Well, from a couple of excellent sources (umm, his boss, and another guy in the company, in the know), Seth has gotten the very strong impression that he has no need to worry with this whole water situation.  Enough so that he called today to tell me I could list the house.  This, of course, now can't happen for at least a week (because for the past two weeks, I have completely avoided the house, and it now needs to be re-readied to list), but it feels like a more definite kind of position in which we find ourselves.  It feels like we might actually get down there before the end of the summer.  Well, maybe.  We'll see.  I'll keep you posted.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers.  Please keep praying.

 

Oh, and check out Paul and Kevin's new link--amazing, amazing work (north40photography.com).  Need a portrait?  Wedding pictures?  A family event?  They're the ones to call.  Need contact info?  Let me know. 

Well, after the pageant, life went a litle nuts (like that's something new).  We had to have her back in hair/makeup/dress that evening for pictures, then Saturday morning for the parade (along with Lainie...riding on the float was the high point of her life so far, I think).  I had a cake I needed to deliver that morning.  That afternoon, there was a wedding rehearsal about an hour away, so the kids hung out with Daddy, and then the wedding was Sunday afternoon (father's day).  The beginning of last week was more of the same insanity we live with from day to day, including our last two days of gymnastics, and another wedding rehearsal Thursday, wedding Friday.  Seth came home early on Friday afternoon, which was such a nice switch (!!), and the girls had a sleepover with a friend.  Bryson had a friend sleepover here, and Saturday morning, after all the changing back took place, we took a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Strong Museum of Play and Chuck E. Cheese, meeting my best friend and her family there, then having coffee at their place afterwards.  We accomplished absolutely nothing in the house over the weekend--actually, it's in pretty rough shape right now as a result of the running we did--and I will have to compensate for that throughout this week...but it's not looking like I need to worry about that any time soon.  And that brings me to the point of this entry.

 

If you are one of my praying friends, and you wouldn't mind praying with us...

 

There's an issue with the water for Seth's job.  To do the work that needs to be done for the jobs he's working on, massive amounts (like millions of gallons) of water are required.  Obtaining this water means pumping it out of the rivers/streams/creeks in the local area and moving it to the gas well locations, then pumping it back into the ground.  In the area Seth is working, the river basin commission has decided that the amount of water they need is not an acceptable amount to pump out of the rivers/streams/creeks in the area.  In order to pump that amount of water out, they will need to submit many permits, which may or may not be approved, and they must be submitted on a job-by-job basis.  Permits were submitted on Friday for the locations they're planning right now, and the commission reserves the right to sit on the permits for three months before they are approved or denied.  If they are denied...the jobs for which Seth is responsible...well, they won't get done.  We're not exactly sure what this means for Seth's job, but in the interim...while we wait to hear from the commission...we're waiting to list the house.  It would not be good to be obligated to leave this house if we don't have a job to go to where we have planned to move. 

 

Please pray with us...that we are able to be together as a family again, whatever that means for the water, the job, the house, etc.  Obviously, we would really like the commission to approve the amount of water Seth needs to get his jobs done and then for us to be able to list the house to sell it so we can get down there, but we realize this may be our will and not God's will.  Seth loves his new job, he feels really good about it, and about how things are coming together.  We feel like we're in a really good place as a family and so on.  But we defintely want to be in the center of his will.  We would so appreciate your prayers.  I'll keep you posted!!

 

Thank you, friends!!

You know, I want to write something really interesting about this experience.  The reality of the situation:  it's all really just a blur. 

 

I watched my little girl win a pageant today.  We ran out of time to do her hair all the way, but she totally didn't care.  She and her sister worked out their nerves by getting up, sitting down, giggling, talking about the other girls' beautiful gowns, chewing gum noisily, fluffing their dresses, talking about possible answers to the interview questions, re-applying lip gloss, and jumping up to greet friends they didn't expect to see.  Everything happened quickly...the whole day happened quickly, and included much more than just pageant preparation.  That's probably why my brain can't fully process this whole pageant thing.  Between sanding joint compound off walls, applying the first coat of paint, vacuuming the house, trying to find homes for all the tools we have been using, making the house look like something other than a construction zone so that when Seth got home, he wouldn't lose it, running last-minute errands, calming frazzled nerves, practicing "the walk" and "the questions" with the girls, and so on...yeah, it was a busy day.

