Busy life - love it!

Wow. . .I'm sitting here at school during a free period, trying to catch my breath!  Literally, there is NO TIME and although I love being busy, it's not so good for my husband and family. . .but with this *great* weather, consistent job at the HS for another week, my YMCA obligations, soccer, swimming, tennis, book fair, unfinished projects. . .we are out of balance for sure.

*Frederick had swimming Friday from 4-445, then soccer for Frederick, Marie, and Thomas from 5-7 p.m.  Luckily that is all in one location.  We headed out to eat together after that. . .since it was a school day we left the house at 7:15 a.m. and didn't get back home until 8:30 p.m.  Can't complain about the ability to get out and get moving though!!!

*Saturday our neighbors moved.  They've had their house on the market for 3 years (put it up just as everything was slowing down) so they were happy to finally have a buyer I know.  The kids and I had put together a little going-away gift for them and took it over. . .I had also bought a piece of furniture from them and they got that to us early Saturday morning. . .here it is Thursday morning and it's still sitting upside-down in the common area upstairs. . .ugh.

*We had four soccer games Saturday (Marie had a double-header).  I missed Thomas's game because I had signed up to do a Christmas card class with a friend -- it was so much fun!!!!  I know, I know, Christmas in September and 90+ degrees. . .but we made 16 cards and now I can check that off my list come November :)  Besides, time with friends is always precious.

*Saturday while Tom and Marie were at her first soccer game, Thomas, Margaret and I dragged down an old microwave/t.v. stand and sanded and primed it. . .we're thinking of painting it red????  It's still sitting in the garage awaiting a decision. . .I also figured out a color for Margaret's dresser and we are both happy with it. . . more on that later.  I only "get" the garage until frost hits. . .then Tom told me his car goes back in there -- !!!

*Sunday we taught our 3rd grade Sunday School class then met other neighbors out on the lake!!!  It was a beautiful, warm, perfect day.  Sensational!!!!  Hardly anyone was out there, the kids tubed and tubed, Thomas got up on the kneeboard again. . .so much fun.  I have pictures, but they are on the other computer at home. . .it gets dark (and cool) so early so we headed in about 5:00 and had dinner at the dock. . .another "treat" for all of us.  Our table for 10 was fun, fun, fun!!!  Good food too. . .

*Since everyone was tired and passed out by 8:30 Sunday night, I headed back down to the house where we had the Christmas Card Class on Saturday and helped Rene make Thank You notecards for her Community Bible Study group.  We pumped out 30 of those in about 2 hours. . .since all my craft stuff is packed up and put up for now (no time for it!) it was fun to get out and ignore homework for awhile. . .

Monday we got up for work and school and started all over again!!!  This week we've had swimming, a soccer clinic at the YMCA put on by our local university girls' soccer team, I played tennis with my singles group on Tuesday night and I also had a chance to eat out with my good friend Heidi!

Thursday is our "free" day.  The kids really look forward to the day of the week that they get off the bus and we don't have to go *anywhere*.  I have school tonight from 6-9 p.m. but I'm almost done. . .this semester (3 classes), then finish up my thesis in the spring. . .a few tests to graduate. . .then a MA in Instructional Leadership come May!!!

This was mainly a catch-up for me to remember this wonderful, full, busy life we lead and also for family that likes to keep up with us through here too.  I hope to get these pictures up. . .sometime. . .I did finally download them to the home computer this morning!!!  And if you're reading this and sent Frederick a birthday gift. . .HE has had his thank-you notes written and sealed on the kitchen counter for over a week now. . .*I* have not gotten them addressed, stamped, or out yet. . .sorry. . .:(

And life marches on. . .I am so blessed. . .

Company Girl Coffee 9.17

 Good Morning Company Girls!

I have a cup of hot chocolate here next to me (I know, it's supposed to be 80+ degrees today but it's my standard morning fare) and have just a couple minutes before I head off to school.  Do you remember last week that I was sitting here, typing apprehensively about an assignment I had at the high school?  Well, I *loved* it and it happened to be the first day of a maternity leave I was covering until they found someone. . .that "someone" ended up being me!!!  I can't tell you how much I love the assignment :)  It won't last long because the teacher is only planning on taking 6 weeks' leave and two of those weeks will be Fall Break. . .but. . .I'm really happy to not only be someplace steady, but someplace that I *really* want to be!!!

