Monday, December 31, 2012

Bathroom Remodel 2012

Tried to replace the plastic tile floor that was peeling up in the bathroom only to find that the sub-floor was rotten. I needed to redo the walls anyway. 
Plus, I couldn't do it anymore. Wash my kids in this disgusting bathtub. It couldn't be cleaned no matter how hard I tried. So, It's coming out.
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No ventilation + moisture = mold. 
Hard to breath, but not for long.
Most of the plastic surround is out, notice the exposed window behind me. This is about to become a window box!
Behind the plastic tiles...

Taking the tub out was a pain in the neck! I even cut my leg open on one of the corners.
Success, the yucky tub is gone!! 
Beginning of the window box
Finding the windows at $40 each was incredible. Especially considering the two on the sides open for extra ventilation. We were expecting each of the three windows to be $120 a piece but on our way to order them, I mentioned it to a customer at the hardware store. He knew someone who was selling windows for cheap and gave us his information. We checked them out the next day and they were the perfect size for our project. Another piece of magic sprinkles all over us. 

Window box is complete and the durock is up. Waiting to place one more durock panel but have to stop there because the fan has to be installed first. It should be delivered any day now. 

Once the durock was up I thought I could get this tiled in less than a week. I was wrong...

Because of our very limited budget we decided to collect river rock from the Colorado River only a few miles from our house. This is what we collected in five trips to several locations to gather the stones. They sell this in the store for around $20 per square foot. I laugh in their general direction.

My most favorite part has begun. I really want to get started on the floor so that we can get our bathtub back in but I know that patience is a virtue. This has so far been the funnest project Shanon and I have worked on together. On the North wall, directly under the window box, he worked on the right side of the wall, I was on the left. He kept looking over to make sure he was beating me in height. But I was right there by him the whole time. hehehe.
Once we tiled up to the window box we came to a cross roads. We figured we could cut an L shape out of the rocks with the tile saw we borrowed from Ted (thank you so much Ted!!) and then cement them around the window. Alex cut most of these himself. 

The corners around the window box look like this. 
Almost there!! Okay no I'm not but I think I am. I still have the West wall and the floor. 

Starting on the floor!!
Four days after I started on the floor, I am done and sooo happy about it! Next step is plastering with American Clay. I am worried about how the color Mauna Loa is going to look with our river rock though. 
So proud of the feet that are sitting in front of the toilet when you are sitting on the pot. Yes, they are off center, and yes, I am totally blaming Shanon. I asked him to bring them to me but by the time he did, rocks were already set where they should have been. My sister says, just tell people they are riding side saddle. I'm  okay with that. Besides, fuck em if they can't take a joke.
Window box....Check.
This branch was found by Colton on one of our many rafting trips down our wonderful Colorado River. We sealed it with Tung oil, our favorite sealer of all time. It will be a perfect towel rack. 

The rocks are sealed, plastic is up, and the primer with the sand is on the wall. Getting ready for the last step. PLASTER!! This was done on New Years eve which per Shanon means, We are getting plastered today!! 
YES! Plastering was a lot funner than painting has ever been. We will be plastering the rest of the house. 
This was a problem. On the ceiling, near the edges, the plaster started to peel :( so i stripped it, wiped it, re-primed it, and replastered it. Seemed to work alright the second time around although it's not 100 %. I may have to strip it again, and reseal the original ceiling since it was not replaced with the rest of the material.

Finished Bathroom! The clawfoot tub was a steal at $200. It came out of a farm house in Grand junction. They had found it in a field rusting away and redid everything on it. Absolutely gorgeous replacement to our old one. 
Notice the goldfish looking rock above the tub and to the right of the picture. I strategically placed this by measuring and marking the wall during the tiling process.
Alex found this one on the second trip of our rock hunting outings. What a nice find!
The color turned out great especially next to the turquoise tub.

Finally a welcome reward after two months of not having a bath for my babies. 

