an overdue update . . .

Well, as usual, when our life begins to look normal, the chaos flows like a river.

As soon as we got the flagstone patio done under the new breezeway, we realized

that our sewer had some problems. And when I saw problems, I mean leaks in all of the pipes . . .

all over our yard while our sewage literally paraded down the street. Yowzers! 

{E} had to practically dig up every pipe in the yard in order to make sure that the problem was fixed.

Meanwhile, the jets in the pool broke and some valves with the pool equipment had to be replaced.

I'm ok posting these pictures of our white trash back yard, but you'll notice that I didn't dare take

a photo of our swamp of a pool while {E} was having it fixed . . .

Here's my quick photo montage!

Feel free to laugh! (or cry for me, either one)

contemplating how to begin another long weekend fixing pipes . . .

Lucas becoming comfortable with our chaotic lifestyle so he protested against clothes . . .

yep, that's my husband, deep in mud . . . rolex and all!

I have to say that this was the first time that I've ever asked Ace Hardware where

to rent a jack-hammer. Meanwhile, all of the bushes around the pull had

to come out .  . . apparently they were causing some problems with the sewer. 

And of course {E} did that reck-neck style by using his truck to pull them all out.

. . . of all of the poses he could have chosen, this is how he decided to take his picture

Noelle was with her mom, Lucas was taking a nap, and I was waiting for my next run to

Ace Hardware . . . so I stole a moment with a nice Dr. Pepper and dreaming of fabulous decor. . . 

Finally! Grass and no more dirt!

 . . . then moving on to {E}'s clinic. A long night of chamber ribbon cutting and open house partying.

Ignoring the green swamp of a pool, Noelle and her friend Maddy made a fashionably late 

appearance at their end of the year school dance. 

Lucas always messing with the water, even in his pajamas.

And then my husband that never stops decided that in the midst of all of this chaos would be the 

perfect time to plant our new flower bed. 

And that's all I have to say about that . . .

happy mother's day to me . . .

I love my husband so much and I even love the way

he runs out of the house and tells me that he's going to buy me, my mom [she was visiting], 

and his mom some flowers! The best part is that I told him exactly what I wanted and 

where to go to get them . . .

I'm a sucker for fresh flowers and love love love them all over the house! 

So I was extremely happy and eager to cut and arrange my simple mother's day roses . . .

I even wrote my card for myself! Such a lovely day!

And of course we can never take good pictures .  . .

It was way past Lucas' naptime, Noelle was suppose to be packing to go visit her mom,

mom and dad were trying to hurry and get out of town, and I had to drag my lovely husband

away from the workers doing our flagstone patio. 

It was all I could do to pull everyone together for a quick snapshot . . .

And YES, Lucas desperately needs a haircut! 

It's on my list . . .

oh, rubie green . . .

oh, rubie green, how i love thee!

belated easter pics

In the midst of all our daily chaos, I was determined to get at least one shot of the kids

 in their Easter get-ups. Apparently we didn't have a minute to rush outside and take a picture by

some beautiful spring foliage. 

Oh well, I guess the front door will do . . .

A month late, but here they are! 

My gorgeous family, if I do say so myself!

remodeling :: easter madness part two

So nothing in my life goes according to plan . . .

hence the fact that, not only am I just now catching up on my blogging, but our kitchen wasn't done by Easter!

No worries though. I'm not in the crazy house, in case you were wondering. You're prayers must have worked because everything was as complicated as usual and yet I'm still here.

:: SUNDAY ::
[one week before Easter]

"E" woke up early and started on the house again . . . preparing for the vent-a-hood.

The house is a total disaster . . .

 . . . of course the vent-a-hood wasn't as easy as they thought and pretty  much took ALL day.

:: MONDAY ::

The counter top installers made it to our house by 8:00am only to realize 

that we had ordered squared edges as opposed to ogee. 

So they had to return all the way to North Houston to fabricate the edges in their shop . . . 

which means a few more days until I get my counter tops. 

Good thing the marble installers had to come back because "E" realized there was a piece loose where the pot filler had to be installed . . . hence the huge hole in the wall. So there he goes working again!

:: TUESDAY :: 

He fixed the loose piece but now the hard part . . . crawling under the house and turning on the water!

Cabinet dooors still being installed!

Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous! I absolutely LOVE my inset cabinets!

Another late night . . . 

staying up to get the kitchen clean for the marble installers Wednesday morning.

Poor "E"! He's so exhausted he was being a pooper!

:: THURSDAY ::

Well, they called Wednesday morning and said they were still working 

on some of the fabrications on the edges . . .so we had to wait another day!

:: SATURDAY ::

They came and left Thursday only to find they had made a lot of mistakes! 

Too many considering the price we paid.

So this is the boss man back to fix it all! 

I was sick to my stomach for two days until they finally got this done! 

"E" and our cute young plumber moving in the dishwasher! Yay! 

But of course I had to stay up late with "E" to get in all installed. 

After nearly two years of this, I have become a professional "manual/installation reader."

:: EASTER SUNDAY :: 

It wasn't done in time for Easter dinner, but I can't complain. At least I can now wash clothes without walking across our lot to the back garage with no light and some rigged plumbing! I've been washing everything in my sight! Fabuloso!

Then it was a week of unpacking and organizing. Oh wait, did I say a week? 
I'm pretty sure I'll still be organizing a year from now.


With a lot of help from a friend and a little help from me, "E" was able to get our range out of the garage and in the kitchen last night . . .
now if we can just get it in place then I'll be cooking soon.