The assignment??  Culinary Arts, of all things!!!  What an opportunity our high school students have to be offered such diversity in high school and lucky me, to get to fill in here!  The class and I don't have access to the lab during the teacher's leave but they kind of wanted to do something food-related (and so did I!) so today we're making salsa.  I'm bringing the equipment and spice, they are bringing the ingredients.  These are high school kids, after all, so if they don't bring the supplies we won't do it.  I'm leaving it up to them. . .but I really hope, deep down, that everything is brought so we can do this :)

On another, really quick note before I sign off, will you consider blogging about/helping out this effort?  Children in Africa need vitamins and Meg at whatever has sent out a cry for help in collecting these.  The post is so beautifully written I wouldn't try to add anything to it.  I just know this is something my family and I will be doing this weekend.  If you click here it will link you directly to the post with details about what to do with the vitamins once you purchase them.

Isn't blogging wonderful?  It's such a great way to find needs to meet through prayer or a dollar spent, a way to find and build friendships across the miles, keep in touch, and so much more.  I would *love* to hear what blogging has done for you (whether you have a blog or just connect through them) and/or if you've ever participated in any efforts like the vitamin drive right now?  I know I've been inspired to do things these last years because of those I've met in cyberspace -- needs I would have otherwise never known had existed.

Have a wonderful, blessed Friday and I can't wait to catch up with each of you later this weekend!  If you would like to go meet some other wonderful bloggers, click over to Home Sanctuary and visit with us, either through your blog or through the comments left on the Company Girls post today!

Jenni

Happy Birthday Tom!!!

My favorite day of the year is September 14th. . .because I am no longer older than my husband. . .well, that is, until February :)

In all seriousness, it's fun to celebrate your best friend's birthday!!  He got his gift from me a couple of weeks ago -- a new television for the bedroom.  We don't have television service (except our local PBS station) but we do watch many videos together.  The kids got a great brand-new television for Christmas and it was time we had something nice for us too :)  His other gift, from all of our parents and his sister, was a new grill!!!

He and his dad got it put together in record time. . .I think that was part of the gift. . .putting it together!  He loves a good project :)

Nice looking grill, huh?  His other one was 14 years old. . .it had served its time well.

The kids got him the grill cover. . .that's what we wrapped and took out to eat with us. . .when he opened the cover he knew what his "big" gift was -- ha!  (I took a picture of that too but it's on my phone.)

And then we, of course, were the lucky recipients of his burgers and dogs the next evening :)

Other highlights from his birthday weekend:

I love pictures of the kids reading with their grandparents.  I have DOZENS of them.  Frederick was busy playing Mancala with me at this moment. . .

Frederick also got one last birthday gift this weekend from his Aunt Kathy (Nana & Grandpa brought it down) and there were some hot games of Parchessi going on!

Sunday afternoon, while I was working on school work, the Bells, the kids, and Tom took the boat out.  Thomas got up on Tom's old kneeboard for the first time.  Funny thing:  That was his birthday gift 21 years ago today.  Am I a nerd that I know this stuff????

Lastly (it was a FULL weekend). . .the Bells also brought Tom and Thomas my stepdad's old riding mower. 

Thomas LOVES it!!!  Guess it won't be a problem getting the lawn mowed. . .thank you Mom!!!

And again, happy, happy birthday today to Tom!  Twenty-one years ago today I got my first car. . .(it was also my first day of college. . .I took classes during my senior year of high school). . .I drove over to the Bell's house with my sister. . .she was encouraging me to take it over to show Tom. . .they were having a little birthday celebration and I was pretty intimidated by it all. . .that was really bold for me back then -- to show up unannounced someplace unfamiliar. . .we hadn't even been dating a month then. . .who would have guessed it would become so familiar?!?  I love how life turns out. . .:)

What a Day!

