The writing on the wall

We celebrated 11 years of wedded bliss yesterday.  We are so old and wore out that we yawned our way thru dinner, ditched out on the movie, and then fell asleep next to each other mid conversation.  I am not even sure Jace noticed I had chopped me some bangs yesterday morning.  He is so sweet.

I have had one of those weeks.  I have had this inner dull ache begging for some change.  I was talking dramatic all week.  Making threats that I would cut my hair off and/or buy expensive dining room chairs.  And I kept finding gray hairs. 

And to explain how I was feeling this week a little better, I share the following story:
The only shopping in my small town is done at thrift stores.  I am a frequent customer.  I don't have much luck but it feeds my need to buy something.  Even if it a .50 Harry Potter book.  Well, after all that loyal patronage, the thrift store manager reminded me this week that I should no longer be trying to buy clothes off the size 6 mannequin, "because the mannequin has really thin arms."  

I cried the whole way home.  

My children could not make heads nor tails of what just happened.

I still haven't told Jace this story.  The wound is still too raw.

I'm boycotting the thrift store.

Probably until this coming February.

My new dining room is large.  And empty.  I gave Jace a couple options, explaining that the dining room was going to put me under this week.  We had to do something.  Anything.  And fast.

He hated the velvet Ikea drapes and said no to the blue shutters. And that is where the black chalkboard stripe entered my life.  Have you ever painted with chalkboard paint?  It doesn't erase.  It is causing me some anxiety.  So I'm not sure what direction the stripe is going to go but it does change things up, now doesn't it?

4 people snubbed me at the swap meet this morning.   I must be unrecognizable.  It must be the new bangs.  And my fat arms all this new change in my life.

p.s.  Tell me my thirties are going to be a little more sexy.  And exciting!  We have kind of got off to a rocky start - me and my thirties. 

Holiday Tour

Holiday Fun 2011

How was my holidays,  you ask?

Eh.  I've had better.

And let's just leave it at that.

Kitchen - Before

Over the holiday break, the original owners and builders of my current residence came for a tour.  Whoa!  I was so excited.  Finally, someone who could appreciate all the work we have done.  I pictured us reminiscing about funny stories that happened at my house, hugging, then promising to have FHE together once a month.  I just knew they would be thrilled to see my sweet, little family here living and working together under the same roof they raised 9 children under.

Kitchen - before

Kitchen - After (not completely done)

Their cabinets had been ripped out, rearranged, and painted.  The linoleum floor had been scrapped up and the concrete stained.  Which can be a confusing concept for some.  I think they were wondering when the flooring was going to be installed.

Kitchen - after

Master bathroom - before

Lights that used to hang in their master bathroom, have been spray painted and given a new life in the office.

office - after with the old vanity lights

The master bathroom was almost unrecognizable to them after the renovation.

Master bath - after (and not complete yet) 

No more carpet in the bathroom.  New vanities, tub, and walk-in shower.

Macy's bedroom vanity - before

And that fancy bedroom vanity upstairs?  Gone.  They were disappointed.  I kind of was too.  It was a battle I lost to Jace....he won a walk-in shower....which I kind of love too.

Macy's vanity - after

Painted furniture and mirror was a poor substitute.

loft - after (furniture less)

They wondered how and why the beams were white.  I think this was the biggest blow.  White beams.

They never got past the beams to tell me how they loved the new light fixture in the loft.

My dining room - a work in progress.  It's really killing me, this room.

Their last comment was, "Well, maybe when you get your artwork on the walls."  Their comments made me chuckle and made me realize just how much more work we have to do.  Seeing my house through eyes that once knew this house in all its glory humbled me a bit.  We probably bit off more than we can chew with this one but this wouldn't be the 1st time the Baums swam in that pool.

I told Jace about the tour later that night in bed.  He asked if I thought they would have been more impressed, had they known our remodeling budget would have fit in Ezra's piggy bank?

I said, "Naw, I don't think so."

Jim....Dixie.....we love you and your old, beloved house.  You are invited back for another tour. 

In 10 years.

;)

 p.s.  Know that it is killing me to post after pictures that aren't quite done or perfect.  One day.

I'm not mailing you a Christmas card.

