End of September already!!

Well, another busy week here at the Louie residence!  We just never stop around here!!  So I promised to get a couple pictures of Jayce in his new room.  Here they are:

He really seems to be liking sharing a room with his big brother.  It took him a couple nights to actually sleep in his bed . . . we kept finding him under it, in the doorway, or other random places.  But that's nothing horribly unusual for Jayce.  Now he sleeps in it just fine though.  And in just a few more days he will have a dresser too!  I bought this cute little dresser (yellow with purple flower knobs) on craigslist not too long ago with the hopes of re-doing it to match Riley's dresser.  I re-did Riley's dresser a number of years ago (it was made ages ago by my grandfather and was even used as my changing table/dresser when I was a baby), and thought this one would be simple enough too.  A few more drawers, and some beveled trims, but basically the same idea . . . get the old paint off, re-paint it black.  No problem!  Unless you buy the thing off of Craigslist and have no idea how many times the thing has been painted, and with what kind of paint!! 

This thing was an absolute nightmare!!!  I bought some "safer" stripping compound, Citristrip, after reading a ton of reviews on it.  All were mostly good, it did a good job stripping, it didn't have the fumes, or the main chemicals other strippers use.  It's a gel, and a lot of reviews said to put it on in the evening and let it sit overnight, since it will stay wet for 24 hours.  So Thursday night I got to work "painting" on the orange goop.  It was drying very quickly, so I just kept slopping it on (one review said it was a pain to get off if it dries, another saying how thick you had to layer it to keep it from drying).  About 2 hours later I thought I had it thick enough and went to bed. 

Woke up the next morning and 3/4 of it was dry!!!! UGH!!!  I don't know if it was the low humidity here (we did it in the garage with the doors open for ventilation), or if I just still needed it thicker!  But the paint was puckered in a couple places so I set to work with my putty knife stripping.  It took me nearly all day and I got just about nowhere on it.  The Citristrip worked really great on the yellow paint (probably about 3 coats), but everything under that didn't want to budge.  At this point I remembered one review saying it didn't work so good on primer.  And after scraping off the majority of the yellow, I find a layer of white (probably primer) and some baby blue.  Ugh.  How many layers of that are there!!  I scraped a little harder and find that there is also a pukey color of green under the blue!!!  Who knows how many coats of each color there are!  So I gave up.  Cam came home and I asked his opinion - add more stripping compound to see if it will take off the other layers now that the top layers are gone (it said it would work for up to 7 layers of paint), or just get out the rotary sander and sand the junk off?  And my Wonderful Husband (and his wonderful power tools!) got to work for me.  2 days of sanding later (we had to set the stuff in the sun for almost a full day to dry out the remaining paint still wet from the stripping compound) it's finally ready to paint.  It's not completely free of the green paint, as you can see in the photo, but it's close enough.  That stuff must have been on there forever, because it was really soaked into the grain.  So tomorrow I will start painting it.  I know what you're thinking . . . you are painting it black - why didn't you just paint over the yellow?  Well, I am one of those people who like to make things difficult, that's why!  No really, I thought I would do it right, so I could get a nice finish.  Riley's dresser turned out great, and I wanted this one to look good too.  Next time I'll ask how many coats of paint are on it, BEFORE I buy it off Craigslist!!  Oh well.  We have the black paint, so after $30 for the dresser, just under $30 for stripping materials, and a few more for new knobs, I will still come out cheaper than some piece of junk dresser from Walmart or IKEA (and I was able to keep this on from ending up in a landfill!!!)  So I consider it worth it! 

In other news - Riley got a new bike!!!  We've been telling him since the beginning of the summer that we would get him a new one, since now he can ride a two-wheeler!  And we just haven't gotten around to it - until this weekend.  Cameron won a gift card to a local bike shop on Bike-To-Work-Day this year, so we decided to use it to get Riley's new bike.  He LOVES IT!!!  It's big, so it took him a few tries (and tears, if you know Riley) to get the hang of getting going, but now he does great.  It helps that the neighbor girl across the street thinks it's "SWEEEEEET"  ;)  She's older, third grade I think, so her opinion matters that much more! 

We also made a ton of Apple stuff lately.  Mommy has been on this apple kick lately, call them cravings if you want!  ;)  It started with just apples and caramel dip, but then Cam wanted some applesauce, and the apples around here have been so tasty, so I decided to make some.  I had already pinned a recipe on pinterest for an Apple-Pear Butter that I was dying to try, so this was a good excuse to get even more apples!!!  hehehe!  I made applesauce first, Riley helped me.  And that batch lasted barely 2 days (time to make some more!)  Then this week I made the apple/pear butter.  And YUM!!!!  You can find the recipe here if you want it.  I made a few changes, I used a few more pears (mine were kinda small) and I didn't cook it the entire time.  I shaved about 2 1/2 hours off the end because it looked done to me.  It made about 1 and 1/2 pints . . . I was really hoping for more so I could give a few as gifts, so next time I'll double it (thanks to my gianormous crockpot!!) 

