Normal.
This kid is SOOO happy he doesn’t have to entertain himself in an empty house anymore.
Between the new house and the old house I’ve painted somewhere between 1200 and 1500 square feet of rooms this summer. I’ve gone through over 20 gallons of paint and endless rollers and sheets of plastic. I’ve used an entire tube of caulk and installed 2 light fixtures and 1 sink faucet/drain. And as of yesterday? I’m done. I finished everything in the new house pre-move and I finished everything in the old house in time for the photographers to come take pictures yesterday morning. As of right now, any big home improvement projects I choose to do? I do because I want to. Not because we have to do it either A) Before we move in or B) Before we sell the house. And let me tell you one thing: If I never have to paint another wall again? I’ll die a happy woman.
Of course…we still haven’t even begun to tackle the wallpaper removal and subsequent painting in the upstairs hallway of our new house. But that can be done whenever I finally feel like it. It’s just a hall. And right now? I don’t feel like it. Today – for the first day in months – I’m just going to do what I feel like doing. I’ll take E and Nikki to school and maybe Wes and I will finally run over to Hobby Lobby for some of the things we’ve been wanting to grab for craft activities. Maybe I’ll look at fabric for my kitchen chairs I’m going to brave upholstering. (BECAUSE I WANT TO – Not because I have to.) Or maybe I’ll sit on my ass all morning and watch episodes of Dora. IT DOESN’T MATTER.
This summer has nearly broken me. There have been days when I’m so sick of it all, and everything that I had to do, that I’ve been teetering on the verge of tears for the entire 24 hours. Putting on my sunglasses so I can sob while I drive and no one notice. Sleepless nights as I struggle with the overwhelming anxiety and groggy days as I deal with exhaustion from those sleepless nights. Part of me looks at this summer and is terribly proud of all I did. Part of me is pissed off for wasting it. Although I tried my best to force myself to put down the paintbrushes and have fun with the kids periodically – I probably didn’t do that often enough. Am I glad we did it? Yes. I’m so happy in our new home and it would have been impossible prepping the old house for sale while still living in it. But does that change the fact that the summer kicked my ass? No. I’m just glad I have a house I love to be lazy in today – should the urge hit me.
The urge hits Lil’ Girl daily.
So glad things are slowing down for you! I’m trying to figure out what “normal” is for me now, with the kids in school for the first time. I don’t feel like I’ve had a “normal” day yet; there’s always been too many things calling out for me to HAVE to do. I am looking forward to a day I can kick back and do something just because I want to. It *might* happen one day this week.
Whatever you end up doing (and doing nothing is a great idea) enjoy your day!
Yay, time for rest! (Or not.) You deserve it!
Congrats on finishing all that painting. Decompress and enjoy it!
Congrats on finishing the house. You have inspired me to work a little more to turn our house into a home, so Thanks!
Ooh – think how great the holidays are going to be in your new house, thanks to all the work this summer!
I am so excited that you’re going to reupholster some chairs! Be prepared to redo your first corner about 20 times, but after that it gets way easier (and really fun!).
Rest rest REST! You have accomplished so much, wow.
Sometimes a whole lot of nothing can be extremely liberating!
I applaud you, I really do. I know the pain of renovating a house. In our late 20′s we bought a structurally sound but otherwise disaster of a apartment which hadn’t been touched since 1957 ( no heating!). I know the havoc it played on our lives while we tried to work and spend the weekends doing DIY. What impresses me most is you did all this, kept a household fed, watered, dressed etc and looked after 2 pre school kids (!). Madame you are the bees knees.
Congrats…that is a lot of paint. Hope you enjoy your day!
So proud of you for getting all of that crap done…. I probably would have thrown up my hands about a 1/3 of the way through… Kudos.
Have a great lazy day!!
If it’s any consolation, this summer almost broke me, too. But yesterday… victory. I finally kicked summer’s butt and now I get to enjoy it for five whole days before I have to go back to school. I can’t believe how much you got done, it’s time to give yourself a BIG ol’ pat on the back.
Nice work.
Congrats!! =D Rest always feels better than work lol