House . Updates

Week . 6

(Aug 28th - Sept 3rd)

Labour Day long weekend, a.k.a, no house work for three days, time alone up at the lake, and toasted marshmallows by a campfire. Could I be anymore excited?!?!?! Ah, let me think about that ... nope, don't think so. Nate and I are taking off to the family cabin on Friday where we'll chill out, by ourselves, for three whole days. Wow. As I'm writing this, I'm getting excited butterflies flappin' around in my stomach.

As far as the house goes, the trim (throughout) will be painted this week. Nate went in on Tuesday to grab something from the basement and he said that the whole place smelled like Sharpie markers. That'll kill some brain cells and God knows I don't have a ton to spare. So, I opted out for both Sunday and Monday. Heck, now that I'm thinking about it, I should probably stay away for a few more. I kid! I kid! The black granite counter top for the kitchen is on it's way and should arrive Today (ahem). The marble for the master bedroom bathroom will be in at the same time and the cabinet doors will be installed this week. We're gettin' there...

(Blurry Kate and the unfinished cabinets)

In other news, (yeah that transition was lame but I'm kinda tired), my job is sick yo!!! For those of you NOT teaching high school, sick means ridiculously cool, crazy, insane. As each day goes by, I love it more and more. I've made a few really good work friends, my boss is a big sweetie, and I can't believe how well behaved and respectful the kids are. I mean, Fowler was great in many ways; but Central seems to be a really fantastic fit for me. I'm beyond pumped about the four Advanced Acting Productions that we're putting on this year and on Wednesday, I got chosen to take a group of Gr.10's to the World Skills competition this year! Life. Is. Good.

The two Musicals that we're putting up are:

Astonishing Adventures of Awesome Girl and Radical Boy

Les Miserables

and the Play Productions are:

Pregnancy Pact

The Oresteia

I mean, The Oresteia? GREEK TRAGEDY?!?! I was studying that stuff in university and these high school kids are going to be learning it, memorizing it and then performing it? So impressed.

Go Rams! I'm all over this job. I have a feeling I'm going to kill it. Again, for those of you not around High School aged teenagers, 'to kill it' means to do a job well done. Don't ask me why, but it just does.

House . Updates

Week . 5

(Aug 21st - Aug 27th)

I started the job at Central Memorial this week.  It's been a blur, but a very positive blur.  I love the job so far; however, on Tuesday, I asked one of my collegues if he had any plans for the weekend?  

He looked at me and said; ' Already thinking about the weekend?  

Oh sweetheart, you're in trouble'.  

  As far as the house goes, we're waiting on a few people to get certain jobs done before other people can start their job, so currently it feel a bit like a waiting game.  But all in good time.  Here are a few more pics.

(Kate and Nate in the master - so cheesy, but we really do love each other)

(Handsome Man staring out of one of the 'kid bedrooms')

(trying so hard to put on a brave and not tired face)

(Hardwood is still 'curing')

(Taking a break away from the house to go for one last summer hike in the mountains) 

House . Updates

Week . 4

(Aug 14th - Aug 20th)

ARE WE THERE YET HONEY?

I'll be the first to admit that within the first month of house renovations, the Princess has once again reared her ugly monster head. It's time to be open and honest about her presence and 

fully accept that she's not meant to do this 

sort of work.  Yeah, yeah, I can hear the collaborative 'duh Kate' resonating in 

my very eardrums; but seriously, I try and try to make this 'handywoman' side of 

me happen, but She keeps sneaking back.  I just can't seem to kill her!  

Die woman...DIE!!!  

I'll give you a small example of the 'ego' that I'm dealing with, and this time I was 

able to silence the brat thanks to the help of Eckhart Tolle.  Yesterday, I finished 

my job of filling every nail hole in every casing, door header, base board etc that 

needed it throughout the entire house.  Then, once dry, I sanded them all down 

to a flat smooth surface.  I liked the job because I felt it was intricate and detail 

oriented...like me!  So when I was done, I asked Nate to give me a task similar to 

that of the first.  My 'new' job was to fill all the gaps between each adjoining piece 

of wood around in inside all of the doors by using my fingers to smooth it out and 

then wipe it down with a cloth.  However, Princess Fancy Pants started to 

discover that all of the goop that she's pushing into the cracks was getting under 

her long beautiful nails.  So, she did what she does best and she started to quietly 

complain. 'This feels disgusting and the filler is drying out my nails which I just 

know will break them all off.'  Then she started getting visions of stubby broken 

fingernails and gorgeous door hinges.  Oh man, here we go...  

At this point, I'm fully aware that the monster is present and has started to get 

grumpy so I try to completely ignore her.  I just keep going.  I work for another 

two, maybe three minutes when she starts speaking louder; 'This is lame Kate.  

Can't you pay somebody else to do this?  Wouldn't you rather be shopping right 

now?  You do need furniture you know.  Don't you deserve a break?'  'OK 

MISSY!  Yes I want a break but I'm sticking this out cause you're annoying and 

your setting me back from the house that I want, so shut it Prima Donna!!!'  

