Productivity!

Ben and I were talking a few months back about which football games we were going to. Ben wanted to go to the opening game this past Saturday with his friend, Matt...so he offered driving up to Knoxville and taking the boys with him so I could have the weekend to myself to get several MUCH NEEDED projects done around the house. I feel like I can't get anything done anymore. Painting needed to be done, closets organized, lots of cleaning and the list goes on and on. Lots of projects that would be much easier without the little boys there. Anywho, I had a GLORIOUS weekend by myself. I got SOOOOO much stuff done I can't even believe it. I felt a little guilty enjoying the weekend so much, but Ben reminded me that it's okay to need some "kate" time (he's so wonderful). I definitely missed my guys though. It was so hard not to call Ben every 5 seconds to see what they were doing with every minute of their days, but I refrained. :) The boys had a great weekend thanks to daddy, NaNa and YaYa! I LOVE my family!
Here are some "AFTER" pictures...I couldn't even put any before pics b/c they were too embarrassing. :)

I destroyed my whole upstairs by pulling stuff out of the closets...cleaning out drawers, pulling out clothes that don't fit anymore to take the consignment store...and so on. It was so fun pulling out Sam's old clothes that Jack can wear now...I forgot about some of the cute things I had gotten for him at that age. Here's Jack's closet all cleaned out.

And Sam's closet. Looks kind of sparce after cleaning it all out. I love it though. I love going through and getting rid of stuff (6 garbage bags actually plus 4 bins to consign/goodwill). No hoarders or pack rats here! All ready for the fall/winter clothes switcheroo. Can't wait for fall!

Linen closet in the laundry room...before you couldn't even fit anything else in those shelves b/c of all the stuff.
Steps going down to the basement. I have wanted to paint over this UGLY pinky-brown color since we moved in. I painted the big, main room down there, but still had the steps, bathroom and study down there to paint. You can see where I left the very top for Ben to finish. He made me promise I wouldn't try to attempt being MacGyver and try to reach it myself. The color looks green-ish but its actually more khaki. Yes, kind of boring, but still...better than what was there before. It is so dark down there...so I wanted something lighter and neutral. Plus now...it feels clean and fresh! I love new paint!

Steps...exciting huh? Got the bathroom (room to the right) done Sunday, study (to the left) on Friday, steps Saturday...I was a painting fool! Oh...and I painted the steps in the garage too...they were in terrible shape. My feet and back were quite sore...so I felt it only necessary if I got a pedicure yesterday before the guys got home! Such a nice way to top off such a productive weekend! Thank you Ben...& NaNa and YaYa for taking such great care of my babies this weekend!

These 2 faces were constantly on my mind...along with their daddy! So thankful for my guys...and so thankful that I have a husband who is willing to do such things. He is so good to me...LOVE HIM!

I really can't get enough of this face. I love this baby boy!

Sam has been saying some really sweet things lately...my favorite..."I Luff you Mommy"! Melt my heart!

Sorry to devote a whole post to stariwells and closets, but I was so excited. Quite the exciting life we lead! :) It feels so good to get so much stuff done.