Where did you come from?

I have a favorite widget. It is on the live traffic feed at the bottom right of this blog. If you click on the "Watch in Real Time" at the bottom of the feed box it shows you all the hits on your page.

While most of mine are direct hits, meaning that the viewer either typed in my web address or clicked on a link that directed them here....I do occasionally get some really crazy random hits.
When someone Google's something, it could lead them here.

So I thought I would share some of the random searches that landed people here at www.alwayslaughingoutloud.blogspot.com

My top two from this week are:

"My son has realy loud gas"

and

"Quirky Sandwich containers"

The REALLY fun thing is that these people actually clicked on my page hoping maybe to find what they were looking for.

I am so sorry to disappoint....but then again maybe I had just what they were looking for.

Still Under Construction

Here are some updated photos of the destruction...I mean construction.


This is the view from the side door entry. That cutout was a window prior to us owning the house, when this area was a carport, not part of the living room. It has always been kind of an awkward area....that is until KC and went crazy with the sledge hammer.


This is the NEW opening.


This is the NEW bar area.

The contractor is here right now finishing the drywall. He is busy sanding...which is quite possibly the worst job ever and the messiest. After a quick clean up, the new floors will go down and then it will be time to touch up the paint.

Surely the end is near.

If You've Ever Wondered.......

.....how to entertain an 18 month old during a hectic day of remodeling this post is for you. Here is a photo essay featuring my niece, The Beast.




First you paint on their belly....



then on their back...



Then on their face....



Then on their back again so that they can have a matching tattoo like their momma



And finally you just hand over the washable markers and let them at it.

Good times.
.....how to entertain an 18 month old during a hectic day of remodeling this post is for you.

Hodge Podge

This one is for Sippy...I had to post proof that Jared was was as tall as Grammy...notice the DH in the background...not getting any love. Just FYI...we had dinner outside that night because you couldn't even see the top of the kitchen table with the remodel mess.

This would be the above mentioned kitchen table...it did get cleaned off finally!!! The kids were able to eat dinner at the very table last night...progress!!!

Another benefit of remodeling...you get to write on the floors. I wanted to document the experience on the sub floor.

All the kids got a sharpie and doodled various stuff...Micah wrote the number 5 like a hundred times...don't ask me why. Anyway, I guess Jeff snatched the marker when I was unaware, and wrote the following message.

Can I just say, I totally cried my eyes out. You have no idea. When a husband tears down walls, lives in insanity, and generally is just superman through this whole ordeal-while working insane overtime at his REAL job, this simple note means the world. It goes without saying, that most of the headaches we encountered were from things that I specifically requested(expanding the kitchen which meant tearing down a wall, removing the popcorn from the ceiling, which was a total nightmare, removing the carpet and installing new hardwood floors, and sub floor too, removing the old bar, making a new one, painting every wall in the living and kitchen, and I could go on and on) it means the world.

Yummy Green Salsa

Wanted to share this super yummy salsa recipe....

Tomatillo Green Salsa Yield: 5 pints

5 cups chopped tomatillos or green tomatoes
1 1/2 cups seeded, chopped long green chiles
1/2 cup seeded finely chopped jalapeños
4 cups chopped onions
1 cup bottled lemon juice
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 Tbsp ground cumin
3 Tbsp oregano leaves
1 Tbsp salt 1 tsp black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and stir frequently over high heat until mixture begins to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Ladle hot salsa into pint jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Adjust lids and process in a boiling water canner 15 minutes at 0-1,000 feet altitude; 20 minutes at 1,001-6,000 feet; 25 minutes above 6,000 feet

The Best Part of Remodeling

Every once in a while you get to see the light at the end of the tunnel. This afternoon we saw the light in the form of graffiti. Why go through all the mess and hassle of remodeling your house if you can not paint your names on the wall.



Above: our real names
Below: our nick names

Here we go again...

Well friends, we are back in the grind. The remodeling is back in full swing. We have super busy the past week, and seem to have an even tougher week ahead of us.

I have family coming in next Tuesday, so the Hubby wants to buckle down and finish up all the loose ends. The good news is, we are actually doing really well. We had a contractor come out over the weekend and install a new support beam in the living room, to compensate for the fact that we removed a wall. We should be able to install the new floors this weekend. I have been painting the living room, and later today I should be able to re-texture the living room ceiling. The drywall work should get completed today or Thursday. And the list could go on and on. Thankfully, the process has not been as problem filled as the kitchen was, just a lot of hard work and long hours.

Once again, I have 4 or 5 entries, that I started, but could never get around to finish..so hopefully I can play catch up soon.