Remodeling or Redecorating?

The pictures you see are the before and after of the chairs I have. I started with 4 of the chairs on the left, and now have two chairs on the left (upstairs) and two chair on the right (downstairs). The basement is slowly (very slowly) coming along. I have the paint, just not the time to paint it, or should I say the time to move the furniture and paint it all at once.
I believe house projects require three things: time, energy, and money. Very rearly do these all happen at once, or when you think you have enough; you don't.
What house project are you working on/would like to work on?

What's in your Laundry?

I was doing laundry yesterday and while removing my son's clothing from the washing machine I found lots of surprises including; a pinecone, stick, giant rock, and money. Not to mention what I pulled out of his pockets before the wash. The bad news is that I was folding his clothes this morning and found a giant rock still in his pocket, this rock must have been 3 pounds and 5 inches long. I wonder if he walked lop-sided?
As the laundrier of this family I find lots of odds and ends in the washing machine/dryer. I have found white gloves (from Brian's work), mustard packets, ketchup packets, gum, gum wrappers, money (it's never much), rocks, and salt packets.
What have you found?
Join in and leave a comment; that way I don't feel alone in the laundry world.

Birthday

Tomorrow is my birthday. My husband asked a couple of nights ago what I wanted for my birthday, I paused and never gave an answer. I wasn't sure, but I wanted to think and make sure what I said was what I really wanted. Plus the fact that we have Vacation Bible School every night this week so going out on date is what we did last Friday.
I decided I want to go to IKEA (Yes, Nicole it's all your fault). I have the catalog with tons of stuff marked and have always wanted to go, but never had the money. So here is my plan (I am such a planner, it drives me nuts). Next month, when life has slowed down, I plan to have a garage sale and the money I make from the garage sale will make a trip to IKEA and be deposited into their cash register. My husbands famous words "What do you need?" My response, "Nothing, but I am coming home with lots." Of course I will take friends and we will make it a womens day out including some coffee and laughs. I can't wait, planning it now will help me get through until it happens.
Do you buy just what you need, or what you want?
Have you been to IKEA?
(Oh yeah, Nicole I am dying to see your project.)

Men and Their Toys

Do you have a man? Does he have his toys?
My husband just added another to the collection; a motorcycle. His reasoning, "It's going to save us money in gas." Only time will tell if that is true.
Why are womens toys less expensive than mens (okay maybe sometimes, not all the time) and how do you make it even? Please tell me I am not alone about this situation.

The Return of the Hamster

When is enough enough? If you haven't read; Tuesday June 24th, my son and the hamsters, start with that posting first, then continue with this.....
Wednesday I had 6 kids running around the house, and they found the hamsters. I told them not to play with them, but they are kids. One of them, I can't pin point which one, was playing with the hamster and when they were done didn't put it in the cage, instead they let it loose in the basement. I didn't notice until Friday morning, I was mad. I was on a wild hamster hunt, was it dead or alive? After looking for a couple hours I set out food and went on with my day. I check the "stash" that night, some food was gone but no luck seeing the hamster. (Some relief knowing the hamster was alive.)
Last night, Saturday, around 11 I was hunting with a flashlight in the dark basement for the hamster, and there she was sitting in the corner under a folding chair staring at me. She didn't flinch or jump or move when I picked her up. The other hamster was delighted to see her and she jump right into her hamster wheel and ran. I thought she was happy to be home. Today I was getting ready to clean the cage and I noticed there was only one hamster, gosh dang it! I don't know how she got out, and Ben wasn't downstairs since I found her. Does she not like her cage? How is she getting out? Is this weird? Please leave any comments to help.
Thanks in advance.

A Flower Among the Weeds

Have you ever had a day that nothing was going your way? Have you ever felt nothing was right, well I was having a "ruff" day today. While washing my hands at the kitchen sink I looked outback and among our weeds there was this beautiful orange flower. Our yard has lots of weeds (our house has lots of projects) and we plan on fixing it, but we are so overwhelmed with life. Someday we will landscape the hills by the walkout, but for today I will enjoy my orange flower.

My challange for you today is to find the orange flower growing in your weeds, and if you're brave leave it in the comments. It's nice to hear something good.

My Goal

I have mentally remodeled the family room (in the basement). Now I am looking for my ideas;, black tv stand, black leather couch and loveseat. We have two black leather recliners, a couple sitting chairs and some small tables. I want to paint the room a baby blue color, with black furniture and accent with zebra prints. I was thinking of making a bistro-like setting in one spot. I have the chairs and a table that will work, but I want to paint and reupholster them. I have the idea in my head, but found the picture below on the internet. Looks like someone else had my thoughts too. What do you think? The chairs I have I want to paint black, and reupholster the seat/butt part in zebra print material. I am excited, now I just have to kick my buns in gear and do it.

