Frozen Room Complete

This came in the mail the other day . . .

2015 Basketball

We didn't sign Ian up for competitive sports right away.  He was always tall and athletic.  He was also peacemaker number one.  That boy came into this world without an aggressive bone in his body.  It was one of his most endearing qualities when he was small.

When he was in third grade and Sophie was in fifth, we signed them both up for their first year of Jr. Jazz basketball with Ogden City.  It was sweet watching third grade Ian play basketball.  He was so polite about it.  "What?  Do you want to take this ball?  Here you go.  Don't let me get in your way."

It has been fun watching basketball Ian evolve over time.  For the first two years, he did not want that ball.  If it wound up in his hands, he passed it off as quickly as he could.  Last year, he started to take more risks.  It's basketball season again, and it is wonderful to see him out there with so much confidence and enthusiasm going after rebounds, blocking other players, making awesome passes and taking shots.

The past three years, the city has placed him on teams with classmates. Last year he was on a great team with four guys from his school.  I was surprised this year when I saw the rosters and he was on a team without a single person he knew.

The guys from his team last year were all together and back with the same coach.  Two more Polk students were on another team where one of their dads was the coach.

At Ian's request, I called the city to see if they would switch him to one of the teams with his friends.  They would not because every team  had exactly nine players.

We showed up to his first game last Saturday and I immediately recognized the team he was playing against as the championship team of years past.  They are big guys (and, not just tall).  They are aggressive and often use unsportsmanlike tactics to get the job done.  I settled in for what I figured would be a blow out.

In the first quarter, the score remained low and close.  Someone made a free throw shot, so the score was 5-6, 7-6, 8-7 . . .

I perked up and realized -- Ian's team had some serious moves.  At the halftime buzzer, one of our guys made the most amazing three-point shot.  He was so far down the court.  The ball left his hands.  The buzzer blared as the ball soared and -- swoosh!

Third quarter started with Ian's team in the lead 13-11.  Fourth quarter started with the score still tight.  For a minute, it looked like the other team would take it.  Then, our guys started playing like their lives depended on it.  They kept bringing it and bringing it and in the last three minutes of the game they took it!  I can't remember the final score.  Something like 24-21.  A girl was selling me girl scout cookies during the last intense 60-seconds, so I missed some of the final plays.  All I know is, we won!  And, when we won, the boys on Ian's team started screaming and jumping around like they had won the championship game instead of the first game of the season.

The coach called his players together and congratulated them on winning against a team that has only been beaten one other time out twenty-seven games they have played together.

Looks like it will be an exciting season after all!

Braces x2

Happy MLK Day.  Here is what we did -- went to the orthodontist for braces.  Twice!

Katie's Frozen Room

Tonight we moved the last of Sophie's things downstairs, officially clearing the way for Katie's new Frozen room.  Hooray! 

This picture window is my favorite feature of the room (this and the flower chandelier).

My little princess all ready to sleep in her big bed.  She is so excited to not be sleeping in her toddler bed anymore.  She is 5 1/2 -- it's about time!  See that tiny space to the left of the dresser?  Before this weekend, that was the space for her bed and all of her possessions.  That little corner plus three dresser drawers -- poor thing.

 Frozen wall clings.

 Here is Katie's new clothes hamper.  Now that she has her own bedroom, she is so excited to be in charge of her own laundry.  When Katie was born, I quickly realized I was not up to the task of washing clothes for SIX people.  I put Sophie and Ian in charge of their own laundry.  They were about 8 1/2 and 7.  When Isaac turned 8, he started washing his own laundry as well (sort of, somehow I end up helping him more than the other two).  Katie is only 5, so I wasn't planning to make her wash her own clothes.  But, she loves to fold and she is so excited to be grown up.  Bonus for me.  The Frozen light switch cover is on its way.  This darling Tinker Bell cover is up for grabs (as well as curtains and fairy wall clings).

