Addition = Complete

Guys, our addition is (mostly) complete.  There are a few odds and ends that need to be finished up, but it is livable and we are enjoying the space and the lack of everyday construction (and dust) down the hall.  We are not done moving things around or putting things where we want them, but I guess this pregnancy will help with that.  I am in full blown nesting mode.  Like dangerously nesting. The combination of recently reading books on minimalism and being nine months pregnant has inspired me to go through every single thing we own and declutter, organize, and get everything in it's place before Baby Boy arrives. #poorkevin  

Speaking of Kevin, he has been hard at work putting together furniture and doing anything and everything on his to-do list written by yours truly.  He really is the man of my dreams.

We have decided on furniture arrangements for our room and the baby's room, and just picked up a chaise lounge for a wall in our bedroom.  Kevin is super excited about this space.  He thinks he will be plopping down on that lounger every night to read.  We will see how that plays out...

We still have a small bedroom we are unsure what we are going to do with for the time being.  I am thinking office or homeschool room or spare bedroom?  I really have no idea.  I'm not going to rush into it because I'm sure it's purpose will change over time and I will discover how I really want to use it one of these days.  As of today, there is a desk, bookshelf, and dresser lining it's walls and the closet is currently housing tubs of clothes for Baby Boy. Luke and Lily have discovered it's the perfect room to read their Bibles and push their strollers.

My favorite part about the addition being complete is all four of us hanging out in our bed and reading books.  This happens almost on a nightly basis and the kids think it is the coolest.  And if I'm being honest, so do Kevin and I.

We are thankful and joyful the remodel was completed in plenty of time before our newest addition arrives.  Now, we just wait to fill the rooms and space with one more babe to love!

Stress and Thankfulness

We are smack dab in the middle of renovation 2.0 on the Trail.  (If you've been around a long time, you might remember our kitchen renovation.) After what seemed like a slow start, things are moving along quickly and our addition before Baby Boy arrives is looking like it could (fingers crossed) be done, in fact, before Baby Boy arrives.

If I'm being completely, 100% honest, the past few months have been a bit above and beyond my normal able-to-handle-stress capacity.  There have been family situations, this sweet pregnancy, and the renovation that has proven to make my body more than shut down a few times due to stress.

This pregnancy has proven to be a wee bit more difficult than the others with aches and pains and sickness that I am not accustomed to because I never experienced it with my other two.  This is all, of course, completely normal, and my little brain and schedule have needed to adjust to these changes.  The renovation, as glorious as it is, has also caused some unforeseen stress that has not helped my body process changes well.

I have been reminded by friends, family, and my adorable, hard-working husband that this will all be worth it and I will be so happy this spring when it's complete.  They are all right of course and right to remind me of the light at the end of the tunnel.  My tribe's good reminders and my God giving me overwhelming grace everyday have helped me to try and find the joy and goodness in these long days at home in a construction zone.

As I write this, my babes are both 'sleeping' in their rooms as sludge hammers and drills power through the walls right beside their heads.  They have been the real troopers through the past few weeks.  Sleeping through the madness, playing in a limited amount of space, having some of their favorite toys removed because we just don't have the room, and loving me despite my shortcomings.  They have a great example, of course.  Kevin has been picking up the slack, getting up with sick babies, and helping me as much as he can when I am down and out.  God knew what He was doing when He created this man of mine.

As this season of dust and sleeping in a construction zone and constant decision making continues, I want to forge in my heart a mantra of thankfulness that will carry me through the long days without water or electricity and nights in the basement when I hear every pipe creak and I convince myself someone is upstairs so I make Kevin get up and make sure our babies are safe. (This is the truth.  Have I mentioned he is a good man?)

I am thankful for my family situations as complicated as they are because I have a family to love and know God is working in them and using it all for His glory.

I am thankful for this sweet baby boy growing inside me everyday because new life is such a precious miracle from God.

I am thankful for this renovation and the opportunity to create a home where our family can grow and Kevin and I can raise our babies in a place that has history and such a good good future.

When I meditate on the things I am thankful for, the stress seems to slowly melt away and these good things come into my vision, reminding me about the goodness and joy of this life I am so blessed to live.

  

What are you thankful for today?

Luke's Playroom

Kevin and I were inspired over Christmas.  Luke's Uncle John made him his very first piece of custom furniture....his very own art table.  Although he's not quite big enough to sit at it, yet, he loves walking around it and taking things off the shelves.  It won't be long and he will be sitting at it coloring, painting, and making messes.  

