Father's Day Off

 This is Sean's new work station that can go up for standing (or running in place, if he wants to multi-task, and he doesn't), or sitting down. When he first started looking for something like this it was super expensive but he found a much cheaper version so finally ordered it. Anyway, sitting or standing, Sean works very hard and then plays with the kids when he's not working. They all have inherited his love of video games too so I'm sure we will have a lot of hot afternoons spent in the basement doing that.

 Flowers using my new camera app and filter. Let's see how they look after the heat of summer...

 The Father's Day dry erase board that the kids (Megan and Emily mostly) made for Sean.

 So sweet together. Hmm, no sign of the other two...

 Sean's request was that we all go see Inside Out together. I was playing with the camera app before the movie started.

 Okay, so it doesn't really work in the dark or at least I haven't figured that out yet.

 Present time. Just a few Game of Thrones things and some new snacks to try.

 Roasted chick peas that I ordered online after reading about them in a magazine. He always needs new healthy snacks for when he's working. Not sure these are a hit yet but points for creativity.

 Reading the card that I remembered to buy this year!

Anna already requested that I make this cake again next year for Father's Day. Not pretty (I didn't put the chocolate curls on top) but is delicious. I loved it so much that we won't be waiting that long. I'm thinking 4th of July. It is Barefoot Contessa "icebox cake" which involves those Tate's chocolate chip cookies that Katie used to send us (that I can find in Dillon's now, score!) and then mascarpone (Italian cream cheese) and whipping cream (sugar, cocoa) but I left out the kahlua and espresso powder because I didn't have them and children don't need that. Anyway, super easy and very addictive. Might go get my 4th piece now...

AFTER shots

 The green walls seem much better now with white trim and doors so for now I am not changing the wall color. I was thinking about lavender to coordinate with her bedding but Anna doesn't seem to care either way. I have many gallons of untinted paint that I bought during the biggest sale of the year (40% off is the best I can manage at Sherwin Williams), so I can always just run out and change this in about 4 hours. I forgot how fast it is to paint walls compared to trim and doors. You know, now that I'm a professional at this, ha.

 I am also trying out Camera+ app on my phone for photos and using their filters. Seems okay and easier than lugging big camera.

 I'm not done with Anna's walls yet, trying to space out my art orders... but someday this will look better.

 Bathroom done but rarely clean...

 I emptied out Megan's dresser and hung up all her clothes so she can see (and wear) them now. Big difference.

 The wall color that Megan picked out. I planned on doing a light blue but she wanted dark and ended up with Denim which is at least a Pottery Barn shade which I feel more confident using. It's not this blue in person, not sure which filter I used, clarity maybe.

 This is closer to how the color really looks.

 Some of the art she picked off Minted is up. Going to get a bigger piece to anchor the room soon. I love big art, I cannot lie.

Might get rid of this bookcase and put dresser here with big art. Anyway, I felt with the doors being white now we could handle the walls being dark without it being a dungeon in there. She loves it and that's the important thing. Now to finish up the hallway and kid hangout, mostly just moving junk around. The trim is painted, the rest is just fun. Laundry and making bread first... and then more green tea. The heat is on here now, good time to stay inside and catch up on my to-do list. Took yesterday off for Father's Day! That post is next.

Before shots and action shots of painting, phase 5

 Ugh, I can't believe how blurry these photos are. Anyway, here is a during shot of the kid wing project. I "hoed" out the girls' rooms, as Lisa would say. Went through all their kid treasures, threw out the junk, organized the precious items, sorted the clothes, etc etc. I put in a lot of hours while the girls were gone because I knew they wouldn't let me do this if they were home. So, here you can see the oak doors and trim (after sanding I think).

 More of Megan's room. I had taken down all the stuff she had pinned on the cork board walls and filed them away. She is ready for a fresh start. Her only request was blue walls. I just finished that yesterday... no photos yet. I will have to push furniture back and take photos tomorrow for the "after" post.

 Here is a cheap dresser I bought from a friend's brother on Facebook last year. Megan wasn't happy to get this after everyone else got new furniture but the price was right. I just finally got around to fixing it up now and she is thrilled.

 Here is the oak filled bathroom before. The girls "share" this bathroom and it's always a big mess. I just avoid going in there at all costs but I'm hoping now that it is fixed up, they might have a little pride and want to keep it clean. Ha. Ha.

 More oak. More mess. Keeping it real.

 In process...

 Cabinets finished. Less than one can of paint and some new pulls... looks like a new bathroom for about $100.

 Actually got a "new" dresser for part of that $100 too. Let's just say all my hard work this year has gone to pay for a new roof that I'll never get to enjoy. Wait no, let's say that money is going towards the new kitchen budget someday...

The paint Megan chose. I was skeptical but in the end, I am very happy with it. Now to go get good shots of the finished rooms. I just downloaded a camera app so we'll see if I get better photos from now on...

More bits and bits!