I had a day today yesterday that I could *never* have predicted.

Like I mentioned in my previous post, I finally decided to "try out" a substitute teaching assignment a high school in another county.  Mind you, I haven't stepped foot into a high school in 20 years (except to visit a friend who works in my former school) and I was. . .scared.  Scared of the parking lot.  Scared of the size of the building.  Scared of (gulp!) the students.  I'm not kidding. . .just no confidence at all.  But, well, the call came at 5:45 this morning and I said "what the heck" and accepted the job.  BTW, this particular county is on an automated system.  When a teacher enters in an assignment, a computer starts calling available subs on the list.  So, when the call comes, I answer, knowing it is a computer.  They ask you to verify that it's you, tell you which school the assignment is at, ask if you want more information, then gives you the teacher name and subject and then you can choose options:  "yes", "not this one but continue to call", or "no and don't call me anymore today". 

The system said that I would be subbing in Culinary Arts.  Hmmmm, interesting.  I found my way into the parking lot and found the front office.  They were all official there. . .asking my name and printing up a name badge, giving me a standard sub folder with the bell schedule, procedures, school map, etc. in it.  I've never had anything so formal in my experience in this area!  The secretary told me where the room was and said if it was locked to come back and they'd find someone to unlock it for me.  Well, it was locked and furthermore said "social studies" outside the door.  I found my way back to the office (luckily it was right around the corner) and she said she'd call someone to unlock the door for me and yea, the teacher is using that room until her culinary lab is "finished" in a couple of weeks.  Okay.  Went back to the classroom and someone came by to unlock the door.  Walked into an empty, empty classroom.  Just student desks and a teacher desk mainly.  No plans, no nothing on the board.  . .just empty.  I was a bit confused and started looking around.  I did find three folders in a desk labeled 2nd, 3rd, & 4th.  According to the bell schedule there are 6 periods in the day.  Hmmmmmmm. . .back to the office.  Someone else was there so I asked her about it.  She said "oh yea, that teacher only has three classes a day".  Well, that's not too bad.  When I asked about lack of lesson plans (the official folder from the office said that plans would be clearly laid out) she said "oh, you are Mrs. Z. today?  Well, she went into labor last night. . .she wasn't expecting that."  Wow.  So. . ..what should I do?  "Well, go find Mrs. W and ask her."  Again, I had to explain that I had never, ever set foot in that school and didn't know anyone or how to get anywhere.  I got some vague instructions and off I went.  I found Mrs. W (another culinary arts teacher) and she didn't know anything about Mrs. Z going into labor.  Oh well, she didn't really know what to tell me.  At this point I figured I was going to do "fine". . .I love to cook, love to be in the classroom. . .seriously, how hard can it be to babysit three classes?  She suggested that we come down to her classroom and watch "Supersize Me" but one of the 2nd pd students overheard this and said "no, please don't make us watch that again -- we already saw it when we took Wellness". . .so, again, I said I'd figure something out.  I rarely go into a sub job without a bag of tricks anyway.

I was back in the classroom for all of 5 minutes when the second office person came to me and said "I need you down in another classroom this period.  In carpentry."  Okay. . .so I followed her down to another vocational classroom where I was met with 21 boys.  The teacher in there said, "they have a movie in (it was a motorcross thing) and this group over here is playing cards.  They're good kids. . .do you have something to do?  Basically, you just need to sit in here with them for 45 minutes."  I asked if there was a class list or anything. . ."no, it'll be fine".  I guess you, whoever you are, knows best so there I sat, for 45 minutes, reading a Redbook magazine never talking to a soul.  And she was right, they *were* good kids.  No problems.  Whew.

I found my way back to the classroom I was assigned to and found a wonderful group of kids.  They all thought their teacher had had her baby but I couldn't tell them much. . .just that she was in labor last night.  They told me all about their teacher (I can tell they really like her), what they've done so far in the class this year, we talked a bit about why they signed up for the class, what they hope to do in the class this year, etc.  Truthfully, I was really beginning to enjoy these kids!  They asked if I was the long-term sub and I said no, I was just called in that morning and didn't know anything about anything.  They didn't either, obviously.

