Friday, December 11, 2009

Future Design Star! (In my dreams)

So I am going to brag for a little bit and maybe this will explain my absence of blogging. We are trying to get our house ready to sell and on the market. Jake and I are incapable of moving into a house and doing nothing to it. We immediately start looking at where we can knock down walls. Some things we had already done, and some we started just to make the house look good for selling. We were worried that we would lose money on the house since we have only been here a year and a half and the market is bad. So we thought that if we put in some sweat equity it would help. Only time will tell. Your house is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. So here's a few of my projects that we've been working on. A lot of it was started and worked on while Jake was here and I have been doing all the finishing touches. Above is my family picture wall. It was a big blank wall that we couldn't put any furniture against because it is also a narrow walkway. So That was my idea and I like it. Below is also my own pet project. It was a tree ring that had a stump and weeds in it. So I (with Jake's help) dug it all out and filled the bottom with gravel then I (on my own I might add) put two additional rings of bricks with matching bricks that were stacked under the deck. Now we have a fireplace. I have added seating and such as well.

This is the view to the side of the front door. It is our sitting room/office and you can see into the dining room. What you don't see is a huge giant custom bookcase that we got when we thought we were going to live here forever. It surrounds our piano. And the desk is in the other corner with cabinets above. I like it. I prefer an office out in the open and not in a closed room. That's just me. We painted this pretty much right after we moved in.

This is our biggest project ever and it is done as of TODAY!!! It was pretty bad before. It had retro-brown cultured marble tub surround and sink. With matching floors and cabinets to boot. When we started we had no idea how big of a project it would be. Due to a major mold problem that was not disclosed we ended up ripping out most of the drywall and some of the insulation, not to mention the floors, marble, and cabinets. We gutted the place. That tiling was done by Jake and I (I was the official tile cutter) and all of the plumbing, cabinets, counter tops, and even the toilet is new. After a week without being able to shower in my house I took a shower in it today!! YAY! It works! Don't worry we have been bathing at friend's houses. My other shower is not quite functioning yet though.
So that is our handywork. And my only finished things at this moment. I have one week left. Let's see if I can do it!!! Keep your fingers crossed.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Two Books

I had previously joined the two book groups because I had gone to both and couldn't decide between them. This month one group read 'The Count of Monte Cristo' which I decided to read first because I had picked 'Three Cups of Tea' for the other group and was to lead the discussion so I wanted it to be fresh in my mind. this turned out to be a mistake because 'The Count of Monte Cristo' turned out to be a VERY long book. It is my fault for getting the unabridged version, not realizing just how long it was since I got it on audio on my ipod. I had to have a rush of listening and listen to 'Three Cups of Tea' in 2 days, barely finishing it 30 minutes before the club was to meet. I thought I'd give a little review of the books for those who are interested.

1. The Count of Monte Cristo- Very good, but VERY long. Longer than I thought it would be. And even though it was long I still kind of felt like it ended abruptly. There was just so much story ingeniously woven together that it took a long time to get through. Definitely Dumas' greatest work IMO. It gets a bit sinister, but it is an awesome story. I think everyone knows or has heard the story, but you would never know how complex this twisting, turning plot is unless you read the book. No movie could ever do it justice. Though it is long, you won't feel like it drags on, it continues to be a nail-biting page turner to the very end. If you like action, you'll like this one.

2. Three Cups of Tea- Awe inspiring. This is a life-changing true story of the difference one man is making in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I think every American should read this book and see a different view of how to fight 'The war on Terror.' What struck me most was the love this man has for those people. Such hatred is being cultivated in America towards muslims and it is really sad to put them all under the same umbrella. This book makes you want to get up and do something and make a difference. It made me feel so insignificant and feel like I needed some loftier goals to work towards. I really recommend this book, especially in the political climate we have in our country.

One More from Lyla

This was the other day while we were at the store:

Lyla- Mom can sometimes kids wear a swimsuit with booby holders?
me- What?!
Lyla- You know the swimsuits that just have booby holders and panties.
me- not my kids.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Funny Sayings

I have some very talkative girls. Jaxon talks a lot, but he still mostly just jibber-jabbers. My girls are non-stop talkers so I thought I'd share some of the funny things they have been saying lately.

Lyla- Mom, were you ever a baby?
me- yes, we all were
Lyla- was it 100 years ago?
me- no I'm not that old
Lyla- 65 years ago?
me- Lyla I'm not that old
Lyla- But you look really old to me
me - Thanks Lyla

Lyla to Mckayla- Do you want some of my french fries?
Mckayla- No, I don't like french fries.
Lyla- Yes you do, you always like french fries.
Mckayla- No I don't like them anymore
Lyla-Why?
Mckayla- They're too Frenchy.

