A Mouse in the House!!

Todd left on a business trip yesterday so I'm here packing alone all week with Reese.  We move on Saturday.  To say I'm overwhelmed is the understatement of the year.  I'll get through it, it's just a sucky week and I feel like complaining--- rightfully so I think!

Anyway, Monday evening I went downstairs to heat up some leftovers for dinner.  As I walked into the kitchen I saw Riley, our cat, on the dining room table--- she is NOT allowed on the table so I immediately yelled at her, however she didn't budge, her eyes were GLUED to the top of this shelf.  I looked over to find a MOUSE sitting there! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! I am deathly afraid of mice/rats/insert any type of rodent here. Yuck! I got the chills just typing that!

I panicked, called maintenance, and locked Reese and I in the Master bedroom.  Of course this had to happen when Todd was away, the week that I'm trying to pack, days before we move.  I posted something to Facebook and luckily my friend Kerry (who lives right down the street) came to rescue us! Kerry saved the day! She was able to capture the mouse and let him out on our deck.

And here is the unwanted guest--

Reese's 8 Month Photo Shoot

Last month we had Reese's 8 month pictures taken by my good friend (& amazing photographer), Kerry, (www.kerrygoodwin.com).  They came out amazing and I'm thrilled, although not surprised.  Kerry does an awesome job, and Reese is the cutest baby ever (just kidding- I'm partial!)! How can you loose? Haha!

Here are a few of my favorites!

Easter 2012

We had a wonderful Easter this year.  Todd and I were on the same page just feeling truly blessed to have Reese in our lives making Easter even more meaningful than ever.  We started our day with going to church at 9am-- Reese was really well behaved and fell asleep in her car seat around 945am for her morning nap.  We came home, let her sleep, then headed to my dad's girlfriend Kathy's house for noon.

My dad and Kathy had invited my mom and step dad, Ted, and Todd's parents Donna and Jeff in addition to my dad's family being invited as well.  It was a full house, but tons of fun.  There is nothing like good company, and good food! It was great to see my sister who was home from UNH for the weekend.  A family friend took a bunch of family pictures, but I haven't seen them yet, so I'll just post what we have on our camera.

Somebody's Easter basket is taller than them!

Reese loves her Daddy!

Laughing at Mommy.

The Easter Bunny was good to Reese!

Lots of fun bath toys, books, puffs, a new sippy cup, a light up sensory ball, ladybug bib, white sunglasses, and a talking ducky!

Our poor attempt at a family photo- Todd's dad was taking the picture, but my mom was standing to his right- hence why Reese isn't looking at the camera, ha!

I also want to mention that I made my first ever carrot cake, I got the recipe from my Better Homes and Garden Cook Book, and it came out pretty good if I do say so myself.  I even made the cream cheese frosting! YUM!

Edited to add more pictures:

My mom (Nana) and Dad (Papi)

The Whole Gang (minus Ted)

The Cormier's!

A House Update

I know, I know I owe you all an update on the house! T and I sold my condo that I purchased when I was 23 back in 2004 when I was 7 months pregnant this past May.  We weren't ready to buy a house, nor did I want to deal with that whole process being so pregnant, moving was enough! We rented a townhouse for a year and planned to look for a house in the meantime.  If we found a house and the timing worked out, then great! If we didn't find one by the time our lease was up, we'd just renew for one more year.

Back in November T and I went Open House hopping- I immediately fell in love with the first house we saw that day.  I could instantly picture T and I raising our family there, I had visions of holiday's being hosted, bbq's in the backyard, Reese's nursery, the list went on.  T wasn't so sold on that house (I think it had to do with the fact that we saw a house immediately after that was WAY out of our price range and basically T's dream house..).  Fast forward 3 months and a 40k price reduction, and T and I went back to see that same first house again.  This time T fell in love with it like I had the first time.

We immediately started crunching numbers, getting pre-approved, and working with a realtor.  We ended up putting in an offer and after some negotiation, the house was ours! We closed on March 30th, and have been working on the house ever since! Although the house was pretty much turn-key, it wasn't turn-key to our standards, nor was most of the house our taste decor-wise.  We made a list of things that needed to be done immediately, and a list of things that we would do overtime.  On the list of things to do immediately were:

1. Rip up carpet in formal living room and dining room, replace with hardwoods.
2. Rip up tile in the foyer area, replace with hardwoods.
3. Tear down wallpaper in the family room.
4. Replace carpet in the family room.
5. Paint: formal living room, foyer, dining room, kitchen, downstairs hallway, downstairs bath, family room, Reese's nursery, guest room, future nursery (no, I'm not pregnant), and Master bedroom.