Eating all the apple peels (nothing fruit goes to waste around here!)

October is here already!  I can't believe it!  We have decided to take a much needed (and always delayed) vacation this fall.  We are going to pack up the boys and head to Yellowstone!!  Riley gets a TON of time off for fall break (full week plus the Friday before and Monday after), so we thought that would be the opportune time.  We've talked about going to Yellowstone for years and just haven't ever made it work, but this time it worked out great!  We are going to swing by the Tetons first and stay in a "Cowboy Cabin" whatever that is!  Then on to Yellowstone.  We opted for the hotel living since it is October (and Mommy has a hard enough time sleeping in a bed much less on the ground in a tent) so we are spending a little more than we thought.  But I think it will be worth it!  So if you're reading this Uncle Bud/Aunt Cindy and you wanna meet us for a visit, just let me know!!! 
Well, I think that about covers it.  I finished my first crochet item for baby girl (we really need to decide on a name for her!!).  And it is so cute!  It's a pink stocking hat (think Santa hat shaped).  I'll try to get a picture this week.  I'm looking forward to making so many more things for her!!  I've already got plans for a couple more hats (loving that she's gonna be born in the winter time!) some booties and a blanket . . . or two!  ;)  (Can you tell I'm just happy to have an excuse to use pink yarn!!!)  Things are going good!!  Oh, I almost forgot to share our photos!!!  My friend Nicole is starting her own photography business, so she did some amazing maternity pictures for us this week.  I haven't gotten the "official" ones from her yet, but you can see some previews on her facebook page here.  Also, please "LIKE" her page . . . just like me she is just starting out in her business, and getting her name out there is the best way - so please spread the word!!  Thanks.

Have a good week everyone!  

Baby Stuff and clearing out

Hello again!  Thought I should post again before I hit my two week mark!!  I'm really trying to do better. . . I just have to schedule it in!  Things are still really busy for us, well, me mostly.  But before I get to all that I wanted to make sure I shared a picture: 

This is me at 24 weeks . . . yes, I know, I'm 26 weeks now, so I'm a few weeks behind in posting it - but I got it up!!!  And right now that's progress!!  So yes, I'm getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger!!  I compared this picture to the one I took at 25 weeks pregnant with Jayce and believe it or not I'm bigger now than I was at this same point with Jayce.  You can also tell the difference (when you compare side-by-side) how much higher I'm carrying this time.  They say that's true of girls, and the difference is slight (and it doesn't FEEL that way at all) but I can see the difference!  She seems to be doing great, moving around a lot, and has a pretty good schedule.  This pregnancy is very similar to Riley's (I'm hoping that's a sign she will be easier than Jayce has been), and she even seems to keep the same schedule as he did - moving here and there in the morning, but mostly at meal times and in the evening.  I always joke with Cameron when she starts going bonkers at night saying "it must be 9 o'clock!"  It's nice to have that predictability. 

We are still chipping away at the forever-long to-do-list to finish before she gets here.  Last weekend we started working on the basement.  Cam got us some carpet scraps, enough to cover nearly the entire basement!!  YAY!!  So carpet is down and things are getting organized . . . slowly.  He's been working his butt of doing things for me, so we haven't gotten completely done yet, but it shouldn't bee too much longer.  Just having the boys pick up all the toys they have dumped out already so we can organize them and move the rest of the toys down, and clear stuff that isn't used regularly out of the way and we'll be all done!!  It's not the prettiest by anymeans, but it's functional!! 

I also started on Phase Two of Jayce's bedroom transition.  I spend ALL MORNING!!!! cleaning Riley's room on Tuesday.  I'm talking HOURS!!!  picking things up, moving toys downstairs, scrubbing walls, clearing out the closet so there's room for Jayce, etc.  So we could move Jayce in today if we wanted . . . but I think we'll wait until this weekend.  Probably Friday night we'll move his crib over.  That will give him a few weeks to get used to the idea of a new room while Cam is building the bunk beds.  I also cleaned out Jayce's current closet too.  We got (free) a BUNCH of girl's clothes from a friend (yay!!!) so I cleaned out all of the plastic tubs with boys clothes and made them girl's clothes.  So all of Jayce's clothes are in his dresser now and all I have to do is transfer them over when I finish the new one.  I also took pictures of the boys' rooms all nice and clean so they can remember what it looked like before they shared a room (and so I can use it for demonstration when I say "Clean Your Room!!!")  So here's the "before" pictures of the boy's rooms. 

