This is Grayson's "enough with the pictures, give me some cake" pose.
Cheers!
The happy birthday song has also been sung a record number of times this week for her daddy.
10.28.2009
Happy Birthday Daddy!
So the writing could use a little work but the toddler-inspired goldfish were fun to draw. He has an upcoming fishing trip with his guys and we got him fishing supplies for gifts...going for a theme here. And did I mention that he requested lemon cake with almond whipped cream filling and almond buttercream icing? Y.U.M.
This is Grayson's "enough with the pictures, give me some cake" pose.
Cheers!
The happy birthday song has also been sung a record number of times this week for her daddy.
This is Grayson's "enough with the pictures, give me some cake" pose.
Cheers!
The happy birthday song has also been sung a record number of times this week for her daddy.
I love a man in an apron...
an apron with his own initials i might add. He's handy around the house with a toolbox and he loves to be in the kitchen. I'm not sure it gets any better! He's wanted in on the action with every cake I've made this year. So here was his chance...his own birthday cake. Yes, that's right, he iced his own cake (after much pleading with me). And then he said, "I mean, you don't really need to decorate it, just write my name or something". Yeah right. I was uber impressed with his first how-smooth-can-i-get-this-base-coat attempt.
10.23.2009
Funny Girl
Two days ago I slept in until Grayson woke up because I was so tired. I went into her room to get her up, leaned over her crib, and yawned. She looked up at me, took her thumb out of her mouth, and said "You sleepy mama?"
I'm getting Christmas shopping done ahead of time with baby sister's upcoming arrival. Today we shopped for our Samaritan's Purse shoebox together. I think I must have said "this is not for Grayson, this is a gift for somebody else" about twenty times as she was saying "this Grayson's ball!...rabbit!...crayons!". The concept must have somewhat sunk in. She's trying to fall asleep for her nap and I hear her singing "happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to somebody else". Ha.
I'm getting Christmas shopping done ahead of time with baby sister's upcoming arrival. Today we shopped for our Samaritan's Purse shoebox together. I think I must have said "this is not for Grayson, this is a gift for somebody else" about twenty times as she was saying "this Grayson's ball!...rabbit!...crayons!". The concept must have somewhat sunk in. She's trying to fall asleep for her nap and I hear her singing "happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to somebody else". Ha.
10.22.2009
Attic Makeover: FINISHED!
(if you are just tuning in, this is post number EIGHT in a series that documents this rennovation. scroll down to start at the beginning!)
This picture below is what it's all about. Shoes off, snuggled under a blanket, drawing "ferris wheels" and "kangaroos" on the magna doodle. Every time we come up here, it's so refreshing. We're so thankful that the funds and time and people came together to pull it off, that we didn't encounter any major obstacles, and that we now get to enjoy this space together as a family. To be able to have all of my sewing gear in one place, in the SAME room where Grayson can play, and Justin can chill on the couch or check email is actually sort of unbelievable. "I go upstairs?" is a phrase we hear from Grayson quite frequently now. And personally, I can't wait for the front dormer window view of the lighted Christmas balls hanging in the pecan tree in just over a month!
This picture below is what it's all about. Shoes off, snuggled under a blanket, drawing "ferris wheels" and "kangaroos" on the magna doodle. Every time we come up here, it's so refreshing. We're so thankful that the funds and time and people came together to pull it off, that we didn't encounter any major obstacles, and that we now get to enjoy this space together as a family. To be able to have all of my sewing gear in one place, in the SAME room where Grayson can play, and Justin can chill on the couch or check email is actually sort of unbelievable. "I go upstairs?" is a phrase we hear from Grayson quite frequently now. And personally, I can't wait for the front dormer window view of the lighted Christmas balls hanging in the pecan tree in just over a month!
Attic Makeover Part 7
(It's a bit tricky to capture photographs up here with the light and the angles)
The staircase is a bit on the narrow side, and we quickly realized that no craigs-list furniture was going to fit up here unless it came apart. So we took a family day trip to Ikea and found this couch and chair. It came ready to assemble in boxes, which fit perfectly up the stairs. The rest of the furniture either fit or had to be taken apart and then put back together. And actually, the couch and chair were the only new items we had to purchase...the rest either came from family, was bought at yard sales, or was already in the office downstairs and just got moved up here.
So towards the front of the house is the living room space/play room space.
