I just have to say that, after an entire spring of rain, today it the MOST glorious day I've seen in a very long time.
Jim took me to a waterside brunch in Old Town Alexandria. Magnificent. Sailboats were everywhere, up and down the sparkling Potomac River, children were carrying ice cream cones from a great nearby parlor, all the bright monuments were standing proud, and everyone was basking in the sunlight and perfect temperature.
We left the restaurant, and the view, feeling very mellow!
I wish that I could push some magic pause button, and keep this day exactly as it is for tomorrow.
What's everyone doing?
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
It's now Monday morning here and I'm waiting for the electrician to come install the new halogen lights in Nick's bedroom. The painters are coming tomorrow.
Yesterday we had 8 for dinner; Mike and Maya, Maya's brother René (from Dresden, Germany) and his girlfriend Sarah, from Cleveland, (they met while on a semester abroad in Dublin) and my parents. Lots of fun and laughs, lots of mess to clean up. Adorable kids, fun to have international gadabouts under the roof.
I have been allotted a 40 minute visitation with my little ones today from 4:30 to 5:10. *sigh* It's d-i-l's birthday so if I can manage, I'll stop for a bouquet on the way.
We had my home made burgers, potato salad, Caesar salad, ice cream and chocolate sauce and ate outside and froze, lol. It was only 13 degrees. We finally came in and lit the fireplace to thaw out.
Brief visit because d-i-l has a schedule that must not be disturbed. Very precise and strict. One must not phone or visit unless the hour has been prescribed. The phone will not be answered nor the door opened. Very strict rules. Should a dinner invitation be extended, it will not be accepted unless the meal is served in a timely fashion before 6 p.m. Period.
See what I mean about crankiness being contagious? It's hard to be upbeat under these circumstances.
-- Edited by KaeEll on Monday 8th of June 2009 12:12:01 PM
It was a very gorgeous Sunday! My husband and I took a ride to Galveston to see the sand castels on the beach. There was a big contest on Saturday of approximately 45 entries. There was some awesome artwork!
--------------- KaeEll writes: We had my home made burgers, potato salad, Caesar salad, ice cream and chocolate sauce and ate outside and froze, lol. It was only 13 degrees. ---------------
Sounds delicious!! But 13 degrees? I'm assuming that you mean C and not F because 13 degrees F would be pretty frigid, even for The Great Frozen North! LOL...
--------------- KaeEll writes: Brief visit because d-i-l has a schedule that must not be disturbed. ---------------
Oh. Wow. Won't even answer the phone?? What if you don't know in advance that you need to call? What if ... nevermind. Yikes.
--------------- Sundancer writes: My husband and I took a ride to Galveston to see the sand castels on the beach. ---------------
Okay, now I'm majorly jealous. I adore the beach, but don't foresee any opportunity to go anytime soon.
I can't seem to quote posts in the same way that I was always able to quote them here before. Strange...
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
Thanks, Sundancer. 13 degrees is long sleeves and socks weather. We were so tired of being cooped up inside that we decided to brave the nip and eat outside anyway. We're not as hearty as we thought we were, lol.
I'm sitting here waiting for the dry wall guys and the painters to arrive. Nick's room is getting a complete do-over, trying to remove that college kid look and replace it with a serene hotel room feeling. We're using a soft green on the walls and ceiling (Benjamin Moore Nature Lover) and then all white bed linens. I hope it will look crisp and inviting.
By the way, remember last spring we had the bathroom downstairs done over? It still isn't finished! It was one horror after another and we just gave up for the time being.
Wow Kae, well if you ever feel up to the trip you are more then welcome to play gram to all of my girls anytime you like. I open this invitation because Vinnie is leaving for San Diego at the end of this month which means I will be on my own with the 3 little ones for a week. The thought doesn't amuse me.
Kae I hope you can get Nick's room done with much less drama then what you had with the bathroom.
Moore I am happy to hear about your dinner. I love hearing about good places to eat. I hope that when I move to Va I will be able to do trips up to the DC area. I really want to eventually see all of the Museum and I want to take Jo to the zoo.
Nick's new room sounds beautiful, KaeEll. Very fresh!
Our son's favorite color is green, and his (former) room is green. He's been gone for several years now, and the room needed redoing even before he moved out, but a makeover involves removing some wallpaper, and with everything else going on, Jim and I just haven't been able to face doing it! I don't care how much prep work I do before papering, and I don't care how much steam I use to remove it, the stuff always comes off in tiny little slivers.
It's amazing how different shades of the same color can have such different effects. I remember the first time I saw the living room of Jim's parents' house that they were living in when Jim and I first started to date. (They later moved an hour away to a country property.) It was done in an bright apple green with white, and was so cheerful.
Our family room also desperately needs redoing, and I want to use a soft grey-green for the walls. A kind of mossy color, but pale because I don't want the grey hue to make the room appear dark. The room is on the north side of the house, so it doesn't get all that much light anyway!
You'll have to send us pictures, KaeEll. I would think that a soft green with white would be a wonderful bedroom to sleep in. Soothing...
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
We just changed the colour green from the blue-ish one we earlier thought to the greyish green Moore was talking about. It sure is wonderful to be able to use those wee jars of sample colours on the wall. The new green we decided on is BM Nantucket Grey. It's the mossy colour, much more neutral. I'll post pics when it's all done.
Shelly, I would LOVE to play nanny to your girls! Maybe one of these days when we cruise down to DC to see my s-i-l I'll be able to see both you and Moore.
Removing wallpaper is always a treat, lol. I did it for the very last time when Tony and Karin bought their house a few years ago and almost every surface had some. It DOES come off in tiny little strips, demon stuff. I will never wallpaper anything again for as long as I live.
ARGH!! The painter just called me downstairs. She unearthed MOULD all over the back wall of Nick's bedroom. OMG. This just gets more and more fun every day.
-- Edited by KaeEll on Tuesday 9th of June 2009 10:00:22 AM
Shelly, I didn't see your post when I made mine. We must have been posting simultaneously. KaeEll already has her own grandchildren, so I get to be the one to play babies with the twins!! Or, come to think of it, since they're ARE two little girls, and there's also Jolene, so maybe KaeEll and I should share the task...
Sorry about the mold annoucement, KaeEll. Not fun.
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
Yuck about the mold. I have to tell you guys I am envious about you being able to paint. I can't wait until we are in our own house and not in military housing. I would love to be able to do Jolene's room in a very subtle pink. I think I would do the twins room in a pale green or purple.
And you are both more then welcome anytime. We have a spare room although the bed isn't exactly comfortable.
So here's the painters' solution to the mould. First she painted on three coats of shellac to seal the gunge in. It was all dry mould stain. She said the stuff was dead by now since all the moisture was gone after we had that side of the house waterproofed last summer. Ugh. There's something to be said for not owning a house, Shelly!! (It's always something.)
The appointment was good. Angela now weighs 9/14 and is 20.5 in long, up from 7/10 at 5 days old. And Grace is up to 8-1 and 20" long. Up from 5/8 and 17 in at 5 days old. She grew long. Both babies are healthy.
