Extreme Home Makeover (kinda)

When we purchased our house in 2005, we were thrilled.  We bought a spec home and got in the process where we could choose the paint colors, carpet, cabinets and countertops.  The rest was pretty much ordered and we went with it.

One year later, we were still very happy, but we noticed that there were these weird little lines popping up on the walls and even more so on the ceiling.  We called the builder and he sent the sub-contractor to our home to fix the issue–Just so happened to be the day that Gwen was born.  A year later after that, we called our builder again and he just never got back to us.

Fast forward to last fall.  We called the builder yet again and he said he’d have his current drywaller call us…nothing happened.  Then I read online that it was better to get your drywall repaired in the spring/mid-summer when the house is settled and it wouldn’t unfix itself.  So that brought us to Spring of 2010.  Yes, 5 years later.

Turns out that drywall repair of the magnitude that we were dealing with was quite pricey!  I freaked and called the builder.  The builder sent over his guy and the guy told the builder that it was not good.  The builder called his insurance company and long story shorter—the insurance company covered the damage.

That means two and half weeks ago, we had to move out of our house—EVERYTHING!  Even the light fixtures.  We had the house fixed and even got to pick new paint colors too.  It’s just a long and tedious job moving back in.  I’ll be posting pictures of before, during and after and I hope you enjoy!

Here are some pictures of our house right after we moved out the stuff.

Barrett's room

Master Bedroom

Our cool purple kitchen

I think I’m back…

After a much needed rest, I feel my creative juices are back and the time to dedicate to blogging.  I’ve been SO busy the few months.

One big thing happening in my life has the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.  I’ve raised almost $3,000 for SGK.  I will be doing the Minneapolis/St. Paul 60 mile walk in the middle of August.  I’ve been training my days away.  I’ve also had to struggle with plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.  As for the walk, I’m going to do my best and hope that I can walk all 60 miles.  My goal is to push myself without doing any permanent damage to my body.

Our house is having some major work done the next couple of weeks.  I don’t remember if I mentioned earlier that our drywall has cracks all over the place from where the drywallers put the wrong tape and mud.  So, all these lines are all over our house.  Then they used the wrong type of screws or nails.  So we’ve had to basically move out of our house.  Everything we own is in the basement or the garage.  EVERYTHING!  We’ve moved out!  But, I got to pick all new wall colors for the entire main floor of our house. I’m sure I will post before and after pictures.

I’m starting baby and toddler classes in the music studio.  Gwen will be in 4-K in the fall and I’ll have some freedom in the mornings to do some teaching and other work.  I’m hoping that I can start working on turning my master’s thesis project into an actual book.  I’m sure it’s a few years away, but it’s great to have a goal.  :)

Barrett has taken some serious strides in his violin playing.  He’s working on completing Go Tell Aunt Rhody and is enrolled in the American Suzuki Institute in a couple of weeks.  I teach at the Institute, so Boone has agreed to take the week off and accompany him to his classes.  I’ll have an hour off to be at his individual lesson though.

Gwen loves dance and wants to find some time to register for a class this fall…I said we have to see what their schedule is at the dance studio.

I think I’m back and ready to blog more…Maybe I’ll make a sort of schedule of things I’d like to put on the blog, but I’m a work in progress….:)

Still a little more to give.

Even though I’m not spending the majority of my time on this blog, I still need to have an outlet every once in a moon.

I’ve been working on organizing my kitchen.  The cupboards are looking pretty good.  I’d even let people look in MOST of them.  So yeah me for sticking with it.

Today is Ash Wednesday.  This year for lent, I’m giving up buying kids clothes.  Actually, I’ve only spent about $50 this whole year on kids clothes, but now I’m going to not buy a thing (unless it is needed) until Easter.   I’m kinda bummed because there are two shirts on Gymboree that I really like, but alas…it will need to wait.  :)

Wish me luck!

Follow me here….