Can't do it this year.  If you live nearby you might get a package of cookie dough with a poem included about how the Baums hope the neighbors and Santa don't mind milk and cookies - the unbaked kind.  Don't be jealous that you have a kitchen stove and you don't get to write catchy holiday poems about the cold, blank hole in your kitchen wall.

Some of our highlights this December (and reasons you aren't getting a card in your mailbox this year) are as follows:

My Ezra - bottom left.

We have been attending preschool Christmas programs.

We have been rearranging furniture to make room for our new dining room table and not mopping the floor but lets focus on the table here.  My Dad made it for me for Christmas.  Jace found the carved post legs buried out by our barn when we bought the casa last summer.  Pretty sweet, eh?  It was exactly what I had envisioned.  Love it when that happens.

Mikael has her daily lunch date with the kittens, dogs, and peacocks at the back door.  And that white stuff on the ground is not going away.  Looks like a white Christmas here in Snowflake, AZ.

A cold, snowy December and 3 wood burning stoves has given our kids lots to do.  They make about 15 trips a day, down the hill, with the little red wagon full of firewood.  I love it.

Count those fingers.  This lovely young lady turned 10 yesterday.

What a stinkin' doll.

She is my shadow, my babysitter, my fashion consultant, and my reminder of how I want to live my life. Jace and I hit the lottery 10 years ago with one Macy Baum.

And because I'm in a holiday spirit tonight, I'll show you what else we have been doing but not before I remind you what it used to look like:

And my new office:

There is more to do and more to see in this new room but so far it is my favorite (warm) hangout.

The wood paneled entry before:

And now:

Ignore my attempt at being crafty.  Those glitter words spell "Cheers."  But the new wood floors, stair railing, paint and light fixture didn't turn out half bad, right?

Merry Christmas!

Peace out girl scout

I had a goal this morning when I woke, that I would be done decorating for Christmas today.  I was so tired of looking at all my Christmas boxes stacked in my entry way.  The season is half way over - I'm well aware.  I've had other boxes that had to be dealt with first - like toilet paper and baby clothes from 2001.

This girl scout is happy to report that my entry way is Christmas box free tonight and my lights are plugged in and shining.  I love Christmas.  A part of me is real tempted to  photoshop these pictures.  I could refinish the front door, fix the broken doorbell and broken lights.  Paint.  Ah, if only it was as easy as clicking a button.  With all this remodeling talk, have I told you we haven't even started on the exterior yet?!

Santa,

Will you bring me new windows?  Lots of them.  A new roof?  A stucco crew?

And one of those fancy Shark steam vacuums?

And maybe stuff a new pair of new boots in my stocking?

Along with a legal sleeping pill for my 14 month old?

Am I asking for too much?

I promise to cut down on the swear words this coming year.

Yours truly,

Lindsay

Slump Flump

Jace told me today, "We are in a slump.  Just a little slump."  We have had a bit of bad luck lately.  Someone has it out for me.  I just can't get a break.  I say it every time but this move has definitely taken the cake.  Remember Thanksgiving at our new house?  The Thanksgiving without a kitchen stove?  Well, in this season of being thankful I have to record the blessings and highlights of the day.  Jace hung swings in our trees.

It was adorable.

And the weather was completely cooperative.

It was mandatory everyone take a ride on the big swing.

I'm pretty sure that is Jace in the back ground checking to see if the swing had exceeded it's weight limit.

The kids and I had the stomach flu the day before and even I knew that all of us having it on the same day and not on Thanksgiving day was a blessing.  And Jace is a blessing for making everyday fun and making me laugh when I want to cry.

We don't pay for T.V.  Haven't for years.  It is a blessing.  Except when no one around you gives you the weather forecast.  We were a little thrown off this week when all this snow showed up.  We were out of electricity for 17 hours.  I cooked lunch on our wood stove, while Jace bounced around town in his backhoe clearing the driveways of some of Snowflake's finest citizens.  I told you he is a blessing.  He's going to heaven and I will still be whining somewhere else about my poor life.

And the slump continues:

Found 2 roof leaks in the snow storm.

Dishwasher broke today.  

(My kids thought doing dishes in the sink was the funnest thing tonight, so maybe blessing?  For a day or two?)

Still no kitchen stove.  I'm officially calling this "camping in the new house."

