Lost and Found

We had an open house at our current residence last week and, in my mad dash to straighten up, I managed to hide my camera cords from myself. I continued to document life as it busily swirled around us and searched for my missing cords at any spare moment. Just as I had about given up all hope, I checked my night stand. THERE IT WAS!!! Praise the Lord! (Really, who puts cords in there?) Who knows what other treasures that I've hidden from myself I'll find when we finally do start moving!!!

In other news, G had a birthday party last Friday night. Lots of little girls came over to watch a movie under the stars.

 

We sent 'movie ticket' invitations, popped popcorn and even had Hollywood plates, napkins, and tablecloth. We hooked the DVD player up to a projector and hung a movie screen in the back yard (a sheet hanging from the gutters) and had blankets and pillows on the deck so they could lounge comfortably during the flick.

We did not, however, calculate the short attention span of 11-year-olds! They road the golf cart until everyone had arrived, then ate pizza, watched part of one movie, had cake, decided to watch a different movie, made it 30 minutes into that movie before deciding to ride the golf cart till the battery died, played musical chairs for about 30 minutes before ditching the chairs and just having a dance party on the deck until the parents arrived. After all the girls went home, we moved the 'theater' inside to Diva's room where our two finished the movies on the wall. (..and we all slept soundly that night!)

After sleeping WAY late on Saturday (till 10:00 if you just have to know!!!), we went to check out the house. What do you think about the stone?

Masons have also finished the stone bases that the columns will sit on.

 I love! Love! Love! how this turned out!

Speaking of Rocks. Well, we really weren't, but we can now... We're in the market for some really large rocks.

I'm talking ginormous boulders.

 These will go around the back yard and create a waterfall/'diving board.'

I feel certain it will look great!

 My description might not sound so fabulous, but I've seen pictures... 

Maybe even something kinda like this... (Just the rocks, though, not that style of pool) 

Monday night a friend of mine was in town for a meeting, and instead of driving home so late at night, she came over to stay with us....AND brought a surprise! A pair of these little guys:

What a fun treasure!

The other one is blue...and their heads bobble! (Thanks, friend! Such an unexpected delight!)

On that note, I'm out. I'll be back soon with paint samples and two words you never want to hear a construction guy say.

WHAT? No Pumpkins!?!

I confess. It is mid-October and we don't have a pumpkin. We have some tiny ones (I think they're really gourds) inside, but no carved pumpkins to welcome you as you walk up to our front door.

I think I'll file that under "weekend projects."

Until then, I'll leave you with this photo taken from October 2007...before Gertie and I were officially part of the family :)

(...and before Lasik!)

Locks of Love

 Several years ago I heard about an organization called Locks of Love. To quote their website, "Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis."

While I don't have tons of extra time to devote in service to others, I thought Hey! I do have hair. I can do this! My senior year of college I cut 15 inches of hair to donate, and a little over a year ago, I decided it was time to start growing again.

My intention has been to cut my hair as soon as my dear friend and hair stylist returns from her maternity leave in mid-October. Yesterday, Husband said that our hair stylist friend was going to sneak in the salon for a bit and could give us a quick trim. So off we went. When it was my turn, we decided to go ahead and measure to see how much longer I needed to wait before I met the 10 inch minimum length to donate.

She put my hair into two ponytails and measured up exactly 10 inches.

AND THEN MADE THE CUT!!!!!

Surprise!!!

I even surprised myself! I think not having 'the cut' planned helped me not to be so anxious about the fact that I was losing about 5lbs of hair! (and 20 minutes of time spent getting ready in the mornings!!! woo-hoo!)
While we snipped away, Husband and G had quite the photo shoot:

It started out a little bit above my shoulders and I just let her decide the final outcome.

(This is totally out of character for me, but I completely trust her, so that made it much easier! However, I am taking some pretty deep breaths in this picture!!!)

We had such a great time!

Diva held the new baby while Mamacita finished up my new do.

Ta da......

...and the back....

This morning, I actually fixed it by myself: 

But Sweet Hair Stylist Friend called me early this morning to check on me, just in case :)

Check out their website for more information on how you can get involved!

http://www.locksoflove.org/

Dust to Dust

Saturday was absolutely the most beautiful day ever! It was actually chilly (to me)! Husband and I didn't mind getting up early to head to the house for our weekend clean up routine.