And yes, I'm going to paint over all the Monkeys too!!  I know, that's almost as devastating for me as painting over the dragon!  I may have to get a picture of Jayce next to some of them to frame before they disappear forever.  But I'm so excited to be painting pink and Cherry Blossoms that I haven't really stopped to dwell on that fact a ton. 

Other than that I've just been working on my crochet orders.  Still working on those, but I should be able to finish this weekend or early next week.  Then I think I'm gonna take a few weeks off to let my "hands rest".  lol.  It has definitely been fun, and I've learned a lot doing this latest batch of orders, I'm just due for a break with everything else going on.  I've been working so hard to not "lose my business"  this year in light of everything else that has come up, and for the first time I feel comfortable taking time away without the threat of it never starting back up again.  I really enjoy this adventure, and now that I know it's actually going somewhere it will be easy to keep it afloat and still take some time away for baby later this year.  I do want to share a cute hat I made for a friend.  I like doing these helmet hats (some are difficult, others I have down pat), and this one turned out especially good, at least I think so!  It helps that it's baby-sized, unlike the child/youth sized ones I've been making lately, cuz everything that tiny is cute - right! 

And this is another project I'm proud of.  A friend has a new nephew named Calvin, and she had looked everywhere for a "Hobbes" for him.  So she enlisted me to make one since she hadn't been able to find one to buy.  I'm not thrilled with how he turned out - the perfectionist in me - because he doesn't look enough like Hobbes, but I am proud that I stuck with him and finished him.  I've only attempted an amigurumi one other time, and even then I didn't finish because I was so overwhelmed.  (Riley is still waiting for his "Monster", ugh).  But I did really good at keeping with this one and not giving up.  And now, of course, I feel more comfortable taking on projects like this in the future.  Maybe not necessarily ones as intricate as Hobbes here, but still, I'm branching out!!  Yay ME!! 

And as if all that isn't enough, I joined a Bible Study with my friend Cathy for this fall.  It's a Beth Moore Bible Study, so I'm really excited . . .I've heard so many good things about Beth Moore's studies.  And I really think that with all I have on my plate right now I need to keep God as a priority.  That's something I am constantly struggling with, and so now that I have signed up...paid for my book, and have a friend to keep me accountable, it should be easier to do.  Now I just have to keep up with the homework!  lol ;) 

Check back in soon, I'll try to get some finished pictures of the basement up, and some of Jayce when we move him into Riley's room.  And I'll try to be better about getting pictures of the boys too . . . I realized that today when I was uploading pictures - it's already September 20th, and I only have like 3 pictures of them!!  Oh - that reminds me though!!  A friend of mine is taking some Maternity pictures for me next weekend, so I will get some pictures of the boys!!  We have haircuts all next week scheduled, and I need to go shopping for some matching outfits.  She's an excellent photographer, just starting out, pregnant herself, and God Bless Her - she offered to do these photos a whole 4 days before her due date!!  Yeah, she's a little nuts!  ;)  Can't wait to share those with you all!!! 

NEW CAR!!!

Well, once again I have fallen behind on my posting!  Ugh, things have just been hay-wire around here!  I thought for sure things would calm down after Riley started school, but it almost seems like things are busier!!!  So anyway, I'll try to update you all on everything that's been going on, and I hope I don't miss anything.

Kindergarten - Riley is LOVING school!!!  After having to explain to him what exactly homework is, and that yes he has to do it, he does a good job of finishing it when asked.  Yep, Kindergarteners have Homework!  It's only on Fridays, and it's usually just one worksheet of letters to practice writing or coloring page.  But he's getting better at sitting still and finishing the whole thing - which if you know Riley you know that he NEVER sits still long enough to finish ANYTHING!!  So this is really helping.  He has a few friends at school, Zach, Cameron, and Evan are the ones I hear the most about.  ;)  He thinks his music teacher is so funny, and he loves "E.P."  (P.E. - Gym Class, we're still working on the dyslexia thing as you can see!!) Mommy's not loving the mid-day drop off, having to stop everything in the middle of the day to take him, but I think that's just because I've got so much on my plate right now.  It makes running errands hard, because nothing opens early enough to get out and do it in the morning before we have to be back to get lunch and take him.  But then Jayce naps in the afternoon while Riley is at school, so I can't do much then.  We usually pick up Riley and then head out to run errands, but then we get back later, making dinner later, and the evening time with Daddy shorter.  Hopefully we can figure something out so this becomes easier.

