Reno before/during

Here are a few pictures of the dining room before it became Little C's bedroom....and some pictures I snapped during the process. Please excuse the poor quality - some of them were taken with my phone, and at night/or in poor lighting.


Before: The dining room. T had already taken the furniture out, so picture a long table and 6 chairs and a high chair in here!

During: the framing for the wall goes up!

During: With the framing done (and electrical, heat vent/duct work, and lighting done), the drywall starts going up.

During: drywall on the 'public' side of the wall goes up.

 

 

 

During: my Dad sanding the drywall mud:

 

 



You've Got Mail

Remember when AOL and the internet were new, and you would click on the little mailbox and wait for those three awesome words: "You've Got Mail"? Now everything comes electronically and we rarely get 'snail mail'. And now we get excited when we do get snail mail. Like today: Sweet P got two, count 'em - TWO pieces of snail mail today! She was so excited. And she was the only one in the house to get mail.

The first was a postcard from my brother and his wife that are currently travelling in Europe. Sweet P has been asking, every day since they left, where her letter is. LOL. Well, it finally arrived from Spain today.

The second piece of mail was a chain letter for a sticker club from her friend. The concept is, you mail a package of stickers to the kid whose name is in the #1 spot. Then you move the name of the kid who sent it to you into the #1 spot, put your name in the #2 spot, and send it to 6 kids. So those 6 kids will send stickers to the kid whose name is in spot #1 and then move your name to spot #1. Sound confusing? I am probably not explaining it well, but the bottom line is that within a couple of weeks, Sweet P should receive 36 packages of stickers! I was thinking of doing this with recipes for adults.....how fun would it be to receive 36 new recipes in the mail? Or email might be better.

Anyway, Sweet P was so excited to receive mail today. Someone should invent a talking mailbox that says "You've Got Mail" when you open your front door.

P.s. I know it's cheesy, but I love that movie. I know most people love Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle (which I hate), but I prefer You've Got Mail.

P.s.s. I am still working on the "before & after" post about our reno......I accidentally took all the after pictures in RAW and don't have the time to go and edit them. So I am waiting for another sunny day to take the pictures in JPEG.

p.s.s.s. Little C is 11 months old now.....he will be 1 next month and Sweet P will be 4 next month.....that also means I go back to work next month (boooo - I really wish I could stay home with the kids forever)......

It has been one of those weeks

Every time I feel like we are getting a leg up on things, something comes up and we take 2 steps back. In the last couple of weeks, our van was hit in a parking lot. We were not in it, but it was considered unsafe to drive since the front passenger door would not open. We had to take it in to get fixed, get a rental for a week (we were given a Jeep Compass - let me tell you, that IS NOT a family car. Our car seats barely fit, T couldn't drive it, and as a passenger his knees were hitting the glove box), and we had to replace the car seats. Insurance has been great - although we still haven't been reimbursed for the car seats (which were over $800 for the two).

We finally got our van back and then in the mail get a ticket from a red-light camera. We went down to the courthouse to see if there was a way to reduce the ticket price or get on a payment plan....waiting to hear about that still.

Then I did our taxes (well, still doing them) and it looks like we will owe - AGAIN. Every time I am on maternity leave, I owe taxes. I don't know why the government can't just take off the right taxes on EI. On the plus side, it isn't much at all - the first year it was over $1000!

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A before & after post on the reno is coming soon - still working on some finishing touches in C's bedroom.

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On another note - I can't believe C will be 1 next month, and P will be 4 next month! And that I go back to work in 5 weeks. Where does time go? It will be really hard going from being home with them 7 days/week, to leaving them every morning 5 days/week.

Reno Update

Here is an update on our reno list. Pictures coming soon!

Renovation list:
- move light switch (since the current location will be covered by the new wall)
- open kitchen heat vent into bedroom
- close other bedroom vent and open into bathroom
- new light fixture (a low-light chandelier doesn't work for a boy's room)
- install a dimmer switch
- frame the wall
- drywall
- tape
- mud - 1st coat
- mud - 2nd coat
- mud - 3rd coat
- sand
- hang a room darkening blind
- door trim
- prime new wall (bedroom side and hallway side)
- paint bedroom
- door
- baseboard
- decorate
- move C in

 

The room is painted, curtains and blinds are up, door is hung, dresser is moved in. There are still a few things left to do, that aren't on the list above. The baseboard has to be custom made by my Dad in order to match the baseboard in the rest of the house. We also need to empty the closet that is currently housing all my china and crystal. In order to do this, we have to pack up the Christmas dishes in the hutch in the basement so we have somewhere to put the good dishes. Once that is done, and the trim is installed, primed, and painted, the plan is to move C in. We are on track to move him in on Monday! I can't wait!