My next class was just as delightful.  Just a great bunch of kids (sophomores, juniors, and seniors).  They too asked if I was their permanent sub.  Again, I told them no, that I had seen the posting for the position but they were looking for a culinary arts person, which I am not although I love to cook and bake and learn about cooking and baking.  Mid-way through class the office person came back down.  I finally asked who she was -- she's the principal's secretary.  He was out of state today and apparently she must be in charge when he's gone?  Anyway, she came down to tell me that after lunch she needed me to teach upstairs, 4th, 5th and 6th periods and she'd find someone else to cover my 4th pd class.  I asked about their permanent sub, that the kids had been asking, and she said "frankly, we don't have anyone".  So I asked a bit more about it and she said "do you want the job?".  Well, that took me by surprise. . .I said I could come back Monday. . .but. . .well. . .I don't know?????  She seemed happy/relieved that I could come back and left.

I went upstairs to find an empty room.  Even more empty then the one I had just left.  Turns out, these kids haven't had a teacher ALL YEAR.  (And I think they're 6-7 weeks into school!).  There was a note on the door to see the teacher next door for the plans.  Basically, there were three afternoon classes, American History, US Government, and Economics. . .she was an English teacher and didn't know anything about anything, only that a teacher had been hired, for whatever reason had never been there, and I was the fifth substitute in that classroom this year.  Wow.  See?????  NOTHING about this day could have been predicted with that initial phone call at 5:45 a.m.!

Bottom line. . .I got through the day and LOVED it!  I felt bad because the kids in the afternoon classes all asked if I was going to be their teacher/permanent sub and it was *killing* me to say "no". . .because, let's face it, can you imagine having the rotating teachers that they've had?  I just didn't realize how difficult it was to get subs in that building. . .it was really a super great school!  Maybe everyone else feels kind of like me. . .you have your grade level(s) that you're comfortable with and don't stray too far.  I know I'm guilty of that and boy am I glad I took the plunge today to say "yes"!  It was fun to be "back in high school". . .the staff was so friendly and helpful. . .the kids were just great, in class and out.  Everything seemed orderly, there seemed to be a routine that everyone was accustomed to and accepted. . .just a great experience.

I texted Tom at one point today and said that I thought that God had used me today in that school (I can't share the specifics of that her but if I know you I know you'll eventually hear about it!!!).  It was just an incredible feeling to know I was right where I needed to be today.  And that couldn't have happened without His intervening last night, putting someone in my path that encouraged me to go to the high school, putting a job assignment in my path that would interest me. . .I don't think I did anything earth-shattering today or anything. . .I think He just needed me to open my eyes, I think there are things He wanted to show me, and I *do* think that maybe I made a slight difference in someone's day today.  I hope so.

Well, this was too long for anyone but me to read. . .I just had to/needed to record these memories. . .I just love it when things don't work out the way you think. . .always, the Lord has plans way bigger, way better than we can ever imagine (I look at my children daily and am reminded of that truth).

Now for the weekend!  Got home from my crazy no-break day (the parking lot wasn't bad at all!) and my in-laws were here.  The kids got home shortly after me, we skipped Frederick's swim practice but made everyone's soccer practice and I participated in a new Body Pump class at our YMCA.  Dinner at IHOP and then some visiting before we all headed to bed.  Looking forward to soccer pictures and games tomorrow and hopefully another trip to the lake too!

Company Girls 9.10.10

Good Morning Company Girls (and anyone else who stopped by!)  I am off to substitute teach this morning so this will be short-and-sweet. . .I have been putting off subbing at the HS for a long time now. . .I'm 38 and *scared* of doing it -- ha!  I met a HS teacher in class last night and she has given me the courage to say "yes" to an assignment there. . .so here I go!  It's culinary arts -- at least it sounds like an interesting class. . .although many times as a substitute teacher I'm just a babysitter -- I hate that.

This was last Saturday --  we spent the day at Dollywood to celebrate Frederick's 7th birthday.  There he is, front and center!

