Organizing the Attic

One of my goals this summer before the baby comes was to organize the attic. For some reason I always think we have a bunch of junk just sitting up there when in reality it's stuff that we don't want to get rid of - like camping gear, holiday decorations, computer cords, school supplies, winter clothes and keepsakes from growing up. The main thing I wanted to do was the transfer everything from boxes to storage totes and label everything. Mission accomplished! I had been planning to have a garage sale since in my mind there was just junk up there but I only came away with a few things that I felt we didn't need to keep.

Our attic varies based on the temperature and so right now it's pretty hot and humid up there. I had originally been making my own labels that were nice and big and sticking them on with packing tape but the next day when I went up to put something away I saw that they had all peeled off on one side. I wasn't sure what to do and when I told a friend about it, she suggested that I use tags. These are on the small side but the package was $1.60 for 100 so I thought I'd give it a try. The storage totes have a small hole in the handle on both sides and so I threaded the string part of the tag through it. I just love it because it's all the same and has some form of identity even though they are on the small side.

One of the things that I transferred from boxes to storage totes were a few of Jere's things his grandparents gave him when he was a child. His mom's parents collected and gave him a train set. I would love to see it set up someday again.

Jere's dad's father gave him lincoln logs. Jere says he thinks that his grandpa made all of them for him. I am in love with these because our little guy can play with these as a toddler. There are tons of them in all sorts of sizes and shapes! These types of things are definitely a good reason to get out in the storage room and go through the totes/boxes and just remember what you have.

One Track Mind

In the Jeep dropping Jere off at work...

Jere: "Wanna come in and get a soda? My treeeaat."
Reagan: "Hmmm I don't know, I should probably get going..."
Jere: "Are you sure? You could get a pepsiii or a coooke...I'm paying!"
Reagan: "Okaay."

Inside Jere's work...

He puts his money in the machine and presses the button for a Dr. Pepper.

Jere: "What kind do you want?"
Reagan: "Umm I'll have a coke."

He puts his money in the machine and presses the button for a Dr. Pepper.

Jere: "Gaah! I have to break another dollar now!!" More money goes into the machine. "Okay now YOU press the button so I don't do that again..."


Prime example of my Dr. Pepper loving husband.

List Time

Last night I made a list of all the things we need to do to finish the house. I just want to make it clear that Jere asked for this so we know what needs to be done. I made it so that it's a step by step list of what needs to happen in order for other things to happen. It looks daunting but I will start out having faith that we can be done before school starts in August...Maybe our list will make you feel better about yours. :)

Work By Room

Kitchen

1. Paint Vanity (replacing work table)
2. Remove Corner Cabinet if Fridge is too Tall
3. Install New Refridgerator
4. Paint Trim in Kitchen (trim already up)
5. Find/Paint Floor Trim
6. Install Floor Trim
7. Install Shelves & Cabinet Next to Microwave
8. Finish Electrical for Dishwasher/Microwave
9. Finish Plumbing for Dishwasher/Microwave
10. Install Dishwasher & End Panels for Countertop
11. Install Counter Tops (3 areas)
12. Install Sink
13. Install Faucet
14. Install Light Fixtures (Located in Attic)
15. Remove Gas Pipe Behind Stove
16. Paint Ceiling?
17. Fill Wall Anchor Holes
18. Paint Filled Holes
19. Fix Electrical in Back Part of Kitchen?

Front Bedroom

1. Find Door, Closet, Floor Trim
2. Prime/Paint Trim
3. Install Floor Trim
4. Install Door/Closet Trim
5. Caulk All Trim
6. Spray Paint Doorknob
7. Install Doorknob
8. Fix Mud Coating?
9. Stain Vent Cover Same as Wood Floor (Espresso)
10. Prime/Paint Built-In's

Back Bedroom

1. Find Door, Closet, Floor Trim
2. Prime/Paint Trim
3. Install Floor Trim
4. Install Door/Closet Trim
5. Caulk All Trim
6. Spray Paint Doorknob
7. Install Doorknob
8. Fix Mud Coating?
9. Paint Ceiling
10. Stain Vent Cover Same as Wood Floor (Espresso)
11. Buy Curtains, Move Red Curtains to Baby Room

Living Room

1. Find Floor Trim
2. Prime/Paint Floor Trim
3. Install Floor Trim
4. Buy Trim for Vents (Quarter Round?)
5. Buy Trim for Front Door Header
6. Prime & Paint Door Header Trim
7. Install Door Header Trim
8. Fix Mud on Ceiling (Ceiling Hole) /Fix Other Mud Areas?
9. Paint Ceiling
10. Caulk Door Trim
11. Paint Door Trim

Bathroom

1. Caulk Floor Trim & Door Trim
2. Paint Floor Trim
3. Recaulk Bathtub/Surround
4. Cut Hole For Vent, Put in Metal Vent Cover

Basement

1. Shopvac Webs & Dirt
2. Tear Down Room Walls
3. Add A Light?
4. Fill Cracks in Walls/Floor
5. Paint Walls

Attic

1. Bring One Box Down at a Time to go through/organize
2. Install Fixed Attic Window/Check Other Window
3. Install Light?