Thank you again to the universe for aligning us with all of the magic that fell into place at the exact moment that it needed to happen for this project to be successful. For anyone that has not done a remodel while living in the home, it will test and stretch every aspect of your relationship but in the end, will be worth it. 

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Christmas Day

Christmas Day is always so stressful but after all is said and done is fun. 
Colton was able to spend the entire winter break with us.
I was worried that we wouldn't have enough. That someone would be unhappy.  But my kids are amazing and were happy the entire day. 

The little piano that was the one thing that Bailey thought was coming from Santa.

Bailey dancing in her new princess dress from mom and dad, gloves from grandma, and hat from Heather.
Yes, we survived the last day of the Mayan Calendar. Let the New World BEGIN!


Sledding with the dogs pulling us up the street. I was freaked out because they were running sooo fast. The kids had a blast.

Go, Dog, Go!

Later in the day we went sledding. Big brother carrying little sister back up the hill.

HUGE Snowflakes!

I would love to write more about this great day but because I was so far behind on the posts, and updated the last seven months in one sitting, I am exhausted. Good night!

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Visit to Orem, Utah

Last trip up to Orem, the place of my birth, before the holidays. After 4 hours of shopping, with very little to show for it, I get to spend time with my sisters, nieces, nephews, and kids. 
Nathalia, Colton, Me, and sister Gay (she is crocheting a beautiful afghan)
I love my SEESTERS!!! We are missing one....tadan, where are you??

We love Grandma and Grandpa

I love my lovely family. It's very rare that we get a family shot like this. 
Speaking of ovens that haven't worked since February. This is the new one I purchased on my last trip to Orem. SOOOO grateful to finally find work in Moab. Yes, I am working for a firm in California over the internet but still, so very very grateful. This stove rocks!! Thank you god, and santa!!



Saturday, November 24, 2012

Alex's Birthday

Alex chose not to have a Fondant cake because it "has to much sugar"? Is this the same kid that I met 5 1/2 years ago? 
We invited his friends over and made Shrinky dinks!! The older kids even got into it a lot more than I imagined they would. Watching them shrink is so fascinating.
 Quincon, Alex, and Bailey
After the party was over Alex ran outside and made the first snowman of the year, by himself!! 
Happy Birthday my little 9 year old!!! I am so proud of who you are.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Temporary Tub

In the midst of not having a bathroom (for two months) this is what we've used.
 Bailey is the only one that completely fits in it but the rest of us get to soak our feet and use a washcloth. We wash our hair in the sink. All of us except for Shanon who voted to shave his hair off. 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Something stinky this way comes...

I know this girl is super pretty. But somewhere along the line, she started to stink. 
I could see something in her nose, stuck. She stunk like rotten eggs and I knew it was something rotting in her head. After a month of it not coming out I tried to pry it lose which immediately led to bleeding. I got nervous thinking that I had just loosened a bone. I took her in to the doctor, who after multiple attempts was unsuccessful at removing an "organic object" from her nose. 

When Bai woke up the next day with that same rotting smell, her and I had a conversation. I told her that it was coming out no matter what. Shanon would be holding her down while I dug it out by whatever means necessary. Below is a picture of the end result. 

Yes, this is the branch that has probably been in her nose, affecting her smell, and her taste, for the last two months. I loosened it again, ripping the object from being attached and unable to move from the side of her nose. Once loosened, she sat up, took a deep breath in, and blew out of her nose with a THUMP onto her lap. We were all shocked that such a huge object could lodge itself into our daughter and take up residence. 

Can I say "EVICTED!!!" 

Good job girl~



Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Halloween

CANDY!! Bailey says "Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness, I have WAY too much Candy!" 

Of course Bailey has to be a princess, and Alex a zombie. Found both of their costumes at the local thrift store and for very inexpensive. For as spookie as Alex's costume is, I'm pretty impressed.
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Phew, there are my angels.....

This one wouldnt dress up.....He's still scary though. 
I did though! Found a wig that I like and which changes my persona enough.


Great time tonight and one of our favorite holidays!!