Home Organization: Tackling the Attic

Ever have a project that demands a rainy day? Peter and I emptied our attic two weekends ago with the plan to sort and edit the items then reorganize the space.  Well, we managed to sort and edit the items but everything that needed to be put back in the attic remained in our dining room. Every time I was inspired to continue working on the project, it took only a minute in the attic to change my mind. It's been hot enough during the day that spending any time in the attic is unbearable. Since the contents of our attic were out of the way, the eyesore could have remained for month.

Fortunately, on Saturday it rained, breaking the heat of the last week and preventing us from any number of distractions a beautiful day can present.

Friday's day trip to Nashville wiped Cole out so while she recovered, we had a few hours dedicated solely to the task. The contents of our attic are now organized, labeled, and sorted into logical areas. We've also created lots more space, though we're hoping not to find ourselves in the same people-may-think-we-are-hoarders-if-they-see-our-attic situation again.

Graduation

Vanderbilt graduation was last Friday so Peter, Cole, and I ventured to Nashville for the day. While I graduated in December, Vanderbilt only has a ceremony in the spring.  I was given the option to walk in the spring when I registered to graduate. Knowing we'd have an infant in tow, I opted out of walking, but committed myself to attending and celebrating with my cohort. Even though I finished a semester early, cohorts in graduate school are much more defined by start date than graduation date. 

It was a gorgeous, cloudless day so we sat a bit further down to the lawn to keep Cole in the shade.

Since we left the house at 5:40am, it was no surprise that Cole took a catnap during the ceremony.

My cohort gathered for a group picture with nearly everyone (four people were missing). As we posed for the picture, we noticed Josh bolting across the Peabody lawn determined to get in the shot.

 Which he did.

After the ceremony, Peabody hosted a luncheon reception on the lawn. Peter and I visited with my former coworkers, professors, and classmates. Before heading back to Memphis, we got dinner and Jeni's  in East Nashville with Leslie. Cole didn't want to miss a minute so she waited until we were headed home to sleep. It was a long day but it was absolutely worth it.

Names and Faces

I wanted to make Cole a book of "Names and Faces" since everyone in our family lives so far away.  When I received a code from Shutterfly for a free photo-book I was delighted! It didn't take more than a few hours to select the photos and customize the book. I filled the pages with pictures of our immediate family (including the pups), her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and great grandparents.  Right now, I show Cole the pages for simulation but surely it won't be long before she is aware of who's who.