Front Yard

1. Roto-till Roots on North Side of Front Yard
2. Up Keep Front Yard (grass seed, water, mow)
3. Remove Flower Bed Border on N Side of Porch and Seed w/ Grass (Spread Stones on N Side of House)
4. Border Tree w/ Cobblestones and Mulch

Back Yard

1. Remove Swing Set
2. Build Steps Out from Back Door (Brick/Stone)
3. Build Patio Out the Back Door (Brick/Stone)

House Exterior

1. Buy Paint
2. Prime Exterior of House
3. Paint Exterior Trim
4. Paint Exterior Walls
5. Paint Porch

Work By Project
This is basically from the list above, just organized by project so that we don't end up doing the same thing four times such as painting trim.

Organize Trim
Kitchen, Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom, Living Room

Prime/Paint Trim
Kitchen, Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom, Living Room

Install Floor Trim
Kitchen, Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom, Living Room

Install Door Trim
Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom

Install Closet Trim
Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom

Caulk Trim After Installed by Room
Kitchen, Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom, Living Room, Bathroom

Spray Paint Door Knobs
Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom

Install Door Knobs
Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom

Stain Vent Covers
Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom

Fix Mudding on Walls
Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom, Living Room

Paint Ceilings
Kitchen, Back Bedroom, Living Room

Pregnancy Update

I am 13 weeks 3 days pregnant. Our baby is the size of a medium shrimp and about 3 inches long. 3 INCHES! That's huge! (considering only a couple weeks ago it was about 1 inch...)

Here are a few tidbits about my pregnancy so far.

• I haven't thrown up at all. (At times I have felt bad for other people that I haven't, then I remind myself to be thankful and that it's dumb to have false guilt) My pregnancy isn't a breeze but I'm thankful there hasn't been any throwing up. It may still be in my future for other pregnancy's.
• I was ravenous in the beginning and that's faded away in the last couple weeks. Now I'm only starving sometimes.
• I've been sooo tired and my husband loves it. (me asking to go to bed at 8:30pm is NOT normal)
• I'm starting to notice my belly is getting bigger but it's nothing crazy. (mostly I can't suck in anymore, I have to stick it out)
• If I stay up too late, I feel sick.
• I burp way more than I used to. (and that was quite a bit)
• The past month has been filled with gagging...on air, water, toothbrush, burps and loose hairs stuck to stuff that I have to pull free. (I hate loose hairs)
• I have heard the heartbeat three times and I'm thinking I need to go in again before my appointment on Feb. 9th to hear it again.
• I have taken to wearing black sweat pants and jeans (with a rubber band on the button) to work and I don't care if it's not the dress code.
• I have wanted to eat pretty much only simple things like sandwiches, quesadillas, soup, yogurt etc. No crazy prepared meals like... (actually can't think of any right now but I'm sure Jere could list a few that he's made and I haven't been able to eat)
• My husband has made me fall more in love with him because of his service and good attitude. When my stomach hurts and I just need to lay on the couch he doesn't complain.
• He rubs my hips and thinks of my needs.
• He makes sure that food is promptly available because he understands that I'm starving and his overall attitude and love has been so much so it makes me crumble to think about it.
• The love and excitement he has shown already for this baby reaffirms the knowledge that I already have that he will be a wonderful dad and he is just as excited as I am about the little things.
• Everything he has done means so much to me and I feel so supported and loved even when I have a bad attitude. He reminds me that our life is good and his constant mindset is contagious. I love him.

I Stand in Awe

After a grueling semester, the results have been tallied and the answer came back:

Jere is amazing.

After working 40 hours a week and taking 18 credit hours at a local university we have his grades.

A...A...B...B...B...C

I am so proud of him! It was a rough semester for both of us but we did it and he did well! We'll keep pushing till he's done but now we know that less hours at work will help more than we thought for the spring semester. YAY!

Making Pizza

A couple weekends ago, I decided we would make homemade pizza. I would like for it to become something we do regularly on the weekends, but it seems like our lives are just too random right now. As is usually the case, I try to start out making dinner and Jere takes over. When he cooks the food it tastes and looks so much better that I never put up a fight about it. When he sees I'm not helping anymore he always asks me to come back and help. The problem is that me "helping" usually entails standing there holding things for him. I love him.

Jere worked at a pizza parlor in highschool and he knows all the stuff you're supposed to do when fixing the crust. I never would have thought to poke holes in it. I just don't know stuff like that...