Since the weather is nice I try to walk over to pick Riley up from school a couple times a week.  I put Jayce in the stroller, and Riley's bike on the back (my Sit n Stand Stroller is my best investment!!) and we walk over.  Then Riley can ride his bike back - which he LOVES to do.  I don't know how much longer I'll be able to do that though!  It's only a mile there and back (yes I calculated it), but by the second time during the week it completely wipes me out.  Not to mention this week is the first week the temps have dropped below 90!!  Since pick up is right during the heat of the day that takes its toll on me as well.  Oh well, it will be fall soon enough, and winter soon after that (I hope).  They are saying this year is supposed to be a good snow year for Colorado, good ol' La Nina!  Cam's hoping for it (as always), but I think I'll pass this year.  Part of the reason why . . .

I GOT A NEW CAR!!!!  Well, technically a mini-van, but I don't care!  I'm in LOVE!!  It's a new Honda Odyssey, and it's wonderful!!!  More gadgets and gizmos than I could possibly imagine, but the conveniences are to die for!!!  I told Cameron earlier this week that it only took me a few trips to drop off Riley at school and one trip to Wal-mart to be sold on the thing!!  Power lift hatch in the back, auto-closing doors, maneuvers great (at necessity in Wal-mart parking lots!!) and SO MUCH ROOM!!!  Not to mention the gas mileage, the cooler box, the heated seats (no I haven't tried them out yet, but I know I'll love them this winter!!!), there's just so much that I can't even list it all!! 

We traded in the Xterra, and I will miss it.  Especially the 4-wheel drive and high clearance.  But I think it's worth it.  We can technically fit all 3 car seats across the middle row in the van, leaving the back seats to fold down for cargo space if we need it (and I'm sure we will on those long road trips to Indy).  So space-wise it just makes sense.  Ok, I'll stop bragging on my new van and tell you what else we've been up to! 

We're trying to finish the basement to turn it into a playroom (slowly), and with the new van that barely fits into the garage, we had to clear out some junk.  Older furniture, stuff we don't use anymore, broken or damaged, etc.  So . . . We had a garage sale a couple weekends ago.  And we learned that unless the neighborhood is having a huge advertised garage sale, we are never doing it again!!!  We just live to far out for anyone to want to come look at our junk!  I think we sold 3 things!  We had much better luck just sticking the few big items on Craigslist and selling them that way.  So after multiple trips to goodwill and a few craigslist ads, we got rid of most everything!  Cameron spend all afternoon yesterday just re-arranging the garage (and making another Goodwill run) so we could fit the van in.  Next on the list is to work on the basement.  That should be quick though.  We decided not to "finish" it completely right now.  We just don't have the time (or the money after buying the van) so we are going to put some carpet scraps down and partition an area off for the "playroom".  At least enough to make it useable.  That's all we really need right now, just a place to put all the 5 million toys the boys drag all over the house on a daily basis!!!  Then it's onto the boys' room.  We are hoping to transition Jayce into Riley's room later this month, and so I need to get going on the paintings.  My Fabulous Handy-Man Husband is going to build the boys some bunk-beds sometime this fall (with the help from These Instructions)  and since the only wall they will fit on is the one with the Dragon Mural, I Have to move it.  Disappointing, I know, but I learned my lesson, and this time it will be done on Canvas.  I'm also going to do a tiger for Jayce (also on canvas) and add his name on the wall next to Riley's.  So there's 3 big projects for the boys' room . . . but there's more!!  Jayce also needs a Dresser since the one he's using now we are going to keep in the nursery for baby girl.  So what did I do . . . Hit up Craigslist of course!!  Found a cute little dresser perfect for him, for only $30!!!  The only problem - it's a beautiful shade of pale yellow with purple flower drawer pulls.  SO . . . Mommy is going to re-do it!  Sand it down, paint it black to match the rest of the furniture and get new handles.  Ugh, My to-do list just keeps growing!!  My goal is to have all of that stuff done by the beginning of November, because after that I still have to paint the baby room pink and do all the murals and decorating I want in there.  And somewhere in there I have to finish all my Baby Bear Designs Orders, and the stuff I want to make for my kids. 

So that's our life in a nutshell right now!  Mommy working on an endless list of projects all while Daddy keeps up the house for her, and does all the heavy-lifting type stuff, and the boys play tornado destroying all the cleaning up we are constantly doing!  ;)  Yep, Life at the Louies!!! 

Bonus - MOPS starts this Monday, (so all the prep-work I've been working on for that will be taken off the plate) and I am looking forward to Scheduled Down-time for sure!!!  I'm really hoping this year things will be less stressful for me at MOPS than they have been the past couple years, and I can really sit back and enjoy the time with other moms.  I need it that's for sure! 

Well, I'll do my best again to keep everyone up-to-date on happenings around here, but no promises!!  At the very least I'll try to take plenty of renovation pictures so you can see the transformations to the rooms at the end.  Have a good weekend everyone . . . try to "think fall" for me - I'm looking forward to breaking out the jeans and long sleeve tops again!!  NO MORE HEAT!!!  ;)