transformations: upstairs (ta da!)

Are you ready for the unveiling? Let's be honest, it's not DONE done... but it's done enough!

The downstairs hallway is a fresh tan color and there is no more near-yellow trim in our house! Woo hoo!

But you want to see what's up these stairs, don't you? Follow the cute little boy.

Notice the light fixtures and switches... we have power!

 

Almost there!

Ta da!!! Isn't it beautiful and immaculate?! We can finally start using the space and we couldn't be more excited about it. (the blue is not quite as bright as it seems here)

The big excitement of today... carpet! When the guys were finished installing it, Cooper started running and diving all over it. And then maybe I joined him. 

This is the nook, from the inside. I am loving the sconces in here. 

 

All of the trim and woodwork looks so crisp now that it's painted. 

I just realized that I forgot to take pics of this room post-carpet, but these were taken just this morning. 

And that cute little boy is back!

I chose a pretty cream color called "bone white" for the bedroom. I think all the colors upstairs turned out pretty close to what I hoped, which is kind of amazing with my track record.

Guess what else we (read: Curtis) finished?

The bathroom floor!

Here's our mostly-completed bathroom!

The plumber came back and hooked everything up, so we are up and running! Get it?! (Pun intended.)

This is one of my favorite decisions we made... we put a vintage door on our linen closet. It's totally something my creative mother-in-law would do!

This lone newel post is proof that the last major project that must be done- the stair railings/banisters- is underway. After that, we will just have a list of smaller tasks to check off. 

But first... we're moving stuff UPSTAIRS! Well, actually, first I'm going to get a good night's sleep. Then it's furniture and organization time! I love this part!

welcome winter

Only a week after we were in bathing suits on Hilton Head beach, we got our first real snow of the year in Greensboro.

Fall was just wrapping up and we barely got our leaves bagged and on the curb in time. So, maybe everyone else did that weeks ago... whatever. Point is: the snow came really early.  

And then there was this!

Gorgeous. And the snow even masks our terribly needy yard!

Certainly not the deepest snow, but it sure brightened the lifeless neighborhood.

For Annabelle, the world was brightened by the fact that the stairs were finally uncovered and available for a new pasttime- climbing. 

 The moment I realized that she could climb stairs was the moment I turned the corner and found her 3 stairs up. Whoa. 

Good news: She absolutely loves it. 

Bad news: She absolutely loves it. 

 

After realizing how much excitement stair-climbing was getting, Cooper wanted to be sure to get in on the action. Oh, that giggly face!

The snow was even deep enough for Curtis and Cooper to make a darn cute snowman! Complete with pepperoni eyes, no less.

At one time, their little snowman even had Oreos for ears. But Cooper found those mysteriously unnecessary and disposed of them. Over and over again. :)

Who can blame him?

transformations: upstairs (part 6)

Quickly, because I really need to get some sleep tonight and yet I feel compelled to share...

We have been hard at work around here and are expecting to have to our upstairs finished (a few details withstanding) in another week or so! Here's what has happened lately...

Curtis used these huge and super-heavy sheets of wood...

(Shout out to my brother Kevin who came over and helped carry them all upstairs! I thought I might never walk again after helping Curtis with the first few.)

...and he created these doors, crazy angles and all! They are going to look amazing. He just has to go back now and use trim pieces to- basically- decorate the doors. Unfortunately, that's going to be on hold until the more pressing to-do's are finished.

Speaking of things pressing... Thursday night we were up until all hours of the night trying to finish necessary tasks and clean everything out so that the painters could come in on Friday morning. Here are some "blank canvas" shots so that you can be amazed tomorrow (or soon after) when I put up the new paint-covered pics!

My fearless- and handsome- contractor... coffee and toboggan in hand, checking in with our painters before he heads off to his "day job". This is our life, people. What are we going to do with ourselves when this is done? Ha!

today is tuesday

"Oh what fun!"

grateful

In a slightly last-minute move, we decided to spend Thanksgiving in Hilton Head with Curtis' family. When I think about that long weekend, I think... gratefulness.

We were grateful that my parents were gracious in giving us their blessing to go to HH, even though it was supposed to be "their Thanksgiving" with us.

We were grateful for dear friends who allowed us to stay in their beautiful beach home. 

We were grateful for the abundance that God provided over those four days... food, laughter, conversation, rest, adventure, memories, and so much more. Grateful.

Grateful for pajama dance parties on the fireplace

and dance moves that had us rolling.

Grateful for crazy bed-jumping fun.

Grateful for smiles that we don't normally get to see,

 and adventures we don't normally get to have.

Grateful for iPads. :)

Grateful for babies in flowered hats,

and little boys exploring the sand.

Grateful for the chance to spend time with Marion's boyfriend, Kelly.

Grateful that we like him a lot.

Grateful for sunset bike rides.

 Grateful for time to be goofy,

even when it means you will look as silly as this,

and for parents who aren't scared to join in.
 

Grateful for warm, sunny days in November,

hot tubs available for swimming,

and chairs available for lounging.



Grateful for shared meals,

 and shared storytimes.

Grateful for cousins.

grandmothers.

 
nieces.

 

daddies.

 aunts.

grandfathers.

 sisters.

 sons.

mommies.

and baby brothers yet to be born.

Grateful.

So, can we do it again?