Flowers Mother/Daughter Tea Party!  I got *really* sick on Friday which I think was due to food poisoning.  I didn't think I was going to make it anywhere over the weekend and was trying to think of who could take my place at the Tea Party with my girls.  :-(   I was so thankful that I woke up Saturday morning feeling almost completely better, just very weak.

I am hoping and praying... for my friends, Andrew and Julie, who were both in my class at Christendom.  They are trying to adopt a little girl right now!  Would you please keep them in your prayers?

From the kitchen... All sorts of things as I work on emptying my cupboards.  I think pretty soon the inspectors are going to be fighting over who gets to come up here for our inspections. . . At least until my oven is torn out! ;)

From the learning rooms... The boys are finishing up a couple projects this week and then they will be done for the summer.  My "learning room" will soon be my temporary "kitchen/dining room" so I am looking forward to putting the majority of the school books away for awhile.

Living the Liturgical Year at Home... I just realized I never did get a chance to post the compilation of recipes for June over at Catholic Cuisine.  Hopefully I will have a chance to do so this week.

I am creating... room in my closet for some of my dishes and other kitchen items.  Where am I going to put everything?!

I am reading... the latest issue of Mater et Magistra and finding it completely inspiring, as usual!

Our little Rose... is crawling!  I can't believe it!! She isn't really sitting up on her own very well, but I think that is because she just CAN'T sit still, and wants to move around.

Noticing that... there have been quite a few searches for "School Room" lately.  Right now my school room is a bit of a mess, as we wrap up our school year, but you can see what it looked like at the beginning of the year here:  The New School Room.

Towards personal care... Last week I purchased a package of Crest 3D White Whitestrips and, after just a few days of using them, am so amazed at how much whiter my teeth look already.  (I had tried a generic brand a few years ago and didn't notice any difference.)  {Big Smile!!}

Now, if only I can find something for the dark circles and wrinkles around my eyes.  I know some extra sleep would probably really help, but in the meantime I am going to try a couple products from Neutrogena.

One of my favorite things... The Tiddliwinks Brown Dot Moses Basket!   My Brother & Sister-in-law purchased this off my baby shower registry and it has been one of my absolute favorite new pieces of "Baby Gear."  Unlike Snuggles, Rose does not love the swing or bouncy chair (she refuses to spend any time in them) and prefers to spend time in her little basket, both sleeping and playing.   I love the color of the wicker, and it is so convenient to move around and take places as well.

(Note:  For those of you that have emailed asking about the basket, my only complaints are that the handles flop over into the basket (so I just tuck them behind the fabric) and this past week there is a little break in the top wicker (I'm not sure what you call it) piece. I'm hoping I can use something to "tape" it back together.  However, I am really not surprised since we have used it SO much, and I thought it was a great basket for the price.)


A few plans for the rest of the week:

• Return Books to the Library and pick up a few more books to finish up "Z" Week.
• I have a dentist appointment on Friday.
• My sister's (JoAnn & Mary) Graduate from High School on Friday night!!
• There is a Baby Shower on Saturday for my friend Trina.  (It is going to be at Marci's house!!  She has been really, really busy!!)
• And on Sunday, after Mass, we are headed to a 1st Birthday party for my friend Ann-Marie's twin boys!

Add to that our last week of school, and contractors working each day, and it is another very busy week!  :-)

A Picture thought I am sharing:

It has taken me most of the day (a minute here and a minute there) to get through this Daybook post, so here are a few pictures from today!   

(Note:  Rascal took this one. . .   I wasn't about to go out there and start snapping pictures!) 

My Daybook :: June 2, 2010

Outside my window... a bird has built a nest and has laid three eggs, despite the fact that my husband removed the poor birds nest 5 times already (before any eggs were laid) trying to avoid what we went through last year.   Being right outside our front door, it is not the best spot for a nest and at one point we even had the bird fly into our house last year.   Last year we ended up just using other doors, but now all those doors lead to our "construction zone."

