Got Floor!!

I am pleased to announce that we have a floor...and a gorgeous one at that! Lonny and James finished it up on Saturday just in time for Lonny to meet me at church to help with trunk or treat and a very excited 3 year old. There is still alot of finish work to be done, painting and yes, that is my range in the middle of the floor (mama needs to cook!) where the island will be. But there is light at the end of the tunnel (and the hallway)!





PS - I am almost equally pleased to announce that our fantasy football team won again this week under my "head" management! Good times at our house!

Forgot to mention...

that our Fantasy Football team won this week (a bit of a nail biter) with me as "head" manager (Lonny has been too busy/sick/busy to monitor it) and I am pretty proud if I do say so myself. I know most of you won't care, but to me, this is HUGE. Oh yeah. HUGE!!!

Progress....

the new floor is here! Granted, it's in 32 boxes stacked up in the living room, (that I am about to turn into an end table if it sits there for too long) but it actually (Con's new favorite word btw) physically IN DA HOUSE!!

Wish I had something to talk about other than this (well I do, if I wanted to spill the beans about the give away Ginnie J is doing but I don't want to do that because I WANT TO WIN - shameless plug) but alas, I do not. Right now, this is our life! And a resounding YES to all of you who said you want to come over and see it (when it's done) because you have put up with the non-stop chatter about it. You have earned the right my pretties....

Pardon Our Dust....

Still living in kitchen madness around here....with a twist. Now Connor and Lonny are both sick...Poor guys! Only illness I have right now is my very odd addiction to Fantasy Football (I have eluded being involved with it for the 30 years, yes, I said 30, that I have been a football fan, and somehow I got SUCKED IN this year, dang it all) and a bad case of "Can't-wait-til-the-kitchen-is-done-itis". Both James and I have avoided getting this fevery cough thing so far...please hold good thoughts for us that it stays that way....and that the kitchen is done soon and poor James can see his family again!

Kitchen Update

I know this doesn't make the most riveting of reading, but you really ought to see it to believe it. If you are familiar with our house, you will be shocked and amazed. I certainly was when I walked in last night! This is probably (no promises) the last update until the big reveal, so we will get back to our regularly scheduled programming soon, I promise!
View from the hallway - if you look closely, you will see a cute boy eating his dinner!

This is the view from the sink! If you look closely, you will see James' head! And you will notice another wall gone!

Lonny estimates with all the room we have now, we will be hosting Connor's wedding reception (to which I responded by just about bursting into tears until Lonny said "Oh yeah, that's right. He is going to live with us forever..." to which I responded with a great big smile). I don't know about Connor's wedding reception, but maybe a holiday party if we get all the post construction work done on time!

Columbus Day Farm Fun!

To celebrate Columbus Day (which has not a lot to do with farms, I suppose) but mainly to get out of the construction zone, Connor and I went to Wheeler Historic Farm! We had a great time going on a tractor-pulled wagon ride, looking at all the animals (and after an incident with a bird at Kyle's house, he solemnly would warn the other kids NOT to put their fingers inside the chicken cage), going in a corn and hay maze, climbing a tree house, pretend driving a tractor AND picking out pumpkins in the pumpkin patch!!!


Meanwhile, back at the ranch.....
I now officially have no oven, stove or microwave (and they just re-hooked up the sink and dishwasher after my not-so-subtle protest) and for good measure, my shower because, hey while you are remodeling the kitchen, why not go ahead and reseal the tile??? But I am keeping my third eye on the finished product. And man, that kitchen has NEVER seen this much light! Special thanks to James for coming out from Cali to help us. OH, and for teaching my adorable 3 year old how to say "You want some of this? Huh? You want some of THIS?" and "Say hello to my leetle friend" complete with mad mug! Oh yes, I am thrilled about this!

Let the Construction Commence!!!

We are very excited to be doing a project with our kitchen that I have wanted to do since we moved in! Lonny is especially excited because a) James is here to help and b) they will be tearing out TWO walls! I am not so excited that it is going to be madness around here for a while, but can't wait for the finished project. They started the real work this morning. This time I was smart enough to take some "before" pictures (I always forget until we are halfway through!!)
First up...this wall will come tumbalin' down:

James has already started....
This also involved going into the attic and dealing with some insulation...here is one of my favorite construction guys in his HazMat suit!
And here is the cutest construction dude of all:Please say a little prayer that our project goes as smoothly as possible and that everyone stays safe! There will be more updates, I'm sure!!!

In the Kitchen with Connor

We are getting ready to demolish our kitchen, so Connor and I decided that we had better get baking before everything is torn apart. So Connor has been busy making sugar cookies...his first batch!

(And yes, that is a chocolate milk stain on his shirt - casualty of baking!)

It's October....

One of my favorite months of the year:

-This is the month everyone gets tired of me making my fist of rock and yelling "It's ROCKTOBER!!!!" Sadly, I don't have any gigs this month or I could share this with even broader audience! Sigh. Quick! Somebody hire us for your Halloween party!

-This is the month everyone gets tired of me talking about the Ta-Tas (so basically, this is the month everyone gets kinda tired of ME) . That's right, folks, it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So wear your pink (thank you NFL!!) and remind your moms, your sisters, your grandmas, your aunts, your friends and yourself to do monthly self-examinations and (if you are over 40) make your visits to the squisher! (Se eloquently put, I know.) On the serious side, my mom's birthday was Sunday...I thought about her all day. Christmas Day will mark 20 years since she passed away from this dreadful disease. PLEASE do your part to make those women that you love more aware...and that means you, too!

-This is the month that we will all be just a little more safe (for one night, anyway) because there will be ONE more firefighter in the world. You will have to wait to learn more, but he is very excited to wear his new uniform. Oh and collect candy too.

HAPPY ROCKTOBER!!!!

More from Connor

Connor watched with great interest the other day as I walked back and forth across the house muttering things like "where are my shoes?" "I could SWEAR I just had my reading glasses in my hand...." and stop me if you know this one "what did I come in here for??" Finally....

C: "Mom, what are you ACTUALLY doing?"

The other day we were driving in the car and he is chattering non-stop. We come to some construction where they are diverting the lane to the other side of the road.

A: "Hold on Connor, I have to concentrate...they are doing something funky on the road".

C: "Well, they've gotta wipe off that funky!"

In my head I hear a little James Brown riff and a song is born...."You gotta wipe off the funky ....YOW! Wipe off the funkay!!!" I am working on it right now....don't be surprised if you hear me do it at a show one of these days. Complete with killer dance moves. Thanks to my little soul man!!