From nothing to something.

THE DINING ROOM

We'll see if we can get it there. For now, this is my vision. The dining room is currently a solid white box with white curtains and white carpet. I know you're thinking, "But that's so perfect for Charlie!" Still, we're going to take it a more colorful direction.

Let the games begin!

Remodeling Starts Monday!

"Before" photos follow. Check back in about two weeks 'cause it's gonna be like an episode of Extreme Home Makeover happened to this place. Minus, of course, any demolition, donations, bullhorns, illness, touching story-lines, free vacations and/or Winnebagos.

The Exterior: normal red brick Okie ranch. Note the "mustache" detail on the front window (our bedroom). It was one of the first things slated for removal (in my book) until Andy noticed it over the windows of Charlie's Fisher Price 1969 playhouse. Damn you, sentimentality!

The Kitchen: the cabinets are kind of "blah", but we're going to try to preserve them. Will get new floor, removal of wallpaper, fresh coat of orangey-mango paint, black & white checked floors, new counter-depth fridge, new double oven, new gas range. Laminate countertops are still in good condition, so we'll wait until they beg to be replaced. Probably replace old copper-y pulls and knobs with black, just to tidy up the overall look. But maybe not...I'm already tired just typing it all.

Our Bath: There's a shower here too. Little bit of actual wall over pretty blue tiles. Andy found some wallpaper he likes for in here. Chocolate brown with light blue (and other color) "beads" trickling down the wall. Should liven it up.
Main bathroom in the hallway. That red-looking tile is actually chocolate brown in real life. But the floor is a dark mauve. Pretty tragic combo, but we're going to live with it. Trying to find a wallpaper that "takes your eyes to the skies", if you will.
Hallway. Can't tell, but wallpaper in here is pretty bad. It's out, we're painting. Beginning to wonder if someone was a wallpaper salesman.

Lots and lots (and lots!) of storage.

Front window. The house is so dark, we're dropping in some Solatubes to pretty it up. We're able to do that because we're getting a new roof. Tomorrow.
The other side of the same room. This will be our dining room. Light aqua walls, red chandelier, pretty colorful chairs all around. Can't wait!
Living room. Wood-burning fireplace. Will be a cozy spot for sure!

Backyard. About the same size as our current one. You're looking at the corner where Charlie's new playfort will be constructed. He's requested a slide this time. Daddy "forgot" his slide on the current one. This has been an effective means of getting him to move, actually!

This is a before tour I made of the inside.

...and this video includes a little tour of the backyard from the kitchen. In it, Andy discovers the previous owner's stash of jar lids. "We're rich. Rich with lids!"

Moving back to Belle Isle

The past few months have been relatively unremarkable. Outside of illness, that is. Charlie had the flu with some drastic - and scary - fever spikes. Andy and I have pretty much taken turns being sick for the past couple months. And then Charlie woke up recently with a swollen eyelid. Like - completely swollen. All of these things worked out just fine so I don't want to gripe.

He was even well enough to catch up w/spring break camp at the Lighthouse. He's so brave and so confident. He asked to stay all day everyday. So I let him. He loved it. Who knew?

Now on to the next big thing:

You may recall that we put our house on the market last summer. We wanted to make soome money, and buy a more affordable place, in an effort to get our cost-of-living down considerably. Well after a zillion unsuccessful showings ("We really wanted an old home." "Well, why did you come look at a new home?") we decided to take if off the market, just wait for spring when everything is pretty again, and try at that time.

Fortunately we didn't have to. A realtor contacted ours, said he had a couple who'd like to see it, would we be interested in showing it? And a week later we had an offer we were all happy with. They move in mid-April. We bought a house that Andy's had his eye on since last Summer - and got it for 25% off what he was willing to pay last year. That's because I am a master negotiator. (or at least got really, really lucky this go-round). It's a plain ol' red brick ranch, just like the ones we grew up in. And just two blocks away from our old place on Belleview -- which was always "our favorite house'.

We close on the new place tomorrow, so we'll have few weeks to get some work done before we move, which I've scheduled for the 8th. Or was it the 9th? Hm..might have to double check that! Anyway, on the agenda:

1) New Roof w/skylights

2) Knock out the back of the kitchen and install double doors so we have access to backyard.

3) Remove wallpaper in kitchen and hallway.

4) Put new wallpaper in a couple of the baths.

5) Tear up carpet/redo floors

6) Paint entire interior.

The best part? Andy thinks this can happen in a week. I'm giving him three. We'll probably split the difference. Really looking forward to living with some color again! I've already picked some lovely shades and some pretty new furnishings too. Pics soon -- we get in tomorrow, so I will post "befores" at that time.

Next up...picking Charlie's school for fall. -- T

Velour suits aren't just for Santa

Christmas cards finished - just need to mail them tomorrow. Whew. That's quite an undertaking. The list's getting a little hefty so I might farm this project out next year. Anyway - I'm feeling pretty good about myself and so here's a silly story about Charlie for your entertainment...

We were Christmas shopping yesterday and Charlie had a little "pullups leak". Fortunately we were at TJ Maxx so Andy said, "No biggie. Let's just buy a pair of pants and change them here!" So we went over to the clothes section where Charlie 'selected' an aqua velour two-piece jumpsuit.

He said "Oh, this one's nice. And it's sooo soft!"

I tried to steer him toward a less mafioso look, to no avail.

"No - this one!"

Andy wants to get him a gold chain to go with it. He also slept in it last night, and he wouldn't change today either.

The result...

Traveling, bikes and birthdays...oh my!

So close to Christmas and New Years, makes me think how much I'm looking forward to 2011. But it's been a great year, even with the bad things that have happened . We're finally to the point where we can deal positively with all the negative.

What's happened since July...

We enjoyed a very fun trip to New York this summer for our dear friends' son's bar mitzvah. Charlie told us that he was not going to sleep in NYC. What did he know, he was 2.5 years old, right? One week and zero naps later, we learned to believe him. We all had an amazing time.

hitting tree with a stick, ellis island

hanging in a pub, lower east side

ferry to ellis island, statue of liberty in background, cheetos in foreground

Then school started back up. The "bike derby" meant that he needed a bike. He practiced for a day and while slow, he was able to bike in the derby.

And again, Halloween found us with a scary dragon.

Owen and his mom and dad trick or treated with us.

In November we did the train to Fort Worth again, this time with Uncle Dave and Mimi and Grandad. Perfect trip there, great weekend and lots of fun had by all. Train trip back

Charlie's birthday was "wrecking ball"-themed. Which meant we had to invent an invitation a game and a cake....because nobody has ever had a wrecking ball party. Pretty proud of the results. (props to Meagan Hansen, Owen's mom, on the bday photos!)

And finally, our visit to the "red velvet devil" went better than last year. See you in 2011!

Finished. Finally. 2010 Christmas Card is ready. Whew.

Retro Snowflakes Christmas

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I was thinkin' I'd post, say, about once every four months...

Well, we're back in the saddle again.

March sort of flew by, then April completely sucked. That little disaster ate up most of May. First week or so of June was loaned to deadCENTER, and now that we're halfway through it, I'm feeling like I'm truly emerging from my post-grief fog. (So there. Suck that, indecisive, teenage birth mother. )

Here are some cute snaps that I've taken over the past couple months.

getting ready to attack the key lime pie at iguana/taco tuesday.
chillin' with baby cole at the cabin in medicine park.
thoroughly enjoying his blueberry smoothie.
this one's for the ladies.
it's bubble face!

Love to all, and thanks for hanging in there with us.

Love, Tracey and Andy