Crazy Weekend

Saturday was spend helping getting grampas "items" packed and moved from Adrian to Jackson, then to the right houses. The kids went with us, and they were really good. Anna loved the rain puddles; she thinks they're miniture pools. Ben was off in his own little world riding his two wheeler; he is doing great.
Sunday was busy with church and a pool party after church. The kids loved the pool, Ben was second to last out of the pool. We had a giant sub from Walmart; very good, I recommend it. It was a nice day, not to hot, just a little breeze and sunny. Both kids fell asleep on the way home, it was a nice when we got home. I was on a whim; I cleaned the kitchen, really good. Here we are one day later and it just doesn't stay that way.

The Return of the Car

It's been a crazy weekend, but to finish off the car story from Friday.
The Grand Prix was returned just over 2 hours after it left our driveway. I wondered if someone didn't have any gas, and just wanted to "test drive" my car so they could run there errons. They made a low ball offer, I just about crapped my pants, I told them my lowest price and they tried to low ball it again. I told them my lowest price, told them I would have the other lady come and test drive it that night, and call the other gentleman back that test drove it that morning and if it was still there I might consider their offer, and I turned and walked into the house. Within a few minutes they were knocking at the door with cash in there hand. After I signed the title and watched the car drive away, I wondered could I have gotten more, should I have talked figures with the gentleman from the morning, and should I have waited until the lady from Adrian test drove it? Too late now, it's done and it's sold.
(I still have no idea where they took it for 2 hours.)

Test Driving?

Let's do an interactive posting about Test Driving:

If you test drive a vehicle, how long (time wise) do you test drive it for?

I have a couple of people that have test drove the Grand Prix today, and wow they must be going to Lansing and back. It's out right now, and it's been almost an hour. Hopefully it comes back. That would be my luck; it wouldn't.

Picking up the Pieces

Yesterday was the funeral for grampa, I cried and cried, and cried even more. We went to the burial sight where I could cover my eyes with my giant sunglasses, but that didn't stop the tears. And the hugging of close family members doesn't help the tears stop. It was said to be at his house without him, and knowing this is the last time we will be there, they plan on selling it.
I know life will go on, but a piece of my love with stay with him always.

We arrived home last night, after the funeral and family gathering, to reclaim our children. They were as wild as could be, that's normal when we arrive home. Ben some how got in trouble with dad, and Ben said dad broke his foot. For the next hour Ben proceeded to hop on one foot all through the house. Ben asked if dad could be "in trouble" for hurting him, "he needs to have something taken away." I told Ben I would talk to dad later. Ben managed to hop into the livingroom where he leaned on the end table, and crasssssh! The circular glass top of my beautiful end table crashed to the wood floor and shattered. ( I was ready to cry, again). Seconds passed, as I realized I couldn't get to mad because about 2 months ago I dropped the oval top to the glass coffee table and crash; although I cut myself also. Ben was not hurt, just stunned. I yelled for Brian to help as Ben and Anna were in the livingroom and I didn't want them to walk in it. Ben's poor face was covered in fear when dad came walking in, here comes for conquences. We were home for maybe an hour and he was already in trouble again. At least these shattered pieces were easier to pick up.

Grandpa Owen

Our beloved grandfather passed away Sunday evening. He had liver cancer and we were knew the time was coming, but no matter how much you prepare yourself the tears fall and the heartache hurts. So in between wiping tears, chasing kids, and sorting my emotions I wrote this poem for grandpa.



GRANDPA
Your love was so dear
With everyone far and near
Your hugs were tight
So perfect and right.
Those big Owen hands
Show “You’re the Man”.
A Grandpa to many,
A friend to any.
Your were mechanically good,
You fixed everything you could.
You were here,
And we loved you dear.
We’ll miss you so,
But now it’s time to let you go.

Here and Gone

Monday is here and gone.
We are back from vacation. Just over a week camping over the fourth in a tent. The whole family comes and we have lots of adventures, fun, and laughs. It is so nice to get away. We decided to take Petie with us, and he had so much fun. He helped himself in and out of the tent as he pleased. The weather was nice, just a couple of rain showers. We watched the movie Walle, very good I highly recommend it. It has some nice adult parts and comments that go right over kids heads.
It's The Bachelorette final and I need to get back to watching it, I am sure I will have something to say about who she picks. It's so nice to sit in my living room in the comfort of my couch and judge people based on what the cameras show us. I know I am not a nice person.