Reno Day 6

It's Sunday and we have plans with the family to go to a Maple Syrup Festival, so this may be rest day instead of reno day.

Things are moving along quickly. My brother has been off work this past week so he was here helping out with my Dad (which is good, because with two little kids, I wasn't much help except in the coffee/lunch/cleanup areas).

So far, the wall is up, with drywall on and taped and the first coat of mud is on. My Dad may pop over today to do the second coat. The finish line is in sight, and this renovation has gone quite quickly!

I will post a budget breakdown, so you can see how much (how little) was spent on renos. Of course, labour was free since it was family, but we will get them something to thank them for their time and hard work. We couldn't have done this without them!

Renovation list:
- move light switch (since the current location will be covered by the new wall)
- open kitchen heat vent into bedroom
- close other bedroom vent and open into bathroom
- new light fixture (a low-light chandelier doesn't work for a boy's room)
- install a dimmer switch
- frame the wall
- drywall
- tape
- mud - 1st coat
- mud - 2nd coat
- mud - 3rd coat
- sand
- hang a room darkening blind
- door trim
- prime new wall (bedroom side and hallway side)
- paint bedroom
- door
- baseboard
- decorate
- move C in


So far, we are under budget, and ahead of schedule (or at least, ahead of where I thought we would be!). This reno creates a domino effect for the rest of the house. Once this room is done, and C is moved in, we have to rearrange/fix up P's room (since it won't have C's stuff in it anymore), rearrange the new dining room/living room shared space, paint the new hallway and the living room/dining room, front entry etc. And the bathroom needs some work. We have been in this house for 5+ years and we have only painted our bedroom, P's bedroom, and the kitchen. And now, this year, we will be working on all other parts of the house.

Why now? We desperately need the bedroom space for C and can't afford to move right now. So, like I said, domino effect. We will have to paint the hallway side of the new wall, so we might as well paint the whole 'public' living space at the same time so they are the same colour. Since we moved the dining table into the living room, we now need to rearrange and repurpose this space. And the bathroom just needs to be done. We are also on a mission this year to fall in love with our little house all over again - and to do that we need to make it function for our family of four, and we need to clean up/clean out a lot of stuff! It's going to be fun though! Especially the challenge of doing all of this on a very minimal budget (two kids in daycare!) and as much of it ourselves/with a little help from family.

Once I get the pictures uploaded to the computer, I will post more detailed posts on each the items above with before and after pictures etc.

Renovation Day 1

I guess, technically, since hubby emptied the dining room last night that this could make today Day 2. But, we will stick with yesterday as 'prep' and today Day 1.

It is March Break, so my Dad (who will be the main contractor on this project) is coming over today to measure for materials and to go pick some of them up. Because our house is small and the basement is mostly finished, all the cutting will have to be done on our porch. Which has a pergola roof. And it is March. And either snowing or raining. So today will also be the day a huge tarp goes up over the porch to give a covered, dry space for using the table saw.

Stay tuned for pictures and updates.

On Your Marks...Get Set...Go!

And it has begun! We finally took the plunge and are about to start the renovations on the house to give the kids their own bedroom.

We have a small house and a large lot, and a very limited budget. While it's true that we do have the room to build an addition on the back of the house, we don't have the budget to be digging out a foundation and there is nowhere that it makes sense to add a bedroom - it would be either off the dining room, or off the back door/basement stairs/kitchen (unless we want to get into changing other rooms around and doing a massive renovation - with two little kids and both of us working by then - no thanks!).

I wanted to get some before and after pictures for you. But while I was out last night, my husband completely emptied the dining room and moved the table and chairs into the living room. Before I could get pictures. So you will have to settle for 'in progress' pictures (as soon as I take them).

Renovation plan:
- build bedroom for C
- rearrange/redo bedroom for P (once her brother is moved out of her room she will have more space and we will be able to rearrange her room again)
- paint (new) living room/dining room, hallway, entryway
- rearrange/decorate the new combined living/dining room
- redo bathroom (nothing major)
- front porch
- front yard
- back yard (veggie bed, sandbox, fairy garden, veggie pots)

Unplugged

I can't believe it has been so long since my last post. Sheesh! However, it wasn't completely unplanned. I have been making a conscious effort to unplug/tune-out of electronics and tune in to my family. I don't want my kids growing up always seeing us attached to some electronic device.

We have even cut back our cable dramatically, and once our last month of credit on the bill comes in, we will cancel completely. We can watch most of our shows online via the station websites, Netflix, etc. and the others can be downloaded (or, with the money we save on cable, we can buy the full seasons of our favourite shows on DVD).

