yet another transformation

'Tis the season to cuddle up, stay indoors, and hibernate. For us, hibernation means giving up gardening and golfing. Although, a little over a week ago, we were blessed with a warm week, Luke golfed about five straight days.. Good times. As for me and my orange boys, we've been hanging out, cuddling up, and feeling like it's still winter. They like winter, because we're indoors more, which means more love, more treats, more snacks, more rides around the house in the arms of the giants.. more cozy naps on warm laps, and stealing warm spots on the fly.

Another part of our winter involves catch up. We have learned the hard way, after stressing over impossible deadlines, that remodeling is best in the winter; summers should be left to what they are meant for: golfing and gardening. Given this old house, winter is when the transformations take place indoors. Our most recent project has been the long awaited family room, den, living room.. whatever you call it. Where we live, relax, and find peace. Until now, it's been a grimacing act of ignoring the ugliness. It begins with lots of hard work, a branch new ceiling, replacing and patching plaster... resizing around windows, and preparing for paint... Luke worked very hard to get this ready... and here is the end of phase one...

After all their hard work, the orange guys enjoy a celebratory special dinner...

While we ponder the paint... I've had this room decided for over a year.. the dining room is next, and I have it picked already too. Time to cozy it up with color.

VOILA! Finally! It is beginning to feel like home. After three years of horror. It feels pleasantly similar to a family room.



We pulled it off, and hooked up our Christmas present to each other, a much deserved flat screen... just in time to see Ohio State and LSU battle it out in the championship game.
We are constantly finding ourselves sitting on our couch with gleaming smiles spread across our faces. Pure enjoyment, at it's finest. The reward of hard work and patience is very sweet. I find myself driving home from work with a seedling of a plan in my head already: sweat pants, fuzzy socks, the orange boys, and remote in hand. I have spent more evenings watching TV in the past two weeks, than I have in the past six years. Or so it seems. It's not the TV either, it's the dang living room. It's like a heavenly escape. Sometimes I find myself sitting there thinking, this is soooo HGTV. But better.


So there is our most recent, happy news. We are thoroughly enjoying it, and so are the boys.

Here's to our first big accomplishment of the new year.

We have an extensive 'to-do' list, with a nearing deadline of April, before little Vinny gets here. This is one big one off the list. :)