After having lofty goals of sharing every day and sorts of great stuff, I will be posting on my Susan G. Komen Journey at

My Pink Summer

I may periodically post family updates here, but for the most part, I need a bit of a break.  I have lots to think about with my work and family and creating a new balance for next year, when Gwen will be in school in the mornings and child care in the afternoons.  Since I teach mainly after school, I miss my own children at home.  It’s a hard balance for a private music teacher.  I need to figure out a way to create a new balance for next year.  Any ideas?

I’m an Organizing Junkie

This month, I am participating in the I’m an Organizing Junkie’s clutter challenge.  That will mean that I will open my cupboard doors and show you all those things that I am hiding.  Then, I will organize and post before and after pictures.  Wish me luck!

I’m an organizing junkie

Pink T-shirt

I just stopped into my local Sports Supply store and asked about how to make a screen printed T-shirt.  They told me all about it and offered to make the shirt as their donation to the cause.  Very cool.  Now to get some more business to contribute!

Cans for Cans!

Yesterday, I got my local recycling site to commit to doubling the price of cans brought in to their center in my name and the Breast Cancer walk.  I was so excited.  Then, the office building I teach in said I could take all the cans in for a donation from now to the walk.  Very cool.

Today, I went in with three huge bags of cans and got 24 pounds of cans.  It works out to be around $14.40 with the rate adjustment.  I”m on my way!

I Will Walk

I have registered to partipicate in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for a Cure Walk in the Twin Cities on August 20-23rd.  I must admit, I am very emotional over this registration.  Yes, I am a cry baby, but this time it is for a good reason.

Five and half years ago, my mother-in-law LouAnn lost her battle with breast cancer and her loss has left a huge hole in my life and heart.  We had big plans to travel together and shop together, but we didn’t really get a chance to do either.  When Boone and I had gotten married, she was almost done with her treatments for breast cancer.  Within one year of her diagnosis of remission, her breast cancer had returned and had spread to other parts of her body.  Boone and I had decided at that moment, to try to have a baby.  We were blessed the second month of trying to conceive, with a baby.  But, it wasn’t meant to be that Lou would meet our son.  When I was 16 weeks pregnant, Lou passed away.  I was just devastated.  I wanted her to meet our baby, but I know that she watches us from heaven.  Barrett’s middle name is Todd.  After the baby Lou had lost at birth and Gwen’s middle name is LouAnn after her amazing grandmother.  We have pictures up around the house of Lou and we take the kids to her grave, but it’s not like is supposed to be.  The kids should be jumping up into her lap instead of leaving a flower on her grave and so many questions about their Grandma in heaven.

In order to participate in the Walk, I need to raise $2300 by the date.  My goal is to even raise that by my birthday (May 1st).  If and when I reach my goal, I will wear pink every day until the walk.

I think of Lou everyday and miss her so much.  I hope that someday we will have a cure for breast cancer and that Gwen won’t have to hear that she or anyone she loves has those horrible words, “You have breast cancer”.

I will be starting another blog soon with updates on my journey to the Susan G. Komen Walk.  If you’d like to help support me, a link is below.  Thank you all for your contributions to finding a cure.

My Susan G. Komen 3-Day for a Cure Walk Personal Page

Suzuki Recital Time!

Barrett and Gwen both got an opportunity to perform in a recital.  Barrett played Variation A and Gwen sang and demonstrated “Up Like a Rocket”.  It was so stinking cute.  During Gwen’s recital, I ended up laughing cuz it was so cute.  Then, I cried during Barrett’s recital piece.  Cried like a baby.  I felt so silly, but we worked so hard and for so long to get where he is.   We always look forward to recitals.  Here are a few pictures from the day and a link to the video!

Video Link to Recitals

What I Learned Today-1/13/10

I learned that I can’t keep up with a daily posting here on my blog.  I’ve been so busy and I can only imagine what the next couple of weeks is going to bring.