It's so hard for me to believe that I have a 16-year-old!  Wow - time really does fly when you're having fun - and we've had 16 VERY FUN years with this girl!  I don't mean to brag, but she is just THE BEST and has put so many smiles on my face over the years. 

I'd love to share pictures, but they're all saved on the other computer.  If you want to see them, check out my Facebook page - I've loaded several of them up there.  (If you're not already my friend, just request and I'll accept! ) 

We had an all-day Open House (on Sunday from 1-8).  I thought it would go in spurts with the guests, but we had a steady stream of visitors during the entire day.  There wasn't one time, during the 7 hours, when there wasn't someone here.  It was so nice to see all the people who love and care about Ashley and to be able to spend some special time with them.  (I'm still eating leftover dip, though - and am sure I'm going to turn into a bowl of dip by the end of the week!)

I realized, after all the festivities were over and the gifts were put away, that we didn't get a single picture of Ashley with Brian & me.  We took her picture with all of her guests, but none with her parents or siblings. 

Now, she is looking forward to a visit from a good friend from NY this weekend! 

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No more talk about our attic, because we no longer have one!    I'm smiling now, but when we try to find a home for all the stuff that's  been taking up residence in all of our bedrooms during the remodel, I'm sure I'll be looking more like this or this . 

The carpenters left yesterday afternoon, at around 2.  Ashley was  thrilled to go up and inspect things.  Here are some before-we-move-in pictures:

the light in the hallway

the ceiling light

and the lights on the walls of the "alcove" (dormer area)

the electric heater, sans the switch
(it was faulty and needs to be replaced)

and, of all things, Ashley's very own smoke alarm!
(exciting stuff, people - work with us!)

Ashley and I are very determined girls, let me tell you.  I promised her that we would, at the  very least, get her bed moved into the room so that she could sleep up there last night.  Let me just tell you that those bunkbeds have been a thorn in my side since the day they arrived!  They were a necessity, but I also wanted them to look good and be sturdy.  Let me just tell you, they were  both of those things - but they were also VERY heavy and next-to-impossible to make up!  Taking them apart proved to be almost as stressful!  Ashley and I did manage to separate the two, but we waited for Brian to disassemble them.  I should have been taking pictures of the project, but I never think to in the midst of things like that.

That's actually an old quilt of Gracie's.  Ashley dreams of brown and blue bedding - so we need to start looking for that.  The bed just fits in this space perfectly, and looks like it was made for there. 

Before Brian got home (and after we had separated the bunks), we started moving some of her smaller things into the room:

her guitar

my guitar (hiding in the storage space) -
she actually plays hers more so she swapped her case for my stand

her stereo
(on an old wooden chest that we bought at our neighbor's sale years ago)

and her cd's

The dresser is probably a story for another time!  But, I'll tell it now (just not with a picture)...
I was so afraid that the dresser wouldn't make it up the stairs.  The dressers we bought for the  girls are HUGE.  They are more like wardrobes (that could double as entertainment centers).  I told Brian we could save that project for another day, but he was determined.  Looking back on the whole thing, I cannot even  believe that he, Ashley, and I got it up there; but we did!  (I only have one smashed thumb knuckle to prove it too!)  Seriously, it's a miracle there weren't more injuries or damages (two places on the steps that need some sanding and a ding in the brand new trim is all - but we need to make it "real", I guess). 

I'm sure Ashley will be sharing more pictures on her  blog.  She's got many more posters up there!  But, alas, she's still in bed - enjoying her new space.  And today's project will be trying to get Gracie's room into some sort of order (you should see it now - I'm ashamed to take before shots ).

 

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The past two days have been spent working on the ceiling...




...electrical...

(If you're wondering why there are two outlets so close together,
the one on the left is for an air conditioner)

...and the window seat...


