Let's get this party started!

I just thought I was busy when Tucker and Lauren visited. My feet have been on the fly ever since I dropped Lauren off last Sunday. We passed a good afternoon celebrating Out of Town Son's birthday that day at his new house. Monday I made it to a favorite shopping mecca and loaded up on towels, sheets and bathroom accessories for the new space. I nearly got the vapors at Bed, Bath and Beyond when my checker was ringing me up. Love the new stuff and purchased a few fun items that I found whimsical.
The rest of the week has morphed by at the speed of sound and in a blur of cleaning and straightening. New floor guy showed up yesterday to try and fix the boo boos of first floor guy. Still have unresolved floor issues. But the beat goes on and all the kiddos will arrive tonight for a weekend of fun. Our Juneteenth! To celebrate all the wonders of the June births (all three of our children were born in June) and celebrate our new space!
I have done all the real cooking that is going to get done this week. Beef brisket, tater salad, pasta salad,  chicken salad, humus...copious amounts. Will crock pot some green beans tomorrow and whip up some cole slaw.
Bed for the new bedroom was delivered a short while ago. Pics will be forthcoming. Too busy to do much posting today. Will have time next week to tell you all about it. Party on Garth! Party on Wayne!

Thursday. Already.

Man. This week is going, going. Lauren is still with us. She almost jumped ship yesterday. She got homesick. But we found some things to do yesterday and didn't have to go to town for anything. That made the day better. For both of us. We made a cake together. We added fresh strawberries and some runny strawberry preserves that I made last year. The icing was cream cheese, cool whip, and more runny strawberry preserves. Lauren added sprinkles. In the end she really doesn't really  like the icing at all. And the cake only a little. But she had fun licking the bowls.

She had a fun time at the YMCA Art Camp. We have gotten to swim two nights in a row after supper. Today I hope we can make it to the pool in the afternoon. Last night she went to bed right before 9:00 and slept until 7:00. It will be a good day. 

*****

Furniture was delivered yesterday! Lauren got to sit on everything first. She and her Granddaddy love the new recliner that sits smack in front of the TV. In the old den

TV heaven. 

New den furniture. I have already tweaked it a little. Added a Pier One table in the corner. One I already had. Lamp that Daughter gave me years ago sits on the table in the corner. They look great. One more chair will arrive soon. It had to be ordered. Even though it is the same as the other chair. It just wasn't in stock. 

Early this morning we heard a loud noise and looked out to see our top soil arrive. It is good dirt. Sifted. 

This new dirt will be spread around the yard. If I were a kid I would be in it. 

******

Been to town and back this morning. Lauren spent her two dollars at the Dollar Tree. She purchased grow creatures. They are in water. In buckets. In the bathroom. Right now. She thinks they have grown already. 

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Swimming this afternoon should wear us both out. I am already tired. My hats off to young mothers. I know I did this. With three children. But my gosh. I have forgotten how exhausting it can be. Kudos to all you mothers out there. May the force be with you.

Update: Breaking news...

Screened porch completed!!! Check it out...

Just add a few chairs and some people. Heaven on earth.

View from the back.

View from the front. 

New den before furniture and window treatments. 

New rug. 

*****

The floor man promises to be here Thursday to try and rectify the boo boos. It is getting comical. We will be glad to see the last of each other. 

Grandchilluns and screened porches...

We wrapped up Tucker's visit last week with the loose tooth. Got the report last night that the tooth was lost in the fountain at summer camp. Trey knocked it out of his hand after he pulled it hisownself. Hopefully the note got written to the Tooth Fairy last night and compensation was forthcoming. Last week Tucker mentioned getting a 'paycheck' from  the Tooth Fairy.
We picked up Lauren on Sunday night at our half way meeting spot. The Piggly Wiggly parking lot. She stayed up late Sunday night and woke up way too early Monday morning. She crashed on the coach before 7:30 last night. Mr. Macho carried her to bed but said it was probably the last time he will do that. She is getting too big to carry.
Love having Lauren come visit. It is happy/sad that she is growing up. I have to confess that she is an easier visitor than Tucker simply because she is a girl. And is older. Today we are going to try to pick up a rug for the new den. Furniture will be delivered tomorrow and we need to be ready for it.
Here are some pics to catch you up...

