Where are we now

Monday: No Tile Guys appeared (as expected) but the counter tops were mostly completed, just have one little spot to do that is an "addition" to the original plan.......

Tuesday: Tile Guys appear around 10 am, said they would have most of the tile down in the den before the day was done.....here is a photo of the end of the day.....

Wednesday: Tile Guys appear around 10 and leave PROMPTLY at 3. Here are the results:

Thursday: Tile Guys appear around 9:30 am, get busy. Our "consultant" comes by around 11 so I can pick out grout. We are in the den with Tile Guys having conversation. I was asking their timing, one said "we'd love to work over the weekend, if you don't have plans" My response, "you can work ANYTIME YOU WANT WHENEVER YOU WANT!!!" Apparently they've had several jobs they are juggling, so I take back my thoughts of my hard-working Tile Guys leaving my house at 3:00 pm and going for beers, and arriving at 10am because of too many beers. Not the case.....Very hard workers - juggling several jobs and are willing to spend their weekend completing this job so they can move on to another huge job. Here is today's results:

Weddings........I need to do guest list for special shower for all 3 girls, one shower, three weddings. My HAT IS OFF to very special friends who are putting this together. I'm sure people will get an invite and think "WHAT?????" but - it seemed the best way to go. And it will be so much fun.

Our other "wedding shower" navigation issue was finding a place in the DFW area for a shower for DD#2, a couples shower put on by family and friends.....We finally found a really fun park area that met almost all our needs so we will be gathering at:

http://dfwparks.blogspot.com/2009/09/parr-park.html

It will be a cookout with "Chef Todd" preparing the burgers (as he did at the Graduation Party), I'm sure I'll have plenty of photos of Richard in the Fire truck playground......we tried to get the park that was overlooking the lake (at the same price) but it was already booked :(

I must say, DD#2 - Wedding #2 - has the MOST IMPRESSIVE spreadsheet set up of guest lists. I am soooo impressed!

Week 6 ended with Shower and Week 7 Construction looks promising!

Construction Week 6 ended with Progress and a "Couples Shower BBQ" for Daughter #3 - Wedding #1 - in the FSIL #3's hometown. A FABULOUS party put on by FSIL #3's family and friends. great food and great gifts! It was great to meet more of his family!

AND AS FOR KITCHEN REMODEL 2010 PROGRESS......Painters spent the week prepping and painting. They will return when everyone else finishes to "touch up" .......Now for the week 7 the plan is . . .. drumroll..........

Tile people will arrive Monday Morning and PREP the floor for the tile work. Tuesday they will return to begin laying the tile. I will not have the use of my laundry room and washer/dryer (darn!!!) for the week. The tile should be done in a few days. Sometime this week the counter top people should return to replace one corner of granite and add the island granite and the bar granite. (In other words, complete the granite.....) That will leave 3 things.....electrician, plumber, and backsplash. With the exception of the back splash, we could be almost done at the end of next week...but I'm figuring end of week 8. Backsplash is a custom deal and being "hand cut" and won't arrive until first of june, but I can live in a kitchen without a backsplash!

Week 6 begins, Brides melt........

After a WONDERFUL weekend of "using the kitchen" (which meant I got to use the counters and the SINK) I had to MOVE out again....back to remodel mode.

Monday. . . we figured out that the "butler's pantry" had been ignored through the process. It's an area that opens into the den, same wall/floor and ceiling. Floor guys took up the tile but painters didn't strip walls, texture or remove popcorn ceiling....So that had me up all night - stressing. Tile was to be delivered on Monday, so I needed to be prepared to get dogs in the house and let the tile get in the back yard. . . Then Daughter #3, wedding #1, and I realized she had an appointment at 1:00pm and she wanted me to go...and she's in May Mester so has to ask permission to leave because there is NO RESCHEDULING. So I get the dogs secured in the house in hopes tile will be delivered.

oh oh oh, that morning about 8:45 Sweet 15 year-old son called, he had to have a piece of paper he forgot. Took me 30 minutes to find the paper, then I go as fast as possible to his school (he goes to small school outside of town). At this point I'm hot, sweaty, yuky. Thinking if I can just run in school and see as few people as possible that would be great. So I run in, saw one very sweet person, ran out, hopped in car - put in gear and SSSSSSCCCCCCRRRRAAAAAPPPPEEE

(SCRAPE) Now in hindsight I'm thinking "why did I not stop at the beginning of the scrape?" But no, I just kept going. There were two women from the Region Center walking in the door and saw it all. I stop, get out and look. Took several stones off their center median, and "small" scrape on car" (how do we define "small") pushed the stones over and DROVE OFF. Did not tell the school anything. About halfway back to town I realized that I damaged school property and drove off!!! And those two women probably walked in school and told them what happened! sooooo when I get home I email (very embarrassed) the principal and tell him it was me. When I went to get son after school I had visions of the local policeman being there with handcuffs to arrest me for hit and run.......