Well, things haven't gone exactly according to plan.  First of all, we went to rip down wallpaper in the family room to find dreaded PANELLING- ugh!!!! We could have taken the easy way out and just painted the panelling, however since we'll be spending most of our time in that room we didn't want to look around knowing that it wasn't exactly how we wanted it (not to mention the panelling wasn't in the best shape).  We knew we needed to tear down the panelling, install new insulation, and drywall.  That room had a gigantic, heavy, UGLY, 8 ft. sliding door that leads to a 3 seasoned porch.  Originally,  T and I wanted to replace the slider with french doors and had that on our "To-Do later" list. However, we figured since we already had contractors in there doing all of the work on the walls, that we'd just replace the slider with french doors now.  So if you're keeping track of our unexpected expenses that's new walls and new french doors (and all of the trim, crown molding, door hardware, etc. etc. etc.).

The other issue was the upstairs hardwood floors.  The previous owners weren't very meticulous (to say the least) in terms of cleaning and keeping up with things in the house.  We found out during our final walk through that one of the bedrooms (Reese's), had a bunch of sticky stuff on the hardwood floors.  It almost looked like adhesive from a rug pad that had been there for way too long.  Anyway, the hardwood floors that we were putting in downstairs had a darker stain than the light oak floors upstairs.  On our "To-Do later" list we planned to sand/stain/refinish the upstairs floors to match the downstairs floors at some point.  The guy that we hired to do the floors was able to cut us a deal to do the upstairs floors now vs. waiting.  I am SO happy that we choose to go this route.  The floors looks AMAZING so far (and they only have one coat of stain on them).

I'll be updating with more pictures as we go, and will definitely do a home tour post when we're all moved in a settled.  For now, I'll put the pictures from the MLS listing.  Please don't judge us on the previous owners hideous taste! Ha!

The previous owners just painted the house this past fall.  Although I wouldn't choose yellow, it's not awful, and it's freshly done.  Eventually when the house needs to be repainted we'll probably go a nice khaki color with black shutters.

Down the road we'd like to make the 1 car garage into a 2 car garage.  We think we'll wait until the house's room needs to be replaced so that way we won't have 2 different colored shingles happening.  I love a dark gray shingle. Currently our roof is a very light gray.

We have an awesome back yard! This is what really sold us! Not only are we in the best section of our town, and in a great neighborhood, but we have an awesome yard!

The previous owners purchased a very nice shed last year. We're really happy about that!

This area needs a total re-do! Next summer we plan to rip up all of the crushed rocks/brick walkway and replace with large pavers to create a nice large patio. We'll bring the patio over the the edge of the 3 season porch.

Another view of the yard, and you can see the nice swing set!

This kitchen is only 2 years old and although it's not our taste per-se, it's also pretty neutral and we'll keep it the way it is.  T and I both prefer white cabinets with gray granite or marble for counters, and wooden floors.  We are not planning to do much in here except change out the current blah back splash to a pretty glass back splash and paint a khaki color (Benjamin Moore's Manchester Tan).  The owners did splurge for some nicer appliances, and I love that I'll have a double oven! Woo! Please try to picture the kitchen without those 6 hideous, gigantic, oak stools. We'll be purchasing 4 black saddle stools.

 This is the dining room (obviously, ha!).  There is hardwood instead of carpet now, we'll be painting a khaki color (Benjamin Moore's Manchester Tan), taking down that ugly track that the chandelier is on, and replacing the chandelier.

This is the formal living room (and a terrible picture that doesn't show the room's size at all!).  There is hardwood in here now, we'll be painting Greenbrier Beige by Benjamin Moore, and not be blocking that gorgeous window with our couch. ;-)

A view of the family room (with the dreaded wallpaper over panelling).  You can sort of see the slider from this view too. This room looks totally different now! We'll be painting this room BM's Coastal Fog (love!!), and replacing the carpet.

 Don't you just love their random frames on the walls? No rhyme or reason with any of their decor in my opinion!

A view of the 3 season porch.

Please try not to have a seizure looking at this wallpaper in Master Bedroom.  We'll be painting BM's Revere Pewter, the floors have been stained a gorgeous darker color, and we took down those ugly custom curtains that hadn't been dusted, like, ever!

This is the upstairs bathroom and the one room that unfortunately won't be remodeled just yet. :-( It's just not in our budget.  We'll be painting and replacing the mirrors and light.  That's it.  And if someone could please tell me why anyone would ever install 2 pedestal sinks in a bathroom??? We eventually want to take down the tiles on the walls, replace the tiled floor, and get a gorgeous white wooden vanity with a gray or beige granite top.