We survived…

Another Black Friday shopping trip.  I went with 3 other friends and after days of planning, looking at sale papers on line and in person, we couldn’t wait any longer.  I left my house around 7:30 pm Thursday night and got back to my house around 10:30 Friday Morning!  I came home with many packages and a major headache.  Spent the rest of the day in bed watching Christmas movies and dozing.  Dennis and the kids ordered Pizza-yum.  We hit most major stores, called and texted others at more stores to pick up what we couldn’t get and packed the car from bottom top!  Then we had breakfast at Cracker Barrel and hit a few more stores on the way home!  So much fun.  We did see a near riot at Wal -mart over sheets of all things and Nicki did almost get knocked over by the video games, but all in all everyone was very nice (even when we put one person in line to hold the spot for the other 3).

Thanksgiving Day was nice too.  Ryan got up and we watched the parade together and ate cinnamon rolls.  I did not have to cook a turkey so we relaxed until I had to heat up the things I made up ahead of time….MY kind of stuffing and my chocolate pie of course!  We ate at Dennis’s parents and my mom came along with many from Dennis’s family.  We had a nice meal and then took a crew over to see the new house.  Maybe we can host it next year!  Nicki and I poured over the sales papers and the boys all played the annual Turkey Bowl football game.

There will be LOTS going on at the house this week.  Grouting is being done this weekend and the carpet will be laid down soon.  Electrical stuff (switches, plugs, lights) will be put in place.  Dennis and I spent 2 days buying 15 ceiling fans and all the lights for the inside and outside and we STILL need 2 more:  forgot one small light and could not decide on a dining room light.  The heating and cooling systems will be put in so we can get the house ready for the hardwood floors. Dennis also found a leak in the mud room area from a staple but through a water line that was too close to the floor upstairs!  That will be fixed this week.  Painting will also be touched up.  The stairs are almost ready to be finished.  We did find a simple screen door that is made out of wood.  It is 30 ins and we need it to be 28 ins, so we are going to have it cut down.  I hope it works.  I will then paint to stain it and it will be my pantry door (with a fork for the handle).  We have been laying LOTS of sod and pine straw.  Dennis and 2 boys are out raking a friends yard now for more free pine straw! We are still hoping to be all moved in by Christmas but where do I put my tree now?  I guess I will wait to decorate until the floors are finished and then put up the tree whether or not we are in the house yet or not. 

Today is the IRON BOWL game…biggest football game of the season.  We have family coming over and will eat football food.  WAR EAGLE!!!  Tomorrow I will cook my turkey so we can have sandwiches and soup.  Then it is back to work and basketball.  I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy the Holiday season.

Master Shower without fixtures and door

Kitchen floor..without grout

lights and fans!!

Nicki trying to squeeze one more thing in the back off the SUV! Michelle S was trying to help from the inside!

Couldn’t resist this….from the Peanut Festival and NO I did not eat one.   Although I bet it would be good!

All for now

They’re at it again!

Woke up this morning and my “white” dog was ORANGE…head to toe and there was dirt all over the porch.  Sport had dug almost completely under the back steps!  He saw me and dove back under throwing up new dirt.  He acted like something was under there but Dennis went out to check and saw nothing.  Whatever it is must be running around under our yard because they have dug even more holes.  OF COURSE, we took pictures!!  Then Dennis put red and black pepper in the dirt and tried to fill in the holes around the steps.  STUPID DOGS!

Old holes  they have re-dug but one on the right top is really deep!

Fireplace and more

We lived in Texas for 5 years surrounded by Limestone and at one time thought we would have a limestone house.  Plans change but that is how we decided that we wanted a Limestone fireplace.  It is finally finished (except for the mantle) and we think it looks great.

I also have pictures of Grant’s room and Preston’s room IN PROGRESS.  Grant’s will have an Auburn Border breaking up the 2 colors and in Preston’s room below the chair rail will be a darker gray. 