And towards the back of the house is the office and sewing and closet areas. Justin's closet doors are the last project on the books aside from hanging pictures.
This is the front dormer and that little pile of black fur is Maggie with her head tucked behind the pillows. What can I say, the dog adores this spot. The carpet, the window, the pillows, it doesn't get much better. Oh yeah, and Grayson loves it too with the toys on the bookcase and the "pi-yohws" to jump on.
This is a minor detail but I just had to show my new fabric storage. Sorry if the picture is a little blurry. After an hour of blogging this rennovation I'm losing steam. This already-painted-red-and-only-needing-a-little-door-repair unit was only $5 at a yard sale, no haggling involved!
The staircase is a bit on the narrow side, and we quickly realized that no craigs-list furniture was going to fit up here unless it came apart. So we took a family day trip to Ikea and found this couch and chair. It came ready to assemble in boxes, which fit perfectly up the stairs. The rest of the furniture either fit or had to be taken apart and then put back together. And actually, the couch and chair were the only new items we had to purchase...the rest either came from family, was bought at yard sales, or was already in the office downstairs and just got moved up here.
So towards the front of the house is the living room space/play room space.
And towards the back of the house is the office and sewing and closet areas. Justin's closet doors are the last project on the books aside from hanging pictures.
This is the front dormer and that little pile of black fur is Maggie with her head tucked behind the pillows. What can I say, the dog adores this spot. The carpet, the window, the pillows, it doesn't get much better. Oh yeah, and Grayson loves it too with the toys on the bookcase and the "pi-yohws" to jump on.
This is a minor detail but I just had to show my new fabric storage. Sorry if the picture is a little blurry. After an hour of blogging this rennovation I'm losing steam. This already-painted-red-and-only-needing-a-little-door-repair unit was only $5 at a yard sale, no haggling involved!
Attic Makeover Part 6
And here were are today...finally, the big reveal...
Staircase leading from our bedroom.
Looking up.
Looking down.
We've carried this family-picture-black-frame-collection around since we've been married. This will be the third room where they have been displayed, each room with a different set-up. We've still got some to add here, we're just trying to figure out how much of this wall space is needed for little hands and parents-holding-babies coming up and down the stairs.
Staircase leading from our bedroom.
Looking up.
Looking down.
We've carried this family-picture-black-frame-collection around since we've been married. This will be the third room where they have been displayed, each room with a different set-up. We've still got some to add here, we're just trying to figure out how much of this wall space is needed for little hands and parents-holding-babies coming up and down the stairs.
Attic Makeover Part 5
Almost finished! This was the day they came to install the carpet. In the picture below, Grayson is sitting in front of the dormer window, and I asked her to show me how excited she was about the new attic space. Which, by the way, we now call the "upstairs" and the "attic" is where all of our stuff is. I'm still getting used to it.
New mini-split (ductless) HVAC system on the wall above the closet doors. Just to brag on my handy-dandy husband...he installed it. He told me he wanted to and I was skeptical, even knowing how handy he is. Then he said it would save us $1000 and I said yes, please (HVAC was one of our larger costs). A few hours over one weekend and he was done. This thing works like a champ and is perfect for this space. It's controlled by a remote in the room and it runs outside to a compressor like a regular HVAC unit.
New mini-split (ductless) HVAC system on the wall above the closet doors. Just to brag on my handy-dandy husband...he installed it. He told me he wanted to and I was skeptical, even knowing how handy he is. Then he said it would save us $1000 and I said yes, please (HVAC was one of our larger costs). A few hours over one weekend and he was done. This thing works like a champ and is perfect for this space. It's controlled by a remote in the room and it runs outside to a compressor like a regular HVAC unit.
Attic Makeover Part 4
(it's definitely recommended to scroll down to read these in order!)
This was only a couple of weeks after the last pictures. New lighting, new sheetrock on the kneewalls (I learned all kinds of new terms during this process), and new beadboard on the angles and ceilings! This is where I started getting giddy. It was actually happening! We decided to cover up the old beadboard instead of trying to salvage it or rip it down. It was one of our best decisions (thanks goes to Jon for providing a convincing argument for sheetrock; we love it). I also forgot to mention that on either side of the front dormer here in the pic below, there are spaces behind those walls that go over our front porch and Grayson's new room. Justin installed new ceiling fans in both spots before we closed up those walls for good.
New banister, at a much taller height for us. New wall with new attic access door on the left and new closet cut out for Justin's clothes on the right.
