In Honor of Dorothy's Tub, the Font Color is Poop Brown.

What is wrong with me? Why can't I use a camera? In the last year we've been through 4 (yes, FOUR) digital cameras. I took like 30 pics of the bathroom before I tore it up, and none of them will download from the camera. You will have to settle for what I could find of "before" and the few of the "during" that did work.

Dinner was spaghetti, obviously.

what's so scary about that?
the wall directly behind me is the one I'm building up to be a full wall.

I call this part of a project "the ugly stage" (no need for an explanation...you all saw the photo of me posted above) It's the point of no return where you really just have to finish what you've started, yet it's SO ugly, you can't imagine it ever looking like that picture from Better Homes and Gardens that inspired you to pull out the sledgehammer in the first place. The scraped ceiling. I had some great pics of the floor buried in 2 inches of white dust, but they didn't turn out. The wires hanging from the ceiling are where the radiant heat unit used to be. I need to cap off the line and feed it up through attic. I'll wait until it's less than 5,000 degrees up there to do that.

Removing tile sucks. I am totally impressed with myself for salvaging the walls behind it though. Now I can hang the backer board directly on top and get to tiling.

Again, I give you "the ugly stage"... The wall with all the junk removed and plumbing exposed. I have another plumber coming today to give me a bid. Oh, this picture has a teeny bit of the awesome vinyl floor in it. That is going to go...along with the carpet in front of the vanity. Tile, tile, and more tile! And how 'bout that nasty tub? I can't believe I put my babies in there. If you look close you might see a few drops of blood from my big toe where I sliced it open on a piece of chipped tile. My advice...Don't work in flip flops...it is stupid.

I can't wait to get this over with! It is going to be so nice! I'd really love to take a break from home projects for a little while, but now that the subfloor under the tub is exposed....the smell of moist insulation is begging me to put a wiggle in it and get that wall closed back up!

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT!

Well, I finished Breaking Dawn on Saturday ("Eh." is really the only opinion I can give at this point). Aaron and the kids were nappin' and I found myself with some free time on my hands. The thought entered my mind that there's really no better time than now to get started on bathroom remodel #2.

Sometimes I forget how quickly demolition goes in comparison to installation. Aaron made regular visits to offer muscular assistance, and offer me beverages. What a guy. He kept kids entertained when they woke up. Gave Q a breathing treatment, dinner and put her to bed without interrupting the demolition chaos. After awhile I really think was just scared to open the bathroom door anymore. I don't blame him. I was like a mad woman in there...

The crowbar was a pryin'
The hammer was a poundin'
The trowel was a scrapin'
and I was a singin'

In just a few hours, I scraped the popcorn ceiling, unwired and removed the nasty 1970's radiant heat unit, I chiseled out all the original "gold freckled" tile, went through 2 killers albums, and tore down the drywall to expose the plumbing. AND cleaned up all the mess... Which consequently means that today....

My back is a achin'
My knuckles are a bleedin'
My shoulders are a hurtin'
Old Lady who haunts my house is a cryin'
but I am a SMILIN'!!!!

I am just SO excited to have this project under way. Tomorrow I plan to make a few cuts, frame in the new shower wall (yes, SHOWER...won't that be nice so my guests don't have to bathe like 3 year olds?) get one more plumbing bid, pick out new hardware, hang tar paper and screw on the cement board. As soon as Joe Plumber gets my shower plumbed in, I can start Tile-Mania II. Shelly are you still my VT? How do you feel about free manual labor?

I tried to find an online image to provide some visual interest to this post. Unfortunately, my Google search for a hot pink crowbar was unsuccessful....unless you are seeking VERY filthy literature. What a sick world we live in.

A special thanks to Kasey for lending me tools (Rambo nail gun) and for taking Reese home for a sleepover at her house. As always you went above and beyond the calling of a friend and should wear the "super-hero" title with pride.

Pictures and witty commentary to come...

Come On, Vamanos, Everybody Let's Go!

This morning I took Reese with me to some garage sales near our house, in search of a jogging stroller. I'd found 2 sales via Craig's List that supposedly had them for a reasonable price, so I figured we'd go check them out. On our way, we stumbled across this little beauty:
In perfect condition, complete with a Disney Princess Helmet!
Retail value on Walmart.com:
for the bike $48.42
for the helmet $20.48

Grand total at the garage sale: $10!
Reese was so excited that she had tears in her eyes! I have NEVER seen my child this happy before. (well except for the time Emily brought her the Barbie castle...I think she had a heart attack that day)
We gathered up our loot and waited in line at the front of the garage to pay. Well tears of joy turned to tears of sadness when the lady in front of us in line turned around and said, "I just paid for that bike. We're taking it home."