Mikael and Jace took a turn with the stomach bug this week.

When the power goes on and off in the middle of the night, the ipod downstairs blasts music at full volume.  Can you say pee the bed?  Very freaky.

School was cancelled Friday.  The school called and texted our cell phones 12 times starting at 5 am.  Someone owes me another snow day....the kind where you are free to sleep in.

I'm contemplating posting some house progress pictures.  Maybe some before and afters.  Right after I unpack and right after I decorate.

Right after this slump ends.

Priorities

We are suppose to be busy finishing a house.  The house we are moving into next weekend.  But things keep getting in the way.  Some of the things cause me to stomp my feet and growl when I talk.  Like the new chicken coop for example:

Remember when the chicken coop use to just be the kid's tree house?  And it looked like this?

Sometimes I may not know when to pick my battles.  And this is not one of those times.  I know you will all agree with me that my bedroom should be completed before the chicken's.  All of you except Jace and the other crazed chicken sympathizers out there.  The saddest thing of all is that 4 year old Ezra thinks Dad built him 2 tree forts now!  Who is going to break the news to him that this newly constructed "fort" is for our feathered friends only?  Not me.

Distraction #2:

Jace gets a little Phil Weston on us every Saturday morning.  He loves to win.

He is the only coach in the league running up and down the field with his players.  Yelling.  It is pretty fun to watch.

And this little guy is so fun to watch.  He has had another great season.  Our Noah never fails to surprise and impress us.  Another reason I love this kid?  Check out his Obi-Wan Kenobi costume below.

All that he needed was a robe.  He wasn't worried.  He told me after the trick or treating that "everybody knew who he was."  Sweet, because his older sister had just a few wardrobe meltdowns.  "Everyone thinks I'm a pirate!"  And I don't even have to point out what the younger sister thought of her piggy costume.  She. Was. Not. Having. It.  And Ironman there in the middle was a repeat of last year.  Love that.

Remember those boring tile pictures I promised?

Enjoy.

Master bath.  I tried to talk Jace into doing the entire bathroom in the white marble.  As you can see he didn't think that was one of my best ideas.

But I don't mind the beige tile he picked.  It's kind of growing on me.

Kid's bath.  Was hoping for dark brown subway tile.  But white will do.  It will do.  

I see it in your eyes

I wish I could tell you this past week was been fantastic.  Or different.  Or productive.  Or something.  But besides a couple hail storms in the afternoons, we are singing the same ol' tune.  Work.  Work.  Work.

Sunday night we saw Jace's parents.  They live in Mexico and farm chili.  Random, I know.  We usually never see them this time of year because they are busy picking chili but on Sunday night we found them on our doorstep with some friends from Mexico.  These friends are peach farmers.  We loaded up all these farmers and took them out to our new Casa.  Jace's parents were impressed with our progress.  The peach farmers on the other hand, were stumped.

The 1st question they asked when they had walked thru was "Why?"

Jace and I glared at these foreigners suspiciously.  Why?  What kind of question was that?

As my Mother-in-law and I discussed paint colors, furniture arrangements, and the how-tos of concrete counter tops, I continued to notice a look of utter confusion on Mrs. Peach farmer's face.  She couldn't figure it.  She did not seem to understand what was going on.

I explained that this was all Jace's idea and I just have to follow him around the country remodeling dump houses because I have too many children that need a father.

And he is good looking.

Cue the crickets.
Awkward silence.

Apparently Peach farmers don't think I'm funny.

Monday night our neighbors came out to the new Casa for a cook out and to see what all this hubbub was about.  They have warned and pleaded with me for months not to take my children away from our friendly street.  I may have even shed a tear or two recently just thinking about moving away from these nice people, so when one of my neighbors stood up tall, looked me right in the eyes at the end of the tour and said, "Lindsay, you're so smart."  I choked on my trail burger.

She explained, "We will miss your kids so much but there is no question your kids will be happier out here.  This is going to be so great for you guys."

I most of the time think that all this moving and child rearing has sucked all intelligence right out my ear.  And I sometimes wonder if I have the wrong house for sale.  This past week especially.  But then all I have to see is that look in someone's eyes that they get it.  They get what all this crying, and moaning, and work is all about.  They have caught the vision of what the house could be.


Oh, and it is going to be great.