Front dormer. The windows still need some work but the beadboard ceiling!
This is a shot of the entire room sitting in front of the window in the front dormer. It's about 300 square feet as a rectangle; about 400 square feet if you include the dormer spaces. It's crazy; we had talked about rennovating this since we moved in four years ago. We're so thankful we finally did it before it was time to move out!
This was only a couple of weeks after the last pictures. New lighting, new sheetrock on the kneewalls (I learned all kinds of new terms during this process), and new beadboard on the angles and ceilings! This is where I started getting giddy. It was actually happening! We decided to cover up the old beadboard instead of trying to salvage it or rip it down. It was one of our best decisions (thanks goes to Jon for providing a convincing argument for sheetrock; we love it). I also forgot to mention that on either side of the front dormer here in the pic below, there are spaces behind those walls that go over our front porch and Grayson's new room. Justin installed new ceiling fans in both spots before we closed up those walls for good.
New banister, at a much taller height for us. New wall with new attic access door on the left and new closet cut out for Justin's clothes on the right.
Front dormer. The windows still need some work but the beadboard ceiling!
This is a shot of the entire room sitting in front of the window in the front dormer. It's about 300 square feet as a rectangle; about 400 square feet if you include the dormer spaces. It's crazy; we had talked about rennovating this since we moved in four years ago. We're so thankful we finally did it before it was time to move out!
Attic Makeover Part 3
Fast forward to July. Uncle Jon and cousin Jeremy come to the rescue! Although Justin is about as handy as it gets, he also has a full time job and we realize after months of dreaming that him doing most of the work was not feasible. I'm not sure that we'll ever be able to thank Jon and Jeremy enough for all of the work they did up here. I didn't capture a ton of "in process" shots, but they worked hard and fast to get the space finished up for us. These angles were beastly to work with. And I think I forgot to mention that there was no HVAC up here and in the summer the space acts like an oven. Eek.
We raised the ceiling a decent amount to give more head room. We could both stand up before, but with lighting, it was going to be a little close.
The "old closet" wall is gone to make room for the new. You can see a peek of the new flooring and where we store our stuff now.
Banister removed. It was about as rickety and wobbly as it got, and not nearly tall enough for us living in the land of the giants over here.
We raised the ceiling a decent amount to give more head room. We could both stand up before, but with lighting, it was going to be a little close.
The "old closet" wall is gone to make room for the new. You can see a peek of the new flooring and where we store our stuff now.
Banister removed. It was about as rickety and wobbly as it got, and not nearly tall enough for us living in the land of the giants over here.
Attic Makeover Part 2
(scroll down for the beginning of the post series)
These shots are taken standing sort of in the middle of the room, hitting all "four" sides.
One dormer to the right at the top of the stairs (the dormers are not symmetrical, actually nothing is straight or symmetrical in our house really, let alone in this crazy space).
The front dormer (that window faces the street). We looked into having this beam reworked but again, outside of the budget.
The narrow dormer.
Straight ahead in this shot below was the old "closet". We decided to knock it out and build behind that space instead to give us some more square footage. If you look closely, to the left of the hanging bags, you'll see the old "access" door. Basically our first step in all of this was for Justin to build flooring back there where there was only beams (see the silver piping). There is a lot more space back there, which falls over our bathroom, bedroom, and nursery. So he built flooring, we purged about half of this stuff, and then moved it all back into the new "attic" space. And yes, for inquiring minds, those are stacks of Christmas lights on the left. It comes with the territory in being a part of the Smith family.
These shots are taken standing sort of in the middle of the room, hitting all "four" sides.
One dormer to the right at the top of the stairs (the dormers are not symmetrical, actually nothing is straight or symmetrical in our house really, let alone in this crazy space).
The front dormer (that window faces the street). We looked into having this beam reworked but again, outside of the budget.
The narrow dormer.
Straight ahead in this shot below was the old "closet". We decided to knock it out and build behind that space instead to give us some more square footage. If you look closely, to the left of the hanging bags, you'll see the old "access" door. Basically our first step in all of this was for Justin to build flooring back there where there was only beams (see the silver piping). There is a lot more space back there, which falls over our bathroom, bedroom, and nursery. So he built flooring, we purged about half of this stuff, and then moved it all back into the new "attic" space. And yes, for inquiring minds, those are stacks of Christmas lights on the left. It comes with the territory in being a part of the Smith family.
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