I had a bunch of things I wanted to write, but now that I sit down to write something I am drawing a blank. Look for a second installment another time.

Friday, November 6, 2009

PS.

PS. It is not that late here. It is barely 11:00, the blogger thing always says that it is super late when I post, but it's not. I am not much of a night owl anymore and I am off to bed right now. It must be on EST or something and I don't know how to change it. Any suggestions?

Lost Lost Lost

So I have spent all day continually searching for the Jetta key. I took the seats out of the van to transport stuff to Kyle and Hana's garage and had used the jetta for errands. Anyways I was going to go grocery shopping yesterday but I couldn't find the Jetta key. And though I had the van key and the van was empty, Kailey's seat was locked inside the jetta. I have cleaned house continually and worked and cleaned all the while looking for the key. I was able to get the girls a ride to school this morning with the Williamsons, but I really don't like to ask favors. Anyways, I had looked everywhere I could possibly think it would be. I was really frustrated and I knew I could not sleep tonight without finding it because it was driving me insane as to where is could be. I said a prayer asking for help (which I should have done right from the start) and began to look again. Not 10 minutes later I found it. It was a very clear answer to my prayer. We have a blue jar on our counter that is supposed to be a cookie jar, but as cookies don't last long enough at our house to be put into a jar, it is where we always throw our loose change. I don't even remember thinking that I should look in the change jar but I just lifted the lid without thinking and saw 2 lemons in there. This of course led me to reach in and pull out an array of things: lemons, candy, a straw, a small toy car, and the KEY!! Yay! I wonder how the key got in there? I just am totally confounded. It must have sprung legs. I guess we'll never never know.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The frustrating thing about politics

I voted yesterday in our local battle. There was only one thing on the ballot. A yes or no to a budget override for the school district. Because of budget problems at the state level our school district has lost over 1.5 million dollars in funding and has done drastic things like firing all art, music, and pe teachers, making schools share librarians, counselors and nurses, and shorter school days. Now the vote is to cut funding to the schools even more. It makes me so mad. There was a smear campaign saying that this would cost tons of money to everyone and the school district is just irresponsible, etc. But the truth is that this would just ensure that the appropriate tax dollars make it to the schools and it makes education the priority (as it should be).
Anyways. We lost. The schools will suffer even more.
I think there are 2 parties responsible for this. 1 - the retirees. You may think I am stereotyping and am being unfair, but they will vote down funding for the schools every time. The proof was when I went and stood in a very short line to vote I didn't not see a single person there without a significant amount of gray hairs on their head. From the time I got out of my car, till the time we drove off. I was the only person who was not a senior citizen. I had a few pro-override signs in my yard that kept getting pulled up and thrown down. And who is walking their dogs down the sidewalk day and night? Senior citizens. I don't know why they think it will benefit them to have crappy schools.
But who is really responsible? And what is so frustrating about politics? THE PARENTS!!!! Why weren't they at the polls!!! I have heard so many complaints from parents, and the principle sent out a newletter explaining the changes and how they were out of her control because of the complaints she had had. But yet, these parents didn't go out and vote! There were less than 8000 votes total and it was 57% to 41%. I know that doesn't add up and I am not sure how there can be a gray area in a "mark yes or no" vote. I was standing outside with our PTSO president who was trying to catch parents during the parent teachers conferences last week to hand out fliers with override information. He said that at least 70% of the parents had no idea what was going on and didn't want to stop and talk about it. This is for your kids! You need to talk about it! There was one guy who went by and TJ caught him to give a flier and he briefly explained what the whole thing was about. The guy had no idea. He wanted the school to get the programs back and to have regular school days again, but he had no idea. How can you not know!!!!?! There are signs posted on every corner of the city. You can't drive to the grocery store without seeing at least 20 yes or no signs. And the bigger clue... Your kids! You'd think that they would want to know what was going on when so many changes are made at your own kids school. You'd also think that more would get out and vote on an issue that has such a clear, distinct impact on their lives. But no.
After all the signs posted, fliers handed out, phone calls made, speeches given, we still lost. That is frustrating. It just seems like no matter how hard you work people still don't care and there is nothing you can do about it. They want the changes but still won't take the time to go to the polls. It makes me so mad. It just makes it all seem pointless. I hope the community we are moving to has better support for schools and more involvement in government. We'll see.
There is my opinionated rant for the next little while. I should do this more often.