HelloSTranger,HouseNews,LearningTree,SCHOOL,HairStress

Hey How are you? Thank you for stopping by and reading my blog. My Name is Joie and I write about the story of my life..what moves me..pisses me off...all kinds of stuff.......(I'm re-introducing myself)...It feels like it has been that long!... I should go read my last post so I know what I left you guys with...take Five

Prayer Request!..Please pray for my Brother Rick and Sister In Law Kayla and their Babies..she is on bed rest in Columbus...Carrying Quads is a high risk pregnancy so they could use all the prayers you got! :)

okay okay!... last blog was filled with house news... welp... we have been working.....Let me rephrase that... we all have been working on it!.. Parents..friends...cousins aunts uncles... and somethings are changing!!!...First Change: my kitchen cabinets

Before: a salmon & Aqua 

Here are the cabinets primed to paint :) 

After: Cinnamon Sugar on frames and "Down Comforter" Beige/Cream for the doors

So this.. was a lot of work!?..... I thought ya..I'll redo the cabinets... that all entailed taking off all the doors..scrub/clean every surface...prime everything...we primed the inside of the cabinets and drawers just so we had a "fresh/clean" surface...Then we painted the frames... then the doors...then I got a idea from p interest to use chalk board paint on the inside of the top doors..which I did a few on the bottom..and now my after thought is I'm going to do all bottoms... we got all the doors back up..and now have to do touch ups on the cabinets...which I promise I'll get done this weekend..and will post photos...

So I took off the wallpaper too..it all came down very easily ..except the border above cabinets..still gotta do something with that

Jake in the meantime has been working on the bathroom with much help from his Dad...when we seen the condition of the bathroom I said straight up...Tub needs replace... toilet, and vanity and sink... it just did!.. I almost always take a bath..so do my kids.... there is no way..I was going to sit in a tub that left a house looking the way it did before the cleaning came in and cleaned up before we got it... So the whole bathroom is Gutted!!!!! so when you come over to see the house...the bathroom will be the finale room lol... 

The Windows... instead of going with a company to replace all our windows we are having our neighbor in Lafayette do it! Much cheaper!!!! this helps with the house budget.... :) I'm so excited for windows. I think it will do a world of difference. 

Tuesday Night we went to menards and did some shopping..we wanted to get some of our big expenses out of the way.. we bought: Tub & the sides that go on the wall..which I'm exited..b.c. the sides have two shelves...We bought a new sink and Vanity for bathroom :  

I went with white oh and we got that same mirror/medicine cabinet too :) 

We got a new Sink for the kitchen! 2 bowls and its a biscuit color...  which after pricing stuff out yesterday we are going to get some new counter tops too :)... talked about those kits for redoing them..but the type of counters we have..quality... it wouldn't be very cost effective... so I'm excited about that!... oh and a garbage disposal...one of those too... and all the fixtures that go with Sinks and tubs...that was pretty easy for me..I wasn't too picky there... As long as finish matched..I was good.....hmm..oh and a new Toilet....hmm..is that it?? ...i think so!... which the next purchases I"m most excited for are counters..and getting a quote for carpet for Living room, our bedroom, and upstairs..and stairs probably too! :)
Things are really shaping up!... I can't believe how fast this is going... once windows are in then comes the painting!... then... move in... wow~!!!! I'm so excited...I really am...dreams are coming true! 

I just can't believe all the support we are getting from friends and family. People asking how it is coming a long and feeling like they really care.. even my church family... which it doesn't surprise me..but it was so nice  to get a call saying there was a present at the church for me and to pick it up anytime or at church...(sadly I had to be called b.c. I had not been there due to fair and such) but summer usually gets me...but me and my cousin Tate stopped by there last Sunday...and I couldn't contain my  excitement... I can't remember the last time we/I had gotten a gift that I didn't know what it was...and boy was I surpised what it was!!!!: 

MY BELOVED KEURIG COFFEE MAKER! If you are a avid reader you guys know my love for this type of coffee maker...I am a religious coffee drinker...and have plotted how I was going to get my coffee maker... lol... but this is not what I was expected when I opened my gift that was signed "Your Church Family".... wow.. I pretty much showed Tatey how uncool I was b.c. this was like big news...like a high light of my year big.. lol :) which it is... but to a High schooler...a coffee maker? Ok? ... lol... but Thank you! This will be put to good use..and even Jake the Non coffee drinker will be able to use it with the raspberry ice tea we got..that his is favorite tea...I think he is just thankful he doesn't have to listen to me talk about how I really want one and how perfect the single cup one would be perfect... and how now that we have enough counter space "we" should think about buying one! lol...