The dry wall is all hung and ready for the Mudders to start on Monday.

We've decided to leave this area under the stairs open so that we can reach the back of the entertainment center. Who wants to struggle with cords when you can leave a hidden panel open in the back of the cabinet, right?! (wish I could take credit for this genius idea...but it really came from the sound guy)

The house looks so bright and airy. I can finally begin to imagine where our things will eventually go.

(I'm also hoping to talk Husband into a dining room table...since we'll actually have a dining room in this house.)

The ceiling in the living room turned out pretty cool. I think because our house now has vaulted ceilings, that's what I imagined this house to have...even though I know the plans don't show it that way. HA! I was actually surprised when I realized they were flat, but I really like it. This room feels so open.

I can't wait for the mantel to go up!

Here is the hallway to the kitchen...

Here is the angle from the front door:

AND (drum roll please) all the piles are gone and you can now see the dining room!!!!

*Please note the layer of dust that covers the floor. 

The stairs are closed in:

Check out the stone!

The brickers finished this area around the garage and have started working around the front door. The transoms should be replaced next week so that they can finish bricking the front porch.

We are pretty pumped to have all the different rooms clearly defined by actual walls. If you come to visit now, you're sure to take a layer of dust with you! Dry wall is quite possibly the messiest stage of this process yet.

The Homecoming Float

High School Homecoming this year had a Broadway theme and Diva's class used Hair Spray as the inspiration for their float.

They worked for weeks coming up with ideas to decorate a 'class truck.'

 They borrowed an old TV, a salon's hair drying chair, and then created a large hairspray can with dry ice for spray. A banner on the side of the truck declared that their team is 'Ultra Clutch' and would Spray the other team Stiff. The other 'characters' paraded along behind the truck.

Husband and I were excited to sneak out of work early that day to attend the big event.

 **Husband thought he'd die having to cheer at a parade for his high school's arch rival! (The things you do for your children!!)

Lazy Sunday afternoons

I absolutely love a lazy Sunday afternoon! Husband had a meeting after church on Sunday, so I seized the opportunity to enjoy the Sabbath. This would be my time to unwind, relax, recharge, and gear up for the upcoming week. We've been so busy lately, this was my time to get back to neutral. 

I settled nicely in the hammock with a book that Diva said that I should read,

Charlie St. Cloud.

Then I heard something. Like one of those loud  motor cycles or trucks with huge tires and loud pipes. At first, I didn't see anything at all, so I tried to continue with my book. However, the sound kept getting louder and louder.

Seriously? This was my time in the hammock.

Then I saw it. Above my house in the far distance and gradually coming closer!

A blimp!

Really? Over my house?

And just like that he floated away.

Random. Huh?

Time to Celebrate

Birthday Week has been a blast. We celebrated on Tuesday night at Mimi and Grandpa's house with a big birthday dinner with Husband's side of the family. Thursday morning we grabbed breakfast and headed to the Coffee Shop where we met up with my sister in law Nanie (pronounced with a long 'a') and my cousin (who happens to take the girls to school in the mornings...we'll just call her Nanny :)

Thursday night we had sushi for birthday dinner and then dropped Diva off at her school's bonfire pep rally. (This is their Homecoming Week, and Diva has enjoyed being uniform-free for 5 days!) G had requested that we sock-roll her hair so that it would be nice and curly for her birthday.
**Let me take a moment to say that I would love nothing more than to post the 'before' shots of the sock-rolling. However I have made a solemn pinky-promise not to. and have been threatened within an inch of my life if I do. Amen.**

We woke up bright and early this morning to put the finishing touches on hair---I think it turned out nicely.

Beautiful.

Just a few birthday pics before opening presents...

Hot Pocket with candles--the breakfast of champions!

Before you turn us in for child abuse, I promise she requested that for breakfast this morning. We have witnesses. Ask Nanny...she'll tell you the unusual breakfast requests from this bunch.

Finally time for presents! A new jacket, that is super soft.

A watch with some bling.

And a gift card and silly bands from Sister. Over all I think we have a happy 11 year old.