 Now she gets the whole dresser to herself, including a hidden drawer for her treasures.

 For Christmas, Katie got this Katelyn doll.  With her ice skates and turquoise skirt, she matches the new theme perfectly.

 She also got these Frozen figurines from my mom (the bad guy has to stand off by himself).

 The Frozen colors seem to be purple, turquoise and pink.  I think the old bedspread is working nicely with the decor.  It matches the purple on the sheets and helps incorporate the green stripe on the wall.

I found purple Frozen curtains (if you look really close, they even have some green that matches the stripe exactly).  Katie likes to make her bed like this.  She got the throw from my mom for Christmas and we immediately started to call it her Elsa blanket because she looks like the Snow Queen when she wraps up in it and walks around the house.  We didn't even know we would be doing a Frozen bedroom when she got it, but now it works great.  I am so happy for my kids to have their own space!  It makes such a difference for the two younger kids especially.  They are finally able to put all of their things away instead of having them strewn haphazardly all over the place because the older siblings were taking all the prime real estate.

Bedroom Photos

Time for the big unveiling.  Here are some photos of Ian's bedroom first:

 The quilt is one my mom made for my wedding.  It happened to match the paint Ian chose perfectly.

 Brian put these built-in shelves in the corner to cover a pipe. (bedroom door and closet door)

 Ian leaves his lava lamp on at night and it gives his room a mysterious red glow.

 Ta-da!  Sophie's first night in her new room is tonight

 Here is the bedspread that saved our lives.  She wanted the loft bed so she can put her big beanbag chair underneath (still working on moving her in).

We bought these antique dressers almost a year ago.  Now they have a home!

Moving Day For The Girls

Today is the big day when we begin moving Sophie downstairs and transforming the upstairs room into a place just for Katie.

Sophie must have her daddy wrapped around her pinky finger.  Not only did he install hardwood floors, he paid extra to get the lighter shade she preferred.

I like how the walls turned out.  Better than stripes of bold neon colors, yes?

Here is a photo of Sophie helping Brian seal the bed.  She wanted him to build her a loft bed so she can sit on her Big Joe beanbag chair underneath to read books and write books (watch for my daughter, future author).

Three years ago, when we first moved into this house, Sophie insisted that we paint her room purple with a green stripe and make it Disney fairy themed.  Brian painted it exactly as she wanted.  We bought Tinker Bell curtains, a Tinker Bell light switch cover and wall clings of all the fairies.

Now, the three older kids are getting to choose their own custom bedrooms and Katie is left in the room Sophie designed.  But -- good news!  Katie wants a Frozen themed bedroom, and it turns out purple is the perfect color.  Today, I swapped out the Tinker Bell curtains for purple and turquoise Elsa curtains.  We took down the wall clings and replaced them with Frozen character wall clings.  I surprised Katie with new Frozen sheets.  I am torn about whether or not to buy a Frozen bedspread.  It is cute, and would match perfectly.  But, the person in me who likes to use things until they are used up wants to keep the purple bedspread we bought for Sophie that is neither Tinker Bell or Frozen themed.  I will decide for sure once everything is put together.

I did order a Frozen light switch cover from Etsy today.

Friday Night

It's Friday night and I am cleaning my house in my pajamas.

Don't go getting the wrong idea and thinking that my life is this glamorous every Friday night.

It feels good to get some housework done after letting it slide this week while I worked on stories.

An editor I really like at the newspaper called and told me there is a new magazine in the works (put out by the newspaper) and she is in charge.  She wants me to be one of her writers.  I said -- yes!  I wrote a piece on bridal fashion.  It turned out, I had to do a lot of research to write with authority on this topic.  Now, I don't know if writing for the magazine is really worth it.

I'm happy I finished in time for the weekend.

Brian is with the older kids skiing.  They have a ski class every Friday in January.  Last Friday, I took Katie on a special night out.  We went to a restaurant so she could redeem her coupon for a free kid's meal -- something she earned for being student of the month.  After dinner, we met a friend and her two boys to play at the Treehouse Children's Museum.