And then, I just kept going.  It was great.  She didn't say much afterwards and 

when she did, I said 'Nope, Stop it.  You're done girl'.  Thanks Eckhart ;)

Other updates (besides me killing a part of my ego) include hanging the skeleton 

boxes of the kitchen cabinets, building and installing the kid bathroom counter 

top and completing all of the wood work throughout the house.  All of the latter 

was of course done by Nate but I was there verbally supporting his every move.  

Hey, beside every successful super-husband is a supportive wife.    

(skeleton cabinets that Nate made) (MUM and Nate - awe)

(driving home after a long day of work)

My brother is so wicked...

Teddy is so amazing.  Would you guess that this guy is about to defend his thesis and then get his PhD in Physiology a.k.a Neuro Science?  I KNOW!  He's the coolest and the nicest and one of the smartest guys around; and yet, so down to earth.

If you saw a few posts back, Ted wasn't in the birthday photos (I was seriously distraught over this since I had my other two bros with me).  But he's here in Calgary visiting for about two weeks and we're all very, VERY happy about it.  Love ya Ted, I'm so proud of you and your hair makes my whole life better. 

Week Trezzz (three z's cause we're so tired)

(Aug 7th - Aug 13th)

It's official.  We're exhasted.  There is so much to do!  Paul is still helping out big time.  He has tiled and grouted the 'kid bathroom'  and it looks amazing.  See pics below.

I filled in every little nail with this pink goop that reminds me of pink buttercream frosting.  I did all of the mouldings, casings and door headers throughout the house.  Then I sanded them all down.  

  Nate has been Superman throughout all of this.  I have to stop and publicly brag about the husband here for a minute.  I'm so amazed that he can build our entire kitchen cabinet set, install a toilet, drop four spot lights out of the ceiling and frame all of the windows within a few days.  Groups of men have a hard time doing that working together.  Nate will do serious  physical work from 7:30 in the morning till 9:00 at night and still be in a good mood and kind and loving and willing to give ME a backrub!!!  Talk about an upstanding male in a world full of flakes.  I swear if it wasn't for him this would be a hellish nightmare.  Thankfully, he is totally in his area of expertise, and I'm absolutely smitten - but we're both still exhasted.  

(Wow, messy)

(Mid-way through tiling the 'kid' bathroom upstairs)

(finished product, nice work bro)

HOUSE UPDATES

Week Deux

(July 31st - Aug 6th)

When Ted was born, I was too young to remember feeling disappointed at getting a little brother for a sibling.  I sort of just remember a really dirty and stinky but totally cute blonde boy following me around all the time.  He was a.o.k by me; but a few years into my life, I realized that I also wanted a little sister, and what I really wanted, I usually got.  So, when Paul was born, I remember being surprised when Dad announced that it was in fact another little brother.  Hmmmmm, a boy.  Weird.  I thought to myself;  'I wanted and wished for a girl so badly, how has this happened?'  But again, I just went with it.  I had another brother.

However, when Mom was pregnant AGAIN, I thought God was finally answering my prayers.  I remember thinking; 'YES!  God has given me a little sister!  She will be mine, and I shall name her Samantha (my favorite girl name at the time).  I will dress her in pink fluffy lace and do her hair in beautiful curly ponytails with ribbons all the days of her life on this earth.  We'll have endless, overly sweet tea parties and do each other's makeup and nails.  We'll play 'School' and 'House' and 'Horses' and I will love her and she will love me.'  Then Dad came home and told me that Danny was born.  At first, I didn't believe him.  I thought he was just playing a really mean joke on me and any minute he would break out in laughter and say 'Just KIDDING Kate'.  But alas, Dad was oh so serious.  That day, I specifically remember Dad consoling me when he saw my face drop in disbelief and then I remember crying on his shoulder until it was time to be put to bed.

But having said that, I must also say that all three of my brothers have been extra special to me throughout my life and it has been a blessing to have each one of them in my lives.  In fact, Paul really showed me his love and support when he helped Nathan move over 300 boxes of hardwood flooring from the store into the truck and from the truck into the new house.  He worked so hard all day long and really made me feel special and loved.  I doubt Samantha would have been able to do that!  So, thanks Paulzee, a.k.a bro deux helping out in week deux.  Love ya tons.  

In the mean time, Nate has hung up all of the doors in the house, I finished filling all of the nail holes that were made and we have light in all of the rooms!  The Pantry door is up in the kitchen and baseboards, casing and headers have just arrived.  The plumbing will be done today and I'm extra happy about not having to use the Avalon showhome toilet anymore.  Ah, the little things ;)  

Looking forward to another week of renos.

p.s  Our next door neighbors -the gym guru and her engineer husband, came to visit late last night and they are awesome.  Thankfully, I didn't have ANY junk food in the house or I would have gotten it from her.  (I've learned to stash it in the glove compartment of my car).  I'm getting smarter.

(New Walnut Hardwood that Paul and Nate worked tirelessly to carry into the house)