The mini reno has begun....

My granite countertops are coming one week from Tuesday.

My kitchen walls are still burgandy. See?


The primer is sitting in the dining room staring at me.

Did you know that paint cans have eyes?

They do and it is boring a hole in the back of my head every time I sit in the family room to watch tv or read a book.

So today I decided I needed to get to work. I have unscrewed all the countertops except the island. One top is completely off and I have started working on the wall. I needed to pull off some extra wallpaper that I put up when we built the house. I spackled what needed to be done and I am going to let it sit overnight and sand it tomorrow afternoon. I just want the walls to look really good and prep work means everything!

I won't be able to pull my other countertop out until next weekend. I need my sink until the least possible moment which means next weekend so that I will have time to fix and paint the walls before the guys come for the big day. I'm thinking that I will need to take a picture of the plumbing before I disconnect it all.

Again, I know what you are thinking.

Yes, I do plumbing too!

At least I'm hoping that it isn't going to be a huge problem or I'm gonna have to call my dad to walk me through it. I know I can do the faucet but I will have to take off our garbage disposal and put it on the new sink and then hook up the drainage. That is what I am fearing most. I don't want to make a mess of everything.

I need to figure out what to for dinner tonight. Bill is sitting here eating candy so maybe he won't need dinner :}

Hugs!

Help!

We have a crisis!

For some reason, a pigeon has taken up residence on our tiny deck leading to the patio.

Shoooooo!

Go Away!

Our patio looks like it is being used for target practice, if you know what I mean.

YUCK!

Please leave - go back to New York City where you belong. Yep, you. Fat pigeon - move on along to another home.

Anyone have any ideas on getting rid of this guy?!

We also have an owl that lives fairly close. He keeps waking me up! Apparently, he feels that he should let everyone know that the sun is coming up. As if we didn't know that.

Who, who, who.....

Me, me me - you who keeps waking me up. Can't you sleep in just one day?

What is up with the birds this spring! I don't remember them this pesky in years past......

Between the birds and the bunnies we feel like we are being overtaken. Maybe I can get some of that extra money the govenment is throwing around in order to get these critters to move on. Hey, if the Califorians can get movey to get their tattoo's removed, I think I should get some to help the birds move on!

Seriously, it is for their own good! You never know what I may be willing to "feed" these guys just to get them moving again.

Seesh! Stupid bird is staring at me through the sliding door. Like he knows that I'm talking about him.

CREEPY!

Shooooo! GO AWAY!

AAAAAHHHHH - BIRDS!

I'm beginning to feel like I'm in the movie.

Ok, off to a ball game.

Ballgames & Track practice

Last night found us at the ball diamond until after 8pm. It was cold and breezy.

On the up side - they won 4-1!

The team is on a real streak but go into each game as if they have not won any this year. Gabby has been ordered to wear her hair the same way to every game. She also wears the same unmentionables - ahem - all washed mind you!

Since last week's win over Metamora (one of the biggest rivals in the area), the girls have been a bit superstitous. It is kinda funny as I hear the girls all ask Gab..."do you have on your lucky clothes? Yep! All of them?? Yep!"

We are enjoying getting to know all the girls. They keep her under their wing. Apparently one of the guys at school mentioned that Gabby was "hot" and that he was going to "ask her out". One of the upper classmen told him that he would not be asking her out and if he even came near her that she would beat the tar out of him. It made me giggle because I know she would and could do it! I am happy that the older girls are looking out for her.

We are trying to keep her head from inflating to the point that we can't get her in the car. She could put her head out the sunroof but she would probably get bugs in her teeth :} Guess that would be a good way to keep the boys away :}

Tomorrow night they play against my alma mater. It should be interesting. I don't know if I'll be able to make it as one of us needs to pick up Abby from track practice.

She did well tonight. She jumped 4'6" in high jump. She was happy with that especially since she was a bit afraid of the bar at the beginning of the season. Last year she kept falling on the bar wrong and it hurt. She was afraid that would happen again. So far it hasn't!

Hey, I will need to be looking for a new dishwasher. It hasn't died yet but my racks are rusting and they want $150 to replace each rack. So, I'll be looking for a new one in the coming months. It will be stainless and I am really wanting the inside to be stainless too. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Do you have a dishwasher that you have not had any trouble with? I have a Maytag but won't be purchasing another one due to all the issues we have had with Maytags since we bought a houseful of new ones 10 years ago.

The End is Near!

Today was the girls' last day of Easter Break.

IT.

IS.

TIME!

We have enjoyed our time off and especially our days of sleeping in. The girls were very helpful around the house with cleaning and laundry. They also helped me at work and my boss loved it! He got 3 workers for the price of one :} We produced ALOT of cake in a little bit of time. It was GREAT!

Thursday we got our pedicures and manicures. It was wonderful and my toes look so pretty - perfect for my open toed Easter shoes :} I was teasing my nephew, Cameron. I told him we would paint pretty flowers on his toes too. His reply...."NO, I'm not a girill (pronounced girl and grill mixed together!)." He is so funny!

We had a very blessed Easter ...

The first pic is Gabby looking for her eggs.....

Cody looking for eggs.

Abby, Katelyn & Gabby laughing at the rush to find all the eggs.

JC aka Fat Dog.


All the kiddos happy after their hunt. It was breezy and a bit chilly but the rain held off until early this morning!

Friday found us up to Bill's moms house to celebrate Easter and Kylies birthday. She turned 11 this year.

Liam took over the camera. He is 5 going on 25!



Megan & Haley doing the "cheesy smile" for the camera. Megan is our oldest neice - she is a sophomore at Illinois State U. We are SO proud of her. She is going into the sports therapy field and is just a good kid all around though I'm sure her mom would argue that point depending on the day and week.

Saturday was a whirlwind of softball and batting practice. Gabby had 2 games (they won both - YIPEE!) and Abby had to be at batting practice at the same time. DH went to the games and I took Ab to practice. We spent the rest of the evening having dinner with some friends and then sat down to watch The Passion of the Christ with the girls. They had never seen it and we thought it was time. Of course, there were many tears and they felt the impact of the movie. It was the second time I had watched it and it was not any easier to watch the second time around.

I am going to attempt to join the 30 x 5 crowd starting tomorrow. It has been a rough last few weeks and I need to get back on the calorie control bandwagon. Tomorrow will begin the treadmill trek. I'm not exactly looking forward to it but it must be done!

Anyone living in my area that happens to get the PJ Star. Would you please keep the sports section for me? I have been told that Gabby's name keeps popping up and I would really like to see her name in print! I can't seem to find it online :{

My computer is about to lose its battery so I better go!

Hugs!