I blogged about our Sunday. . .just a great day together as a family.

Monday morning was Labor Day -- I had to work at the YMCA from 830-12 then we meet friends at their house for a BBQ.  It was just a beautiful, perfect weekend!  Well, until we got home and Marie had to finish her report on a famous Tennessean -- ugh.  She does not enjoy schoolwork like the rest of the kids.  That took some energy to get through :)

Tuesday morning I accepted an assignment at the middle school I interviewed at a couple of weeks ago.  I really liked it!  I have been to many of the other county middle schools but not that one.  I hope some more opportunities come along.  I raced home (the kids got home before I did) and 3 minutes later we were back out on the road to get Frederick to swimming and the other three and I took a body sculpt class.  I really enjoy exercising with my kids.  We then shot down to Chick-fil-A to meet Tom so I could feed the kids dinner (yep, after that good workout) and hand them off because I had a PTO meeting at the kids' school.  That was a waste of time, but it usually is.  Don't get me wrong, I think the PTO is a great thing. . .the organization at our school, though, does not have any goals, lacks leadership (it has for years -- I was thrown into the presidency for a couple months last year -- ugh!), and has low attendance.  But I had promised a couple moms that I would be there and I was.  I was ready to fall over when I got home at 7:30.  LONG day!

Wednesday both my 8:00 and 10:00 tennis games were rained out which bummed me out.  I did some school work though and browsed for dinner recipes.  I got my hair cut and colored (finally!) that afternoon and had homemade chocolate chip cookies -- warm, no less -- waiting for the kiddies when they got off the bus.  I tried a new recipe here. . .the kids weren't *wild* about it but I liked them.  A welcome chocolate chip cookie difference with ground-up oatmeal in it.  I also prepared dinner for the family after Thomas and Margaret's swim team practice. . .I bought a couple of season's of America's Test Kitchen on DVD and watched the episode for crunchy baked pork chops. . .they were excellent.  We're not mustard fans around here so I substituted most of the mustard for mayonnaise.  The smell was terrific and everyone liked them (with jarred applesauce, Bob Evan's microwave mashed potatoes and frozen green beans. . .just can't do *everything* homemade anymore -- ha!). . .want to continue to find new recipes to use with my family!

Thursday was busy with school work, tennis, errands, and then school for myself last night.  I got home at 9:30 p.m. and still needed to get things ready for my in-laws, who are coming today.  Tom's birthday is next week and they are bringing down his gift from all of our parents and his sister. . .a new grill!!!!  So excited about that -- the one we have was a housewarming gift from my grandparents in 1996.  Hope he likes it. . . :)

Well, it is now Friday NIGHT. . .I didn't get this published before I left this morning and then couldn't get my computer connected to the internet at school today. . .and THAT is a whole other post!!!  My in-laws made it here safely and it was raining this evening so we weren't able to get Tom's gift out of the truck or box but he did open the all-weather cover that the kids purchased for him as a way of telling him about his gift.

If you made it this far through this post, then maybe you'd like to go visit with more of the Company Girls at Home Sanctuary.  If you've never been to Rachel Anne's blog you really will find some good company, good advice, and maybe a new friend there :)  Happy Weekend All!

Jenni

Tom & His Mini-Me

When we got home from church yesterday I was given an opportunity to take a nap.  So I did :)  Tom even made lunch for the kids!  And when I got up I wandered outside into the bright, beautiful, warm sunshine to find this. . .

The men, Tom and Thomas, were hard at work on the boat trailer.  We haven't been able to go to the lake the last couple weeks because something was broken/wrong. . .something with the breaks.  Anyway, Frederick and Tom hauled the boat home early that morning before church and now here the "Toms" were, fixing together.

Notice how they're dressed?  Tom told me later that after Thomas saw what he was wearing, he went upstairs and put on the exact same outfit.  I love that.  (See that chair in the background?  I had been standing around watching them work when Thomas went and got a chair and set it up for me.  Isn't that great?!?  Aren't I a pampered mommy and wife?)

