projects

I had a good Memorial Day weekend. I went to see my brother, his wife, and son in Chicago. My nephew Jack has grown so much. He's such an adorable kid. I know everyone thinks that their children are smarter than everyone else's, but this kid is smart. It's almost like rainman smart. lol. His symbol recognition is very odd. He can spot different makes of cars on the road. He's 2 and a half. He names car models, signs and brand names. As we drove aruond Chicago, Jack would be in the backseat spouting off store names as we drove by the signs... Menards, Jewel, Walgreens, Kohl's, etc. He's a funny kid. My favorite things that he kept saying was an exxagerated "SPIIIDDEERRMAN......(then in a little voice with a crinkled up face) oohh.. kinda scary." =)

So today this week is a week for new projects. My first and most important new project is Project Get-back-in-shape! I used to be so devoted to working out and I have gotten lazy about it over the past year. It started out when I go t anew puppy and I made the excuse that i was too busy with that and would statr once I had the puppy trained. Then I bought a new house and that was a busy time. The list of excuses goes on and on, but it's time to get back on track. I was much more content and felt much better when I exercised regularly. This week I have started my pilates routine again and I've started walking/jogging again.

My other project is my kitchen. I'm redesigning it. It was one of the things I did not like about my house when I moved in. I had planned to remodel it much earlier than now, but once again, got busy with other things. It has wooden cabinets with antique looking hardware and butcher block countertops. Ugh!! PLus the person tha lived there before me put up grape wallpaper. it lokks like a "country" disaster. I'm taking down the wallpaper and painting the walls taupe with white trim. I'm painting the cabinets white and I have brushed nickel hardware to replace the old hardware. I have also picked out a granite countertop which will look nice. I already have a nice ceramic floor and a new dining room table that I love. Plus the lighting is new and looks really modern so I think it's going to look great in there. Can't wait. I am going to go home and take a "before" picture before I start removing the wallpaper tonight.

That's all I've got. Try to contain your excitement.

May 21 - busy, busy, busy

I had a fun weekend, but it was pretty busy. I had a lot to do in the yard and my parents came over and helped out as usual. I am lucky to have the kind of parents that I do. They're hard workers and they never do anything half way. Their house and yard are always perfect. I have to be careful about what I say I need to do, because they will go out of their way to help without me asking. They do so much for other people too and I don't want them spending time helping me when I can do it myself.

I have a four day week this week because the university president declared Friday a holiday since he is retiring soon. I'm going to Chicago with my parents to visit my brother, his wife and my nephew. I can't wait to see my nephew, Jack. We haven't seen him since Thanksgiving. He's 2 and a half, so in that time he has changed so much. The most recent pictures I have seen of him look like a little boy rather than a toddler like I remember. My brother is the vice president of a nation wide security company, IPC International. They do mall security. He manages the mall security in the western half of the united states including Puerto Rico, so he has to travel about 80% of the time. That combined with long work hours makes if hard for him to come visit and for him to have a weekend free for us to visit. This time has really been too long though. The last time I saw my nephew he was just starting to put words together and now he is really talking and he has learned to say my name in the meantime also. He pronounces it "shelwey". =)