Results are in

Julia was unable to attend the meeting for potential Tri-M Music Honor Society officers at her school. 

Voting was Tuesday.  She had to be a "write-in candidate" since she wasn't at the meeting to have her name put on the ballot.

Congrats Jules!

Snuggies and great music

We were prepared.  Pillows to sit on.  Snuggies to keep us warm.

And to add to that ... amazing music at an amazing venue - Red Rocks.

Julia and I were fortunate enough to go and hear Celtic Woman in concert. 

Julia LOVES their music.  I do too.  It was fun to stand next to her as we were waiting for them to open the gate to let us in.  She was giddy with excitement.

We didn't know what to expect to hear them singing and performing live.  They were AMAZING.  Even better in person - and they are amazing on youtube and on the CDs we have.

It was a great evening.

Maybe someday Julia will be a part of that amazing group.  They are from Ireland ... and of course she is part Irish.  She just needs to work on the accent.  She has the singing down perfectly.

Helping ... again!

Kendall is a great helper.  Remember my painting project and how he helped?

He is helping again!

I have been busy cleaning the very dirty blinds and shortening them so that there isn't a large bunch of slats at the base of the window.

Kendall's window he helped me with.

Kendall loves to wipe the blinds and rinse the cloth.  (I won't show you the picture of the dirty cloth and water after doing ONE window ... it is gross).

He is a great helper!

Sort of.   (Look closely ... he saw me shortening the blinds ... )

Thanks again Kendall ... I think.

I just love that kid ... he does try!

Master Bedroom ... boy what a difference less color makes!

Remember the dark maroon/red/plum color? I do ... here.

John has been gone for 16 days in Europe with his siblings and parents touring his ancestor's romping grounds ... and enjoying a cruise. While he was gone ... I was a little busy. Just a little. I didn't rush to post finished pictures until he was home (just in case he peeked in on our lazy life!)

I LOVE the room so much more! No more cave feeling. No more dark ceilings. Ahhhh....

I took mulitiple pictures and did a panoramic stitching on them (that is why the edges of the pictures are shaped a little odd)

(Sorry, blogger keeps flipping my pictures on the side.  I can't figure out why! ... so turn your head or your screen!)

I love the really fun detail in the ceiling.  You can see it better now that it isn't dark!

(sorry, on the side)  Painted walls and lighter ceilings!

(Sorry on the side) ... Painted ceilings in the bathroom!

Painted ceiling pictures of kitchen and eating area

You can go here to see the pictures BEFORE I painted the ceilings.

Much better with painted ceilings!

Stay tuned to see the transformation of the Master Bedroom that I did last week ...

Before the ceilings are painted ...

I've been painting and painting and painting.  I took pictures before I started the task of painting the ceilings I can reach.

Before:

Hallway leading to the "red bathroom".  Formal Dining Room/Music Room to the left.  Kitchen is to the right of the bathroom.

Eating area (with new light fixture - great find for $50!).  Large walk-in pantry (white door).  Gas cooktop is to the left of the pantry with a built-in oven/microwave combo (I will miss my double oven when our Soccer Boys come to visit).

Kitchen ... with dark painted ceilings.  You can barely see the piano through the doorway.

Kitchen looking into the Family Room (fireplace can be seen through peek through window in kitchen).  
What I would have done differently:  The sink is to the left of the fridge.  I would have put it in the peek through window area.  Prep sink in the island (I would have put it closer to the cooktop).  I also would have made the cabinets taller ... but then it would have made it difficult to paint the ceilings!

Looking from the kitchen towards the garage door hallway.  Coat closet with backpack rack.  Laundry room would be to the right of doorway entry.

After pictures to come soon ... I completed the ceilings on Tuesday ...

Easiest room so far

The formal dining room - aka our music room - must have been done professionally.  The paint job was well done (meaning, no drips or paint strokes on the base boards, window frames or blinds).  I even loved the color!

This has been the easiest room so far - move right in.  I love hearing the kids play the piano ... so close to the kitchen.