"Spring Cleaning", Concert Weekend, and an Important Announcement
Friday, May 16, 2014 at 5:00AM 
"Is this spring cleaning?", Grant asked me as we were moving furniture and boxes this week. I replied, "Well...." and before I could get the words out he said, "It's like spring cleaning on steroids!".
Exactly.
I knew to get the projects done in our home we would just have to dive in and commit a few weeks to the process.
The biggest project is finished. The new floors in the downstairs are complete! Every surface has either been replaced or refinished. I am so happy with the results. The furniture won't be moved back until today.
Choosing paint will come next, but I think I found the secret formula for choosing the perfect paint color.
I was dreading all of this, but now that's it is started I am gaining confidence and wanting to do more. When my husband comes home from work I rattle off some other projects we could begin.. to which he responds, "Let's get this done and then worry about the next one."
He keeps me grounded.
Finished Product
Here you can see the new wood floors in my family room and piano room, as well as the refinished returns and rails on the staircase.
The fireplace is my favorite part of the family room, but I really want to make it more interesting.
Thoughts?
It's been hard to get to the piano since the furniture hasn't been moved back yet, but my kids have been squeezing in to play their music (recital is this weekend!) and the piano sounds like a new instrument. The wood floors make it sound so bright.
What It Looked Like Before
The 17 year old carpet was worn and ugly. It was also starting to pucker in a few places. The wood floors in the dining room needing refinishing.
It's safe to say no one is parking in the garage right now. We moved everything from the downstairs into the garage and truthfully, a lot of it isn't coming back.
It's funny, but the simplification in our homeschool over the past year has inspired me to simplify the rest of our lives.
Meanwhile...
Life did go on as usual, although the kids were trapped upstairs one day (the other day my sweet father-in-law took them out for breakfast, haircuts, and milkshakes!).
Grant sat down and read aloud The Indian in the Cupboard to me one afternoon this week. He knew I was a little stressed and he declared that a good story would make me feel better. We adored Indian in the Cupboard and I will be getting the series for Grant to read on his own this summer!
Mother's Day was relaxing for me. We went to church, then to see Heaven is For Real. After that we went swimming, came home to take a nap, and the out to eat dinner. I ended the day sitting on the sofa totally addicted to playing Solitaire on the iPad. (Grant and I have had a slight obsession with Solitaire, but I haven't let him know I have an app for it. He loves playing with real cards and I like that.)
Grant spent a lot of time playing with LEGO Mixels. These little guys (or gals, I guess) are so cute - the Mixel website offers more fun. Each Mixel is $5 (at KMart!), so it's a fun little thing for a child to save for. We don't watch the show on Cartoon Network - just enjoy the Mixels themselves.
He also read all things baseball this week - the DK Baseball book being his favorite. He and his dad watch MLB TV each evening. It's safe to say I can't really get their attention during baseball season!
Cleaning out in the kitchen made me realize I don't use my Winnie the Pooh waffle maker enough. (My mom gave this to the kids years ago, and I realize that even big kids like Tigger waffles!) I made waffles twice this week. Gluten free Bisquick is my new friend, and I discovered it's a little cheaper to buy it in a three pack on Amazon!
Anna was noticeably grumpy this week. I don't blame her. She is missing her Challenge friends quite a bit. They had a party on Friday night and all got their Challenge t-shirts.
She took a morning and made a Hello Kitty fleece blanket for a 5 year old cousin that is coming to visit soon. She wants to get some friends together to make blankets for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. I think this might be a great idea!
This weekend will be extremely busy for Anna. She sings in the Spivey Hall Children's Chorus and they have performances Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
This chorus is such a blessing in Anna's life. Not only does she receive high caliber music instruction each week, but she also forms friendships with children of all backgrounds and school situations. I believe she will look back on her years in Spivey with happiness and gratefulness. I remember moments growing up when I experienced music that affected me deeply - knowing that Anna is receiving this gift means the world to me.
Important Annoucement!
Collage Friday has been going for nearly three years. In that time I have NEVER missed a Friday. Never.