This special table inspired Kevin and I to get Luke a playroom set up in our home.  What was previously our 'history room' with a hutch, dishes, and pictures from the past we turned into Luke's very own room to store all his toys and his little table.  This transformation took place last weekend and this week and so far, so good.  Luke is already loving his space and Kevin and I are loving the fact that all his toys have a place to call home.  The only thing left to do is find a toy organizer or toy box to organize all his smaller toys and books.  If anyone has something they love, please let me know!  

The 'History' Room converted to...

Luke's New Playroom

i had to show you this...john made holes for the play-dough!  so awesome!

Safety First: Putting in a railing

Luke is getting bigger and bigger everyday.  It is hard to believe he will be 5 months old next week.  I know crawling is still a few months off, but Kevin and I thought we should be prepared for when Luke is following us everywhere.  So...we started figuring out the logistics of putting in a railing by the stairs.  There once was a railing in that spot, but Kevin's parents took it out when their kids were raised and gone.  I completely understand why they did it; it opened up the space a lot.  But, now that there is a baby in the house, it's time for a railing to go back up.  
It really was a simple process, especially after going through a big renovation last year.  I knew what I wanted, because I wanted it to match the rest of the house.  I wanted a wood/wrought iron look.  I found a few railings online that I liked and then I called a local contractor and he gave me the information for a guy (Chad) that installs railings.  I contacted Chad and he came and measured the space and asked me to pick out a few things that would need to be ordered.  Kevin and I needed to pick out: a newell post (the big wooden thing that would stand at the top of the stairs), balusters (the posts), boots (the pieces on the bottom of the posts), and the kind of wood.  This was pretty simple and he came back and quoted us a price.  After a few weeks, Chad came and installed the railing in about a day and a half.  The painter, Steve, came and did some mudding and sanding.  I even helped by sanding and painting the parts that were mudded.  After the initial shock of that space not being wide open, I think it looks like it's always been there.  Chad and Steve did a great job and now we will be prepared for when our little guy is moving.  Now we just need to find a baby gate that will work at the top of the stairs.  Any ideas?

the newell post going in

finished

Bare no more!

There has been something missing in our new space for the past three months.  We have beautiful, sand colored wood floors.  They are beautiful, but slightly bare.  We needed a little warmth in the space,  so Kevin and I headed out to look for something to make our floors a little less bare.
One of the many things I love about Kevin is he is decisive.  He knows what he likes and what he doesn't like and it doesn't take him long to figure this out.  Kevin was a huge help picking out rugs for the floors, in fact, he picked out one rug all on his own and made me feel sure about the other two rugs we chose to warm up our room.  Here are some pics (for you Mom) of our floors bare no more!

Dining room

Living room

The one Kevin picked out...Abel loves this one.

(Kevin's) Productive Saturday

Kevin has been extremely productive today, however I can't say the same for myself.  I did make mac and cheese (my favorite) and followed Kevin around snapping pictures.
First, Kevin prepared our chalkboard wall.  In order to draw, write, doodle, etc. on the wall, it must be prepped by taking chalk and coloring the entire thing.  This must be done twice, wiping it down with a wet cloth in between.  We still don't know what our first doodle is going to be, but I will keep you updated when Kevin creates a masterpiece.

Next, Kevin put a few coats on the bookshelf in the office.  These bookshelves have been in the house since Kevin's dad was a little boy.  Kevin's dad, Gary, told me that they used to divide the basement for the boys' rooms....I love little stories like that.  They are in good shape and I decided that this bookshelf would be functional in the office, but needed a coat of paint.  Again, Kevin being productive.

Finally, Kevin moved his Grandma and Grandpa's hutch into the 'piano' room.  I know a lot of people don't have hutches anymore, but this is a very special piece of furniture and we feel lucky to have it in our home, besides, where else can you display family china that has been in a box for four years?!  I am blessed to have my Great-Grandma Schutte's Currier and Ives blue and white china.  I haven't had anywhere to display and/or use it these past four years and I am so excited that it finally has a real home in Kevin's Grandma's hutch.  It makes me happy to think about Great-Grandma Schutte and Grandma Gerry and how I get to have a little piece of them in my home.  I only wish they were here to see it.

Cheers to (Kevin's) productive Saturday!

Almost settled

After a week and a half of moving furniture, dusting, putting things away, and dusting some more, we are almost settled!  We still have to hang items on the walls and put window treatments up, but other than that, we are ready to enjoy our new house!
Here are some of my favorite things we have done since moving upstairs: eating off real plates and using real silverware, texting without going outside (we have a signal upstairs!), laying on our couch and watching Netflix, organizing our closet, and, of course, drinking a glass of wine out of an actual wine glass instead of a plastic cup!  Here are a few pictures of how we have gotten settled so far:

The wood burning stove, original to the house.

