The Build: Paint Wars

At first, it sounded like fun. Finally I get to help out with the house. If it's one thing I can do, it's help with painting. But now.....ask me to paint and I sigh and roll my eyes. I've had enough of painting. Trying to cut in the ceiling and around ALL that trim....ugh! Trying to make it perfect knowing I will be staring at these walls for the next at least 5 years......(no way I am changing these colors any time soon after all this work).

We put a few samples up on the wall for a color for the master bedroom, bath, and closet/dressing room. We ended up choosing the third color from the left. You can find it at Home Depot, part of the Behr collection called Verdigris.

The granite is called 'bright white'. We picked out two large slabs at American Granite and they were the last two left practically in Michigan. I guess this granite is starting to change, and as you can tell, is more grey tones than white. There are other portions of the slab that do have more lighter tones and more white, but we picked that part out for the kitchen. We were able to squeeze our bath, the lower bath, the kitchen island, the 'home central' countertop, and I think something else out of the two slabs.

The other tile on top of the granite is our floor tile. It is grey in color but has a cork like look to it. Then there is the stone for the back wall behind the tub, and the accent glass tile is also there.

The master closet has been primed and painted.

More of the master closet

Jason started on the master shower.

A look into the master bath from the bedroom. To the left are the his and her vanities and to the right is the bath tub.

Master bedroom. I love the wall of trim that our bed will be up against.

Austin's room. I am planning on doing a big navy stripe around the room. How big has yet to be decided.

Ava's room. The large boxes in the middle are the vanities for both kiddos. I have also ordered a tree wall decal for one of Ava's walls.

The hallway that leads to the kids bedrooms and our bedroom as well. I am thinking of putting a nice family photo in the niche at the end of the hall.

A look at the stairwell

Heading down the stairs. This color is called Cement by Martha Stewart Collection at Home Depot.

I have yet to post photos of the kids bath which now just needs a second coat. The main floor has also been painted. The last room upstairs that needs paint is the laundry/craft room. I think we decided we would wait to get that room finished after we move in. Which is slotted for Dec. 20 right now, but I paid rent for the full month of December :) just in case we needed a few extra days.

The Build: Random Updates

Who knows what I even call this update.....I am pretty behind on blogging about the house. The painting has started which means that all my free nights are spent painting rooms at the house. We are focusing on the upstairs right now but here are some pics of a few updates.

Here is a sneak peek of the lower bath. Jason decided to give the main floor bath some special trim....why not!? It is the bathroom everyone will be using so it only makes sense for it to have something special.

Here is a view of the kitchen from the living room now with primer sprayed on. To the right of the hood is the pantry and it was just sprayed a beautiful color called French Grey. Very difficult to get photos of but I'll give it another try soon!

Here is the living room. The beams are covered for the primer spray and the mantel has been nailed up!

Ok not much to update in this posting but the next one has all the upstairs rooms since they have been painted. My mom just pointed out that she has been missing my blog posts but most nights right now we are at the house painting, so that makes less time for blogging. Also I ran out of free space on my blog, but turns out I just need to post less of a resolution for my photos so if they don't turn out as great, I may end up just paying the fee....whatever it takes to rough house with the rogers, right!?

Halloween Twenty Twelve

I don't know why but I keep putting off blogging about Halloween. Maybe it's because I shot but a few photos on the nasty, rainy, cold, did I mention nasty night?!

One thing to be thankful for is the fact that my mom was on top of getting Halloween costumes early this year. So instead of waiting until Halloween to put on costumes.......we put them on when the weather was nice!!

 It's completely evident that Austin not only loves dinosaurs, but loves to ROAR like one!

Even though Austin was a dinosaur last year, it only fit this year with his absolutely love for dinosaurs and an upcoming birthday party full of nothing but!

One of my faves! That adorable hood and tail!

Ava wasn't just an owl, she was a chunky owl...the best kind!

I didn't get any good pics of Ava myself the actual night of Halloween so these pics are priceless.

Love those little piggies too!

So on to the real photos of Halloween......Austin wasn't too happy about the cruddy weather either...

He was happy to get dressed up though, and he even tried to run in the rain when we told him it was time to go in. I think if it had been a nicer night, he would have trick or treated for a while. It's on nights like Halloween that I also wish my kiddos stayed up a bit later. It seems crazy to even wish for something like that, but when they get so crabby when it's past bedtime, it makes later nights just not worth it. BUT there is always next year!

Austin: 2 years

Austin-o-saurus had so much fun at his Dinosaur Birthday Party!

He is really growing into such a little man. He talks and understands so much more everyday and that's the best part of it all. He repeats everything you say so now is the time for everyone to watch what they say around him.

My favorite is the words that are too big for him but he finds a way to say in his own language.....Gackum=Grandpa......Bokobees= Popsicle

He absolutely loves applesauce, goldfish crackers, and macaroni and cheese! He enjoys most all fruits and steers clear of anything new, barely putting it in his mouth to taste.

We are in the "me do it" stage where Austin loves to do things himself.

He is such a big helper. He helps put the clothes in the washer, gets Ava her pacifier, and even helps with the dishes. He helps dress himself but hates to put on his shoes unless it means he gets to play outside. If it means getting ready for school or leaving school to go home....he wins that battle.

He loves dump trucks, dinosaurs and fire trucks.

If you ask Austin if he wants to watch cartoons, he says Mickey Mouse. But the moment you touch the remote, he'll change his mind to Little Einsteins, and back and forth he goes.

Every color is "Bue" in Austin's book.

He loves to sing and dance. His favorite songs to sing are the ABC's (he often misses out on T-U-V, but "Double X" is the next best part), Happy Birthday, and Old MacDonald ("nay nay here, nay nay here").

We are hoping that it was just a fluke that our family and extended family was sick with the GI bug (again!!)  right at Austin's birthday.......we don't want to make that a tradition!

So much fun to watch Austin open his presents, sing Happy Birthday to himself, and eat all the frosting off his cupcake.....just the frosting (sound like anyone you know?).

He makes us all laugh on a daily basis. He is strong-willed and independent. He is my blue eyed, blond hair, 2 year old buddy.

Dinosaur Birthday Party

Dinosaur Themed 2nd Birthday Party

Inspiration for these little dinosaurs came from Meri Meri where some of the party supplies came from

Candy boxes with "dinosaur eggs" or M&Ms are hidden behind each dino and the party hats in the background also came from Meri Meri found here

Roar napkins again from Meri Meri

I feel like a party isnt complete without these infamous striped straws

Dinosaur cookies are a great party gift

Stegasaurus center piece from....you guessed it, Meri Meri

Books and stuffed animals make excellent decorations

Continuing the theme onto birthday presents

Blow-up dinos from Oriental Trading

A sign for the front yard (boy with dino sold seperately)

Dino cupcakes made by the Cupcake Tree Bake Shop

Could they match more perfectly!?

Dino tracks on the way to the front door

Wrapping drinks with a fun label and including those lovely straws

Dino Bags filled with goodies made especially for friends at school topped with dinosaur bookmarks from Sears

If I had anything more to include, I too would think that I was crazy!