Can you believe that? Not a single one.
Collage Friday ISN'T going away! I do, however, need a break. The past couple of weeks have shown me that I need to focus on projects in my home, planning for the next school year, and just living a full summer. I'll still be around this summer, but reducing the Collage Friday commitment lets me breathe easier.
I also hope to gain focused time to work on new SQUILT volumes for the coming school year.
This will be the last edition of Collage Friday until August 1.
That's it for this week... how was your week? Is school winding down for you? Do you keep going year round?
Please join me by linking your photo collages!
If you'd like to link, you can do so in a couple of ways:
- Enter your link below. Be sure to link to your post with photo collages and link back to this post (or include the Collage Friday button on your blog).
- Share your photo collage(s) on Instagram, FB, G+, or Twitter - use the hashtag #collagefriday so I can find you!
Reader Comments (18)
I hope you enjoy a relaxing summer (well, as relaxing as it can be with home improvements going on!)
Wow what changes and rearranges - all ending beautifully!! And I was honestly already wondering if you were having a Collage Friday today. Good for you! Everybody needs a summer. I am really looking forward to a break. I think you have made adjustments for an overturned house so well. Happy Summer Mary! And thanks so much for hosting us.
The house looks great, Mary! Congrats! Have a wonderful summer!
I love the floors Mary. They look amazing. What I wouldn't give to move everything out of my house and only bring the things I love back in. Your Mother's Day looks amazing and fun and relaxing. I always love reading about your weeks and what Anna and Grant is up to. But I think I may die without Collage Friday. It is the only time I blog!!! :) Enjoy your break.
Your house looks beautiful !! Very happy for you :) Hope you have a restful summer with your family....Enjoy !!
Your renovations are beautiful. Yes, even big kids like Pooh waffles! We love GF Bisquick as well. We will miss Collage Friday, but I am glad that you know when to take a break and are willing to do so. It is an important skill to have.
But, I'm just getting into the swing of remembering to link up! Sometimes.... Or trying to.
We're reading Indian and the Cupboard right now too. The kids are reading it on their Nooks (we got the whole series as well) and then we're going to watch the movie together and discuss how they're different.
so glad you're taking a break and enjoying the summer! I am just floored this year how old my boys are and how fast it's going by.
You have been so busy! I'll miss the linkup all summer but I understand needing a break. Have a productive and restful summer!
You're house looks lovely! I love those wood floors. We'll be continuing on through the summer and we're not quite finished with our regular lessons this year (we'll finish on the 30th or so of this month and begin our summer schedule about the second week of June). I'll miss the link up each Friday but will be back with you on the 1st of August! I hope that your summer is wonderful and I'll be sure to watch for anything you do post throughout the summer!! Enjoy yourself, you deserve it!
The floors look lovely! We did floors last year and it is such a chaotic time getting them done.
Enjoy your summer! I'll look forward to your return in August! Thanks for hosting Collage Friday. I really enjoy having the extra motivation for doing a post each week. It helps me create a nice scrapbook of our homeschool.
The floors are looking great!
Enjoy your summer break! We still have a few more weeks to go before we're finished for the year (I'm looking forward to some time off so I'm getting as much planning done for next year as I can).
Take a well deserved break! Thank you for sharing with us all your adventures and giving us the opportunity to share ours! Enjoy your summer! Holly
All the renovations look lovely. That is a huge undertaking and one I am afraid to do. Have a wonderful summer and enjoy your family time.
Thanks so much for hosting! Enjoy you summer!
Oh Mary I'm going to miss popping in to read your collage Friday! I will need to put a reminder on my calender to pop back in August. Enjoy your holidays. Today is my 100th edition of my homeschool journal!
The floors are looking beautiful.
Enjoy your holidays
Blessings
Wow Mary that's a long time. Thank you so much for your faithfulness. I'm going to miss coming over here to read your round up and enjoy your company. Enjoy your holiday and time with your family
Today is my 100th edition of my homeschool diary
Blessings
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