Last Saturday, Brian's parents took us out.  We went to a new teppanyaki grill in Ogden called Tokyo Station.  We decided the wait of 45-minutes was too long, so we crossed the street and ate at Harley & Buck's.  It was a popular restaurant in Ogden Valley for 10-years and moved to Ogden a few months ago.

The food was delicious.  Everyone's dinner was yummy.  I think everything on the menu is probably fabulous.  And, almost all of it is gluten-free.  There was live music.  Usually, I don't care for live music in a restaurant, but I really enjoyed this performer who played the violin, bass and sang.  It was fun to double date with the parents.

Sunday, I met my new primary class of four-year-olds.  They might be the biggest handful I have had in all my years of teaching.  And, I had two pretty rambunctious boys two years ago.

Brian's family came over for dinner.  We had lots of soup.  My brother called and said he was in charge of a linger longer for his ward and he ended up with several gallons of hot cocoa.  He brought it over and his family joined us for dinner.

The kids had the day off from school last Monday because of the quarter ending.  I was planning to take them to Classic Fun Center in Layton.  But, the forecast said there was a 100% chance of snow.  Since my van isn't great in the snow, we stayed home instead.

That morning before the rain turned to snow, Brian and I went bathtub shopping.  I was pretty sure I wanted a bathtub in the downstairs bathroom we are building.  I love taking baths.  Sophie loves them even more than me.  Isaac takes baths about half the time.  And, Katie is little enough that she hasn't started taking showers.  I guess that makes our family an anomaly.  Apparently, taking a bath is so out of style.

After thinking it over a lot, maybe one bathtub is enough and we should build a shower downstairs instead of a tub/shower like I thought.  Brian will be happy when I tell him that.

I got custom orthotics for my plantar fasciitis.  I think they are helping a lot.  I am really excited for the day that this flare up calms down.  That is what I am told is suppose to happen, but it has been going on since I ran Ragnar in June.  The doctor said I probably need an MRI and possibly surgery.  I am determined that will not happen.

For one thing, I need all of my money for this basement re-model.  And, braces.  To celebrate MLK Day on Monday, Sophie and Ian are both getting braces.

Last night, Sophie wanted me to take her to a movie so she could eat theater popcorn one more time before the braces.  We saw "Annie."  I love the original "Annie" and I thought this one was darling, even if it was a little cheesy at times.  Who cares.  I loved it.

Now it's Friday again and I am cleaning house in my pajamas while Brian and the older kids ski.  My niece (who is Katie's age) and my nephew (who is younger) and one of Katie's friends came over to play.  They are happy as can be.  There was a time when I would have found cleaning in my pajamas on a Friday night depressing.  Now, it's pretty much perfect.

I am decorating my living room.  It is a fun project.  I'm having a really hard time deciding what curtains I like.  I think it will be easier to decide when the rug I ordered comes in.  If anyone is an expert on curtains, please come over and help me.

The front tire on our van kept slowly losing air.  Brian told me to take it to a tire shop to have it fixed.  I said, "Every time I go to a tire shop, they tell me I need four new tires."  I took it in and they said, "You need four new tires."  I was in denial until I called my brother who knows a lot about tires and he said he had noticed I needed new tires.  When someone notices your tires without you even asking them to look, it's probably time for new tires.

My parents have been in Hawaii for a week and a half.  I miss them.  They get back next week and then they are off to spend the entire month of February in San Diego.  The price of gas is so low, I am tempted to take a road trip to the beach to see them.  I haven't completely vetoed the idea.  But, there is the basement remodel and the braces and the new tires.  So . . . ?

More Before Pictures

 The giant saw blade hooked up and ready to start cutting the foundation.

Another photo of the giant blade (although this one is cutting a door to a room for cold storage)

 View of Isaac's future bedroom before the window is cut.

 A view from the outside after the window is cut.