Also just friends and family stopping and helping for a few hours..I didn't have to ask them..they showed up when they knew we were there and just started...I'm thankful... oh really thankful to my Mom and Mom In Law for watching the kids while I worked... its not that I can't work..but its hard to work when You are worrying about what you 2 year old is doing or where he is going!... Sondra not so much but Stu...he is Stu to begin with..but man oh man.. he is all boy and can really get himself in trouble... Also.. a friend of the family that has a good furnace that they no longer need...instead of putting in our one furnace that has been underwater and would do but not sure the longevity...we will have one that is reliable...so we don't have to worry if and when we will have to replace it...  I'm not writing all this to brag about good fortune..but really without everyone else...we wouldn't be able to do what we are doing..and I'm so thankful for everybody!  

Next Topic of Discussion: The Learning Tree (Sondra & Stu's Daycare) 

Wow... a lot of anxitety about them starting...but wow...I am so happy now... Sondra the first day was very timid and didn't want me to leave... She wasn't crying but she held on to my arm...I left her standing my a empty chair by her friend Jack from church...my last look of her lost little face...poor little thing new daycare and starting school all on the same day...  Stuart the first day didn't cry..I told him bye...and as I was walking out I hear: "Mommy???"... Second Day: Sondra no anxiety of me leaving her.... she was A OK... Stuart not so much. As I told him Bye he tried holding on and his teacher thankfully quickly picked him up and as I was walking out after dropping off Sondra was holding his blanket sitting on his teacher's lap... Now day 3 (today)... we are walking in...and approach his classroom... he cries... I don't know what else to do?...I know it is a adjustment..which there were days he would cry being dropped off to Aunt Mel & uncle Jonas house..he almost always wails when his Daddy leaves..even being left with me...So I know it will calm down... and eventually maybe he won't cry at all :) ... 

Stuart's teacher said his first day he cried off and on some..took a nap but mostly a cheerful day... the second day she said he did even better no off and on crying... so that is nice!..I like I get a piece of paper each day..telling me how he acted each day...and a personal note from his teacher... they almost always bring something home they made colored scribbled over...and seeing the calendar of events..they are always doing something...he is going to flourish and I suspect start talking more and more and BETTER... 

Lets See... after her first day.. she acted too cool.... I ask so how was school???... No fun she says! lol...I was a little indifferent about her responses....I almost think she felt indifferent or something... I asked if she sat by Jack on the Bus..and she said no I sat a lone... lol..aw...  my little loner... but yesterday when we were walking out of the learning tree she says : Mom someone actually sat with me on the bus... lol awww.. my heart melts...I ask who.."a Boy named TJ"... lol.. a boy???... she talked about how all the kids were laughing b.c. TJ was writing in her princess tablet she takes a long with her... and she had to tell them all "get a hold of yourself" b.c. of all the laughing... lol... so today when I dropped her off..I ask her so is TJ here??? as We look in the room  a little boy turns around a looks at Sondra and smiles and waves..Her reply to me.. that's him in the orange shirt....Sondra made her first friend all by herself... wow... its so funny though...I mean I shouldn't expect anything less from her..she is a tomboy....her friends will probably be boys... 

