MID WAY INTO KITCHEN REMODEL

Yes its me in heels installing shelves. I know its ridiculous but I just do things when I have a second no matter what I am wearing at the time.

Hmmmm, it kind of reminds me of Thanksgiving day, I was in heels and a skirt standing in the master bath shower with a pipe wrench changing out the shower head.

Its a pattern with me.


My sis took this pic while she was here. OK so its taking me a little longer than my five day estimate, but doesn't it always?

VISITORS WITH BIKES

The boys were in heaven when these guys showed up on their way to Daytona Beach for Bike week. Tucks dad Chris and his dad Scott stopped by on the road from Washington to Florida. Now we are not precisely on the way, but they pushed hard and were able to stay for a couple days to hang out with the boys and I.

The kids were very excited to see the bikes they brought with them and it was great to spend time with them both. I just love having company who compliment you constantly on every little thing. These guys are welcome anytime. Check out why...




The boys looking in awe at the motorcycles. I must say I have not had many bikes around for the boys to check out. It is quite evident from their reaction to these bikes that I have really neglected that part of their education. Shame on me, I have to fix that in the future.



Ok so they are not just welcome because of the toys but that was quite an added incentive. They spent time hanging out with the boys and helped to add some male adult supervision to the house hold, which this house is seriously lacking.
Scott repairing the Indians teardrop headlight;

Scott and Chris planning their day;


Chris back from a quick ride on the Indian

Chris found time to run Tuck to get his uniform and other misc gear for Cub Scouts. Tuck has been a little left out of the activity list lately. All my fault, but the other guys are so into senior year stuff it has been a mess trying to add anything else. So we are doing the Scouting thing. This is Tucks first year in Cub Scouts and they have so many camps and meetings planned he is going to be running just to keep up.



Tuck and Chris


A pic Michelle snapped of Chris and I


It was a poignant moment when the guys headed back out on the road. With visits like these it almost makes me wish I lived back up north, almost.

MARDI GRAS

Happy Mardi Gras!

What a great weekend! We all went to the Crewe of Gemini Parade in town.
The whole "we all" included CC and all the guys. Some friends invited us to tailgate with them and the food was phenomenal! We caught lots of beads, the floats were very cool.

The boys pulled the Halloween masks out of the truck and wore them at the parade, they got as much attention as the people throwing the beads!







My favorite moment was when Mitch and Coty jumped out in with the Woodlawn cheerleaders and started doing a dance in unison. It couldn't have gone any better if they had planned it.

Mitch and Coty in mid hip thrust:


Brandon holding Tuck hostage and Tuck loves every minute of it!


Tuck and CC


Tuck in the glittering hat and tie he wore to school for their parade


Mitch decided to use the caution tape people used to rope off their "areas" to tie up Coty's car. Well, just because he could.



Cotys dad David getting tackled by all of the boys. He is such a great sport he wrestled and played hard all day. Every so often one of the boys would throw him onto the ground when he wasn't looking.
As you can see from the guys faces they loved it all!


Mitch and I during the day between improv tag and football games.


My poor sister always catches a horrible cold when she comes down here. I am not sure if it is the climate change or the hybrid of germs we have from all of the children (it could be that I work all visitors like dogs on my home improvement projects, but no telling for sure). Regardless, she was able to have lots of fun with the boys and spoil them rotten as usual.

Mardi Gras was the last event we were able to squeeze in before CC had to go back to the great state of Montana. We sure miss you CC!


Sorry we couldn't see any alligators. We will have to hit them next trip!

FOOTBALL BANQUET

MITCH AND I AT THE BANQUET


MITCH MYSELF COURTNEY JEFF AND TUCK


I cried.

A simple statement but true none the less. It was the awards banquet for the last football season at Bossier High School. Jeff and Mitch both received awards and Jeff... Oh Jeff, he is the facilitator and lead man on everything. He helped to run the event when the Seniors spoke to the coaches. He began with a simple statement, "I never really had a family until I came to Bossier". There was not a dry eye in the house.

Mitch was given awards for All District, 1000lb weightlifting, All Bossier, and Mr Bearkat. The last is a very special award given to an outstanding player, and Mitch was the recipient. As our table filled up with all of the boys awards (we had some extra guys as always) I was amazed. Here were all of these guys who work so very hard, are so kind and good, and try. Try hard at everything they do. I am so lucky to be there, to be their cheerleader.

ONE OF MITCHELS AWARDS

The pride I feel when I look at my sons, my "accidental family" as my mother would describe us, is overwhelming. I look at these days, every one of them and I am in awe. How in the world did I become so very lucky as to have all of these wonderful boys and all of their friends call me mom?