 

I never thought I would enter either of the girls in a pageant of any form.  I'm just not that mom--so completely not into this stuff.  And of all people, Reasa is not that kid.  If either girl would get excited about something like that, it would definitely be Lainie.  As a matter of fact, Lainie noticed the poster on the bulletin board at our McDonalds this year, and said something about it.  Considering it's our last year in town, I figured, "Why not?"  Honestly, I didn't think they would win.  Now, please, don't get me wrong.  I know my girls are gorgeous.  And I know they're poised and well-spoken and wonderful.  Of course I know that.  But as a parent, you assume you think those things of your children because they are your children, not because it's actually true.  I mean, of course it's true of my children.  :)  I just don't necessarily expect a panel of judges to agree with me. 

 

They walked with grace and poise.  They spoke clearly and well, with complete-sentence answers.  They didn't fidget or fuss, they smiled at the judges and the audience (and the crazy lady with the camera), and they made us so proud (I giggled when they didn't include in their intros that they were homeschooled, and literally every other child had their school mentioned).  Lainie answered questions about why she wanted to be in the pageant (because she saw the poster at McDonalds and thought it would be fun) and about her desire to be a fashion designer when she grows up (mentioning that she likes to give her sister fashion advice).  Reasa answered questions about her favorite animals (dogs), whether she has pets at home (yup, dogs), what are their names and whether she prefers one over the other (Chelsea and Chani, and no, she likes them both the same), and whether Lainie gave her fashion advice today before the pageant (yes, she did).  Reasa was sure she was going to trip on the steps, forget where to walk, and not remember the answers to the questions she would be asked.  Lainie was cool as a cucumber.  She was made for the stage.  I think maybe if we're still in town this summer, I'm going to sign her up for Drama Camp at the Y.  She'll love it. 

 

The whole idea of pageants boggles my mind.  Dress little girls up, make them look like totally fake grown-ups (have you ever watched the reality shows on tv??), make them do it whether they hate it or not, at any expense.  I'm so not that mom.  And I was so determined not to do anything remotely like that to my children tonight.  I loved their dresses, and they were just as beautiful as the other girls' there...but they were simple.  And elegant.  They wore a tiny, tiny bit of mascara, lip gloss, and peach blush (which totally didn't show...they're already so tan from that crazy pool), and they had their nails french manicured (becuase I promised they could...and it was quick and easy), Lainie's hair was a pumped-up version of her every day 'do, and honestly, though Reasa's hair made her look too old, it only took 25 minutes to curl and style.  It would have taken longer, but that was all the time we had!!  I ran out!!  And I'm so glad.  It was plenty.  There were girls there who had spent hours having their hair done at a salon.  Wore wayyyy too much makeup.  Had glitter everywhere.  Wore earrings that weighed down their lobes.  Spent way too much on their gowns.  And Reasa was in the oldest age group at 9.  Did we go a little crazy with all this?  Yes.  For an hour before the pageant (and a little while finding/making dresses). 

 

I was shocked when they called Reasa's name.  It was completely unreal to me when they said it.  I snapped a bunch of pictures, I found my family members, and when they were looking for parents, it suddenly dawned on me that I should probably get up there to claim my kid and take pictures of the winners.  My mom was in shock--crying.  My mother-in-law was on the phone with my father-in-law (who is out of town) crying, before I even found the rest of them.  A blur.  That's what it was.  And while I'm so thrilled for her, I don't know.  I'm not jumping up and down or anything.  I think it's wonderful.  But it certainly doesn't define my kid for me.  She is my perfect, wonderful Reasa., who when we get home, turns back into that wonderful kid I know every single day:  compassionate, imaginative, brave, sweet, bossy, intelligent, loveable, emotional, huggable, Reasa.  And I feel exactly the same way about her as I do about my other girl and my boy:  they're all wonderful, and incredible in their own perfect ways.  One silly pageant changes nothing for me.  Does it solidify the fact that she's beautiful and charming?  Sure. 

 

I guess I just don't need a panel of judges to prove that to me.  Call me crazy. 