So, while I hope to continue (or start) blogging on a more consistent basis, it might be further apart between posts for this reason.

SOLVED!

For Christmas, my parents got T a Rubik's 360. He loves puzzles etc. and has solved the original Rubik's cube multiple times. He has been working at this new version for weeks and just kept getting frustrated. So tonight, I picked it up and started playing with it. After half an hour, I had solved it. It is now up on a "do not touch" shelf (at least for a little while...lol). T was not pleased that I solved it so quickly. Once you figured it out (I am not going to spoil it for you), it wasn't that hard. It was the initial figuring it out that was hard. Go check it out here! http://www.rubiks.com/products/3d_puzzles/rubiks_360.php

Happy Anniversary

Today is my anniversary. We have been together 13 years today; married for 6. It is hard to believe our wedding was 6 years ago! We had such an amazing wedding day - surrounded by family. and friends from all over. We ate and danced the night away. I wish we could do it again - a huge family reunion with amazing food and amazing family and friends.

So last night we went for dinner to celebrate our anniversary. We had intended to go to a place called "Chuck's Burger Bar", but when we got there, the line up was out the door. It was freezing cold, and at least a half hour wait. It was not the atmosphere we wanted for our anniversary - eating a romantic dinner while people were staring us down hoping we would finish soon so they could have our table. No thank you! So instead we went to a place called "Earl's", where we had amazing service and amazing food. I am trying to lose all the baby weight so I got something healthy: grilled chicken sandwich with fig jam, brie, and poached apples on it. It was amazing. T got the Bacon Cheddar Burger. That thing was HUGE! We joked with the waitress about how was he going to eat it?!?


My dinner:

T's dinner:

Decisions, Decisions

I have finally come to terms with the fact that we won't be having any more babies. Don't get me wrong - I love my kids, and am not wishing my time away, but I always thought I would have 3 or 4 kids. However, a string of bad decisions and bad luck financially has meant we can't really afford to have more - or at least, by the time we can, we will be ready for the next stage of vacationing with our kids, and enjoying raising them instead of having them. I am not totally at peace with the decision - as in, we will not do anything permanent about it for a few more years, but we are selling all the baby stuff we are done with (I justify it with the fact that I can always repurchase the items if we do have another one down the road). Another decision we have come to, is to convert our dining room back into a bedroom, giving each kid their own room. This will buy some more time in the house before we need a new one, and may help us sell it if this area continues to attract more student rentals. We hope to begin renovations this summer and be done by the fall. Expect to see before and after pictures. I must admit, it does feel good to have made those decisions, because it means we have a plan for moving forward - and we can start selling the baby stuff and other furniture we won't be using in this house (and would be okay not having in the next house - or don't want to store until that unknown time). I am excited to purge, clean out the basement, reclaim that space, and organize it! And by converting the dining room, we will need to redecorate the living room (which will then become the living/dining room), and I am excited about that. I have the whole thing planned out in my head - now we just need to save for it because I refuse to put it on credit. No more buying things we can't pay cash for.

Anyone out there...?

2013 so far has not been very kind to us. While nothing really, really bad has happened, it has been a frustrating few weeks. In an effort to make it a better year, or to make the most of frustrating situations, I am going to do 2 things: 1. I am going to appreciate what I do have, even in the frustrating times. Every day. I will appreciate my health, my husband, my kids, my family, the fact that I have a job and a home. The fact that everyone I love is healthy. 2. Going to make some New Year's Resolutions. Since January 17th is typically the day that people give up on their resolutions - "resolution ditch day", I thought it would be a good time to start my resolutions. So, here they are. Resolutions: 1. This will be the year I get healthy. Not just about losing weight, but getting healthier in general. 2. This is the year we will make a major plan to tackle debt and start being able to do the things we keep putting off (this will be a hard one, since we will have 2 kids in daycare for a while). 3. Stop procrastinating. There are so many things we talk about doing to the house, and 5 years in, we haven't done hardly any of them. 4. Start making our house feel like our own - on a budget (DIY) and blog about it.\ 5. De-clutter, sell stuff, etc. We don't use about 60% of the stuff we have in the house. So why have it? We have a very small house, and can't afford the real estate to be wasted on junk. 6. Be more organized - this includes organizing the house, as well as our life - from menu plans and shopping lists, to laundry and clutter. 7. Spend more time appreciating what I have, and spend quality time with my kids and husband - this includes more date nights with husband. So there you have it, my list of goals. What are yours? Is anybody out there (I feel like I am the host on a late night radio show asking listeners to call in and tell me what they are doing, lol)...?

Somehow this never got posted...