This is one of the first times Thomas has shown any real interest in learning about "fixing" anything. . .usually it's Marie.  This time Tom said that Marie lost interest quickly while Thomas stayed the whole time (they were on the second wheel at this point).

Finally, Thomas got a grease gun in his hand and was able to do "something".

 Look at that beautiful clear sky!  And I want to remember Thomas sitting on his feet like that. . .he always has.  I would think at 11 1/2 it would be uncomfortable, but obviously not.  These are the small things I'd like to remember.

And. . .because of the boys' hard work, an hour or so later we were doing this:

Dale Hollow Lake was really, really crazy busy on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend!!!  The kids thought they were back at Dollywood, riding rollercoasters I guess (that's what we did Saturday -- yes, a full weekend for us!).  While they were bouncing around on the bow of the boat, Thomas was. . .

bouncing along behind the boat :)  He had some HUGE air rides and this happened to him too:

His swimsuit came off!!!  So funny. . .but that just goes to show how rough it was out there and how hard his falls were :)  He eventually got his brother out there with him. . .

And his sister Margaret too.  BTW, I love this picture and want to do something special with it:

 Ha!  She's on. . .he's off :)

It is Labor Day Weekend, after all, and when the sun goes down, it does get COLD.

This was Frederick's birthday gift from Tom. . .and it's big enough to fit over his lifejacket (and apparently big enough to disappear in too!)

I am overwhelmed by the privilege that it is to be ME!  I am blessed beyond measure, beyond reason.

Frederick is 7!!!

Wow, how time flies!!!!  I can't believe my "baby" is 7 today.  This birthday is really hitting me hard, but I don't know why.  I think because being 7 means that he's really "old". . .and, since he's my last, that makes me "done" with that season.  There's almost always sadness in finishing something good, even though there is so much to look forward to.

Thomas and Frederick this morning.  Thomas told me to take a picture and when I put it on the computer to call it "Frederick and his taxi".  Here you go Thomas :)

Each year we take a chair picture.  It started when Thomas (11 1/2) was one month old.  This was the chair my Aunt Susie gave me for my baby shower and we propped Thomas up and sent the picture out.  My mom said "you should do that every month". . .and. . .we did!!! Then every birthday.  Then every month of the first year of all of our children.  Yes, it's the one thing that I haven't let slip off.  My husband once asked me if I'm going to make our 16 year old children sit in the chair for a picture and I said "yes".  And they will.  I will bribe them :)  Oh. . . . . .one day they'll be parents and if they disappoint me in this arena I'll never let them forget it when they embark on parenthood. . .ha!

Right now this is where our chair lives.  In the beginning it was my "nursing chair" in the baby's bedroom.  Then we didn't have it for awhile (I forget why) and it was at my in-laws house. . .so there might have been 1-2 birthdays where the picture was taken a week or so out.  Now it lives in our bedroom and I love it.  I use it all the time.  Here's a shot of Frederick from last year:

And going back a little further. . .here are "the brothers" two years ago. . .

Still in our bedroom. . .just a different place.  And the brothers this morning:

O.K, here's one more.  But it's not from 2007 because somehow we have "lost" all the pictures from the second half of 2007.  Tom insists that they are *somewhere* and I hope he's right. . .I don't think I have hard copies of most of these!  But I did find this one from 2006, when the chair "lived" in my in-laws living room (we had just moved that summer and didn't have everything down here yet). . .doesn't he look so small????

He was three.  I remember that he got blue tennis shoes and a blue stuffed dog from his Aunt Kathy and his first bike and had a dog on his birthday cake.  I love that I have pictures to remember these details (although I didn't have to look at any pictures for that list. . .know that someday I will. . .and that kind of stuff is important).

Birthdays are special in our family.  That person is kid of the day.  And they get to pick out any restaurant for dinner.  Or sometimes they just ask for a special dinner.  Every-other-year they are allowed to have a birthday party.  This year is birthday party year, but Frederick decided he wanted to go to Dollywood instead.  Yea!  I *love* it when the gift is a memory.  (Parties or trips are instead of a gift.)  He will get a few phone calls, open his gifts after dinner tonight and tomorrow we'll spend the day together. 


