Marissa home for a visit: State Fair, Noah's Ark Encounter

We are so happy to have Marissa home for a visit but her timing is falling at the exact same time that Mark and I have to work around the clock to get the house ready.  YIKES!  That's not much fun for her.  She was supposed to arrive at 10 PM on Friday, August 17, but got in around 11:30 PM.  We were so happy to see her!!!!

We are trying to balance it all out with her.  We spend time with her during the day or evening, then while we are working on the house, she is able to study for her Nursing exam.

She has been a wonderful help around the house and has been a joy to be around.

Saturday was a busy day with Mark and Betsy doing so much to get the house ready to go on the market.

Sunday Marissa went with us to the Madison Branch and the Carrollton Ward so that dad and  I could do Pathway Presentations.  While at Madison we saw Sister McCullough.

Friday morning, Marissa and the sister missionaries cleaned the moss off of our patio.  It was a big project.   I'm so grateful for her willingness to help and her good attitude.

Friday mom took Marissa to the Kentucky State Fair where we had a fun time walking around, seeing all the rides and attractions.  WE got to pet animals - horses, cattle, pigs, llamas, sheep, etc.  We bought candy and walked around everywhere.  IT was a fun afternoon.

After the Fair, Marissa and I went to the Louisville Temple.  Mark and I work there on Friday nights.  Marissa was able to do some initiatory and a session.

The next Saturday we drove out to Williamstown KY to see the Ark Encounter.  IT is a life size replica of Noah's Ark.  It was a pretty cool experience.

Marissa was supposed to go back to Utah on Sunday, August 26 but we were able to extend her time with us in Kentucky until Thursday, August 30.

On Monday, Mom took Marissa with her to work for one hour for Betsy's Last Day.  Then Betsy treated Marissa to Jack Fry's lunch - so good.  Then, Marissa and mom went shopping for dresses for Devon and Sierra's wedding.  Mom found a dress at Vonmaur, shoes at DSW, and a tie for dad at JS Banks.  Marissa got a whole new school wardrobe too.  We did good!!!!

Painting and Packing

Oh my gosh - so much work.

At first it started out as fun projects to update the house while we contemplated the possible move away from Louisville KY.

Then Mark found out that we have to move to Memphis, TN in order to stay with the company.  At first they wanted Mark to move to San Jose, CA, but he refused that offer. 

Immediately, we had so much work to get done on the house to get it ready to go on the market.

The LIST:

Paint master bedroom
Paint master bathroom
Paint Robert's room
Paint Robert's bathroom
Paint shared bathroom
Paint Marissa's bathroom
Paint Marissa's bedroom
Paint kitchen
Paint Weight room
Paint game room
touch up trim upstairs
touch up trim middle floor
touch up trim basement
replace carpet basement
replace carpet upstairs
replace one garage door
replace 6 windows
clean moss off patio
remove books and bookshelves from:
two from Master bedroom
Robert's room
Marissa's room
upstairs hallway
England room
two bookshelves in basement
three bookshelves in study/office
pack all books away or sell books to 1/2 price books
get rid of extra bedding, clothes, shoes, furniture, accessories, etc.
get rid of family room couches
store coffee and end tables from family room
remove desk from master bedroom
remove desk from Marissa's room
clean out Robert's room
clean out Marissa's room
clean up and thin Betsy's closet
clean up and organize Mark's closet
clean up and organize dining room
clean up and organize kitchen
clean up and organize game room
clean up and organize weight room
clean up and organize entertainment room
remove sewing machine and sewing stuff
remove personal photos from basement
remove personal photos from bedrooms
remove personal photos from hallways
remove photos from fridge
remove glass table from front entrance
remove round rug from front entrance
remove draperies from dining room
remove draperies from study/office
get microwave fixed
remove microwave from counters
remove TV from family room
clean up where TV was
kill weeds
replant grass
fix cupboards so they hang right
fix tape in master bathroom ceiling
fix broken tile in master bedroom shower
clean out main floor coat closet
clean out shoes from drop zone
paint drop zone
touch up trim in drop zone
clean up and organize storage room
clean up and organize storage under the stairs
clean up and organize storage closet in basement bathroom
THROW or GIVE anything not needed in MEMPHIS

July 4th Weekend - PAINTING ???

Well, it wasn't what we had planned for July 4th weekend - actually nothing like it, but because of the weather our plans had to change.

On Thursday, July 4 we woke to rainy weather.  Rain that continued all day.  Rain that canceled the Glen Oaks Pool Party - and every other outdoor fun activity for the day.  Mark and I planned on finishing the deck, going to the pool, playing volleyball or something with the kids and neighbors and cooking on the grill while enjoying life on the patio.  Well, none of that happened.

Spunky and priming the room!!!

Instead, Mark and I decided on paint colors and painted our bedroom - it took all day Thursday but we got 2/3 done.  By all day I mean we didn't finish until after 11:00 pm at night.  We primed the walls and painted the master bedroom and the hallway to the master bathroom.  We primed (most of ) the bathroom but ran out of primer.  It was a great day though.  Mark and I worked together while listening to his music - classic rock and roll.  Great music - fun stuff.  We took breaks to feed the kids, etc. but for the most part we worked hard all day and into the late night.

Bedroom painted - check!
What a good feeling

SO... Friday - still raining - we let everything dry and rearranged the room - put curtains up, and put furniture back where it belonged, but didn't paint  except to touch up some tiny spots that were missed.  At one point in the day it stopped raining so Mark cut the grass while Betsy got grocery shopping done.     We were able to eat a nice "4th of July" dinner together on the deck.  It was nice to have some family time since Mark and I were both prisoners (of choice) to our painting project the day before.  After dinner we wanted to cut our neighbors yard as well, but the rain returned.

We are so tired!  ... But ... we needed to finish - the bathroom still isn't done - except it has tape and primer.  Saturday morning it was raining again.  Today was supposed to be the "make up" 4th of July pool party, but it was canceled due to the rain.  Bummer!!!  Instead, Betsy went out and bought the bathroom towels etc. so we could decide on a paint color for the bathroom, and then we painted the bathroom.  It took all day and only into the early evening (8:00) but we finished.  The bathroom is super hard because it has weird angles and vaulted ceilings.  Again, Mark and I worked together to get the job done.  It would have taken me forever to do it by myself.  It was so nice to work together on such a big project.  I'm sure he had other things he wanted to do but he helped me.  That meant a lot to me.

Mark climbs high to paint the vaulted ceiling

Betsy ready to finish painting even though every joint in her body hurts!

Now I just have to hang pictures and get things back in order!  I love my new bedroom and bath.