The Wonders of Paint

Thought I should update you with our latest house adventures!  We are most certainly still in the "slow and steady.... feels like things are moving slower than molasses stage"... however, there are little things happening all the time!

This weekend my Dad painting a few of the ceilings.  It was so exciting to see the final paint coat; it really makes a huge difference.  He made us a custom color that is similar to linen white.  We are choosing a warm, light coffee color for the walls.  I think the linen white ceilings will be a nice compliment.  

Our cabinets are finished!  It was a very long process since we chose an oil based paint (lasts longer and has a more brilliant look).  We have not put the doors on yet because we just ordered the cabinet hinges and pulls.  However, the drawers went in which was so exciting!  They look amazing!

               Don't mind the nasty floor!!  It will be beautiful in no time at all ;) 

 

                              Our pantry!  The shelves are deep which I love!  

I love how CLEAN it feels under the sink now that is cleaned out and painted.  It felt so icky before!  I also love the slats for cutting boards, cookie sheets, etc.  

There were a few other things that happened this weekend.  I'll update you later this week!  

For those of you who have been through this process before and can relate... what's your best piece of advice for us?! 

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

I just read the classic Aesop fable called the "Tortoise and the Hare" to my first grade class.  After we finished reading the story, we had a discussion about what the moral or lesson of the story was.  We decided that there were two lessons: Don't be conceited (like the Rabbit) and to never give up (like the Tortoise).   

At the end of the story, the Tortoise states, "Slow and steady wins the race".  Nick and I currently feel that we are at the "slow and steady" portion of the house project.  It feels as though nothing is happening and that we will never be ready to move in.  However, when we look at it, there actually is a lot going on; it's just not the fun, exciting stuff that you can SEE.  Behind the scene stuff can be boring (even if it is critical and needed).  

Here are some of the things we have been working on: 

                                   Doing the last dump run!  Don't I look thrilled?

Recessed lighting is installed in the hallway.  Recessed lighting is a TON of work and there is a lot of "behind the scenes" work involved. 

Recessed lighting is installed in the living room.  My Dad also patched up the wall above the fireplace.  It makes such a difference!

The family room recessed lighting is installed, too. (Can you tell what my husband has been working on?!)

This is Nick's "Oh yah, this is awesome" face.  We chose LED lights for the recessed lighting.  This is what the final product looks like.  Even though LED is much more expensive, we decided it was worth the investment for several reasons.  First of all, LED is much more energy efficient which will save us in the long run.  Secondly, LED is the direction that lighting is going.  Standard light bulbs won't be popular much longer because of the energy efficiency movement. 

 We have been shopping and price matching.  Please ignore the price tag; I took this photo so that we could compare with online shops!  This is the cabinet hardware we will be using throughout the kitchen.  We love the sleek, clean look!

We bought a toilet for our master bathroom remodel!  I never knew that I would care so much about a toilet!  However, once you start researching and learning about them... you can become quite picky!  We chose this particular toilet because of the high ratings/reviews, the 1.28 gallon per flush feature (yay for saving on the water bill), and the base design.  I DESPISE cleaning around the base of the toilet.  There are all those ridiculous nooks and crannies and it just isn't a fun task for me.  All the new toilets have a solid base.  BRILLIANT!  I was sold.  Doesn't my hubby look excited?  

And, most importantly, we are trying to remember to take time for US in between the craziness of it all.  The picture above was taken last weekend at the Huey Lewis and the News concert at Rodney Strong Winery.  We had an absolute ball!  

So, we have been busy; it just hasn't been exciting stuff like floor installation and painted walls.  But, SLOW AND STEADY wins and race.  We are well on our way!

Moving Home

Did you hear the news??  We moved!  Nope, not into our new house.  There is still a lot of work to be done.  We probably won't be in there until sometime later this year.  Hopefully by Christmas??!!  

However, once again, my lovely parents came to the rescue!  When we purchased our house in July, my parents told us that we were welcome to move in with them while we work on the house.  So, when our lease on our condo was up on September 1, we packed up, and moved in!  

We put all of our stuff in my parent's garage and in our new garage.  We moved into my sister's old room.  

We have decided that living with Mom and Dad is awesome.  In fact, we might just rent out our new house and keep on living here!  Life is great!  Here are a few perks: Delicious gourmet meals every night.  An excellent house-keeper on Thursdays.  Really fun parents to hang out with every night.  Our very own "wing" of the house. 

I think my parents might like having us live here, too.  Since both of my younger sisters now live in San Francisco, they are complete empty-nesters.  I know for a fact that my Dad loves having his Giant's-loving-daughter back in the house!  We have been watching the game together every evening.  It has also been a really special time for my parents to bond with my husband, Nick.  I am SO thankful that he is happy to be living with my parents as well. (That could be awkward and uncomfortable if he wasn't okay with it!)

When we packed up our condo, Nick couldn't bear the thought of putting our (well, his) 55" flat screen TV in the garage.  So, "his baby" came with us.  Since no one else lives here, there are a few extra, empty bedrooms.  Nick took the liberty of making a "Man Cave".  Television and all.  This is his new favorite hangout spot!

                  
                  We are absolutely, most definitely, living the GOOD LIFE!

My Other "Home"

Well, I am sure you are wondering what has happened to the Klaus' new home project.  It might seem like we have fallen off the face of Earth.  The good news is that we are still around.  Our house is still around.  The big issue is that we have been SWAMPED!!  

However, those of you who know me well are probably not surprised.  It's September!!!  Hello brand new school year!!  I knew that our home project would drastically slow down once the school year began.  Life went from 0mph (sleeping in until 8:30, walking Spring Lake, shopping, trying new recipes, hanging with friends) to 90mph (full-day trainings, planning for a new first grade class, moving out of our condo, moving into our temporary home... more on that later).  Needless to say, it's been busy!  But, busy is a good thing.  We are thankful for fabulous jobs and a full, fun life.  

Since I have been sharing our NEW home with you, I thought I would share my OTHER home with you too!  My classroom.  Have a mentioned that I LOVE my job??  I can't imagine a different career.  Even though teaching demands a lot of me physically and emotionally, it is the most rewarding, special job in the world.  

I love the beginning of the school year.  I get to meet new children and families.  I get to setup my classroom and pick a new theme!  It's the best.  

So, without further ado, here is what I have been up to!!

Welcome to my First Grade Western Classroom!  Yee-haw!

                                           The entrance to the classroom! Howdy!

                                                                 Our writing wall

                                           Another view of the writing wall.

 

                Our "Cowboy Calendar" area.  Calendar is a big deal in first grade!

              Our special person of the week is called the "Sheriff of the Week".

                                             Our behavior management board.

Our Treasures reading board.  I post all of our phonics and grammar patterns for the week on this board.

                                                      

                                                              Our "job" board!

 One of our projects from the first week of the school.  We spend a lot of time bonding and learning how to become a "Classroom Family".

 Gotta love cuddles and hugs from former students!  (Don't worry, Mom gave me permission to post a pic of this lovely student!)

                                                  Our awesome western door!

 It's going to be a fabulous school year.  The kids are amazing.  The parents are fabulous.  Each year I pinch myself because of how wonderful my job is.... I am SO blessed!!!