Tucker let Granddaddy put him through calisthenics. He especially liked to run across the yard in animal fashion. Granddaddy would pick the animal. Tucker would imitate it the best he could. I believe this series of snaps was in the manner of a gorilla. 

Gorillas beat their chests. 

And make monkey noises. 

Uncle Jay's tractor was the main attraction. 

Peyton came to play. She was hot. Thus the pony tail. She worked it. And she gave Tucker directions. Stop. Move. Don't. No. 

Lauren gets in on the action. Uncle Jay had her help him install the very last dead bolt. She even got to operate a power tool. Uncle Jay is the coolest. 

Lauren was itching to sit on the tractor. 

Update photo of back of house. Screen porch men were here Monday installing the skeleton of the porch. Screens should show up today. 

Tucker and Lauren both like to tickle the ivory. Lauren likes to play and sing. (No. Neither really plays. They just love to pound the keys.)

****

The saga of the floor continues. I am giving up. If you want to know who not to use when installing floors just ask me. I have narrowed the boo boos down to three spots that I want fixed. They are avoiding calling me back like the plague. My mistake = I already paid them. 

*****

Got to run. Lauren is needing pictures printed for the binder we bought yesterday. Color sheets include: Justin Bieber, icarley, Brave, and A.N.T. Farm. Going to print a few more now. See ya. 

No pic post.

This week has flown. Spread it's wings and soared right through. Little things got done until Wednesday when Uncle Jay had to leave because of back trouble. The painters were here Wednesday and for a little while Thursday. They are pretty much finished until the very final touch ups. Uncle Jay will be out until Monday, at the earliest. Man. I feel bad for him. I really understand that when  your back goes out you are out of commission.
Really though - it is nice to have a day with no workers here. My good electrician has one more little thing to do today and he will be totally finished. Maybe I can get some things organized a little today.

****

Tucker goes home today. With a loose tooth! Yup. He noticed it yesterday. By last night it was wiggling nicely. He said he is just "curious" about his gums. This morning he asked if his gums would get littler. I think he means that he is curious about the anatomy of losing a tooth. He also said that the tooth fairy might bring him a paycheck! At the breakfast table Granddaddy told him that we could tie a string across the road and tie it to his tooth and wait for a car to drive by. Then Tucker told his Granddaddy about tying a string around a door knob, slamming the door, and then, "Bam! Can I get a 'what - what'?!" It was hysterical. Granddaddy (a.k.a. Mr. Macho) told Tucker that he had pulled his Mom's first tooth. And she didn't even know it.

*****

It is Lauren's 9th birthday today. She was our first grandchild. Born on a rainy night. On the way to the hospital the clouds parted and there was a gorgeous full moon. She presented herself in the wee hours of a Sunday morning. Oh. She was such a little thing. I guess she is one of the most unique individuals I know. And I like it that way. You rock, Lauren. I love you. Party on.

Quick Tuesday update.

About to pick up Tucker from art camp and just had to share these...

New front door and new door handle.

North side of addition.

Before the fans...

Fans. Ahh.

New lights.

Patio fan!!

Oh happy day!

Tucker's visit - day two.

Picked up Tucker Sunday evening. Grandchildren get easier as they get older. He can do things for himself. That is nice. He can play games. That is fun. He beats me. Some of the time. He is getting to be a better sport. I can not remember ever making it to the end of a card game of Battle before. He beat me in record time today.

Construction details continue to flesh out around us. Even though we are back living in most of the space, new furniture will not be delivered until next week. Picked out a bed today. Window man measured for shades yesterday. Door handles and locks are showing up all over the place. The new paint on the house is magically morphing onto the walls. It looks good. Thanks to Uncle Bo and his Merry Men.

 Sneak peak at the bathroom mirrors - lights over the mirrors might get installed today. 