Also... You know those agenda books...ya I forgot to sign hers the first night lol..what a bad mom..I even looked at it to make sure there was nothing I had to do... lol.. so lastnight I remembered the whole signing thing...left a the teacher a note saying I'm still learning lol..and realized...Damn it ..I signed and wrote a note on Thursday not Wednesday lol.... dang... I have lots to learn... and I think once we move I won't feel so frazzled... I mean..it gets taxing working every night after you get off work..this week though I have been pretty lax... I have to abide by the kid's bedtimes especially since school starting.... 

a funny...the first day after Sondra's school..she is looking in the fridge..and I say hey what are you doing???... "Mom I'm packing my lunch tomorrow that stuff is disgusting" lol... get use to it kid..its school food! lol... for once I was already prepared and bought lunch containers for when she would want to pack her lunch. So I think we will look at the menu and decide day by day... she is all excited for chicken nuggets tomorrow... but honestly looking at the menu..its not the menu we had...every friday was school pizza..and usually chicken nuggets once a week too...I don't know what it looks like but they have "wheat pizza"..yuck...all too much for me...Feel bad for the kids...so to ensure a good mood I"m going to let her pack here and there.... 

Pinterest crazy!... Lastnight I got a little crazy and did some recipes from that addicting site! 

As follows: 

Not Sure of Name if have one..It had one line of potatoes, a row of chicken breasts, and supposed to have a row of green beans...and then a dry packet of Italian seasoning and a cup of melted butter ..out comes goodness :) http://pinterest.com/pin/32088216065884295/

 This.... It looked so easy...It was good...Sondra was too cracked up on the all seasoning..but I paid 1 something on the packet so I was going to use it all! lol... but it was good with or without the seasoning..b.c. I had to wipe off every piece of Sondra's...Stu like the chicken and potatoes..I wasn't able to make it with green beans b.c. my kids drove me crazy at Walmart and it slipped my mind to get any when they were clearly on my list...rrrrrr... but!.. anyways.. throw 2 or 3 ingredients with some seasoning and butter and cover and let it cook and you get a supper with sides...why not try?? lol... Jake's first rating was its good..but then this morning..he swears it made him feel sick... grr.. there isn't nothing I can cook without getting comments from the peanut gallery...rrrrrrrr...I tell him a lot.to thank God you have a wife that DOES cook! I don't ever blame a girl that says she don't have time to cook...or...never have had to cook...but to hear a wife say I hate to cook... makes my heart shrink a few sizes lol.... as you all know..I'm not a chef by any means...but man...there is never more pure satisfaction than sitting down to a meal you prepared with your hands... I think that is why I like canning so much..I get to see the process from the beginning...its just pureness.

Breakfast Burritos http://pinterest.com/pin/32088216064858655/ 

I hate to brag but one of these this morning was so excellent..>I was pretty proud of myself..2 minutes in the microwave a wha la....I'm betty freaking homemaker! :) ...I put in them Potatoes (leftover from supper, eggs, cheese, bacon, & sausage)..the possibilities are endless..Jake even liked it this morning and very filling!!!

Rollo Turtles  http://pinterest.com/pin/32088216065793808/ I used chopped pecans in stead of whole...much cheaper

I blame my mother for these... she loves turtle Sundays...so whenever I got to ice cream places if I'm unsure..I always go with a turtle sundae...well then I started on Turtle Cyclones/blasters/shloppie/avalance whatever!...and have made it a mission this summer to find the best one around (which I still say the delphos creamery but dairy barn is a close 2nd)...but so I have been craving a turtle blaster....and these little bites of goodness help deter it.... I hope they do...lol....

Sondra's Haircut! 

So like I have been saying a long about Sondra needing a haircut...Jake & Sondra finally relented...after a wake up call of MR Mom you will doing her hair every morning not me....they came to the light... My wonderfully expecting beautiful cousin Meg cut it...She loves it I love it...took me 2 minutes to comb it & put it half way up this morning- hair always grows...I'm glad she could let it go more easily than I did... 

 BEFORE

AFTER

GROWN UP! :) 

And I'll leave you with this! :) ...Yago I think enjoyed his cage getting bigger... I sometimes find him sleeping on his back just like this frequently>..He can't wait to move too.. more freedom..he usually stays a few night a week at ranch!

Hopefully Next week I'll show you the finished cabients and the progress of the bathroom! :) Untill next time