I helped put the toppings on. Doesn't it look good???

Our pizza is finished and it was seriously soo good! I don't know the cost of it but next time I buy everything for it I'm going to price it out. I really enjoyed it.

Dear Flight of the Conchords...

Jere in the bathroom this morning, in a loud voice: "Hello"..."Hi"

Reagan, getting dressed in the bedroom wonders who he's talking to...

Jere in the bathroom again: "Hello"..."Hi"

Jere comes into the bedroom.

Reagan: "Who are you talking to?"

Jere: "I have that Flight of the Conchords song 'Jenny' stuck in my head. Heello. Hi. Hello man sitting in the park."

Reagan: "Ooohhh" ::smiles::


::Driving to work this morning::

Reagan while putting on mascara in the Jeep: "I was kinda hoping you could call the Pella guy to see if he'll give us a discount. I've had to work with him a lot and he always sounds kind of annoyed when I talked to him."

Jere sits and stares and drives...

Reagan looks over to see if he's thinking or brooding or what...

Reagan: "Did you hear me?"

Jere: "No."

Reagan: "You didn't hear me just ask you a question that was several sentences long?"

Jere: "No."

Reagan, flabbergasted: "I can't believe you didn't hear me! What is going on in that head of yours?!"

Jere, a little flustered: "Nothing! My head is empty!"

Reagan starts stuttering about to say something about how she wishes she could have an empty head and gets cut off.

Jere: "Actually, that's not true... I have that Jenny song playing in my head."

Reagan, incredulously: "oh. my. goodness."

Dear Flight of the Conchords,

Please stop messing with my marriage.


Sincerely,
Reagan

Snapshots of my Life.

The perfect weather and gray skies that makes the real me rear it's ugly head. It's like I'm a werewolf and this is my full moon.

My love, coming to eat with me.

My LOVE trying to run me over after spending 30 minutes with me and realizing for the umpteenth billion time that I'm crazy. But he's just so in love, he can't help himself. So instead he tries to run me over every time he has this realization.

Trying to get away as I snap pictures of him. "Agh - you're crazy!"

Until the next time I can show you how crazy I am... Goodbye my love...

A Study in Taking Pictures

End result "stop taking pictures of me!"

Well, I have learned that he doesn't like a flash while eating his dinner.

Sweet Husband = Clean House

Over the weekend I was trying my hardest not to have expectations. Plans kept changing, little by little and I tried to just go with the flow. On Saturday night we got home late and the goals I had had up until that point had not been accomplished. Jere decided to read for an hour and a half while I ran to Walgreens. I would then come home and pick up around the house and clean up like I had been wanting to do. As we were getting out of the car to come inside before I left for Walgreens Jere said "oh well cleaning up shouldn't take very long".

Here's the thing, I am not a quick picker upper. For some reason it takes me about four times as long as the average person because I HAVE to go through every single little thing. Think about where it should go and then make piles of what goes together. THEN I rush around, putting those piles away and get side tracked on a million other things that I see while doing it. In the end I don't get very much done. As I am walking out the door Jere is standing there looking at me after telling me it wouldn't take me very long to pick everything up. (Our whole table was covered and laundry baskets were sitting out with clothes in them etc.)

So I go and do my thing at Walgreens and get home, open the door and the living room looks like this...I kind of had to do a double take because I was so surprised. It feels so good to come home with all the candles lit, lights down low and no clutter anywhere!

I did the dishes so the kitchen was clean before bed and laundry got done on Sunday. One thing at a time, taking it slowly. It's a little maddening but stuff got done right?

Jere is so good at this type of thing and he knows it. He timed himself and it took less than five minutes. He puts things away and I never wonder where stuff has gone. Somehow he just sweeps through and it's all good. I wish I had that talent!

Also, we moved the hutch into it's rightful position and got all the dishes put away in it! I love it.

Previously trashed table - totally clean!

How I Know

I know Jere will be a good dad someday. I know this because kids love him and he is always up and ready to love them back. He's constantly a human jungle gym and knows how to put them at ease.

Cinderella Look Alikes

Who looks more like Cinderella? Jere or Reagan? Be honest here...

I don't know, I'm thinking Jere's hair matches up pretty well with the standard Cinderella look...

Mobile Uploads

I've discovered a fun new thing. Taking pictures with my phone. Okay, I know that people have been doing this for a long time and I am way behind the trend but give me a break. I take a lot of pictures of myself to send to Jere :)

Driving to Manhattan, KS.

Jere and I helped his sister move.

Following the moving van.

Jere messing around.

Flat plains of Kansas

Dinner at "Popeyes" after our long hot day of moving. And after a 3 hour nap...

Jere likes to sneak in random distractions when I'm taking pictures...

The next few are me..

Camp Enosh workers!


I think I'll start posting my mobile uploads every Monday!