Taking 2012 out in style...snort!

You know, Jeremy & I are a really exciting couple that likes to live on the edge.  Want to know what fabulous plans we have for this New Year's Eve?  After tucking the kids in bed this evening, we tore the laundry room apart so we could start a mini-renovation project.  For the last hour and a half, we've been working on taking the cabinets down and moving them up farther on the wall in order to make room for a shelf below the cabinets.  The cabinets were SUPPOSED to be moved all the way to the ceiling.  However, we discovered that the walls or the cabinet are not quite straight enough to do that.  So, we are calling it "good enough" with moving them up a good 10 inches.  (For the record, the cabinet has been moved and Jeremy is currently working on replacing and tightening all of the screws.)

I just do not want to start another house project right now.  At the same time, I want to get the laundry room done because of two reasons:  1.  it is the only room left on the main floor that hasn't been painted and 2.  because I really really REALLY want to get some kind of a counter installed in there.

For whatever reason, the cabinets in the laundry room (and basement bathroom, for that matter) are of a different (and very ugly) finish from the rest of the cabinets in the house.  So, as part of this project, I will be painting the cabinets (hence the reason I wasn't too scared to move them -- I can caulk and paint over any damage we might inflict).

The worst part about this project is that we can't just tear it apart and leave it that way until it is finished.  I have laundry to do...lots of it.  So, the washing machine will need hooked back up tonight.  And then it will need pulled out again to put the shelf in, and when we put the counter in and when we paint...it is just a vicious cycle.

I'm betting this project will take a good 8 weeks to finish, as I can't see having enough time to finish it all at once (either because I just don't have time to work on the project or because I have to clean up the project to do laundry).

Here is to hoping that 2013 has a more exciting end than 2012.  Happy New Year's everyone...may 2013 be a blessed year for you and the ones you love!

A little pearl from Ross...

We had the B. side of the family in to celebrate Christmas this week.  This morning Ross asked Grandpa for a glass of milk.  Grandpa asked Ross if was supposed to drink out of the little glass cups.  Ross responded, "Yes, except when they are all dirty and then we use the big ones or on holidays when we get to use the Chinese ones."  I think he got the "good china" mixed up with "made in China".

Eh...it has been a while!

I was reminded this weekend that there are actually a handful of people out there who read my blog and are wondering why I haven't been posting.  Sigh...I mean to do it.  I just haven't had time.  Since school has started, I've been helping Jeremy in his office and volunteering at the school, which leaves little time for much else.

Truthfully, I wish I could find the time to keep this updated for me as much as for anyone else.  This is a good safe place for me to record all those things the kids do that you think you won't forget but never seem to remember (you know, when I look at Jeremy at the end of the day and say, "Shoot, what was it that Ross said that was so funny?).

So, for today, I'll leave you with our most recent family photos (taken in November, of course).  This particular photo shoot was a bit trying.  The wind was blowing like crazy and I discovered that, while I had packed my tripod, I had left the widget (for lack of a better word) that actually attaches the camera to the tripod at home in the drawer (and we were in Ohio).  The solution was to set Jeremy's iPhone on top of the tripod and then set the camera on top of the iPhone and then pray like mad that the wind wouldn't blow the entire set-up over.  It worked out pretty well as the cover on Jeremy's iPhone was a kind of grippy and kept the camera from slipping off.  We ended up breaking the tripod however, so no more family photo shoots until I splurge for a new one.  And typing this has just now reminded me of that fact, so I guess we will be missing our obligatory family-in-front-of-the-mantel picture that we take every year on Christmas Eve.  

If you are wondering, the background for the picture is the old barn at my parents house (though come to think of it, why would you be wondering about it?).  I quite like the effect and might have to use it again...

(And just because he makes the best faces, one of Ross!)

Are you happy now, Uncle Thomas?  ;-)