 

I do need to mention here that I don't understand the fact that Lainie didn't at least get "runner up" in any degree in this crazy pageant.  :)  I think that would have softened the eventual blow for Lainie a tiny bit (plus, she was just as cute and well-spoken as all of the other runners-up).  At the same time, as I mentioned to my friends, this is a very good character building experience for Lainie.  She will learn how to support and encourage and stand behind her big sister.  Right immediately after Reasa was named the winner, Lainie was so excited--truly.  Her face was priceless--I don't know if I got it in any of the pictures.  She stood directly behind her while she was crowned and handed her gifts.  I was so proud of her.  And when she came back to me, she said, "Mommy, I had my fingers crossed for Reasa!!  I knew she would win!!"  (and yes, we've had the conversations in the past that crossing fingers has nothing to do with anything...but she was cute.)  She hugged her and jumped up and down with her, and admired her tiara and gift bag (with gift certificates for every pizza and ice cream place in a 5 mile radius--I didn't realize there were so many--and a $100 savings bond!!), and bragged her up to everyone they saw.  Adorable.  We got to the car and Reasa divied up her gift bag, finding things inside it to give to each of her siblings (more than one thing...stuffed animals, candy, etc.).  That's the kid Reasa is.  When we got home and Lainie realized that Reasa would have other appearances and parades and the like in which to participate, all of a sudden, jealousy crept in.  Along with exhaustion.  I hope we can use this to develop something wonderful for Lainie as well.  And that we can keep Reasa interested in all of this.

 

In the meantime, Daddy is beside himself.  He has deemed this "the best father's day gift ever."  How funny.  Reasa is his girl...and he's just so stinking proud.  :) I'm so glad he came home for it.

 

And now, it's 11:35.  Seth has to be up early, so that means I will too.  :)  Another busy day.  But then, that's life in this Frazer household. 

Coming home with a winner.  Check.

 

Coming home with a very, very gracious little-sister-non-winner.  Check.

 

:)  What a fun day.

 

Pageant dress sewn.  Check.

Friend taken to school. Check.

15 minutes at the park. Check.

Kids snacked, fed, read, swimmed, crafted. Check.

Hardware from closet removed from walls. Check.

Gymnastics coached. Check.

Hasty dinner of spaghetti sauce lovingly dropped off by mother of friend we take to school prepared with rigatoni noodles and eaten.  Check.

Children put to bed.  Check.

Holes in walls caused by hardware and 400 pound bathtub spackled. Double Check...two coats.

Kitchen cleaned from dinner.  Check.

Hairstyles researched for tomorrow's pageant.  Check. 

French manicure supplies located.  Check.

Laundry folded and switched over.

Conversation completed with still-out-of-town husband about what's left to do before we list the house.  Check.

Crinoline sewn while watching Jon and Kate Plus Eight to figure out how she cuts her hair. Check.

To-do list made for tomorrow's insanity.  Check.

Achieving a completely not-tired feeling as a result of the number of things running around in my head...CHECK.

Reading everyone's blogs...dreading tomorrow's alarm going off...Check.

 

:)  We're getting there.  Just a few more days...

 

 

 

 

My awesome parents spent the day with me today--Mom took a personal day and Dad spent half the day here helping out too--and we got A TON done on the house.  Mom finished painting the green part of my kitchen cabinets (will post pictures when I reclaim the kitchen from the tools/supplies for house renovation and the tools/supplies for cake making!), I packed and made ready the girls' bedroom.  I painted one coat on the part of the staircase we decided not to sand (because part of it was already painted and it looked altogether stupid half-and-half) and ran to Walmart for more stain/polyurethane and chemicals for the very, very green pool.  I came back and skimmed and added chemicals to said pool, and mom put another coat of paint on the staircase, then I stained and polyurethaned the landing on the staircase (which Seth and Dad replaced last night)--this took three coats and sandings between coats, and is now FINISHED!!!  Mom moved on to the front door--outside, the porch lights and the mailbox--upon which she painted two coats--while I watered the plants on the front porch, fed children, skimmed the pool again, filled holes in the wood of the doorway of the kitchen, put another coat on the landing, put away laundry (took 4 loads to the laundromat last night because it was soooo hot, I couldn't bear the thought of running the dryer in our house), and sorted out the cabinet in the laundry room (doesn't sound like a big deal, right?  HA!!).  After lunch, while we worked on all of this, my sweet friend (and the kids' favorite babysitter), Lauren, texted me, asking me what we were doing this afternoon, wanting to borrow my children--to take them to the fountain downtown and out for ice cream at their favorite ice cream stand...how awesome was that???  When they came home two hours later, they hopped in the no-longer-completely-green pool and furthered their exhaustion.  At 4:30, we got ready for the girls' rehearsal for their pageant on Thursday night (don't ask), and were there by 5, home by 6:15.  Mom went and gave blood, and gee, can't figure out why she didn't feel great afterwards.  Hmm.  After a dinner of pancakes and bacon, my Dad showed back up, I changed back into yucky clothes, put the last coat on the landing, picked up from dinner, put the kids to bed, painted the trim around the kitchen doorway, and installed the linoleum in the laundry room.  And now, I sit exhausted in front of my computer...wanting to remember all we accomplished in two weeks.  By the way, today my Dad ran to Home Depot, installed a new faucet in my upstairs tub, replaced a piece of the brand new linoleum in my bathroom (cut for the old tub, which had to be replaced after last week's tub refinishing fiasco, and which, as a result, did not fit the new tub), finished the trimwork in the upstairs bathroom, put a door on that bathroom, replaced part of the trim around the doorway in my kitchen (the last owner had a dog who scratched it to smitherines), helped me with the green pool, put quarter-round on the new, stained and polyurethaned landing, tore up the old linoleum in the laundry room, and talked me through the installation process, then drove over to the church where there has been a power outage that hasn't been resolved yet (the security company called and requested he check into it.  He loves his job.  :) )

 

Umm, to call this day productive wouldn't nearly do it justice.  To call my parents the most wonderful, self-sacrificing, helpful, gracious, amazing parents...again...a massive understatement.

 

Oh, and yesterday...ever heard your eight-year-old scream bloody murder from her bedroom after putting her to bed (at about 9)?  Ever had your son follow suit shortly thereafter?  These particular screams were the result of a bat swooping around and around their precious heads as they tried to fall asleep last night.  At about 10:50, Seth finally trapped the little bug-eater between two tennis raquets in Bryson's room and took it outside (fighting all of his instincts to beat the thing and never have to deal with it again...he very gingerly captured it, as he knew I was standing there feeling sad for the poor, trapped critter who wouldn't hurt any of us...only wanted to get back outside and feast on nasty bugs!), but not before completely and totally terrifying the children...Bryson wouldn't go to sleep tonight for fear that another bat was going to circle his head as he fell asleep.  Poor kid.  He drew pictures of bats today.

 

I'm exhausted.  Time to sleep. 

 

After shower #3.   :) 

 

More tomorrow.  Maybe. 

...almost.

 

Remember when you were a kid, and you decided you wanted to ride a two-wheeler?  You were maybe somewhere around six, and maybe your dad was like mine and ran along behind you, holding the seat of your bike and the handle bars at first, then letting go of the handle bars for a while, and finally, after you (and he!) were good and ready, let go of the seat and let you ride.  You fell a hundred times...you got back up and dusted yourself off...whacked your head (without a helmet on it) and skinned your knees oer and over...and finally...when you had done it more times than you would like to admit, you finally rode off, wobbly and scared silly, but without Daddy holding on.  And he cheered and clapped and jumped up and down for you.  And the whole time you were going through the process and getting so discouraged, just sure you would never get the hang of it, Dad stood right there, encouraging you to get back up and try it again, giving you helpful hints.  You will get it!  It's hard work, but if you keep at it, you will get it!   Look out ahead of you!  Keep pedaling!  Remember your brakes!  You can do it!

 

Maybe you weren't lucky enough to have a Dad like that.  If that is the case, I'm truly sorry.  I was definitely lucky.   And through the years, my dad stood next to me and "held the handlebars" again and again as I tried different things I wasn't so sure I could do.  Learning to drive.  Passing Differential Equations.  Changing the brakes on my car.  Passing my NYS Teacher Certification Exams.  Interviewing for my first real job.  Finding a husband.  On each new venture, Dad was there, cheering me on.  Encouraging me.  Offering support.  Every obstacle I brought to him, he talked me through.  I depended upon his counsel.  I sought his wisdom.  And when I did, he gave it, without necessarily expecting me to follow it, but hopeful.  :)

 

After I married Seth, I found that I needed to depend on my Dad less...and my husband more.  This was not an easy transition for me.  And there were times I deeply bruised my husband's ego and our relationship by asking my Dad for his help.  Though my intentions were good, it put my husband (and my Dad, for that matter) in a precarious situation.  I learned that seeking my father's counsel was something that, if we were going to do it, we needed to agree to seek it together...and honestly, because we worked through this together, he now calls on my Dad more often than I do!  Their relationship is one for which I am very, very thankful.  Over the past ten months or so, however, with Seth out of town, and physically unavailable to help me when things happen (my car battery dies and I have no jumper cables, etc.), I have had to ask my Dad to help me with things I have not been able to do by myself...

 

Tonight...I discovered that some of those things...well...I probably could have done just fine.  And my Dad stood by with his hands on the bike seat once again and said, "You can do it, Min.  Just think it through.  You can do it." 

 

You know how you tend to get comfortable with "your role" in a relationship?  In my relationship with Seth, he's been the "fix-it" guy.  If something breaks, I hand it to him.  If something needs to be repaired or replaced, I count on him to do it.  Need something built?  Ask Daddy.  I'm sure he can do that.  I blogged once not too long ago about how I used to be this independent woman who relied upon herself, did things women don't typically do...didn't need help.  I have gotten very dependent the longer I've been married to a man who can fix almost anything I hand to him.  And even if I'm pretty sure I can do it, I still ask for his help.  That's (nearly) all over now (there are some things that are just too darn heavy for me to handle.  Period.  I'm not that strong.).

 

Tonight, with Dad's helpful tips, I installed the linoleum in my laundry room.  See pictures in the slide show. 

 

Now, you may not think this is a very big deal.  It's really not.  I get that.  If I can replace the carpeting on the front porch, of course I can do this, right??  But that's not what I was thinking as I walked out into the family room with Dad's tape measure, a sheet of linoleum, a carpenter's square, and a utility knife.  I found myself second guessing measurements, taking them again, not making the cut in favor of taking care of the kids' ice cream bowls, avoiding the laundry room and picking up the kitchen...But when I finally settled down and just did it...I did it.  And it got done.  It's not perfect.  But a couple of pieces of trim (to cover up the fact that we were 1/2 an inch short on the long side and the fact that I didn't make perfect cuts), and you'll never know the difference.  I did a pretty good job!!  And I'm thrilled it's done!!  And I'm kicking myself for not just going ahead and doing it five years ago when I could have enjoyed knowing that I had done that all by myself (Oh, my dad did tear out the big sections of the old stuff--before I decided this was something I could do myself--that's why I said "almost" up there).  The next time there's a project (with tools and supplies I can lift reasonably and without pulling muscles or crushing body parts), I'm just going to do it. 

 

And I know my Dad will be there with whatever wisdom he may have on the subject. 

 

And if he doesn't have any...

 

...he'll be standing there cheering me on. 

Ridiculous day.  Why am I typing at 2:08 am when I have to be up at 6??  I have no idea.  Glutton for punishment, I guess.

 

We'll go backwards today.  :)

 

Just made 56 gum paste daisies.  Maybe I'll take pictures tomorrow.  Right now, they're all drying in aluminum foil in front of Seth's computer...where I watched Spanglish while making them.  I love that movie.  And hate it at the same time.  So weird.

 

Can you tell I'm exhausted?

 

Before daisies, I re-polyurethaned the steps to the upstairs.  Didn't realize that would take more than one (two, or three) coats.  Ugh.

