Quick House Update

Thank goodness it's getting cooler because our computer is in the garage. That's why I haven't been blogging. But since it's now only about 98 in here I'm sweating it out on the computer to update the blog.

Cabinent bases are in. Notice the white insides? They were supposed to be wood. That was only the beginning of our cabinet maker headaches. Seriously, what is wrong with cabinet makers? He's the reason our remodel has come to a COMPLETE stand still!!!!!

Here's the new floor. Remember what the old floor was? BIG improvement!!

To faux or not to faux? That is the question. I wanted to do a poll but I there wasn't enough time. So we fauxed. (Fauxed? Is that a word?)

And that is what happens when Mommy is trying to wear too many hats at one time: mommy, wife, painter, part time contractor, floor specialist, chofer, tutor, maid . . . .etc. Obviously, I need a little more practice at making the mommy part better.

We Already Miss Him

So how did the Daddy Daughter campout go? Well, Alexandria had a blast. I'm pretty sure Isabel had a great time too even though she fell in the mud. From what I heard Papi was a natural at the whole camping thing. And why shouldn't he be? He practically grew up camping. He used to nap in the trees. The girls love spending time with their Papi which makes today even harder since Papi left this afternoon.

I know Alexandria understands but Isabel has no idea. She keeps asking for Papi and I have to tell her that he's not coming back for awhile. The boys think that if Papi is going to play baseball that they should be able to go with him. They've already asked when is he coming home so they can go to the baseball game with him. I think every time he leaves it just gets harder because the kids understand more and miss him more as they get older. Plus there's the fact that our house is still not finished. It was so helpful to have him around because he can do things that now I'm going to have to call someone to come do (like putting the toilet back on after the tile guys take it off or moving the fridge back to where it goes after the cabinet guy moves it). He will be VERY missed.

This season he's playing in Culiacan. It's a very dangerous part of Mexico so we're not sure if we'll be going this season. I'll post the website where you can follow him soon.

Daddy Daughter Campout Help

Alexandria is so excited because this will be the first year that Papi has been home to take her on the Daddy Daughter campout. There's only one little problem, Papi has no idea how to get there. So anyone in the ward whose reading this and your husband is going could you give me a call or email to let me know if Papi can follow your husband? The whole campout thing should be interesting since it will be Papi's first time camping too. :) Thank you!

Sorry for all the very boring, only the basics posts but as you can tell our house is a disaster area and right now I'm writing to you on my knees because the chair is being used to hold things on outside.

Anyway, on to the details. All the texturing and drywall is done. YEA!! All the workers so far have been great. My only complaint so far is the drywallers. They were not the nicest, they took the longest because they would show up at 2 or 3 and they left this after texturizing . . .

Not pretty. But they're done so on to better things like painting. Today we got the ceiling painted and the kids got to help prime the walls. :) Stripped down to their undies of course so their clothes don't get painted. Good thing too. You should have seen their hair when they were done. Aren't they great helpers?

Now we just have to choose a wall color. I could seriously use an interior designer about now. Why is it I can come up with great ideas for other places but when I get to do my own house I'm clueless? So I'll take any advice.

More Updates

Our computer cabinet has been wrapped in plastic and taped off so I didn't post updates but here's the latest.

Yesterday we had some issues with the fireplace. It wasn't going to hold a TV even after I told the framers over and over that we would be hanging a TV on that wall. And there was no room for AV equipment. So we had to tear down the newly framed wall and start over.

There, that's better. AV conduits in place and studs to hang the TV nailed in.

Tearing down the beautiful (said sarcastically) popcorn ceiling. (YUCK!)

Fireplace sheetrocked.

Oh, yes and I even got to blow the insulation back into the attic. Why did I have to do that? Well, that's a whole other post in itself.

Then there's the kids and the dog. What do they do while we're hard at work? Well Chloe likes to roll in the plaster.

And the kids dump all the toys all over. Great FUN!

Fitness Friday - Do Sugar Substitutes Make You Fat?

Quick Quiz: True or False

If you're trying to slim down, you should switch from sugar to an artificial sweetener.





Did you say false? You're right!

According to early studies, the fake stuff could actually lead to overeating. You may not be able to tell a difference but your body can. In a study, lab animals fed saccharin-sweetened yogurt consumed more calories (and packed on more pounds) than the animals that ate the treat with real sugar added. Like humans, animals are conditioned to expect lots of calories from sweet-tasting foods. But it seems that no-calorie substitutes may put the brain and the body at odds. The brain says, "Mmm, sweet and satisfying," but the body says, "I need more." And we know there are already human studies linking diet soda to excess weight. (Here's another reason diet soda may be bad for you.)

So when you want something sweet . . .try one of these ideas:
Pile on the berries. These naturally sweet treats are good on cereal, in yogurt, or by themselves in a bowl. And they're chock-full of fiber.
Think quality, not quantity. A few nibbles of the richest dark chocolate can be more satisfying than a pound of cheap milk chocolate.

It's Going Fast - (Knock on Wood)

Here's yesterday.

Wall taken down. Big beam (a.k.a. Mr. Beam) added for support in the conventional framed roof.

Fireplace framed in.

Here's Today

Sheetrock went up in the kitchen. Air vents done and electrical all wired.

We're having a small issue with the fireplace though. Even though I told the framers several times that eventually we would put the TV above the fireplace, it seemed that no one stopped to think about where the wires would go and the electrical stuff. So now we're having to hammer out the bricks to make room for that. I'm not so sure that's going to work either. But here's the kids enjoying their new "stage".

We Have Lights!

Here's the newest addition: can lights and most of the electric is done. Air guy comes tomorrow, maybe framers too. :)

One good thing about no kitchen, you can bath the kids and do the dishes all at the same time. Although not the same water. ;) Use the sink for the dishes and the bathtub for the kids.

Uncle Juan's got to LOVE this

This is one of AJ's favorite lines from the movie "Hook".

"Don't mess with me man, I'm a lawyer!"

Chef Cesar

Our kitchen is COMPLETELY torn apart but Papi keeps on cooking.

No updates today. Nothing happened. We had a few people come look so they knew what they would have to do but no work done. :( This is why it's going to take forever!

Time To Update

Remember this?

The work begins.

We are finally doing it! We've been thinking about redoing the kitchen ever since we moved in and it's finally happening. BIG BIG JOB ahead but it has begun.

This was the conversation we heard ALL DAY between the boys.

AJ: "D, how we gonna fix this D?"

DJ: "I dunno. Papi, how we gonna fix this, huh?"
Our kitchen now.

We're also raising the ceiling. Who knew there was so much insulation up there?

I'll post updates.