Wow, it's already spring, 2015!

It's been so long since I've been jotting down things on here.  Now, I realize one of my goals really should be to do that more often.  Guess it's time for a little update...

My summary of life currently: A caring husband.  A family pet that thinks he's a lap dog even though he's really bigger than that.  Three kids and three different schools.  The oldest just got her driver's license.  It's kind of nerve-wracking for me, but she's a good kid and has been helping out with errands.  The middle child is finishing up her last year of middle school.  The youngest - it's his last year of elementary school.  Which means it's my last year on the school's PTO board.  In fact, I just finished my last book fair last month which was kind of bittersweet.  Although, there are things I've enjoyed volunteering there, it is a really nice feeling to be "retiring" and moving on to something else (like blogging more).  Still, there are things to get finished up and plans to make before school gets out.  Let the three month countdown begin! 

Spring cleaning at my home seems to have turned into cleaning out the old and replacing with new.

Aside from that, it feels like my house is kind of torn up right now.  It's a mess with random projects going on.  Paint samples, counter samples, old backsplashes ripped off, and random home improvement brochures.  Of course, there are home-type magazines scattered across my coffee table, too.  Looking for inspiration for my projects.  I thought I was ready for change, but love some of the paint colors I already have and seem to be having a hard time letting go.  Maybe I will just have to make a leap of faith that my new color scheme will turn out great, too?   

My poor husband ends up dealing with my lunacy.  The little projects I want to do around the house that begin to spiral into much larger ones.  The one window that needed to be replaced - turned into four and some new insulation in the attic.  At least it wasn't us having to do the work, just the pocketbook giving us the go ahead.  Really, it's not like I start out planning to enlarge our projects.  We've put new kitchen countertops on the back burner several times, in fact.  We don't always "splurge" and try to do some of the work ourselves.  However, now that we are moving forward with the kitchen counters...I, of course, wanted to get the bathroom ones updated, too.  Hahaha!  

Once each week, for the past several weeks, someone has been here to measure or install something.  So, things are moving along.  Insulation and a few new windows are now done.  I have my cabinet color picked out to go with my future countertops.  Now, it's time to settle on my paint choices for the connected rooms downstairs and the two bathrooms upstairs.  Some more demo work needs to get done within the next couple weeks.  It's hard to know if we really should add a few more things on our "to-do" list or not.  We try to work smart and do things in a particular order so as not to have to go back and redo them later.  Why have to do the same things twice if you don't have to?  It's just going to cost more in the long run.

Moving forward, there's more demo work to be done, some backsplash tiles to pick out, and some painting.  Ceiling and walls are first to be painted.  Then, the upper cabinets.  Yes, I will be painting the underside of them since it can be seen while sitting in the next room.  After the counters are installed in a few weeks, we plan to tile the new backsplash and tub surround.  Then I will paint the lower cabinetry.  Plans, plans, plans... crossing my fingers that they go smoothly.  Hoping to have a few before and after pictures to share soon, too!