with finshing the basement.  We also have been finsihing the basement and making it into a playroom.  Ben has done all the dry wall and framing and did quite a good job!  He just put in insallation yesterday and is building shelves.  Once the framing was done, I have done the painting.  I have painted murals on all the walls.  We have gone with a jungle motif.  Each wall has something different.  I have done all sorts of animals - lions, snakes, allegators, hippos, elephants as well as tons of trees, vines and flowers.  I even have put as few of Sam's favorite characters in there too like Swiper the Fox and a few My Little Ponies.  I paint once the kids go to sleep and paint for anywhere from 6 - 8 hours.  Then get a few hours of sleep and back up with the kiddos.  I swear I painted close to 25 hours in 3 days!  Now that the painting is just about done, I have been decorating the windows, covering them in plants, rocks, moss and critters.  The windows are high and deep, so the look cool with stuff in them.  We finished the ceiling 2 days ago and last night ran twin across it and it looks wild!  I swear, we feel like we are on trading spaces!  We are really thinking outside our box. 
It has been a TON of work, but also A LOT of fun!  It is really cool to see it come together.  The carpet is going in on Friday and I have ordered a super soft sofa bed that will arrive in January.  Oh well, we will have to spend time down there with no sofa for a bit. 
I will post pics once it is done.  But I think I will miss it.  Every second not with the kids or work has been finishing the basement.  And even though I am SOOO tired, I have so LOVED being able to paint and be creative.  I am truly an artsy fartsy at heart.  I was the true creative in high school when I was young... Editor of the paper, in all the plays, choir, painting...  As I get older, it is much harder to find the time and the basement was a pratical way to get to just get wild and create!
The only thing I regret is not taking photos of what a pit it looked like before we started.  It was so dark and grim.  We kind of never really looked down there before, just stored stuff and ran, lol!
I know I have not been around much this week, but now you all know why!  :)  Happy thoughts to all.  And here are some of the random thoughts that have been going thru my head...
Welcome to the world Miss Caroline!  Suzanne, I read your birth story and I am SOOO glad that this was postive for you.  Christopher's birth was for me after a really rough go of it with Sam's, so I can totally relate! 
Lynn, I am so excited that you guys are almost in Fla! 
Michelle, how is little man Gabe and how are you feeling?  You amaze me!  (In a good way!)
Speaking of pg...Kyra, congrats to you and Greg on yours! 
Margie, I still wanna know which dress you chose.  And sending (((HUGS))) to Kaya for having such a jerky friend who would steal her bday toys.  That just broke my heart and made me mad when I read that . 

Linda, glad you are back on line.  Hoping the addition is still going well (and I STILL envy that beautiful tub you are getting!)

Carie, I just miss you but you have been as bad at blogging as I have. 
Leanna, you girls Christmas pics are just too cute as are Susan's.  Boy do I wanna kiss that little Brenden! 
Jedi Mel, I LOVE you card from you and Hans *wink*. 
Sarah, I hope the the kiddos and your dog feel better soon. 
Tiffani, I always keep you Devon and the kiddos in my thoughts.  I hope things have been getting better. 
Jess, I am sending you LOTS of good luck, no more accident and feel better vibes! 
And I am thinking of the many friends close by that I owe phone calls to.  I totally suck!  *sorry*
There are a million more random thoughts I have, but these are just the first that pop into my little head.  Back off to play with the kiddos.