I'mmmmm bacccckkkkkk!!!

and so is my music!!! So excited to open up the page and hear the music!! Lots of music to update in addition to so much more.  Baby steps.

Life has been busy!

I have no other excuse. The year has gotten so far away from me I don't know what happened. If it wasn't the home renovations, it was the craziness of the summer and keeping 5 kids entertained. It could be my latest venture!

YUP I/WE have opened a gift store!!!! On a Whim - credit for the name all goes to Steve! It has been the craziest thing to date I've done but it's been so awesome! I've have gotten such a positive response from the public I really believe that it will be a success. I haven't really sat back and thought of everything that has been done to get to this point and everyone keeps saying "you should be so proud...." I really haven't looked at it like that. This whole thing really came to me like second nature. Everything just fell into place. I am excited to see how we do over the hoildays. I have a lot of ideas and fun planned!

Here are a few more pictures and I will be back later (not too much later) with more updates!

Sorry I've been a bad bad blogger!

Life has been crazy! I keep meaning to update here and some reason it just moves further down on my list. I am taking 10 min. now to make time  - really I am passing time waiting to see if I need to take Sophia to the ER - she did a cartwheel and her wrist has been compromised. Well see...

Final house update! After 27years, 2 months and 3 days we are done!! OK minor stuff left like asphalt for the driveway and some touch up painting here and there but that's it swear!

Done!



the back - done and beautiful!



back porch - oh did I post this already? The TV is missing from above the door



jumping around a bit - master vanity LOVE IT!!!



Pool house!!



master shower so roomy!



upstairs laundry - perfect idea!



mudroom - cubbies for all!



kids bath



Stairway to peace and serenity and 1 awesome closet:



1/2 of bedroom looking from bed:



cool view:



BIG mirror - black tape temporary



GRASS!!!! I grew that all by myself!



more to come soon...

Day 8,760

OK I realize I haven't been here in a while but there is lots to report!!

Meet George! He's the Grandpa everyone should have! Pushing 80 this man all by himself installed all the gutters on the house. We had to pay extra to get the gutter in the trim cream color throughout and it was a perfect match. I am in love with the gutters!!!



look at that:



tile has arrived!!



in addition to being in love with the gutters I am in love with this tile:



here's a closer look:



ATTENTION! We interrupt this update for a brief announcement. Sophia has graduated pre-school and is all ready for kindergarten:



Doors have arrived:



Oh and we have finally gotten the chance to park a car in the garage!



seriously LOOK at those gutters:



OK back to tile - the mess - just to give you a frame of reference this is where our bed will be someday....



Oh soooo pretty:



and it begins:



that's a long piece of marble don't drop it!



almost there:



awaiting shampoo bottles:



Plumbing required:



that pretty tile from earlier - created this:



Oh I love this tile:



OK this is my first favorite tile - this will be one rockin pool house! Get it "rock"in :) :



Now this was our old bathroom which now will be the kids:





sea glass:




We interrupt this post for a celebration of Sophia turning 5!!







the aftermath:



Oh boy paint is here:



doors and trim are being hung with care:



plumbing is coming tomorrow in fact we can flush a toilet and stand in the rain - that is the rain shower - oh yea!



and lastly for today - no words required:

this:



turned into this: