Micah's Before and Afters

Memorial Night the kids wanted to try out the hot tub, so in they went splashing for hours.  When we showered them off,  Micah broke out into a red angry rash on her back.  Supposedly there is a thing you can catch from hot tubs called Hot Tub Folliculitis. (Did I mention I hate hot tubs for this very reason?  That's why I will always be a shower person.) Mat and I both thought this is what it could be, but the rash kept crawling up her neck and down her legs, arms, and stomach.  She started to swell and did not look good.

Before hot tub



After hot tub



Turns out it was not folliculitis, but hives.  (still hate hot tubs) Bennedryl is the only thing calming this rabid thing at the moment.  She has developed some allergic reaction to something and we now get to be the detectives to figure it out.  Wish us luck! In the meantime, she will soak up the movies and enjoy any sympathy that comes her way.

Grandpa Dan

This is the spot where Mat's dad died almost 30 yrs ago. I think Grandpa Dan would have been proud of his son and grandchildren, even if they are a motley bunch. At least, Grandpa Dan would of had good entertainment.



To remember him, we dipped graham crackers in milk and also tried to attempt the triple Oreo.  He was very good at taking out the middle layer of an Oreo and stacking the cream in another.  He also liked to pack his cup full of graham crackers and pour milk over it and let it sit.  Mushy. I just dip and do my smooth half turn letting the milk run down to the bottom of my graham.  Everyone has their own way, mine is just always the right way. Whatever your way, come join us next year in Parley's.  I am going to make it a tradition. Don't forget your pimp hat!

Loooking for New Music

Mat found an awesome band to listen to:

Band: fun. 
Album: aim and ignite

I want to adopt them into my life, and I don't even know what they look like, but I like the way they sound and make me clean my house!

Before and Afters

Here are some before and after projects we finished up around here.

Girls bedroom that was no longer called a bedroom and it was just a room is now officially a bedroom:





My dining room chairs got a new blue too!



It took lots of different shades of blue spray paint. Each chair is a different take.









Replaced old couch with a deal from an outlet store.





What else can I do around here? hmmmm.......
fire pit
outside benches
tree house
tandoori oven
windows in the living room
coffer ceiling
paint
wood floor
(although I'm perfectly happy just thinking of my projects. promise.)

Induction

Mat was being inducted into the ocular plastics society, so naturally, we flew down...without kids. We called this our end of the long road celebration.  It was held at the Dove Mountain Resort just outside of Tucson, AZ.   We have some friends that we went to med school with in Scottsdale, so we broke up our time and spent part of the time there and part of the time at the resort.  The saguaro cacti (pronounced sa-wah-row, sounds like you can't say your awres-- say it fast 3xs), were beautiful and the heat was stingish.


Step 1) Drop off kids with Grandma and Grandpa



Step 2) Board the plane and prep puke bag--luckily I didn't use it
Step 3) See the Rodgers and pick up Julie

Step 4) Wake up and go boating



Step 5) Get those moles checked out on my back



Step 6) meditate or something?



Step 7) Swim across the lake like a whole 2 miles, I swear.



Step 8) Find a sweet shop and devour--10lb gummy bear



Who's your daddy?



Step 9) Hang out  for laughs after a pleasing dinner at the Herb box



Step 10) Mat wakes up and runs 17 mi to Tom's Thumb.  It was a Forrest Gump thing where he just kept on running. Happens all the time.



The thumb



The blooms



Step 11) Get pedicure for the first time in my seven year drought.  I even got the gel nails, which I've always wanted to try! Love them, let's see if they hold up to rock climbing.

Hope W's nails are dry?



As I always say, once you have gnarly feet, you always have gnarly feet, even if they are polished.



Step 12) Drive to the resort, enjoy fancy homemade s'mores, a drive in a Camaro, a pool and the gnats that go with it, and a nap.



Step 13) The induction dinner at Old Tucson where hundreds of movies were filmed including most of John Wayne's, Little House on the Prairie from 1977-1983, and the Three Amigos.







Dead man laughing, I think not!



My new can-can sisters all sporting way more cleavage than I'll ever sport-EVER.


Step 14) OFFICIALLY INDUCTED



Step 15) Tour the Taliesin West Winter Home by Frank Lloyd Wright. Gave me inspiration for our 70's home.




Front Door





And that ends our trip.  We flew home yesterday just in time to catch the solar eclipse as we were getting into our car. We're now playing catch up, where's my Ritz Carlton wait staff when I really need them? I can get my own dang towel and carry-ons, but will you come and do 3 loads of laundry, grocery shop, unpack, check homework, and bathe my kids?  I'll tip you good.

The conference for next year was announced to be held in Newport, Rhode Island.  One of my favorite places in the country see last year's visit. Very exciting if anyone cares to join us.

Basement The End

Here's the basement a tad delayed due to the time it takes to now clean this house for book group:) I could spend all day doting on this house.  My mind roams free and I clean, clean, clean, away! It's very therapeutic for those of you who know me.

Walking down to the basement



Entering the kid's domain.  We contracted that they only need to clean it up once a week.  Sometimes kids need to just play and not have put away everything that they just spent hours making. It was agreed, and yes it takes them half the day to clean it up. Usually you'll find Micah (lazy bones) sleeping in a corner, Becket will be playing with a toy totally unaware what he is supposed to be doing, and Gretchen totally frustrated and bossy refusing not to pick up a single thing because no one will help! What a peaceful home I live in between those hours.

I turned to the left



Enter this room



Pet hotel out of boxes.



Here's a picture looking back towards where I turned left (the hall is just outside the door)



Standing at the door of The Lab.  That's what Mat and Becket have named it.  This is where all of their inventions will take place.



A boy's cave



Guest room standing at the door



Can't wait to finish my bed with a frame!



Guest bathroom





I hope seeing the house will make you want to come stay with us.  We would absolutely love to see your family.

This ends the tour of the Harris home.

Laundry Room and Upstairs

The laundry room is to the right if you're coming in my front door. On the right, there are stairs that go down, mid up and all the way up. My laundry room is mid up, just off of the kitchen.

Standing from the outside door
 
Three of these bad boy closets (which I'll probably flip and put work stations on the other side. confusing and out of my mind, but sensible for us)
bathroom off of the laundry
 

Upstairs
We have the loft looking downstairs


Remember from downstairs?


From the upstairs


This is right when you enter the loft


Becket's room with built in desk--you can already see it's use.


With Mountain view, artist inspired


Girls bedroom: Although Gretchen will inform you that it is no longer a bedroom it is JUST a room. Bed comes Friday, I'll show you the afters.


Our bedroom:


bathroom featuring Mat's closet dead ahead.

Mirrors the tilt for the 6'3"!


I love that it just has a shower, because I am so not a bath person.Let's here it for the shower people!


And closets! Mat kindly gave me two and he took the one.


Grand tour ends tomorrow, I'm sure you are all bored out of your freakin' minds right now. I will not put you through one more single photo, that is until I get some finished projects completed.