 

Mom and I painted the green part of my stripped and polyurethaned kitchen cabinets tonight.  Realistically, I painted 3 of them, and Mom painted like 20 of them (because she is my Hero), but with that, only about 10 of them need a second coat.  Again, I'll post pictures when I get the kitchen put back together (after this weekend).  While we painted, Dad (my Superhero) figured out how to get the bathtub out of our upstairs bathroom, called my brother, and begged him to come and help him get it out of my house (my Junior Superhero).  It took all three of us, my now-pulled back, dad's now-pulled groin, and Kev's altogether-pulled-body (he seriously fell down my attic steps earlier today trying to find stuff that was supposed to come out of my attic for his wife) to actually finagle (is that a word?) it down the steps (it's cast-iron, unfortunately, and weighs something ridiculous like 400 pounds--that's not an exagerration) about 30 minutes of frustration, effort, sweating, worrying, and pushing/pulling to get it out of my front door without gouging freshly-sanded steps, cracking pretty green tile, tearing out carpet, ripping newly laid indoor/outdoor flooring, etc. and amazingly, it now sits on the front porch (with the crazy helicopters off my annoying maple tree), waiting for Seth to get home this weekend to admire.  All of this happened after a trip to McDonalds (again) because I just can't seem to pull it all together and still get dinner on the table before the kids are crying because their tummies are hungry.

 

Moving is a process which humbles a mother when she's the only one home to do the preparation for moving. 

 

For 4 hours before lunch this afternoon, I figured out my brother's math for this week.  He's taking a college math course this summer--to fulfill his final math requirement--and he hates, hates, hates math.  I love Math.  I miss Math.  Helping him with Math makes me remember what I loved about college.  And Math.  And it's wonderful.  Unfortunately, right now, I don't have 4 hours to devote to my brother's math without giving something else of value up.

 

Today, that was much of my to-do list.

 

But before that, the kids got their math done.  And their reading.  And before that, I wiped down the steps, polyurethaned them the first time, and did all the maintenance kind of stuff I needed to do for the morning (you know, dishes, laundry, shower, etc.). 

 

So, though it didn't seem very productive at about 2:00 this afternoon...

 

...it was a pretty darn productive day.

 

Tomorrow, we'll be in PA by 9...hopefully I can get a hold of the girl-I-drop-off-at-school-on-Wednesday-morning's mom before we leave.  Ugh. 

 

If you're one of the wonderful people praying for us, please pray for us Wednesday morning, early.  We're looking at a house that Seth is sure is the right house for us in PA.  We're running down there first thing because it just went on the market today (Tuesday) for a ridiculous price, and if I agree with Seth (who is totally sold), we're going to put an offer on it tomorrow...he was virtually sure, pulling in the driveway today with our new-realtor-as-of-last-night, that this is where we're supposed to live.  Please, please, if you're willing to pray with us, please pray.  We so want this to be God-led. 

 

My head is spinning.

 

Time for bed.

 

Who needs weekends, anyway??

 

I have sawdust in my ears.  And polyurethane in my fingernails.  There is a fine coat of dust over every inch of my house, flat surface or not. 

 

Again.

 

Today was productive, to say the least.  I actually got all but one thing done on my to-do list, and my dad got something done which wasn't on my list, and I wouldn't have been able to do myself--seriously.  I tried.  It did not go well.  I would have made a much bigger, less-pretty mess than he made.  He sanded my entire staircase for me...that would be 14 steps and a landing.  He's amazing.  And he has the right tools (thank heavens) and lots more power behind them.  Tomorrow, I will wipe them all down and polyurethane them.  Tonight, I vacuumed them (and the walls and ceiling around them, then the carpet in the entry, living room, the wood kitchen/dining room floor, and the laundry area...it spreads, I'm telling you), tomorrow I will finish them. 

 

On the now-completed (all but one thing!) to-do list:

 

-Math, reading for kids (we only have a tiny bit left of our curriculum!  Yay!!)

-Wipe out emptied cupboards

-Reload cupboards (which included packing stuff, throwing stuff away)

-Wipe down counters/fridge/peninsula/kitchen table/stove/cabinet fronts (the ones still in place)

-Feather dust surfaces in downstairs

-Sweep, then vacuum kitchen

-Paint last coat of trim in girls' room

-Paint last coat of white on mirror/cupboard for bathroom (realized it needed a 3rd coat this morning)

-Mop kitchen floor

-Vacuum rest of downstairs

-Find a pageant dress for Lainie (found it...decided I can't spend $55 on it!!  Will make it next week)(HA!)

-Clean oven (I love self-cleaning ovens that all you have to do is heat 'em up, let 'em work, and wipe 'em out!)