I now look forward to this year.  Your soccer, your school, your swimming, and now scouts.  Yea!!!  Can't wait to see how you grow and change. . .we are so privileged to be your parents.

My (Mostly) Clean House

There are few things in life that make me as happy as a clean house!!!  I think most people can say that. . .there's just something about having everything in it's place, clean, and happy.  There's a difference between "perfect" and "clean" in my book. . .like the title says, it's *mostly* clean.  Meaning, the kids didn't clean under their beds.  All the trashes haven't been taken out.  There are still piles.  We LIVE here.  But yesterday, home alone, I was happy to be surrounded by peace and quiet and the idea that I have a clean house :)  With that in mind, I took some pictures because I truly love my house and want my kids to remember where they lived during elementary school.

It's funny how different the lighting is in all three of these pictures. . .and they were taken all within one minute of one another!  (Yep, still using the kids' camera. . .)






 

I want to remember the "little" things. . .
Marie (9) is working on a 500-pc puzzle in the dining room right now. . .
She goes to it every chance she has. . .it's fun seeing her excited about something. . .

And I'd still like to have a window put in on the left wall. . .and. . .

 

Walking into the kitchen from the dining room

The kitchen from the garage door. . .

The kitchen from the living room



I'm "seeing" things in these pictures that need to be done. . .still want to cover those bar stools!

Tom wants to re-do this room. . .I just don't know what color??? 

I'm really happy with the choice of paint color in here.  I'm glad we didn't go with the blue in the artwork above the armoire. . .it would have been too much.

I have an idea of what I would like to make for that far wall next to the window beside the cross stitch I have there. . .

I also really, really like the paint color Tom picked out in here. . .but the diffused light from the gold curtains is not doing it justice.

No one *ever* sees the common area upstairs this picked-up -- LOVE it!!!!

Again, same camera taking pictures just seconds apart. . .the lighting is sooooo different.

I'd like to make some more of those collages. . .it has been YEARS since I've done one. . .

I also love, love the new shelves and bins up in the bathroom (in the background) that Tom & Fred recently put up. . .it's a great storage area!!

This is as good as I get when I allow the girls to clean their own rooms. . .but so glad they did it and love NOT seeing piles of Margaret's clothes right there to the right as you walk in (like usual. . .)

They are lucky to have a room with so much space in it. . .

And just to 'keep it real' here is Margaret's corner (desk & bookshelf & hooks). . .but it's hidden behind the door -- ha!

Thomas's "side". . .

Frederick's side. . .but he's still 6. . .all my other kids still had piles of toys laying around the house at 6. . .

And I didn't really want to post this last one, but if I want the kids to have memories of this house (or maybe we'll still be here in 20 years, then they will be memories of how it *was* -- I hope) this was part of it all.  The reason we bought the house. . .having this extra room for guests and such.  It's been my craft room, storage room (still is) and we keep trying to make it a friendly area to be in too but the "junk" keeps getting in the way.   The dresser I want to re-do for Margaret is along the left back wall. . .and just various things I don't know what to do with . . .those orange bins (6 of them!!!) are all pictures (and I don't have hard copies of anything from the past 3 years!!!). . .the stuff under the window and to the right is all "craft stuff" and my, have I weeded that out!  So. . .kids. . .I hope this room still doesn't look like this in 20 years. . .but, right now, storage is limited and this is the best I can do.

I hope I've redeemed myself a little bit since this post. . .to be fair, the kids are back in school and it's a little easier to keep things "as is" for a longer period of time.

And in the interest of full disclosure:  the kids were home exactly 7 minutes yesterday from the time the bus dropped them off and we were off again to swim and play tennis. . .backpacks were strewn across the living room, the medicine basket (as well as hats & gloves. . .huh???) was emptied out onto the kitchen table, two pairs of shoes were left in the living room, and there were two used cups sitting on the kitchen counter to greet me when we got home again at 7:30.  Sigh.  But "they" say we will long for these days.  And I believe "them" :)