Now What??

Just when I thought I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I get this email from my mom:


**Notification Alert: **

Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas and oil, as well as current market conditions -The Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off.

**We apologize for the inconvenience**


Well, I must have been seeing something else, because with this email came the news that the renovations will NOT be done this week (as was previously anticipated). We have been without a kitchen, laundry room, and downstairs bathroom for a MONTH! About 2 weeks ago the sink and tile for the back splash came in and we were just waiting on the counter tops. Well the counter tops were delivered a week ago, but when we picked up the sink we found out it was the wrong one! They gave us an 8" deep single basin instead of a 10" deep double basin...big difference! And being custom ordered from Chicago, it was not just a quick swap. So anyway, the correct sink is now in and everything is ready, except the contractor. Go figure! I just want my house back to normal, the dining room is spilling over with everything from the laundry room/pantry and the entryway and living room are piled high with everything from the kitchen cabinets and counters. On the bright side (as my mom pointed out) at least we don't have kids to be dealing with during this mess. We did pick out the new kitchen floor over the weekend and we were told it will take 1 week to arrive, so maybe if one thing decides to go right on schedule then the floor will arrive just as the kitchen is done. Also in our favor, the flooring people have done a lot of work for us in the past and they are super quick about coming out for the install.

So, if anyone can maybe get that light working again soon (or at least get the contractor back to my house) I promise a dinner from new kitchen is headed your way!

Introducing AJ

It has been the hardest 18 weeks keeping this secret from our family and friends, especially after Brandie announced her pregnancy at Christmas.  However, after a wonderful ultrasound I can finally announce that AJ is expected to arrive on July 16, 2009. Yes, that's right, only 4 days after Brandie is due. It will definitely be a busy summer for our family!

Here are some of the pictures from today, the tech went into 4D for a few minutes to try and get some good pictures for us. We did get some cute profiles, but AJ did not want to move and give us any other shots and we did not push it.  So here he is, starting with Art's favorite shot:

Happy Valentine's Day!??

Okay, okay- I know Valentine's Day is not until February 14th.  However, it seems Art has inherited present impatience from his father.  Every birthday, Christmas, anniversary, or other gift giving holiday Art's dad has a very hard time keeping a secret and waiting until said holiday to give Bev her gift. It has become a game to see how long he will make it before either letting it slip or just giving it to her. So anyway, as Art gets older, he too is developing this impatience.  The thought of having a gift in the house for me kills him, even if I do not know about the gift. Enter Valentine's Day 2009. First example, about a week ago I was reading through the local Clipper magazine and telling Art all the restaurants that are having Valentine's Day specials. He then tells me, "no need to read those I already have reservations somewhere." "Oh okay, well where are we going?""Nope, it's a surprise, not telling.""Okay." And the conversation ends. Well about five minutes later (we were in the car, I was still looking through the Clipper while Art drove) "okay, fine! We are going to Farnsworth House. I made reservations today."  Example two, Art asked me what I wanted for Valentine's Day to which I replied nothing. Let's just have a nice dinner and skip the gifts, and I sincerely mean this as we do not generally give Valentine's gifts. Well fast forward a couple days to yesterday, I am sitting in the downstairs entryway cleaning and sorting through the junk from the laundry room (it is being renovated and stuff is everywhere, that is another post in itself).  In walks Art holding a box and says, look what cupid dropped off - Happy Valentine's Day! He then proceeds to tell me it arrived via UPS that afternoon and it has been killing him that he had it and had to wait 3 more days. So what was it you may ask? My Nikon D90 camera that I did not get for Christmas. So I guess I won't complain that I got it early.

Happy (early) Valentine's Day! 

XOXO