Yeah!!! for nightstands and ladders…

So, I am excited that I got my new nightstands (see pictures), BUT I was even more excited because I got Jon a present too. We have been pricing ladders because he needs to clean out our gutters, and we need to paint the ceiling and hallway in the staircase while the boys are away for Christmas. I don’t know if you have ever priced ladders, but they are EXPENSIVE. I was thinking an extension ladder would be perfect because he could use it in the house and outside with the gutters. He wanted a painter’s ladder, but either way the cheapest one was about $80  for the painter’s ladder and like $125+ for the extension ladder. Yes, we’re cheap, and we didn’t want to spend that. SO, I was checking my forever favorite website www.craigslist.com, AND I found a painter’s ladder AND an extension ladder for $50. How exciting. SO, my wonderful amazing sister who graciously acted as my delivery service last night picked up my nightstands AND my ladders. I never knew one could get so excited about ladders, but they really made my day.

My side

His side…note the OMEGA presence

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Saturday excitement!

So, I couldn’t wait to post all of my Saturday excitement. Jon and I started our weekend by getting up early to go to my middle school mock trial competitions. Selfishly, I didn’t want our team to do too well because I was getting very burned out of coaching three teams, BUT I wanted them to do well so that they would continue to participate in the program for years to come, so I didn’t know how to pray. Well, God knows how to answer prayers in the best way possible. Our team finished second. We did not lose any of our rounds, instead, we lost on speaker points. Our team was SO excited, and they did VERY well in the rounds. I coached the defense side, and that’s who you will see in the pictures.

After the competition, Jon and I went to Haverty’s to buy nightstands for our bedroom. Another exciting thing because about two months ago, Jon and I went in and asked for 5% off which is the preferred customer discount. The woman was like “no, I can’t really do that” (which I knew she could if she wanted to). SO, we didn’t buy them that day. THEN, we got a 15% off coupon in my e-mail inbox. I love sales especially when I save more than I ever planned. I can’t wait to get them. They will be here on Tuesday. Don’t worry. I’ll post pics when we get them.

After our exciting purchase, we wanted to have a quiet, romantic lunch at Chik-fil-A. 😉 We evidently (by the pictures) chose the loudest Chik-fil-A on earth. They were having a Toys for Tots motorcycle rally, and there were at least 1000 bikers. It was rather funny. I had never seen so many bikers in one place. The pictures do not do the number of bikers justice.

Our house projects weren’t too exciting this weekend, cleaning, blowing leaves, and of course breaking out the Christmas decorations. I have strict rules that we can’t decorate a tree before Thanksgiving, so I settled for my mantle. I hope you enjoy. We started a tradition of buying decorations the day after Christmas…one of our purchases last year was our little Mr. and Mrs. Nutcrackers. See if you can find them in the picture.

And since Jon dubbed last tonight “No Movie Saturday” (no Joe and his buddies didn’t like it to much), we played games by the fire. Much more fun than movies if you ask me. It’s was an awesome weekend.

The laywers

The witnesses

This is an attempt at a panaramic. (Left)

This is an attempt at a panaramic. (Center)

This is an attempt at a panaramic. (Right)

My hard-working hubby!!! (I didn’t even ask him to do this)

My mantle is my favorite part of Christmas.

Did you miss us?

Life has been busier than normal here. No explanation why, but it has. My mom is back safely from Brazil, and she LOVED it. She already wants to go back. My grandmother will arrive on Friday, so we’re all quite excited. The past week was full of late-night mock trial meetings as my University team had their first competition this past weekend. They did pretty well for being a freshman team. I was quite proud of them. My middle school team competes this Saturday. Please pray for them as it’s the school’s first time ever competing in the competition.

On Saturday and Sunday, Jon and I worked hard to finish up the final touches on the kitchen (i.e. finishing the trim, outlets and switches, cleaning the floor, and hanging up the right light). I’m SO glad to have that project done, and for the very small amount of money we spent, I am very happy with the results.

Jon also had “the best haircut experience ever…even better than that place that lets you watch ESPN while you get your hair cut.” That’s what Jon said as I cut his hair while letting him play Halo. At least he can’t see how the back looks, right? Ha Ha.

 

This week I was in Charleston for an interim audit (work). While there, I got to eat with Deb K. (my other sister-in-law). 😉 Admit it Deb…you’re a Sutter. It was fun catching up and sharing what the Lord is doing. Still trying to twist her arm to come home for Christmas.