Little C has arrived, making Sweet P a big sister! Little C arrived on Wednesday, May 23rd - just 4 days before Sweet P's 3rd birthday! She is so in love with her little brother! The hardest part, so far, has been my recovery from the c-section. I feel much better this time than I did with my first c-section, but finding the restrictions so much more difficult this time around. Not being able to lift Sweet P (she is counting down the weeks until I can pick her up again), and not being able to drive have been the hardest. I feel pretty good physically, so I keep coming up with all these things I want to do, but I can't do them yet because of the restrictions - and I am still healing. This time, I am determined to not waste any of my year off sitting in front of the TV - except during Little C's 24/7 nursing sessions! LOL. There is so much I want to do this time around! Anyway, I hope you will enjoy following along on my journey into motherhood the second time around. Some of my posts will be about th.e things we have done/are going to do, some of them will be random thoughts etc.

Ikea and Pediatrician

We had big plans today: go to Ikea for breakfast, buy some shelves, come home and rearrange the office are. Then go to Little C's pediatrician appointment. Well, we went to Ikea, and got home with just enough time to eat lunch and get to the pediatrician. We were referred to the pediatrician because Little C's pectus excavatum (sunken chest). That's about as far as we got. It turns out that hubby (and his mom, and her father) have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and that it looks like Little C does too. We have to go back in April for a follow up. We will also be going for X-Rasy and an EKG (to make sure there are no issues with the lungs and heart as a result of the pectus exccavatum). We will also see a plastic surgeon to determine whether or not any bracing is needed before surgery. Yep, surgery. It looks like Little C will need surgery in about 4-5 years to have it corrected. Depending on the X-Rays, he could need it sooner (if the lungs and/or heart are affected). So not the news we were hoping to hear. However, it could have been worse. This doesn't affect life span or intelligence. Unless it is compressing his lungs, it is mostly a cosmetic issue and is easily corrected (though the idea of my little boy having surgery does not seem easy). Sigh. He is healthy and happy. It could be so much worse. We don't know yet how else the syndrome will manifest itself. It could result in pain, delayed motor skill development, clumsiness requiring assistance at school etc. Or there could be no other issues and this is it. But because he is only 7 months old, there is no way to predict how else it might affect him. However, other than the sunken chest, there are no other issues or 'red flags' - in fact we wouldn't know about this syndrome if we hadn't raised concerns about the sunken chest at his well visits with our family doctor. So, I am going to assume that all is good. SO far he shows no signs of gross motor skill delay, or muscle weakness/poor muscle tone, or any other symptoms. Hubby and his mom (and her Dad) all have mild cases, with only some of the symptoms). There are different types, so we will also be seeing a genetic counsellor to determine which type, and therefore what kind of treatment/surgery he will need in the future. Sigh. Thanks for listening, internet peeps!

I'm Back.....

After almost 2 weeks of no computer (our motherboard died, then we couldn't decide what to buy, and then when we did buy, we had to wait for Geek Squad to set it up and transfer our 150GB of data from our old computer to this one). Anyway, now that I have a computer again, I plan to get back on the blogging train. So time has been flying I can't believe Little C is nearly 8 months old! Not much has changed around here. We are running out of space in our tiny house, so we will be spending the next year or so updating and fixing up the house and getting ready to sell it. Get ready to see lots of before and after pics as well as DIY stuff, since we will be doing it all ourselves and with a very limited budget. Hope you will find some inspiration in our projects. My main source of inspiration is the blog younghouselove.com. I am addicted to this site after receiving the book for Christmas.

wow, talk about disappearing!

I didn't realize it had benn more than four months since my last post! Where does time go?!? Lots has happened since my last post. I have started a side-job as an independent consultant with Epicure Selections and it has changed my life! I am loving it and doing fairly well with it! It has slowed down a bit now since the holidays, but hopefully it will pick up again soon. Hubby also started a new job and it has been so good for him! He left a job where he was bullied and stressed to a job that treats him so well. About the same money and hours, but much better work-life balance, and it has been awesome! Little C is now over 7 months old. Laughing, babbling, sitting up! He is now eating solids, and loving it. Sweet P is sweet as ever - a great big sister! We are also making changes at home. We plan to buy a bigger house in the next 2-3 years, so we are using the time now to purge, declutter, and renovate/fix/update the house so it will be ready to put on the market when we find our dream house (ideally a house that we can update and put our own stamp on). So watch for home improvement posts and before & after photos! I promise not to be gone for another four months. Now that i have wireless, I can update from anywhere in thehouse. However, ourcomputer bit the dust a few days ago, so until i make a decision between a desktop and a laptop, all i have is a tablet to blog on. It has not been a good month for electronics in this house.