The spare bedroom...clean!

What we see as we walk out our bedroom door...

Advice?

I am home today.  It was supposed to be a snow make-up day, but we have had 0 snow days this year, so...horray for today and getting to stay home!  I have spent the morning unpacking and trying to find a home for everything that we have had packed away for almost a year. It's like Christmas!
In the kitchen there is one glass cabinet and Kevin and I have been debating what we should display.  For practical purposes, we put our Fiesta dishes in there.  I am not quite sure if it looks okay and I was hoping to get some opinions.  Other options would be china or other pretty glasswares.  I would love suggestions!

We're IN!

It's official.  We are currently in the process of moving into our house.  It is wonderfully exciting and we are grateful more and more everyday for the opportunity to live in Kevin's childhood home.  We are so blessed!
During this process, we had both of our computers turn on us.  When I sat down last night to post pictures, my darn laptop just wouldn't work and Kevin's computer decided to stop working Saturday night.  I finally have a computer to work on and decided I should post some move in pics quick!  They are not the best because my good ones are on my other computer that at the moment is not cooperating.  These are for my mom who could not wait!!! 

Inches away

The refrigerator is in.
The dishwasher is in.
The deck is finished.
And the kitchen is (almost) absolutely perfect.

Why every child wants to be a teacher...today

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm a sucker for this February 14th Hallmark celebration.  It is my absolute favorite holiday as a teacher, because the kids get so excited about giving away their lovely little handwritten valentines.  I also look forward to it because February 14th is one of the days of the year when every child wants to be a teacher.  Why? It's very, very simple.  Snickers, Pixie Sticks, Air Heads, Laffy Taffy, Starburst, Hershey kisses...

On Valentine's Day I gets LOTS of of these precious, diet destroying morsels.  Students that have been in my room in the past can come back and give away their sweet valentines.  This is another reason I love Valentine's Day, because I get to see some of my kiddos from past classes that I don't get the chance to see too often.  The students that are currently in my class get to witness me get these treats and I love to hear the conversations as the day progresses.  They are all chatting about how they can't wait to be a grown up and be a teacher (because the teacher gets all the good candy).  It is absolutely adorable and reminds me of why I wanted to be a teacher.

The goods

So sweet

This was an actual coupon from one of my kids, who I coached in basketball.  LOVE IT!

This Valentine's Day I am also celebrating the first coat of the floors being complete.  They will finish up by Friday and they already look beautiful. 

Hope you all have a candy-overloaded Valentine's Day! 

House Remodel: (Almost) Finishing Touches

As I said in my last blog post, we made an impulse decision on Tuesday to use the tile on the entire wall of the kitchen.  I unquestionably love that Kevin suggested this because it looks spontaneously splendid.  The tiled wall was completed today, along with the cup pulls on the cabinet drawers.  The floors will get done next week and we are hoping to be upstairs the Monday after next.  It's hard to believe that it's almost here...however it's hard to believe it isn't here, yet.  Weird.
We did cheat a little last night.  Kevin made a pizza for dinner in our installed oven, even though we have a Pizzaz that cooks it just the same.  He cooked our pepperoni pizza on the Pizzaz tray, in the oven, because we have 0 pans unpacked.  I know that there is no difference, BUT it. was. so. good.

House Remodel: Backsplash and Lighting

Last night as we were looking at the backsplash that we both love, we made a random and exciting decision.  We decided that we wanted the tile to go all the way up the wall and above the window because we are that fond of it.  We had a whole box of extra tile, so we thought, why not?  It didn't get done today, because the tile guy didn't have his saw and like I said, it was a random, last minute thought.  The grout did get done today in the existing tile along with the light fixtures, some plumbing, and the wall oven was installed.  Progress, progress!

Our kitchen pendants, our vintage lightbulbs haven't arrived, yet.

Bar with top cabinet installed

Pretty sure Abel is eating paper in this picture, it's his favorite.

The backsplash

House Remodel: Backsplash

I have a feeling things will be changing at a rapid pace this week, so I wanted to document how the space transforms on a daily basis.  The backsplash was positioned today and it's incredible how different it looks with just that one little element in place.  The glass, subway tile was so easy and exciting to pick out and now I remember why...it is just amazingly simplistic and beautiful.

Tomorrow the electricians will be on Pioneer Trail and the light fixtures and appliances will be  installed.  I will be itching to make my way home to see how altered our addition looks in just one day!