I am listening to... the sound of a big huge tractor digging footings for our new addition.  Today is the 3rd day we've had construction workers here and I am finding it next to impossible to keep my children away from the windows and concentrating on finishing their school work for the year!  I'm afraid our last two weeks (which should have been last week and this week) may take the rest of the month at this rate.

This picture was taken last Friday. 

Today is pretty much the same, minus the sun! 

I am SO thankful... that Rose & I were able to travel to California this past weekend with my Mom to spend time with my Grandmother.  You know, I can't remember the last time I went on a trip with just my mom.  It was really fun to spend some time with her.  We left early Saturday morning and got home late Monday night.  My Grandma is very frail and so much thinner than the last time I saw her, in March of last year when we traveled to CA for my Grandfather's funeral.   I love my Grandma so very much and wish she didn't live so far away.

Grandma, Me, Chiquita, Twinkle Toes and Mom 

taken in March of 2009

I am thinking... about how nice it was to be completely "disconnected" this past weekend!  I brought along my laptop and iTouch, but, other than a quick attempt to get online while ordering a coffee at Starbucks, I was without access to the internet and actually enjoyed every minute of it!   It made me realize how necessary it is to shut off the computer and take breaks from the internet from time to time. 

I am hoping and praying... that our project stays within our budget, and that it is indeed completed by September.

From the kitchen... Now that we've actually started the remodel, I just spent about an hour sorting through my pantry cupboard. I probably have about a month until I need to be completely moved out of the kitchen and Laundry Room.  However, knowing how long it takes me to get anything done any more, I better start now!

From the learning rooms... We are spending this week finishing up "X/Y" and I am really hoping to complete the Alphabet Path next week.  With the Year of the Priest coming to a close the boys are working on completing their Lap Book (when I can pull them away from the windows!) in addition to their other studies.  We are all looking forward to our summer break!

Living the Liturgical Year at Home... After our busy Easter Season, I am taking a bit of a break.  Looking at my compilation post of our past Feast Day Plans and Celebrations,  it seems that I tend to take June "off" each year!  I'm sure we will probably do a little something for a couple of the upcoming feasts, but for the most part I really don't plan to do much extra this month.

I am creating... another ATC card!  I am not an "artist" but I have been having so much fun painting these little cards since Kimberlee's Artist Trading Card Swap.  We mailed out all of our cards for the Swap and all of my children are very excited.  This morning I had a few extra minutes while nursing Rose and painted St. Therese - perhaps one of my children will agree to paint a card to swap with me.

I'll post the pictures of the cards we made for the swap soon.  

Oh!!  And just look what Rascal and Chiquita painted for me as a welcome home gift!!  Aren't they beautiful!?! 

Our little Rose... was a dream to travel with this past weekend.  Honestly she couldn't have been any better!  Basically she had me to herself, plus lots of attention from her doting Grandma and other relatives, and was loving every minute of our trip.  Nevertheless, she was very excited to see her siblings again on Monday night.

Noticing that... Small Steps for Catholic Moms is on sale at St. George Books for only $12.50, and only $12.70 at Sacred Heart Books and Gifts.  I haven't read it yet, but hopefully it won't be long before I can order a copy.

Around the house... there are chunks of concrete from our "old" patio.  Sniffle... sniffle... Such a bummer.  We had it poured 5 years ago not knowing the county was going to force us to add on off the back instead of off the side.  Oh well. It had to be done.

The boys were very emotional when they realized the new addition will be covering up their favorite place to play Hockey.

February 7, 2006

A few plans for the rest of the week:

This evening the boys have their last Hockey Lesson for this session, then we will be taking a break for a couple months.  Tomorrow night we will be meeting with the contractor to discuss our options for a covered porch off the side of the house.  Saturday the boys have a Blue Knights Festival (for the whole family!) to celebrate the end of the year.  On Sunday the girls and I have our Mom & Daughter Little Flowers Tea Party.  (Which means I need to get busy sewing on Wreaths and Shields!!  Yikes!)  

A Picture thought I am sharing:

Rose really didn't need any more clothing, but I just fell in love with this skirt, top and hair bow!  And, yes, I did get the dress too!