Mr. Macho "helps" put the legos together.

Tucker, donning his Spider Man glove, observes Uncle Jay.

Uncle Jay indoctrinates another trusty helper. 

The yard is a muddy mess. I would not let Tucker wear shoes in the yard. The feet got spayed off with the garden hose. 

Oh yea. Boy. Tree. 

Ditto. 

Tucker helped make the jello parfaits. All it takes is a fancy glass, jello, yogurt, and strawberries. 

He liked eating it more than he liked making it for sure. 

Laundry room got a good coat of new paint today. Pretty soon Uncle Jay will install the remainder of the tile in there. I do hope my electrician arrives this afternoon. Ceiling fans on the porch. That is what I'm talking about. Sheer happiness. 

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Day one of art camp for Tucker was a success. He made a friend, Matt. He will go back for two more afternoons of art camp. At the YMCA. I will get to Lowe's and order my shades today. 

*****

I think that I just may be landing somewhere over the rainbow. This addition is a dream. 

I feel like I have not stopped moving since my return from Aunt Eleanor's funeral. So glad I was there. The service was brief. She would have liked that.

******

We have moved furniture back into the old den. Our camping days are behind us. It is starting to feel like my house again. Still have many details before completion. The next few weeks will be spent entertaining Lauren and Tucker, chasing dust, finding new spots for old stuff. And enjoying the space. 

Love my new facilities.

Love the new sinks. Love the shell drawer pulls. Love the counter top.

Old den before new rug. 

New rug.

Mr. Macho reaches Nirvana. Even though I admit it was late when the T.V. and chair got set up, progress came to a screeching halt Friday night at this point. 

Saturday. Thanks to Uncle Jay, Justin, Son in Town, and Mr. Macho. Moving the piano was an ordeal. ("It ain't heavy, it's my piano." - Sung to the tune "He ain't heavy, he's my brother.")

Old cabinet/shelves. New locale. 

Porch. Sans majority of tools. Screen should in about a week. 

******

We all met up at Holy Spirit Church to baptize the Super Carrot last evening. It was a happy celebration. Only marred by Mr. Macho's forgetting to turn the car lights off thus killing the battery and by slow service and sassy waitresses at Wintzell's Restaurant. Am glad some of our party were not charged at all for their meal. The children were very well behaved, considering. It took forever to get our food. Then another forever to get out of there. As Mr. Macho likes to say, "We have been to Wintzell's!" - which translates to, "I will not grace the doors of that establishment in the future."

Poor Mr. Macho. He was very put out about the car battery. Mr. Macho is not much for the limelight, especially of the negative variety.

Thank goodness he is over it and has recuperated his cheery demeanor. 

Merritt, The Super Carrot, giving her granddaddy the Sweet Eyes. 

Godparents, The Super Carrot, her parents. 

The whole gang. Plus some. 

Godparents blessing the child. 

Everyone gets in on the act.

This little light of mine. We think it shines. 

Merritt and her fairy godmother. 

Son in Town, Sweet Pea, and SIT's wife. 

SIT trying to get Mr. Macho to loosen up. It worked. 

Out of Town Son and spouse. 

Son-in-law and his sister. 

Wayne and Tracey. 

Tucker and the godparents. 

Us. At the long table. 

Another table shot. 

Sweet Pea ate the lemon. And liked it. She even ate the peel. 

Sweet sisters. 

 *****

Just about to put a pot roast on the table for Sunday dinner. Feel like I have accomplished a few things this morning. My ox was in the ditch. This afternoon I should get some more stuff settled into its place.  Mr. Macho and I will, hopefully, get the carport cleared for the painters. 

This week we celebrate, at least, three more family birthdays. Painters will be here. Uncle Jay will finish the siding and the tongue and groove. Electricians will finish up. Maybe even the wayward floor men will show up to fix the boo boos I have discovered. Not gonna hold my breath on that one. Oh you know how I feel about those floor guys. Not my favorite. 

What is on your agenda this week?