Remodeling Tips from the Troops

Good Morning from the land of dust and paint.

In an effort to not let our current experiences go to waste, I thought I'd share a few tips.
Because remodeling is not for the faint at heart.
Or for the family of ten.
But don't tell US that!

We love this house. Of course we realize that it will burn up like everything else, eventually, but it's such a great house for our family.

But WHAT crazy person (just curious) decided that it was a good idea to put carpet in kitchens (we fixed that before we moved in)? And dining rooms (that was last Summer's project)? And BATHROOMS (our current mess)? What WERE they thinking? Obviously not about four girls sharing the bathroom.

And wallpaper. Good ole' wallpaper. I can't help but think it was a costly venture to wallpaper THIS ENTIRE HOUSE. But WHY, I ask? WHY?

So to save you learning things the hard way:

1. Think through what life will be like with seven (bathroom using) kids and one bathroom for three days. Then cancel your remodeling plans.

2. Picking out tile and paint is a simple process if you remember one rule. Make sure it is the color and texture of DIRT.

3. Children will gravitate to the most crowded and messiest room. Our sun room is full of all the things we moved out of other rooms. They've played in there for two days.

4. Have sweet friends with a pool. Sometimes at 4:30 when everyone is losing it you just need to WALK AWAY. And it's too hot to go anywhere else. Thanks, Girls!

5. Have a friend at the paint store. Because I don't have any idea what I need! Tell your husband, "Thanks!" for me, Sheryl!

6. Realize that there will not only be concrete dust on TOP of every surface of your house. It will be INSIDE every cabinet, as well.

7. Don't plan on accomplishing anything else. In hindsight, the curtain project should have waited for another week.

8. Realize ahead of time that there will be a lot of errands to run. Group them together, don't take all of the kids and leave the gas guzzling VAN at home. Do as I say, Friends, not as I do!

9. Understand that dust and paint fumes aren't good for allergy sufferers. I'm just sayin'. And there is no medicine in the world strong enough, at this point.

10. Plan to get very little sleep. After all, the only time you will actually accomplish something is when all of the kids are in bed. Which is not NEARLY enough time, let me tell you.

11. If your back goes out (I'm speaking for the Coach, here), just keep working like it didn't. If the pain is more than you can bear, ignore it. It's the wise thing to do.

12. Things will start looking up when you have finished the "tearing out" phase and have entered the "putting back together" phase.

That's all I have at the moment. It's hard to think straight when I have to keep getting up to blow my nose.

Oh. Sorry.

That was WAY too much info!

And one more tip:

Plan to spend more money than you budget. Because shower curtain rods break and wouldn't this bathroom look bigger with a larger mirror? And the valance I'm making really needs a double three inch hem - which I don't have enough fabric for (Thanks, Mom!). And the GAS. Good grief, the GAS!

Happy Wednesday!