More painting this week. Can’t wait to see the stairs finished and the floors!!!

After the drywall….

Paint!  WOW was that hard.  I had so many color swatches from so many places and that was mainly for the basic medium color TAN I wanted!!!  I had an easier time with the other colors but each time a tan color went on the wall I HATED it.  I cried, asked for help, looked on the internet, asked friends and cried again.  I finally decided that whatever the next color was I would LOVE it no matter what!  And I did.  It was finally the right color (I hope-haha).  The tinted primer is on all the walls.  The ceilings are painted.  The doors are being painted and the limestone is being put on the fireplace.  The septic tank is in as well as the geothermal heat pump wells.  So here’s what you have been waiting for…..PICTURES and PAINT colors!!! 

The limestone does not look as dark in places in real life..you can see the tan color to the left…it does not look as yellow in real life…I promise.  The wood is holding up the mantle brackets.

Bonus room tan

Master bath is a light blue…beachy…hard to tell here

One wall with paint colors..other side had more

“the BLUE room”…if the President can have one, so can I.  Grant’s room is half this blue and tan (blue on bottom, tan on top with an Auburn border (I have to order).  Ryan and I are the only ones who love this room.

Kitchen is Aloe Vera green…I wanted a lime green but toned it down some

Doors

This is the door to the garage.  I had it cut out to place this old window I have had since I bought it at an antique store in 2003  or 2004.  I did not even realize that the colors would match so well but as you come in the garage door the walls will be green and then you will pass the Pineapple yellow laundry room into my red and green kitchen!!

Another view of the kitchen

yellow laundry room…it is very bright in real life

Preston’s room…it has more paint on it and the chair rail is now painted-white.  Shades of gray.  I thought it would be a bit more grown up. 

The foyer, halls, living room, dining room, Ryan’s room, master bedroom and garage will all be the tan color.  It was called rotunda I believe but we had him lighten it a bit.  These are just the tinted primer colors.  The coats of the satin finish will be started in a few days! The fireplace should be finished in a day or two.  The flooring will be installed starting the 14th and the cabinets should be done soon after.  Now onto light fixtures!! MORE decisions!

Thought some of you might be interested in the septic tank pictures   I will add some of the geothermal well digging next time.  It is late.

Fall Sports Update

The varsity football team ended the season with only 3 wins.  It was hard to see them lose, especially when they could have won 4 more of them.  Preston started on defense the last few games and played well.  In his last game he had several tackles (he says 10 solo and more assists) and he recovered a fumble by his own team and advanced it several yards. Here are a few pictures of his tackles.  He even made the local paper!

Homecoming was fun as usual and we won in an exciting finish!

Thursday night pep rally on  main street

Parade on Friday..Preston walked with the varsity team

and Grant walked with the Jr High team

Ryan raked in the candy!

Grant’s Jr High basketball team is 6-0 with one game to go!  He has played really well scoring 8-10 pts in most games.  He has been selected to move up to the JV (B team) after his season ends next week.  Preston will play on the varsity team and Ryan will play rec league basketball!

Halloween 2011

We had such a busy Halloween that I just realized that Grant and Preston never carved their pumpkins!  So Sad!  That really shows how fast they are growing up.  Ryan and I did carve pumpkins at a pumpkin carving party.  I had a hard time because my pumpkin was already a little rotten. 

Mine was supposed to be a little scarier

Ryan saw a picture and then carved this all by himself!

Ryan went to a Halloween costume party as a Nerd!

Trunk or Treat @ church had a country/farm theme so my truck was Old MacDonald had a Farm….with a moo moo here and a quack quack there….very easy

Wesley Chapel kids!

Ryan was the only one who really trick or treated this year.  Grant had a basketball game away so my mom passed out candy.  Ryan decorated the porch (with my WHITE sheer curtains and much much more).  Grant ran around with friends for a few minutes after we got home.