Although I do not quite understand how we all came together, I am so very grateful that we are all here.

I know these are the best days and I am not wasting a single moment.

JEFF & FARRAH

MITCH & CC


My sis just happened to be visiting during the banquet, her timing is impeccable as always. She is always there to support the boys and she plays with them. She likes many of the same things they love to do. It is so great when she comes down, Tuck always says he wants to live with CC because she is so much fun to be with. I know she had a great time and is just as proud of the boys as I am.


TUCKER AT THE BANQUET

CC'S HERE AND THE DEMO CONTINUES!

CC got here Friday for a weeks visit with the party crew down here. I am very glad to see her although she has been a bit under the weather. We are going to attend a mardi gras parade and go see an alligator while she is here. Those are her only requests. Other than that it is project city around here as usual!

All my ideas and fault!

If I can dream it these boys can demo it!
Jeff and Mitch spending a quiet Sunday night demoing the kitchen for their mother. I am very lucky the boys just know how I am and go along with my ideas. They don't even ask me why I want things taken out they just ask me what I would like them to do. Really though, whose mom hands you a sledgehammer in the kitchen and tells you to go for it. They had a blast!

The kitchen is the last space on the main floor to not undergo some kind of remodeling. I spend half of my life there cooking for the guys and I have decided I want a nicer space so here it goes. I am thinking it will take 5 days.
We will have to see what happens but I love the space so much more already! Much more open.



The kitchen after the demo is complete. Now I am in the process of putting everything back together. The fun part!







Me working on my master bedroom closet. CC took the pic on the sly. It was very dingy and not well laid out. So I removed everything and installed double rods on one wall and a huge cabinet for storage on the other threw up paint and other touches and voila! The end result is a very functional and designed master closet.

My finished master closet.




Tuck in his room with the headset on. I moved Tucks desk downstairs so I can better monitor his computer content, time, and to get him separated from the big guys. He shouldn't be hanging around the 18 year olds quite so much I think. His room looks really great!



CC and I giggled over this sign in front of the western store where she purchased her new boots. She did need them living in Montana and all, its hard to go to the rodeo in Birkenstock no matter how comfy they are!



CC taking a snooze she is sick not sure if it is allergies or a cold or just allergic to Louisiana but whatever it is it sure has her knocked down for the count.
She does love crashing in my room though she says its very zen like.

STATE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

Jeff is off tomorrow for the state tournament in New Orleans. To prepare for the event we dyed hair and trimmed hair into Mohawk's. As shown by the accompanying photos. Things you never thought you would do with your teenage sons and their friends.

Courtney sporting his fresh Mohawk;



Jeff in hair dye not so bad until he insisted on doing the eyebrows as well. With his blue contacts in he does not look anything like himself; its scary!





After all of that, Tuck and I made a garland of sparkly hearts to hang in the kitchen for Valentines Day. I really do love anything that sparkles. It turned out great and I am so happy that Tuck felt well enough to do a project with me.

SOLD!

Shelly is off down the road. She was purchased by fellow Volkswagon enthusiasts who are members of the local VW club. Mike and Lisa are very nice people who are very excited to have another Volkswagon (they already own a 74 VW camper orange). I am sad to see her go, but we definitely need a larger camper with all of these big guys I have around the house.

A photo montage in honor of Shelly:






The end of an era. I am very sad to see my funky little camper go down the road.

RAINY MONDAY'S

This weekend went very well for all of us here at the casa. We were very very busy as usual but managed to slip in some fun events along the way. Jeff and Mitch went to the movies one night and then ended the evening by Mitch wearing a werewolf mask through a Wendys drive through while ordering. He frightened the drive through person who laughed afterwords (Jeff has the whole thing on video). Very imaginative!

I did not do X-Mas baking so i seem to be making up for it now, bread and biscotti were among the target items I completed this Saturday. The boys eat anything I make so they were happy.

Biscotti


Bread


I also went out and purchased the last decorative element in the bathroom remodel, a white feather boa. I think it adds just the touch the bathroom needed.
The bath is a spin off of the bath in the Kansas City house. That one was pink and black. With all of the men in the house I use my bath as the counter balance to all of the testosterone in the house.

This remodel was initiated by Oma who found the shower curtain and hand towels for me. Poppa was put into service installing the green shelf so it was a collaborative effort by the family. I love the end result! It definitely makes me smile every morning!

My dad says this bathroom is very reminiscent of the movie How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days after she sprinkled her girl things around his apartment.

The very feminine bathroom





The only bummer of the weekend is that its Monday and Tucker is under the weather. Home from school and going to the doctor tomorrow.

Tucker under the weather



He is very sweet when he is ill.