The Plan.

When we decided to stay in our home, it was with the understanding that we would make the house feel like 'ours'. And not 'my grandparents home which we're living in'. I like to fancy myself a bit of an eclectic and my house did not reflect my heart, at all.  In my head, I am not a basic 1950's Brick Ranch kinda girl.  (If we're being honest, in my head, I'm not a living in dumb Midwestern USofA kinda girl either... I'm more like a funky walk-up in London, with exposed brick interior walls covered in Art pieces and framed maps of our travels...)
We made a detailed list of the changes we would like to make and created our Seven Point Plan. (Side Note: Turns out, Coach and I are complete horse sh!t at making detailed plans...FYI.)

1. The Front of the House.  I needed to round the corner and see MY house when we pulled up.  Not my grandparents.  We wanted a large porch for friends.  Window boxes.  Less clutter and way more color.

2. Building a new 'Master' Bedroom and Bath from a spot of wasted space/laundry room.  By closing off exterior doors and building walls in semi-logical locations.

3. Moving each child into their own unique bedroom, which reflected who they are.(Done-ish)

4. Moving the furnace room door and making changes to create a cozy Nook.

5. Character.  Purchasing or making art/furniture pieces which feel like 'us'.

6. Knocking thru a wall and making a new back door space from the kitchen. (NOT DONE)

7. Creating the feeling of a backyard. By cutting down a bajillion trees, making a basketball court and clever fencing. (Started but NOT DONE)

We still have MUCH work to accomplish.  I'd say... we're maybe 74% done with this list.  Unfortunately, due to weather, we are on hold.  With the exception of trim work and decorating details.. the remodel has stopped until March.
So how has it been??
Crappy.  But not terrible.  We're still married.  We still like each other.  The kids have not completely failed out of school... We definitely see the progress.  People seem to be responding to the changes.  The Kid took the stress the hardest.
I received multiple dramatic texts from him... He essentially wanted to live at school until his 'dorm room' was ready.  I replied to each text with the appropriate mom empathy "Kid, we all hate it." "Stop being a Drama Queen." "You'll survive" and maybe a few "Life isn't Fair."

As for Coach and I??
No actual arguments.... I mean, I'm still pretty confused about why we can just put a tool back into a tool box or at least a designated tool location or even maybe fill the entire length of the counter, when we have finished with it... because then when you ask me "Have you seen my drill??" or "Do you know where the measuring tape is??" for the 5 millionth time, I could simply answer "Have you checked your toolbox?" sweetly and without any sarcasm or resentment in my tone, whatsoever.  Because it is completely baffling why we own 22 different tape measures and can NEVER EVER find ONE!!

Any hoo... We're still married. We still like each other.