"Not Me!" Monday.

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

It has so NOT been a whole week since I last blogged. The reason for a hiatus in blogging would NOT have anything to do with the fact that my husband's parents were here. I did NOT feel guilty everytime I thought about the computer, much less came near it. Nope, not me!

It did NOT take 3 adults and 3 big children 3 days to clean out our less-than-organized garage. I have NOT been nagging my husband for FOUR YEARS to do this job, and I did NOT remind him of such. Nope, I'm eternally patient. That was not me!

I did NOT leave to go away for the weekend of scrapbooking while my in-laws were still visiting from Iowa. It is NOT true that I didn't feel even one shred of guilt over it. While in the mountains I did NOT tease my very jealous best friend by offering to let her join us when I knew good and well that I couldn't invite her. And I'm such a photo hound that there is NO WAY that I missed getting pictures of 7 golden eagles flying over the deck because I didn't have my camera ready. I'm always prepared with the proper lens and camera ready to go. Nope, not me!
This is SO NOT ME! I'm NOT singing "Little Bunny in the Woods" in the most obnoxious way possible much to the chargrin of my very reserved mother-in-law. There is no proof that this is me and I will emphatically deny any involvement!

I hope you've had a good week. Pop over to MckMama's and tell us what you didn't do.

"Not Me!" Monday.

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

It's been a crazy week. Here are some of the highlights that didn't happen around here.

I did not ground my boys for the last 3 weeks of school in a last ditch effort to get their grades up. I did not call them in the second to last day of school and fake them out by telling them that I was going to assign them some work when I really planned to unground them. Nope that would be mean, and I'm not mean. Not me!

I did not spend Saturday night playing "Bejewled Blitz" on Facebook until the wee sma's of Sunday morning because I couldn't beat my high score. I did not blame it on having had a cup of coffeee on Saturday morning. Wouldn't that be silly? Nope that was not me!

I did not interupt a conversation with my husband for the sole purpose of telling him how disappointed I was that the bathroom did not get cleaned this weekend (his job and MUCH needed). If I did that it wasn't because I was so stinking tired for having stayed up all night playing "Bejewled Blitz" that I couldn't hold a coherent conversation. Nope, not me!

And, I do not have house envy. No, sir. We went to a friend's house out in the country and I did not invtie myself to tour her beautiful home. My Daughter and I did not parade ourselves into their toddler's room in full-voice conversation only to notice a minute later that her toddler was actually IN the bed sleeping! Not me! I'm more observant than that. I did not continue through her house deciding just how nicely my family would fit into those rooms. Nope, envy is a sin, that was NOT ME!

So what havent you done this week, be honest!

Missing: The Cat's Meow.

Allow me to introduce you to Lucifur (aka: Louie). He's our fluff ball, world's most friendly, likes to eat with the family, purr-fect cat. We acquired Louie from my best friend 7 years ago when she was unable to have him and his brother, Michael, move into their rental house. Eventually Michael rejoined them, but Louie stayed with us. He became part of our family.

Lucifur got his name by peeing all over my house when he first arrived. I wanted to name such an evil cat Satan, but my daughter wouldn't let me. She was 5 at the time and so into princesses, so I convinced her to name him after Cinderella's cat, Lucifur. It was a short time later that we discovered that Louie had crystals in his urine that caused him great discomfort which led to his peeing outside the box. Once we got that taken care of he stopped peeing everywhere. But alas, the name stuck.

Louie is anything but evil. He's actually the sweetest cat I think I've ever known, including my childhood kitty, Krisco, who was my guardian angel for years. Louie is social, like no other cat ever. He usually takes his meals with the family, not at the table, but at the same time. He loves to snuggle up to anyone and everyone who will give him any attention at all. He especially likes to sleep on my clean laundry, a practice I abhor but cannot seem to break him of. He comes when called and is quite pampered, getting brushed every single day. It's important to note that Louie came to us clawless.

Wednesday, somehow, the back door got left open between the time that Todd and the boys left the house for the day and the time when I came upstairs for breakfast. We haven't seen Louie since. He has gotten out before, but usually comes to my window to caterwaul at 3 am. until he gets let in. I was surprised this morning when I woke that my sleep hadn't been interupted. So, we are beginning to worry. It's not like him to be gone, he's an indoor cat. My sweet Letha is nearly frantic.

So my dear bloggy readers, if I could ask for your prayers for Lucifur and our family, it would mean a lot. I know he's just a pet, but pets are important in their own way.

Louie, if youre reading this, come home safe and come home soon! We love you!

Cheater, Cheater, Bloggy Reader!

I really did not expect this contest to end so soon. But blog contests and giveaways do have a way of getting people excited!

I received the following e-mail from Heather:

Subject: Here's my own version of NOT ME...

I did NOT just open and close Karina’s blog window 55 times so I could win the prize … … nope, that was NOT me!!


Heather



So, Heather, technically you won, Miss Sneaky! Let me know what kind of gift card you'd like and I will get it out to you asap!

As for me, next time I'll have to use a little sneak of my own when I post a contest!

The Contest/Giveaway is ON!

Ok, no one got a picture/screen shot of "11011" on the hit counter on the bottom right sidebar in April. So, I've decided that before we're out of the 11 thousands, I am opening the contest up once more.

Here's the deal... when you check my blog, check the counter on the bottom right sidebar. If you see the number "11911" take a picture or screen shot of it and e-mail it to me. The winner will receive a $25 gift card to the store of their choice. (limited to store availability in my area/online)!

Happy reading.

Wordless Wednesday - Games Days.

It Only Took Five and a Half Years!

In January of 2004 Todd and I went on a two week missions trip to Nicaragua. During our absence his parents stayed with our children and we asked his dad to gut our defunct, outdated, upstairs bathroom. He gladly obliged and we came home to a room stripped of everything but a toilet. Our thought was that we would work on it a little bit at a time as we could afford it. But, that never happened.

Two years ago, Todd's parents came for another visit. Feeling bed that he had gutted our bathroom and that it was still in such a sad state, Todd's dad came to our rescue and paid for the major pieces (tub and vanity). While here he helped Todd install the tub.

Another year passed in which we had planned to tile the bathroom our selves. The tile was purchased. We installed the backerboard. And there it sat. We were too busy with a new baby and four other growing children to spend the time required to learn how to and perfect tiling. So, we decided that we would hire someone to do the tile and we would finish the rest ourselves.

This is where we started a year ago...





This is the inset of the tile line in the tub surround.


Close up of the floor tile.


Then, the Tile Guy left. Over the next several weeks we installed the faucet and shower curtain rod, put up Wainscotting and trim, installed the sink and countertop. My favorite part was shopping for the ducky decor and towels. In December a friend came and put up the baseboard (as a "thank you" for the wedding cake I made him!).







Still is sat for the last several months waiting for the finishing touches, you know, nail holes filled and painted, a MIRROR, stuff like that. Well, Todd's parents are heading out this weekend for a visit and I couldn't have them again with the bathroom unfinished. So, a few weeks ago I began construction on the mirror. I built the frame, then last week I tiled and inset the mirror and HUNG it! During that time I persuaded Todd to fill in the holes in the Wainscotting and trim and touch them up with paint. You can see the Wainscotting in the reflection of my mirror. I love how this mirror turned out, and I'm proud of it!



So, now it is finally COMPLETE! And, it only took five and a half years!