Excitement, Anxiety, Stress, Happiness...Whew!!

There is so much happening all at once, it makes my head spin. But it is very exciting, and I get very anxious at times that all the timing will work out efficiently so we can get in there SOON. I have really enjoyed the process of meeting skilled craftsmen and good people in general.  So, on to the update!!

Three different shutter/blind representatives came out to give us bids. This one was the last one, and the price was so fantastic that I couldn't say no. As it turned out, the rep is Sierra, a grand-daughter-in-law to Luana Shamo, and she gave us the really great price because we were almost like family, and all!! I was SO grateful!! We are going with white blinds in all windows except the living room/piano room window that faces the back patio. We are going with wood shutters in there, and they'll remain open most of the time. They'll be beautiful. (I really, really hope!)

This is the craft room (you can see the door opening that goes out to the garage). We had it painted "antique white" with "marshmallow" ceilings and trim. It actually looks more like "antique yellow" and I love it!! A very soft, soothing color. The living room, library, hall and this room are these colors. Ahhhh.

This is the master bedroom. It is also painted with "marshmallow" ceiling and trim. But the wall color is "un-fussy beige." It looks more like "un-fussy lavendar" and I love it, too!!! It is a very peaceful color.  I'm amazed that a color that looks definitely beige on the little color card can turn out to be this color when it is put on a huge wall. This color is not only in this room, but is in the kitchen and family room, too, as well as up the stairs and into the bonus room. Hopefully it goes well with all the wood stain going on in there...it is supposed to be a form of beige, after all!

Jaime and Kim, and Paul Shuman (the same man that did the wood floor in the Legacy house) are putting down the sub-floor in preparation for the oak floor. The layers are: cement floor, then plastic to keep the moisture out that may come up form the cement, then this particle board, then the oak pieces. Quite the process. The oak has been sitting in this house for at least two months drying out so that it doesn't buckle when it is put down.

The final stucco coat is done, and the painters put up different colors so we could decide on an exterior color scheme. We thought we would go with a white-ish trim, and choose between the two different beiges to accompany it. But it was TOO stark a contrast.

Here is the stucco on the garage side of the house. What you cannot see is the fine finish put on here. It is so beautifully done, and looks soft, like a gray teddy bear. They did a great job!

Meanwhile, after we nixed the "white on beige" look, the house was painted with a gold primer. It looked like a Taco Bell color and made me hungry just looking at it! Sergio, the wonderful painter, painted a sample color scheme around the center window: the beige, with a darker trim, and an even darker little keystone above the window. That was too stark a contrast, too. Auugh! This is stressful to pick out a color that will be ALL OVER THE FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE for all of the world to see what horrible taste you have!!!! So, back to the drawing board.

We finally decided on a beige and had the house painted, but we were still not sure about the trim. Sigh.

Here is the back of the house. The stucco really is so smoothly done; I love it. You can see the  moulding just under the eaves of the roof. It looks great!

Here is the house with its "latte" main body color. I love it! The jury is still out on the trim.

Here is the incomparable Paul putting in the wood floor in the kitchen area. Those are not Mickey Mouse ears; those are headphones with a radio in them. Not only does he get music, but he can't hear all the ruckus with saws and generators going on. I really like this man! He'll get to the living room tomorrow!! Then the cabinets can start being installed, then the electrician and plumber and A/C men can do their parts, then Paul comes back to sand, stain, and triple finish the wood, then the carpet can be put in. Whew! So much hinges on this floor!

So...here is the color of the house, with the trim we picked out, minus the keystone color which will be put on tomorrow.

On May 1, Grandpa Peterson had a little stroke. It was very worrisome to all of us, and very hard on Grandma.
 But man did it bring all the kids together! He and Grandma had one of us, at least, with them around the clock.
She was able to go home and sleep peacefully (hopefully) knowing there was someone there with him
around the clock. We didn't want him to wake up and get agitated by not seeing a familiar face
and try to get up and walk out. His balance is not great, and his speech is garbled. He is improving,
but I doubt he will be what he was. It makes me sad. He is my wonderful example
of loyalty, hard work, integrity, faithfulness, and service. Truly a great man that has done mountains
of good in this world through his unselfish service and efforts in the behalf of many people.
Once again, I am reminded of how grateful I am for the resurrection when those I love
will be once again at their peak. 

I took Aunt Cath home after one of our vigils at the hospital (Uncle Ben was staying to keep
the "first watch.")   This is their new home over off of Pebble and Eastern area. Cath is
SO AMAZING at putting things together! Yellow splash!
Look how inviting this room is!! This house is a lot smaller than their other one and
 is so much easier to take care of. Ahhh.

This is their kitchen which they fixed up. Nice having a craftsman living right there! Look at the counter-tops.
They are cement that Uncle Ben poured!!! And they look fantastic!! You can color it any way you want,
 and it was so much cheaper than any other counter. Amazing!
 I love the gray/white colors, with the splash of yellow. Talented people!

I love it when Adam comes into my room and sits at my desk and  does his homework or reads.
Here he is reading my collection of comics that I've cut out and saved.
 It's nice to have an appreciative audience!

And here is Pinky Pink!! She is my constant computer companion and
 makes me smile daily. We are great friends!

Here are the youth that participated in the camp fundraiser doing yardwork for some of the
people in our neighborhood. The boys came with their sisters, and were very helpful.
These kids know how to work, for the most part, and don't complain. It helps that they went
swimming afterwards and we got them Taco Bell and donuts! I enjoy them all!!
Matt posed in the pic as well, because the youth worked in his yard.
They took out at least 8 garbage cans of leaves and weeds! It looks great.

Kelsey planted these hollyhocks last year and look at them now! The colors are exquisite! 

This yellow hollyhock flower looks like it is made out of crepe paper. Stunning.

We all watched "Star Wars" Episode IV last week, and Tyler was fascinated by it! Very cute!
Of course, there is R2 D2 and CP3O and spaceships, so it's great!

Oh, Lenna. Dad and I stayed over night there when Lindsay needed a sitter
because Aaron and Daniel were at the Father/Son activity. Here she is playing with
her "cake" set of dishes, cups, candles, etc. She would set them all up,
then sing "Happy Birthday to you" then dish it all up and share with
everyone, then kick it all out of order, then put it all back in the bag it
came from. then do it all over again. Kids do not have a short attention span.
It's the adults that get tired of watching this over and over!! 

Lenna got up a couple of times in the night and Grandpa Ripp would put her back down, bless him.
But at 5:45 AM she came in and we pulled her up with us and she fell asleep again.
She was so darn cute that I had to get a picture with her and grandpa.
Of course Minnie accompanied her.

Uncle Mark came down and will be here about three weeks. THANKS, MARK!!!
He takes walks with Grandpa Peterson, who is doing a little better. Granpa still can't communicate
like he wants to and I know it frustrates him. But I'm glad to
see him out and about, because I know he loves that.

 Well, that is all for now! I'll keep you posted as everything comes together in the house!!