I am not a decorater--at least not a natural one. I love to look at pretty rooms. I love to be in pretty rooms. I love to see other people's pretty rooms and envision them being directly transported into my own home (with absolutely no effort being placed forth on my part). Problem is, I like too many styles to actually decide what I'd like mine to be. However, having recently decided that we'll be in this home for a little bit yet, I figured it was time to actually put forth the effort. So I've given myself a completely impossible challenge (seeing as how I will inevitably be having a baby in a few months and will most likely be directed to "take it easy" or go on complete bedrest before hand). But hey, you only live once, right? So here it is:
(Re)Decorate each room in the house on a budget. Not too hard, right?
FIRST CHALLENGE--
The mission: Create a "BYU" room for Kye and Isaac (as requested)
The budget: $250
The time: 1 month (Jan. 15-Feb. 14)
The specs: fix all dings/holes, new paint, chair rail, "Y" logo somewhere in the room, new bedding, remove old blinds that don't open, replace with curtains and tension rod, closet/storage overhaul, add some color, and create enough room to move Adam in with his brothers when #5 comes along.
Remember, I am NOT the ultimate crafter (with so many wonderful creators out there to copy, who needs to be anymore?), and it will take me more time/effort to complete simple projects than regular people. I'm totally okay with that, and ready to go. So . . . any advice, people? Specifically those with inborn talents for making rooms look awesome just by walking past them? (Just kidding--I know it takes effort for everyone.)
Wish me luck.
p.s. We started last Saturday and I would just like to remind everyone that it is somewhat difficult to paint perfect edge lines at the baseboard when one is pregnant and has a belly the size of a small watermelon. I'm just saying.
Watched 2 nieces and a nephew overnight, watched "A Bug's Life" with the volume so loud it shook the roof (One of our favorite jokes when said nieces and nephew are over is, "What're you, DEAF? Turn it down!" They really appreciate the humor, because in fact, all of them are actually deaf. We crack us up.), cleaned the house, set up a new Ikea cube shelf for toys, started a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle, went sledding, put together a gingerbread house, went to the grocery store, started organizing the toys in the basement, and worked on callings. I use the term "we" loosely here, because some of "we" did some of it, and others of "we" did other stuff. But collectively, we had a busy weekend. And now I'm going to bed.
Without further ado:
10—Cravings I had this month: huckleberry pie, pickles, water, water, water, Pringles, orange juice, oranges, clementines, and sour patch kids. Fortunately I don’t actually follow with every craving I experience. I do always follow through with water and you would think that’s a good thing, except I never have it until after 8 p.m. 5 glasses of water after 8 p.m. makes for a lot of night waking. 3 ½ more months. Sigh.
9—Wherein Adam gives new meaning to traditional Christmas carols:
“Scar of wonder, scar of night. Scar with royal beauty bright.”
“Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-more slopin’ sleigh.”
“Harry, harry, hallelujah. Harry, harry, hallelujah!”
8—Christmas prep = actually enjoyable. Not being much of a shopper, I decided to get it done early this year. It was a good choice. We had time for other fun things, like the kids drawing names and making gifts. Lucy made Adam some bean bags, Kye made Lucy some sparkly book marks, Isaac made Kye a Pokemon coloring book, and Adam (didn’t) helped make Isaac a bowling game. I hope this is a tradition that sticks. It was fun. (So was sleeping downstairs under the Christmas tree. Another keeper.)
7—The Elf Project: we participated by becoming elves for a couple of families in our ward. The kids got the thrill of dropping off gifts and running away at top speed, terrified they were going to get caught. Made me laugh every time.
6—The Elf Project II-in which the children became a herd of elephants every time the doorbell rang. Should it not be a fun treat left by our elves, the kids abandoned whoever was at the door with a sigh and a “Dang it!” We had a little talk about door manners, but I don’t think it worked b/c it happened every single time.
5—Z: It’s time to lay down.
A: But I want to sleep in the living room.
Z: Nope—you need to lay in your bed.
A (sobbing): But my room is a dangerous place!
4—Christmas concert anxieties exhibit themselves: Kye gets a little nervous before every choir concert and refused to go to school the morning the choir was to sing for the school. An hour of weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth didn’t move me in the least. I still made him go (mean mom alert!) and he did just fine. The family concert was also a success and he didn’t even remember he had been nervous.
3—Isaac’s only Christmas wish goes unfulfilled. Fortunately, he is so incredibly distractible, I don’t think he even remembers. (Though I’m sure I’ll be hearing about it 25 years from now. “Remember that one Christmas when all I wanted was to see Santa Clause and you never took me to visit him?” Guess he’ll have to save it for therapy.)
2—Our first ever snow day. Growing up where I did, I wasn’t really surprised the snow storms here don’t warrant snow days. It’s not a blizzard if the snow falls straight down. But we did get about 2 feet overnight, so our school district called a snow day—the first in 20 years. Outside play for 3 hours, soup for lunch, sledding, guzzling hot chocolate, working on our homemade Christmas gifts=good, good day.
1—Christmas with the family. My parents came out for Christmas and we got to spend the holiday with them for the first time in 8 years. Lots of food, singing, playing games, and dancing. You just can’t beat a Fesler family gathering for a busy, fun time. Love to all the family—and thanks to mom and dad for making the 17 hour drive to be here with us.