Reese walked back to the van with her head hung low. I'm still not sure who was more disappointed....her for not getting the bike, or me for missing out on a $60 save.

Luckily, her spirits were brightened by an Island Princess Barbie (the one with the freaky peacock dress, and glittered lips) which we purchased for 25 cents at the next stop.

So, the search for the perfect bike for Reese continues...I have no problem putting out the money for a helmet, but I just hate to pay $50 for a bike, when I know we'll have to buy a second one for Q in a year. (who will probably learn how to use pedals before Reese -who up until now, would have preferred a chariot)

Oh and both jogging strollers were sold before I got there! Some days are luckier than others, I suppose. I am starting to think that the money for a jogging stroller might be better spent on a treadmill so I can run whenever I want.

Speaking of running...just signed up for a 5K. By noon on labor day I should be able to cross off the last item on my new years resolution list. yay!

Last But Not Least...

Part III of the big vaycay was Jana and Scott's wedding. We are so happy for these guys! Scott, you and Jana are perfect for each other and we can see that you'll fit right in with the rest of the Willy Clan. Congratulations!

Our girls, along with Jana's 6 other nieces, were flower girls. I found their dresses for $3 at the Associate's Store! They've been asking to wear them all summer, but I just knew that if I gave in and said, "yes"...well THAT would be the Sunday they would be given chocolate in Sunbeams and finger paint in the Nursery.
Or, Reese would do something like this....

It was pretty hot outside and Reese got tired of waiting for everyone to finish taking pictures, so she sought out alternate means of entertainment and cooling off.
Her dress was so wet that we could wring it out and make a puddle on the ground when she was done. I couldn't blame her... I was so hot and tired by the end of the day that I would have done the same thing were it socially appropriate.
I think Q must have eaten 20 flowers that day...hopefully none of them were toxic. Apparently, plant destruction is a new fad because she pulled at least 60 flower heads off the bucket of daisies in my entryway yesterday!

Sugar and Spice and Everything...Nice?

The Obsession began long ago... ...and this summer, all her wildest dreams came true. My little Cinderellas! Thank you grandma Lynda for the DARLING Cinderella dresses! Can you believe Aaron's mom MADE Quincy's dress! Quincy spent most of her time, while waiting in lines, picking the little stars off the tulle on her dress. Cute AND functional! Lynda and Jenny were total lifesavers...I had searched EVERYWHERE for princess dresses small enough for Quincy and had been very unsuccessful. Lucky for me, neither Lynda or Jenny need sleep and they both sacrificed so little Q could go to Disneyland in style. I can't believe I don't have a picture on MY camera of Lynda with the girls. I'll be sure to post them when I get them from my mom. Which means lucky you...more vacation posts.

Can you see the pure joy on my face? These are the famous Disneyland pickle and pineapple boat. You eat them simultaneously. Sounds gross? Think again. It can only be described as a party in your mouth. Take the challenge and try it next time you're at Disneyland!
Ok MY Disney pictures are pretty lousy (how 'bout that rollercoaster hair?) Of the MANY pictures I took at Disneyland, most were on my mom's camera, but here are the few that I took with mine. Mom if you're reading this, bring your memory card so i can burn all the pics to a cd. I'll post more pics when I get them. Reese and Quincy were lucky enough to have BOTH of their Grandmas, and Grandpa Hal with them for the first day in Disneyland. What more does a parent need? It was ideal, Aaron and I managed to sneak away a few times with Janae and Steve to ride Indiana Jones, Space Mountain and Great Thunder Mountain Railroad...which was my very first rollercoaster. I was totally traumatized because I still remember 18 years later being absolutely terrified and crying hysterically when I got off the ride. Well 18 years later my dad is looking a little, well old (no offense Dad-O) and it was payback time. I think he needed to take extra heart medication after the ride. I KNOW he needed a Diet Pepsi and an ice cream sundae to help recover. I only wish I had taken a photo of his hair when the ride stopped to capture the beauty, it was classic-especially when paired with his color-drained expression. Day 1 we took Cinderella's to Disneyland, Day 2 it was Belle. R is for Reese! She was very proud of herself for coming up with this "pose". (hmm...do you think she saw the kids in the picture right before us sitting the exact same way?) Snow White also made her way to Disneyland. And another little shout out to Jenny for the amazing extreme makeover you did on Reese's ratty old snow white dress. She shortened the sleeves, hemmed it, took in the waist and shoulders just so my Q could match her sister at Disneyland. Really it's amazing what she did. Here is a picute of what the dress used to look like (wow look at no-hair reese!) All hail the Queen. Thank you Jenny! You are SO talented and my little princesses were in heaven with their dresses. Reese was actually very happy to meet the princesses. I'm not really sure what her melancholy expression is about in all the pictures I took. Hopefully I got some better one's on my mom's camera. I loved when she told snow white, "You're my best friend. I'll never forget you." So sweet! If only we'd made it over to meet Cinderella and Belle when they were dressed in those costumes. The stuff little girls are made of.... These pics of Reese, Quin and their cousin Madeline were taken in Balboa at the cutest little store that hosts little girls tea parties. The girls loved dressing up in their tea party hats. If only I could get them to use their tea party manners we'd be set.

Ok I have more pictures to share, but I am totally late for lunch at Carrie's and I promised I'd at least attempt to be there on time! more to come...

Open. Open. Open. Open.

Every year our local scrapbooking store hosts a 2 day crop called Scrap Pink. It is a fabulous event full of fun, games, door prizes, catered meals, all the Dr. Pepper a girl could need at 1:30am, lots of laughing and silliness and, of course, 2 days full of scrapbooking-uninterrupted by poopy diapers, dishes, laundry, bills, unmade beds, hungry husbands, ect-all the reasons that make scrapbooking at home a challenge. An added bonus for cropping at SSD is the unlimited access to all the tools, punches, diecuts, and shopping!
Why Scrap Pink? Part of the proceeds go to the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. It makes me feel less guilty for spending the weekend scrapbooking when I know it is also benefiting someone other than myself...

So to anyone who gives me flack on the subject...I reply, "hey man, I scrap to save lives."


http://aaronandmeg.blogspot.com/2007/10/race-for-cure.html

So last year my mom (and best friend in the whole world...and no, not because we are one of those YaYa sisterhood, I-heart-my-cat-t-shirt-wearing, mother-daughter couples, that hang out together only because they are too weird to make any other friends....but because she is awesome. and SO MUCH FUN! Seriously, Lauralei Gilmore has NOTHING on this lady in the cool mom dept.) happened to be in town during Scrap Pink. We were out of town (livin' it up at a fabulous B&B in Jamesport, Mo) on sign up day, and ended up in spots 18 and 19 on the waiting list. Long story short....we spent the week getting all geared up to go and calling every day to get and update on our status. By the day before the event we had moved all the way up to spots 2 and 3.

and that's where we stayed. Spots 2 and 3 on the outside of the store, peeking into the windows and watching everyone have more fun than us!

NEVER again!

THIS year I was ready with a plan of action...

9:00 pm the day before sign-up has open registration for Scrap Pink (they have pre-registration for the BIG BIG spenders which I am not): I call the store to see how many spots are available.

THERE ARE ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT!!! YIKES! Those Diamond Divas had filled 38 out of 40 crop spots! What's a girl to do?!

7:30 am Registration Day: I put on my game face and give the girls a pep talk.
7:45 am I program the phone number to SSD into my cell phone so I can efficiently make consecutive calls while standing in line, starting 10 min before they open, just in case our clocks are not synchronized.
8:00 am we head out the door prepared to SIT OUTSIDE the door and wait until they open the store at 10.
8:15 am Get distracted by hunger and drive through to pick up a bribe for the ladies in the store...maybe they'll let me in early.

Wouldn't YOU open the door to a stranger an hour and a half early if they offered you one of these bad boys?

8:30 am Reese and Quincy have finished their donuts and are starting to get antsy...apparently this is not as much fun or as important for them as it is for me. Time for some reinforcements:

Care Bears to the Rescue!

8:55 am Signs of life inside the store! With the kids glued to the tube, I head over to the tinted window and push my nose against the glass. There are 2 lovely ladies staring back at me.
"You guys open at 10?" not sure if they can hear me through the closed doors...I hold up 10 fingers.

They laugh and nod yes.

"Okay....I'll be heeere!" I flash a thumbs-up sign, and then realize this is my moment to solidify my place in line...I turn back toward the glass.

"I'm #1...Me. ...okay?" I can't believe I am actually holding up 1 finger with one hand and pointing to myself with the other hand.

