Lots to Do...

Before we start our school year, there are several big items on the to-do list:

• Plan out school calendar - decide on length & timing of breaks
• Finalize decisions about curricula & purchase
• Move kids' bedroom upstairs
• Set up playroom/schoolroom downstairs

That doesn't sound like much, does it? Those last two items, however, are going to be rather complicated. I'd like to paint the room upstairs before we move the kids up there, but all the way around the room, below a chair rail, is thick painted-on wallpaper. I hate wallpaper. I hate removing wallpaper, and this looks to be the worst I've ever had to work with. We also need to do some baby-proofing up there and add a light in the stairway.

The playroom/schoolroom won't be as difficult to set up, although we'll be painting there, too. It was Wendy's first bedroom, so the walls are currently two lovely shades of lavender. We'll be painting them a nice vibrant orange-y yellow, and it's going to make the room look so bright and cheerful! After painting, we need to figure out some cheap-but-sturdy, easy-to-use storage furniture. I'm hoping to get things organized in such a way that the kids can clean it up by themselves pretty easily.

So, considering all of that work, and considering that we don't really have any workable budget, we're going to have our hands full.

Who wants to come help me remove that painted-on wallpaper?? Anyone?