New project!!

So, I decided on Wednesday that I had found a headboard on Pinterest that I absolutely loved!!  Naturally, being the crazy person that I am, I decided that I would make it.  First stop, going to see Mom (the structural draftsman) to help me figure out how much wood and such I was gonna need.  I had decided that I was gonna do it without asking Mr. B for help.  Once we figured out how much wood we needed to make this headboard for a king-size bed, off we went to Lowe's to get the wood.  Luckily for me, since I am a total spaz, Lowe's cut the wood to size for me.  My sister and I started to put it together last night, and of course, Mr. B helped us a little bit.  We got it totally put it together last night, but didn't have time to stain it since it was getting too dark.  I got up this morning, ended up with Prissy B staying home because she is sick, and took Fireboy B to school.  When I got home, I decided to go on and stain it before it got too awful hot outside.  That leads me to an image of the finished headboard.   

I will put a totally finished picture up once we get the headboard attached to the bed.  I am also gonna make a banner/bunting to put on the top.  Just in case you are really liking this headboard, here is what I used. 

4 - 2x4 cut to 6ft.
12 - 1x6x8 cut to 80 inches
1 can special walnut Minwax stain
96 8x2 wood screws
a bunch (and by that I mean at least 20) rags - just by the box at the paint area

Measure your frame on your bed to find out how far apart the outside boards need to be apart.  Lay your four 2x4 boards evenly spaced between the total amount of space between the edges of your frame.

Start screwing your 1x6x8 boards down on your frame of 4 2x4s using 2 screws on each 2x4.  You will have some 2x4 sticking out on the bottom when you are finished. 

Follow the directions on your can of stain (I stained it, let it sit for 20 minutes, then wiped it off).

Once you get all that done and the stain is totally dry, get a couple of really strong people to carry it into your room and screw the bed frame to it.  (You will also need to get whatever screws you feel are necessary to hold your bed frame to the headboard.

How many days until Christmas?!?!?

Yep, it is that time again.  I got on my facebook yesterday and was greeted by all sorts of well meaning friends reminding me that it was 90 days until Christmas.  SERIOUSLY?!?!?  That is enough to make my head start spinning trying to come up with the plan to get everything done.  Unfortunately, I also immediately started comparing to last year and the frantic feelings I had going into Christmas.  See, last year, I was trying to finish my Masters Degree, get adjusted to working again, continue all my church commitments, and be the leader of Prissy B's girl scout troop, all while Mr. B was working lots and lots of hours at the fire hall.  Needless to say, I didn't get my house all Christmas decorated up, didn't even get all my presents wrapped until Christmas Eve when we were leaving the house, and ended up feeling really disappointed with the whole mess. 

This year, we are not gonna work that way.  We have been working on decluttering and cleaning out the house for a couple weeks now, and I am going to continue on that project until October 31st, and then start with the Christmas decorations.  Yes, I really do start that early, we put up 4 Christmas trees normally, and will be adding a 5th one this year.  I also do a Christmas Cookie Swap/Bunco party on the first Friday in December every year, so I can't wait until Thanksgiving to start decorating.  I plan on doing one room a week to get decorated, and being done that first week of December so that I can really enjoy the Christmas season this year and be able to continue the traditions that the kids and I love so much.  This will be the first year that Mr. B is really going to be able to be home enough to enjoy them all, so this has the potential to be our most stellar Christmas ever.  Until then, I am gonna focus a little less on the Christmas countdown and a little more on making plans to enjoy my family and our traditions this year.

I'm Back!!

So, I have been absent from blogging for a couple of weeks, but it is with good reason.  School started back, church activities started back, my hours got increased at work, and I was finishing my last class for my Masters degree!!  I submitted my last final exam last night at 11:45 pm and I am officially done (pending the rest of the grades being entered).  I feel pretty free at this point, and I am definitely ready to get back to blogging.  I have missed being able to vent on here and missed my readings and communicating with all of you. 

On with the news of the week.  Prissy B is learning how to study and what it is like to put forth some effort on her schoolwork.  She has always been so far ahead that everything came easy, and now it comes easy, but she is having to put forth the effort to slow down and take her time with what she is doing.  She seems to be loving the things that she is involved in right now, though, and I can't wait for the first time she will get to ring handbells in church.  It is hard for me to fathom that she will be starting our youth program at church in just 4 years.  She is getting so big and looking more and more grown up every day.  Fireboy B is having a blast at school.  He loves all that he is getting to do, and has been so excited about getting to start choir at church.  He seems to be enjoying all that he is doing right now, and is coming home worn out everyday.  He came home with a paper where they have been tracing letters at school the other day.  He says his favorite letter is B because it is "his" letter.

Mr. B and I have just kinda been plugging along.  We are getting more and more used to him being home at night, and I have a feeling it is going to be a lot harder when he leaves for trips now.  We are looking at buying some land, and hopefully moving out in the country.  It is definitely a process and will be a continued process for the next few years, but we are really excited about it.

The big excitement of the week actually happens tomorrow.  You see, tomorrow is GAMEDAY!!!  I am a University of Tennessee FANatic, and football season starts tomorrow.  For me this is one of the best weeks of the year.  The anticipation leading up to kickoff at 6:00 pm tomorrow is as big, if not bigger, for me than a kid leading up to opening their Christmas presents.  If you have never been to a UT game, then here is gameday in 5 minutes.  http://kiwi6.com/file/zbrqbi10y8?autostart

That is all I have for today.  I won't be on tomorrow, I have to sing with the church choir at the funeral of a longtime choir member, and then head to Knoxville for gameday.  Until then GO VOLS!!!