-Make list of cake supplies needed for this weekend

-Gymnastics

-Get tiered cake stand from Party Supply store (and it was on sale!  Another fantastic surprise!)

-Polyurethane cupboard doors and the wood part that the doors are mounted on (what is that called??)

 

And the one thing that didn't get done:

 

-Clean the girls' room, sort the toys in the closet.

 

That will wait until tomorrow.  Too tired tonight.  It is 11:51 after all.  Off to make tomorrow's list.  It will include gum paste daisies and calla lilies, I'm afraid...

OK, two days worth of projects to write about.  The thing is...not a whole lot of progress to report.  Frustratingly.  That's what happens, unfortunately, when the weekend is packed full.  And every weekend is packed full.  Just not necessarily of the stuff that will help us get the house sold.

 

The wedding took a lot of time.  Friday night for a couple of hours...Saturday for several.  And I was more than just the wedding coordinator...I was also the florist's assistant.  That's a new one.  So, yesterday, all I really accomplished was going to Home Depot for supplies (after figuring out what supplies we needed), hanging up two pretty purple (inexpensive!) hanging plants on my front porch, looking for dresses for the girls' pageant, picking up crap around the house (it's never ending!!!), and replacing the toilet seat in the downstairs bathroom.  Seth replaced the mirror/cabinet for me, and hmmm...did something else.  Then we went to my cousin's 16th birthday party...and we put the kids to bed and fell asleep watching the stupid tv. 

 

Today...yeah.  Seth replaced the ceiling on the back stoop...which I get to paint eventually, along with the trim outside...and the soffat that will get replaced next weekend.  Dad came over and finished sanding the cupboards...only this time, it was the part that you can't take outside, so I have DUST everywhere in my whole house.  And honestly, there's no sense in trying to clean it at this point.  Because, you see, this week, we have to sand the staircase.  Which means the whole house is going to be filled with it again.  And really, that needs to happen tomorrow night...because I have cakes to bake starting Wednesday, and I can't have sawdust still settling out of the air while I'm letting wedding cakes cool.  By the way, please pray for me.  I still haven't figured out what mousse recipe I'm using inside the cake for the one cake (each one I've tried, the top layer of cake has slid off--not good for a wedding cake), or what lemon filling I'm using for the other cake.  Argh.  This is what happens when you tell two brides you can do both their wedding cakes the same weekend, and each of them chooses different flavors and fillings for each layer of their cakes!!  So much for simplicity!!  One cake is 4 layers, 4 flavors, 4 fillings, 4 textures.  The other cake is 3 layers, 3 flavors, 3 fillings, and two frostings, one with gumpaste daisies on each layer and a calla lily topper!!  It will all work out.  It will.  My brain might just explode in the process, but it will work out.  Anyway, today I painted the old mirror/cabinet to go into the upstairs bathroom, painted the trim in the girls' room (first coat...it was so yellowed from not being painted in so long, it still needs another coat), and went to Michaels and got a fantastic deal on cake supplies for next weekends' cakes.  I love sales.  Especially 25% off your entire purchase between 4 and 8 on a day you just happened to walk in so that you could go without having to take your children.  :)  Especially when that 25% means $35!!  That's a lot of money when it comes to eating into your profit! 

 

Oh, and the horrible project of the weekend...when you see the kit at the home improvement store that says, "Repaint/resurface your bathtub in a weekend!" put it back on the shelf.  Walk away from it.  Know that when it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Because today, when Seth tried to repaint the bathtub, it didn't work out so well.  As a matter of fact, it was horrific.  We have to replace the bathtub.  And with the bathtub, comes the surround.  There went our $30 project...and turned right into a $330 project.  The thing is, it's really the only thing that could turn into an expensive fix.  Everything else has been $10 worth of paint here and there, sanding pads, a $45 cabinet, a $10 toilet seat, $5 of joint compound, $30 of plywood, storage supplies, no big deal stuff.  Unfortunately, this one was just the one that pushed Seth right up to his limit.  Oh, and he's passing another kidney stone.  Not fun. 

 

When it rains...

 

So, it was a weekend.  We want to list the house next Monday.  I don't think that's going to happen.  We'll see.  Prayers welcome.