Painting . . .but just barely!

I may have been a bit over-ambitious in my prediction of what I would get done today.  I got the trim painted in both rooms, taped for wall painting, and my dad came over and got walls in sanded down in Matt's room.  Those stripes we put on the walls 10 years ago left the walls with an uneven surface that had to be addressed before painting again.   Even using the orbital sander this took several hours.
The sander also uncovered the many other colors the room had been.   When we moved in it was bright blue.   Before that it was apparently yellow.   We painted it tan and then added the navy blue stripes, but not before attempting a red stripe that didn't take.   We can now see bits of them all and it's kind of cool looking.

The sanding also left a layer of navy thick blue dust (paint) on my dad and every flat surface!  My dad went home looking bruised up because of the blue and it took me a LONG TIME, including several round with the vacuum the floor and swiffer'ing the walls and everything else to get ready for priming and painting.

Of course I made another trip to Home Depot .  . natch.

Here's to a productive day tomorrow!

Happy 13th birthday to Charlie!  Hard to believe we rescued you 8 years ago today.   You were a scruffy, sad thing then . . . . and I'm so glad you're ours!

When the kids are away, Mom does NOT play!

The kids are off for a week at church camp.  And somewhere along the line I decided it would be a good idea to use the time they were gone to not only clean out their rooms but also paint them.

Actually, I also wanted to have the carpet replaced, but I didn't quite get my act in gear on getting it ordered.

Today I removed almost everything from their rooms/closets (less the bed), shopped for paint and other supplies and spackled the walls.  Y'all, that took most of the day.

I'm over it--and haven't put a drop of paint on the walls yet.  

Tomorrow I hope to get the sanding and priming done (I painted navy blue stripes on Matt's walls years ago which looks awesome but I think is going to be troublesome to cover), along with the trim in both rooms. Hoping I get the color up on Wednesday and then spend part of Thursday and Friday (not the whole day--mama needs a pedicure and a trip to Nordstrom!) putting the rooms and closets back together.  

My kids are hoarders. #FutureTLCstars

This is an ambitious plan, but since their crap is now piled up in the hallway, guest room and bonus room, it has to be done.  Wish me luck!

Six!!

Today the redhead turned 6. 

Really?!?  Six?    Didn't we just take this picture a few months ago?

Nope, apparently not.

Because this is the little girl who asked for a birthday dinner of pizza, carrots, strawberries, pink lemonade and ice cream sandwiches made with the chocolate chip cookies. 

Where has the time gone?

While I can't easily account for the last six year, I can tell you where the last two days went.   My parents came in on Thursday to help re-do Miss Gracie's bedroom.  We didn't plan for it to be a birthday present (it's been on the to-do list for at least 4 months)--although Gus had made Gracie a new headboard and GG created a tulle canopy like the one she had fallen in love with at her pal's Anna house.  

Although she was set on blue walls, the rest of the room is full of other colors which seems a good match for her personality.  She shares my love for things that are a bit mis-matched, although she did choose this adorable quilt and pillow sham set (Yes, I had to tell my mom my mom that my kid wanted a store-bought quilt!).   As Gracie once told me getting dressed, "If you love a shirt and pants, they'll always match." 

She has a real future in writing fortune cookie messages. 

In the meantime, here is a peek at her new room!

 Happy Birthday, Gracie!!

Hoot!

Last night I finally took my painting class at USN.    I had an awful stomachache, but was determined to go and learn something.   I must admit, not feel well was distracting, but I had fun anyway.  The teacher was awesome and I can see why some people are so drawn to painting.  It's freeing --at least if you can keep in mind that it is art, it doesn't have to be perfect and  if you don't like it, paint over it!

I painted an owl.  I like him --but feel like he still needs work.  I added some texture to him, but not enough, I think. It's a little too sporadic.  You can see a couple of the rectangular spots on the photo . . .for some reason those two really popped out when I took the picture.    I'd like to add some more to him this weekend.  Luckily, we came home with paints, a couple brushes and another canvas, so I'm ready to go!