So I have some exciting news...

And I can't tell anyone yet. Stay tuned for that life-changing event! In the meantime, I'll update you all on the house remodeling journey. We bought our house in October of 2007. Since then we have gutted and redone the spare bedroom and dining room. We tore out the old house (yes they built a new addition around the old house...not sure of the thinking there). In that space we, and I mean WE, have built 3 rooms in that space. I have leared to run a saw, air nailer and many other power tools. Just call me Ms. Vila! In those rooms we have a laundry room (unfinished, but usable), a bathroom (all finished) and a mudroom (not done yet). Our next project was to paint the outside. After many arm wrestling sessions at Home Depot we finally decided on colors! We chose light sage green, sauteed mushroom shutters and doors, and smoke white trim. Phil says it looks like a big easter egg, but it's growing on him. I on the other hand LOVE IT! We still have 1 more coat to put on the shop and once that's done, back inside we go! We need to agree on tile and then we'll redo the kitchen floor. I'm really excited for this considering the flooring in there now is ugly lanoleum that's peeling up. After that we'll start gutting the master bedroom. When I say gutting, I'm talkin tearin out lathe and plaster down to the bones. We will also have to move some walls because the old bathroom will now be part of the bedroom. We will also have to move the walk-in closet (which Phil tried to make smaller-I threatened him after this comment). With a little help from friends we have done all of this remodeling by ourselves, with no loans (except a little one for foundation work). I'm so proud of us!