I could make out 2 smiles through the tinted glass, so I head back to the car feeling pretty secure.

9:00 am a 2nd car appears. I begin to panic. Deep breaths. Time to get the kids out of the car and park myself in front of that door.

9:01 am It's Jerushia! Yay, some company that actually appreciates the waiting game! I offer her a donut and ask her not to judge me for how many are already missing from the box. Either Jerushia has incredible will power or she thought I was trying to poison her, because she only took one.
This is my favorite part. Notice the advertisement at the bottom. ZERO trans fat...Right. Like that's going to make me feel any better about the 380 calories and 20 grams of fat per donut.

9:15 am Oh. Lucky us. It is starting to rain.

Helloooo? Anyone in there?

9:20 am The doors open. The ladies inside felt bad for my kids that were being forced to sit in the rain (while they eat Krispy Kremes and watch movies I remind you....sounds pretty fabulous if you ask me) and invited us inside to snatch up seats 39 and 40 for Scrap Pink!

Mission Accomplished!

I would like to give a little shout out to the greatest band ever, U2... to whom I feel the need to give their due credit for preparing me for the fight.
So here's to Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr....were it not for the countless hours I spent camped out in line to get tickets into your concerts, I would be on a waiting list right now.

Can't wait to see you in 5 weeks mom!

Chuck E Cheese vs. Gilroy Gardens

Went to Chuck E Cheese with the cousins (because we are suckers for torture) so we could let the kids run loose in the one place where the atmosphere is probably more obnoxious than they are when loaded up on candy, soda and pizza.

My Quincy is a genius. She parked herself in a teletubbies kidde-ride, strapped herself in and waited patiently. EVERY KID that walked past her, in that very crowded Chuck E Cheese, would drop a token in the ride as they passed. After about an hour, she had free loaded enough rides to rock herself to sleep in the ride!


Reese found the man of her dreams in the adjacent ride and spent most of her time telling him her hopes and dreams of their future together as Mr and Mrs Joe theMechanically Operated Plastic Dog Catcher.
She was quite the smitten kitten, and very embarrassed every time she realized I had caught a snippet of their very serious conversations of running away together.
I imagine Taylor is cautioning Quincy that she hasn't yet been vaccinated for all the diseases she might catch from licking the skee ball machine, and that she should stick to her usual diet of sucking on pens, pencils, keys, shoes and her unwashed thumb...just to be safe.

"I miss Joe..."

After the so-so pizza, about zillion tokens, a package of Fun Dip, the grimy buffet of germs and sticky, naughty, little kids (that seem to attach themselves to me...I'm like a magnet for evil spawn) that make up the total Chuck E Cheese experience, we decided we would spend the following day at Gilroy Gardens for a non-hepatitis/rotavirus infested day of fun.Brock and Reese riding "Dragon" and "Sparkles".

I think Reese sampled every horse on BOTH carousels, and named every one of them Sparkles.

Oh man. who let that kid behind the wheel? Don't Drink and Drive Tyler. :o)

Taylor and Reese driving the cars. Reese loved that she didn't have to sit in a car seat for these little cars.


Quincy thought the lazy river was a good time to take a nap.

I don't have any pictures of Quincy on this ride because I took them with my mom's camera. The ride operator told me she was big enough to go by herself, so I nervously strapped her in and sent her off. If I had done that to Reese, she would never speak to me again... but Quin appeared to be pretty indifferent. Until the ride was over and it was time to get out---when she started screaming, "AGAIN FISHY! AGAIN FISHY!" as she clung to her seatbelt with her Kung Fu Death Grip.
The meltdown had begun.
Meanwhile, Reese's personality disorder was kicking into high gear and she was mad at someone for who-knows-what and also screaming.

Time to go home!

We counted the seconds until the moment they would crash on the way home as we dragged my two very undelightful little girls back to the car. But the crash never came, and we were doomed to be serenaded with theme park hysterics the entire 40 minutes it would take us to get home.

Well, at least they had a great time while we were there!

Quincy about lost it when we had to stop for gas, and was crying so hard that her tiny body shook with each whimper. Out of desperation, my mom bought some chocolate yogurt covered pretzels....which are ironically called Flips, because her frown flipped upside-down and she forgot all her troubles as she sucked the chocolate off of each pretzel one at a time. Reese was pacified with a chocolate frosty from Wendy's...which went right through her and she threw it up all over my parents trampoline later. Lucky for me, Taylor and Jordan were babysitting!