(this is the part of the room that Ashley is most excited about)

Let me tell you, I am SO ANXIOUS for this project to be over.  I did notice that the men took a lot of their tools and equipment home with them this weekend; so I'm hoping that means there is very little left to do this coming week.  They need to put trim on the corners and ceiling, install the lighting, and do a bit of painting.  I'm not even sure yet about the floors - we talked about having them varnished, but Ashley is all for leaving them in their original state - so we'll see. 

I believe that, from now on, I'll be titling these posts "Ashley's Room - Day --", because it truly is her room now - she is getting so excited!  Look for updates on Gracie's room, coming soon, too (she's getting so excited to make some changes to her room as well).

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Today, most of the visible work was done in the stairway.
These two pictures were taken from upstairs, looking down.
Who's that cutie on the stairs?!


This one is taken from the hallway, looking up.
This process is starting to seem like it's taking forever.
I'm getting impatient.

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With the exception of the stairway, the walls are all done!  Tomorrow they will probably finish the walls and start on the ceiling tiles (that's just my guess).  Ashley and I went to Lowe's today and bought light fixtures - one for the middle of the room, one for the stairway, and 2 for the walls in the dormer part of the room.  Things are coming together quite nicely!

These last two shots are of the chimney.
Several years ago, we had a leak and the wall rotted -
it was quite disgusting, really.
Who knew that behind it was this neat brick chimney?!



Too bad tomorrow that will get covered up again.
I think it adds some character! 

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*If you noticed that there was no "Attic - Day 5" post, you're  very observant!  The reason for that is because, suffice it to say, it was just a lot more insulation!  After awhile, it all kinda looks the same!

Day 6, though, was quite the transformation!  We have walls!  (at least, SOME walls!)  Yes, it's paneling.  The word "paneling" kinda drums up thoughts of dark, fake-looking stuff to me; and, when I first heard it, I admit that I panicked.  However, upon closer inspection, we discovered that there is actually some neat-looking paneling nowadays.  We found one that really resembles wainscoting (which we love), so we're pretty happy with the results.

(this is the dividing wall with an opening to get to the storage space)

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Not a whole lot to report today.
Just a lot of
insulation...

...insulation...

...and more insulation!


If nothing else,
it should be a well-insulated room!

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The men worked from 8am til 4:30 pm today.  Really, though, the attic doesn't look that much different today, so we only took one picture:

This dividing wall is right at the top of the stairs, off to the lright.
It's dividing off a small section of the room that we will be able to use
as storage (remember - this used to be the attic -
and it was quite full!)
This photo was taken from the front of the house, by the windows.

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This project has been in the "thinking about it" and "maybe someday" stages for awhile, but is now in the "it's actually happening" stage!  The reason I'm filing this under "All About Ashley" is because, when this project is complete, it will be Ashley's new bedroom!  She is, of course, excited at the prospect of having her own room again; and Gracie's anxious to kick her out of their existing shared  bedroom and have some space to herself again also!  Little brothers can wreak such havoc to a girl's life sometimes! 

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to post an update each day, as we see things progress up there.  So, here are the pictures after Day 1 (we took BEFORE shots, but it was evening and they came out way too dark to share):

This is what you see at the top of the stairs.
(You know, I've lived in this house for 17 years and never noticed
that the attic way was that greenish-blue color! LOL
It's so dark in there that you can barely see!)
Here's the opposite shot -
looking down on the stairs from the attic floor.


As you can see, there were "temporary" walls up there -
they are just leaving those and studding out for new ones.
And here's the shot of the dormer window -
gee, maybe I should have taken those white curtains down
before they started their work!
Anyway, Ashley's dreaming of a window seat here.

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Today's is Ashley's 15th birthday!

Please stop by her blog and tell her
Happy Birthday!

Ashley,
I'm so glad you're mine
and I'm very proud of the lovely young woman that you are  becoming.
You constantly make me proud-
in your dealings with people,
your writing, and your desire to honor God with your life.
I am blessed to be your mom
and to be home with you every day.
Love,
Mom

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