Jon getting the paint off of the floor

Bright White

Finally Finished

Joe…well, being Joe.

“The best haircut ever”

Cleaning up after

Deb & Me

All done!!!!

No pictures yet, but the bedroom and hallway are finished, and the bathroom has all of the electrical, plumbing, and floor work completed. The cabinets should be in the week my grandmother arrives. Mom just called me to tell me that was so surprised! I had gotten a little bit nervous because she e-mailed us on Saturday, and I was afraid she would have checked my blog or facebook, but she said she didn’t have the time. She was so concerned because she knew I had my test this week, and she knew Brandi has been slammed at work since someone recently quit, but she was very thankful it was done. We’re thankful she’s home safely, and that she’s happy with the work.

Just a short re-cap of what was accomplished while they were there (which I am sure is more, but this is all I could fit into a 20 minute conversation). 202 kids were medically treated the first day, 225 the second, and the dental team pulled over 100 teeth last week. Many of the kids had their first teeth cleaning, and many construction projects were completed. Once she fills us all in, I’ll be sure to let you know some more exciting highlights from mom’s trip.

5 Days left

Here’s the “damage” we’ve done. The bedroom looks messy, but that’s because we’re digging through boxes of papers that my mom hasn’t had time to unpack. Today, the flooring gets grouted…if that’s a word, and then we’ll start painting the bathroom and hallway tomorrow night. We’re taking a break from the hard work tonight.

Ethan’s Bed. I still have to get curtains for the room.

Madelyn’s Area and Mom’s Office.

Mom’s dolphin picture that she so badly wanted to hang up, and the grandkids toy chest.

I hope she likes it….

Voting Irregularities?

The only irregularities was that I saw more people at the polls than I have ever seen before. Here’s a picture of my starting line at my precinct. I got to the polls 15 minutes after they opened (7:15) because I knew I wouldn’t be able to go back tonight since I am headed to my mom’s. I left the polling precinct at 8:37. Long time in line, and they didn’t even have coffee and donuts inside. What kind of country do we live in? (JOKE)

In the picture below…my heels were touching the road where traffic was passing, and in the top right, you can kind of see the entrance to the building….don’t be deceived though. The door to the building was just an indication that you had about 30 minutes left before you actually got to vote.

The Line....

T minus 6 days!!!!

So, Brandi and I got a bedroom painted today, and we plan to get the trim and furniture set up tomorrow. We’re on hold in the bathroom until the tile guy finishes, but he laid the sub-flooring today, the tile tomorrow, and then the electrician is doing his handy work on Thursday. Things are coming along.

My mom also scheduled for a friend of Brandi’s to do some excavation in her front yard. She will be coming home to a practically brand-new home….okay, okay, just a new bathroom, bedroom, and hallway. Here’s some pics.

The sub-flooring in the bathroom…it’s dark because we took all of the lighting out.

The freshly painted bedroom. The lighting looks bad on my cell phone…sorry.

Love to all, and GO VOTE!!!!! no matter who it’s for, GO VOTE!

While the Cat’s away, the mice play…same for mom…

Here’s some pics from today’s progress on my mom’s bathroom. The destruction was pretty fun. Brandi and I are a bit cut up, but other than that no serious injuries.

My mom did call to let us know that she made it to Brazil safely. I think the Lord made it evident that my mom is where she is supposed to be today. My mom was very sad to find out that Ethan’s 3rd birthday party was scheduled for while she was away. My mom hunted for weeks for a card that she could record a message for Ethan. In my mom’s voice, the message said “I love you Ethan, I miss you so much. Happy Birthday” then there was a song that played. I gave the card to Ethan while sitting in his car ready to go home. He opened the card, and immediately a big smile came on his face. He would listen to the message, close the card before the song, and re-open. He did this like ten times. I almost cried watching him. Anyway, my mom called, and Brandi was able to tell her how happy Ethan was with her card. I think it was a real encouragement for her that while she “missed” the party, she still was “with” Ethan.

Before…mom had already pulled up the nasty flooring

Brandi…tearing out the smallest (most useless) closet ever erected.

Scary….this is what I felt like when Brandi was hammering at me while I was in the little closet.

“Look mom…no walls”

My buddy Ethan. 3 years old.

My baby Madelyn….I love her eyes and eyelashes.

Ethan playing mom’s card.