 Sean took this blurry photo of Patrick sleeping in his tent. It has rained or Sean has worked every night for three weeks since he got the tent. Finally it was time, no rain and Sean was only working until 11pm. So they set it up and Patrick went out there on his own and fell asleep. I didn't want him out there alone all night so Sean went out there after 11pm and found him like this. I don't think Sean slept as soundly...

 Pretty fancy digs. I need to go move that so I can turn the sprinklers back on...

 We did take a break from projects and sitting around the house to go to Cico Pool on Friday. Saw a lot of friends from school there, a nice surprise! Patrick had a good time playing with random boys and Megan found some friends from school to hang out with. Emily did a good job just getting around by herself in her swim vest.

 Anna maybe did not have the best time. I kept finding her people to go swim with but she just wasn't in the mood. Best we can hope for is 75% of the kids happy at any given point.

 Poor Megan was kicked out of her room due to paint fumes as I finally painted her walls. I told her that she could have the bed and Emily could use a sleeping bag on the floor. Emily was having no part of that. Twins separated by 8 years.

 I keep taking the car when I end up buying big items. Poor planning. I think the Target guy was shocked that we managed to get two chairs in the back of the Civic. And two more end tables in the trunk. I finally have enough tables, time to stop buying... house seeming more settled now, after 21 months...

Emily forgot the "I LOVE" part. Megan had put out "EMILY IS AWESOME" but then Patrick kept coming up and putting "NOT" with it so I put the game away. P.S. I love succulents.

More bits of summer

 Sean took this photo of the kids fighting over their favorite dessert from Chili's. I had gone to KC with a friend to shop so Sean took the kids out to lunch as a treat. Patrick finally clued in that they only go to Chili's when I am gone... just many more restaurants that I would rather go to instead.

 She even plays by herself.

 Sleepover with Megan every night that she can.

This girl can rally for a photo anytime. She was pretty much hugging the trash can at Megan's volleyball game because she thought she was going to throw up and she certainly looked like it... until I got out the phone to get her photo. Instantly perked up for a few seconds.

 Megan jumping at volleyball camp at KSU. Only shot I got before she spotted me.

 In the five days between renters we had a new roof put on. No more leaks, no more stained metal roof, and no more balcony that we couldn't fix, no matter how many times we tried. Now I just need to have the ceiling below it fixed one last time. UGH. The house is in great shape now though, ready to sell in 18-24 months!

 Better shot of the new shingles. I spent some time driving around to see what shingles were put on other stone houses in town and this is the closest to looking like a slate roof.

Cleaning the balcony for the last time now that it's a weird little closet off the loft.

 A rainbow after weeks of rain and flooding. Now it's so hot that I am going to have to turn the sprinklers back on. We did miss out on a whole month of watering which often runs us $300. Score!

 Reading to herself in the car, pretty much the dream child.

 Patrick finally broke the screen after months of kicking balls at the side of the garage. Better than the actually window breaking I guess.

 So proud of her creation. I was just happy that for once it all got cleaned up when they were done.

 Megan serving at her parks & rec game. Caroline gave her some pointers and now she is doing much better this season. I think just two more games to go and then the tournament. June has been kind of too much and yet nothing compared to what other people are doing with their kids. I didn't sign up for much but what I did pick has a lot of days. Between the three younger ones we are out at First Tee every day. Then the older two go to STEM classes four mornings a week. Megan has volleyball games and practices four times a week (and Anna goes to practices too). Then we just have the occasional birthday party, or soccer tryout, or swim lesson. Things will start to taper off now though and then they will be bored and trapped inside by the heat.

Week two of summer

 Patrick put together his dream lunch... 3 kinds of chips plus dorito dust on hands.

 Oh, this makes me laugh! Finally found a use for those sleds we bought back before we stopped having real snow. Had some friends over and then attacked them with the hose. Nice, Emily.

 Patrick loves this game. (Can't let those pale skinned kids stay out too long though).

 Girls back from Utah and we went to Kansas City to see Jimmy Buffett. Started off with BBQ at Jack Stacks down on the Plaza. Rich and heavy food, no need for dinner...

 Sean even gave up his email address to the bacon people so the kids could get bacon swag.

 Nice bacon glasses. Notice the photo bomber plotting in the background...

 It was a fun crowd on a hot day. No tailgating for us. Kids whined enough just waiting in line to go into the Sprint Center.

 Bacon sand art.

 Fins to the left.

 Enjoying Huey Lewis and the News for the opening act.

 Sugar bribe between acts. Somehow nothing got stained. I seriously just thought I'd be throwing those clothes out.

 Waiting for the band... of which no photos turned out but I did get some videos. Surprising how many songs we knew from both Jimmy and Huey. Kids not amused by our singing. Emily however was up and dancing a lot.

 Sugar. Rush.

 Everyone else. Shortly after this Patrick crashed out and fell asleep. He had kept begging to leave about three songs into the show. No. Between the heat and the sugar, he was done. Trying to walk him out of there was interesting.

 This is how the band looked to sleepy Patrick.

This is how they looked to me after a long day. We left before the encore since they were so tired and we had heard every song we could think of. Fast and easy drive back to the hotel, the opposite of the Symphony in the Flint Hills the weekend after this....