The Before Pictures

Today I snapped a few "Before" pictures of the garage.  I anticipate it filling up during the construction process, so this may be my last chance.  It is raining today, thus the bicycles are parked in here, but usually those are on the front patio.  It is a pretty tidy place, all things considered.

The guy from Edison was here today to look at our existing panel and give final approval for our electricians to move forward with the upgraded panel.

After the panel, we are hoping to break ground with the impending game room addition.  All our permits are in order.  We just need to make our final decision on flooring.

I can not wait for the construction to be complete.  It will be so wonderful to have the added room...but let me be very clear, I am DREADING the process.

I have been frantically cleaning, sorting and donating boxes of extra stuff in an attempt to get a handle on our unused items.  Which you know is a challenge for me since I am such a hoarder.

Wish me luck on getting through the rest of my junk, and keeping my sanity in tact.

March 8, 2013

Our Plans Revised

Approval from the city!

We made a few changes: no pitched roof for the garage and French doors out the back of the bonus room instead of windows.

The electricians came by on Saturday. Only two weeks till they get started on the new electrical panel.

Super excited to move forward on our project!

Here's a picture of the grass plot next to the house where the new bonus room will go.

Twilight Zone

Here's where you get see our geeky side. One of the pinball machines we recently acquired is the highly sought after Twilight Zone. When we first get a machine my husband spends hours cleaning, waxing, checking wires and light bulbs. By far the most fun though, is getting to decide which extras we'll add. These are called "mods."
Everyday this week we've been checking our front porch in the hopes that the mod we ordered for the Twilight Zone would show. Today is the day! We were like two small children on Christmas morning tearing open our little par-avion box. Here he is, Robby the Robot.

January 16, 2013

A Party Like No Other

Let me start off by saying, I wish I had better pictures to show off this amazing residence.  That's right, this is someones house, well their second house.  Better described as the party house, they built next to their primary residence. The two are connected by a cat walk on the 3rd floor and an underground tunnel.  When you park on the street there are stairs leading down to this floor.  It looks like an Italian piazza!  There's a game room, a bar, a stage with a dance floor, a pizza oven with seating, a wine room, another bar, a banquet hall and a full motion movie theatre all on this floor alone.

Here are the teenage boys I recruited to help us.  All the free games they can play before and after the party, of course they agreed.

My friend Ann, who I should tell people, runs an award winning environmental assessment firm, but I love her because, amongst other things, she also knows how to pour a drink.  I owe her so much since she agreed to play bartender for the night.  Her husband, who is on crutches with a broken ankle, was our Games Master.  Great friends!

A shot from the bar looking toward the dance floor and then further off, the pizza oven and bar.  Oh and did I mention we had sangria?! It was delicious.  I bought that stainless steal tub at Costco, we will be make good use out of that.

That's the stage where the band played.  The Jeff Nelson band, whose a friend of a friend.  Over by the pizza oven we had a string quartet play at the beginning of the evening.  That was one of Dr. T's former students.

From the bar, toward the game room.  Look at all those pinball machines!  There must have been at least 25, plus all the other arcade games.

 This was the party favor.  My very favorite Pop's Kettle Korn!  Completely addicting.  This is the type of snack I hide from my family so only I get to enjoy the dark chocolate goodness.  I might share with hubby, but only because he buys it for me.  The kids, definitely not.

The busboys trying out the horse racing game.  Funny as all get out to see their little tushes bouncing in the air in an attempt to win.  I only wish I would have taken video instead, unbelievably hilarious.

 

Thanks to my friend Kimberly for insisting we take a picture together! Next time we need get a friend to play photographer for the night.

January 12, 2013

Our Very First Plans

In our nearly two decades together Dr. T and I have shared a lot of firsts.  In the beginning of our marriage it happened with regular frequency.  To the point where we didn't take too much notice.  Well now, it's actually been awhile since we've had something come up.  But this week such an event occurred.  He came home and said "It's our very first plans!"  Architectural plans, that is, the real deal. 

Yesterday, Dr. T and our architect (that doesn't sound snooty at all) took our plans to the city.  Hopefully, we'll hear back soon with approval to add on a game room to the first floor of our house....cause I'd like to have my garage back.

January 11, 2013

Vegas Day 2

Inside of the Wynn.  Picking up our tickets for Le Reve. 

Vegas is a city that takes their carpets very seriously.

Looking at the pirate ships outside Treasure Island.  After that Rett talked constantly about wanting to see the Pirate Show.

Inside the Venetian.  It made us think of our trip to Italy.  Very cool canals here too, but much newer. We watched the "show" in the pavilion.  Here's a juggler on stilts.

Lunch at Spagos.  We had planned on going to the FAO Swartz inside Caesar's but it was closed due to remodeling.  Very disappointing. 

 

Also, at lunch Rett accidently got a piece of fancy bread with walnuts in it.  Total allergic reaction.  Several Benadyll later and he was feeling better.

After Tim and I went to Le Reve we took the boys to the Pinball Museum.  It's way, way off the strip.  But for our pinball loving family it was a great adventure.

Check out the size on this mini-pinball machine.  It was the perfect size for Rett, so cool.  We are now scouring the internet to try and find another one.

 

March 14, 2010

Someone's Been Using My Camera

Yeah, clearly not taken by me...oh and there are tons more where these came from, including some golf clubs, up close, and some wires?

December 9, 2009

Rearranging Rett's Room

Changed the location of his bed...well his mattress, since we still haven't purchased him a bed. 

Actually, we haven't even thought about furniture for his room for a while now. 

We did, however, talk about where a pinball machine could go...yeah, we know how wrong that is.

September 29, 2009

Police Force

Yes, we now have our very own pinball machine.

Because the only way to break in to competitive pinball, is to have a machine at home to practice on.

Is there scholarship money available for this sport? 

I wish.

July 13, 2009