That night we had FFA Banquet for son. He made officer and we are very proud!

Tuesday painters arrived. When the painters arrive they "zoom in" tape it all up and start the primer process....then on Wed they return and finish the painted woodwork. As soon as the woodwork dries they can mask off and paint the walls, however we have an "accent wall" so the main color has to dry before they can do the accent. And it's very humid, so it could be Friday before main walls are painted, and monday for accent. So one full week of painting.

then it's tile work and electrician. Backsplash will not be in until the end of the month, first of June, but everything else should be completed.

They act like they are suffering when they see me.....

This house was dusted less than a week ago, I PROMISE. The dust/paint/whatever is making me nuts.....so I'm outside as much as possible. :)

As for BRIDES......it's difficult at best to find dates for all the showers, and then throw in the issue of THREE BRIDES trying to share ONE SUMMER. There are no rules here. And how to "we" balance all the friends/showers/etc? It is so complicated. I have 3 very sweet daughters who are trying to all fit in showers/luncheons/weddings and at the same time give each sister their moment(s) in the spotlight and no-one overshadowing the other. I'm fairly sure I was on phone/instant messenger for the entire evening last night. And I love each moment. It will all work out. I will keep the scrape in my car - the rest will be fine.

oh, and I let 15 year old son drive today........

IT'S A PARTY!

HAPPY GRADUATION TO CASEY LORELLE ROGERS ACU CLASS OF 2010

HAPPY GRADUATION TO MATT MARCHBANKS HSU CLASS OF 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT MARCHBANKS!

Richard is preparing the patio, Mr. Todd is manning the grill! He did all the cooking/prep for this cookout, thanks Todd. Great job!

Casey, Bride #1 Daughter #3, grandparents meeting Fiance's grandparents...

our youngest guest, who will also be in wedding #1! Meet 2 year old Eli....who has adorable red hair under that hat. Something we are a little biased about....

my "under construction" kitchen managed a group of people without a problem! We did have the sink fully functional which was WONDERFUL. The dusty concrete floors didn't slow us down....

Standing in line for food....left to right, David Hamblin, Grandfather of daughter #3 wedding #1, the Lacy and Paul, Barry Marchbanks: father of Fiance' #3 wedding #1, friend (sorry can't remember name) and little brother to fiance' #3...

Week 5 kitchen remodel is coming along!

I was told we would not be able to get counter tops in this week, well, well, well, counter top guys arrived this morning. Roger, the cabinet man, is still working away on trim and crown molding, so they were not able to get ALL the granite in but they were able to get in everything but the bar and island. It has been a very steady progress. We've not had any week days where work was not going on. Some days were quieter than others, but work has progressed nicely. There will be a big cookout/celebration this Saturday honoring Casey and Matt's graduation, and Matt's birthday, but I will have running water in the kitchen and counters to put food on instead of outside with the flies!

Huge granite here, TV will go above....



look at the beautiful countertops! Moving right along....

Joey LOVES the dirty concrete.....

and now he's half-white

Wedding Shower #1

Yesterday was a beautiful day with a wonderful shower given for Casey. It is a very busy time of year and we feel very blessed that people took time out for this event.

What a wonderful group, each of these women had an instrumental part in raising Casey.

Casey with her to-be Mother-in-law the wonderful Stephanie Marchbanks, then Casey and me...

there is always a special teacher in your life. Jill Maxwell, Art Teacher at Abilene High School, is instrumental in developing many artists, Casey and Mallory love her dearly.....Casey went on to study at ACU with Jill's husband, Jack Maxwell ... yes they are Jack and Jill....














And this a special moment with sisters, Casey and Crystal. A lovely day!!!!