A view from the inside after the window is cut.  Unfortunately, I didn't snap it before Brian started installing the window well.  You can see the dirt floor.  Hopefully that will be cement by the end of the week!

Window Pictures (before)

The basement of our house had four windows when we moved in.  We have had two of those windows cut larger to be egress compliant and those are being used now to make Sophie and Ian's bedrooms.  We decided to make a third bedroom for Isaac.  Today this giant hole was dug:

Now, the concrete cutters are ready to cut the foundation so we can install a larger window.  Here is Brian pointing to the small window that is there now.

Exciting stuff!  I wish I could check Isaac and his friend Jordan out of school early to watch.

Lucky 2015

This happened on New Year's Eve (Katie, 5, in her Olaf hat, lost her second tooth)

I have this feeling that 2015 is the beginning of our lucky years in life.  The year started in a lucky way.  Our dear friends invited us to spend a few nights at their cabin in the Uintahs.  Our children played together beautifully.  We had adventures on snowmobiles and sledding down a perfect hill right outside the front door. 

To me, there is something magical about being at a cabin.  It is like time stands still.  There is no need to rush.  There are no pressing deadlines.  It is peaceful and calm and it feels like no big deal to watch three movies in a row or spend hours assembling a puzzle just to take it apart again.  It is a time to sit back and savor the moment with friends and family.  I love it so much and feel blessed that our family had this opportunity.  We always wish we could spend more time with these friends (all of our friends really!).  But, life is so busy.  Weeks and months seem to fly by without us making any plans or seeing each other.  It was fun to spend some uninterrupted time together at last.  

As Brian and I retired to a bed in the loft in the wee hours of January 1, I suddenly remembered that 15 has always been Brian's lucky number.  Maybe some part of him has always known that the year '15 would be the beginning of the best luck of his life, hmmm?

Katie posing with a snowman she and Isaac built in our front yard (she added the face and a nose of string cheese all by herself)

The weather has been so accommodating this winter and I think it is part of the reason for my optimistic mood.  Long stretches of cold get me down.  But, this year, the weather was perfectly sunny and warm right up until after we went to bed on Christmas Eve.  Then, it dumped snow all night long so that we could wake up to a breathtaking blanket of white.  It was just the right addition to an already perfect Christmas.  We've been able to enjoy the snow for the entire Christmas break and now, guess what?  It's melting away.  The temperature is back to hovering just below 50.  It is outstanding.  This is the way it should be.  Enjoy the snow while it is fresh and then flush it away before it gets dirty and icy and sticks around forever during the never ending stretch of unbearably cold days.  I could definitely get use to a winter like this.

Brian finished laying the hardwood floor in Sophie's room earlier today

I haven't posted any pictures yet along this journey to make a new basement in our home.  Sophie's room is coming right along.  Brian seems to think she could be sleeping in it by the end of the week.  Wow!  I guess we will see what happens.  I'm not sure if he is taking into account building the loft bed she requested.  But, look at all the work he has done.  I love how the floor turned out.  He has to wait two days for a closet door to be delivered so he has to take a break from working on it.  I can't believe he is downstairs right now digging away in our dirt room (it is 9 p.m.) to stay busy.  

Once Sophie's room is finished, the kids will all have their own rooms -- hooray!  

Ultimately, Isaac will move into a third bedroom downstairs along with Sophie and Ian.  In order to finish his room, we need to cut a window and pour the concrete floor before Brian can even begin with the framing, drywall, wiring, etc.  He scheduled the cement cutters for the window on Wednesday and he thinks the cement may also be poured this week.  The dirt must be leveled in preparation.  

It is exciting to once again be able to move ahead now that we closed on our 25th Street house.  

Finishing our basement is exciting.  But, it's not the reason I think 2015 will be lucky.  I think it will be lucky in other ways too.  Time will tell.  I'm excited to see what is in store.  If you are reading this, I sincerely hope your 2015 is lucky too!