Shooter - Movie Review

There was a time when Bob Lee Swagger was the best trigger-man in the military, but after growing disillusioned with the system, he disappeared without a trace. After being located at his remote mountain retreat by high-profile government officials following an extensive search, Swagger is coerced back into service in order to stop a determined assassin from taking out the President of the United States. In the process of carrying out his mission, however, Swagger suddenly realizes that he has been betrayed when he becomes the subject of a nationwide manhunt. Now wounded and desperate to reveal the culprits behind the conspiracy before it's too late, Swagger sets into motion a revenge plan that will send shockwaves rippling to some of the most powerful and corrupt leaders in the free world.

The entire plot of this film was very far-fetched. It had to rely on a bunch of coincidences to work and there were several "MacGyver" moments that were pretty unbelievable. That said, I was thoroughly entertained once I was able to turn off my reality meter. The action was virtually non-stop and there were plenty of big guns and explosions. Mark Wahlberg has come a long way since Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch and was very good in this film. He's proven himself as an action star and certainly has the look. The ending wasn't a surprise and neither were most of the "plot twists," but there were some pretty intense scenes and who knows, with some of the crazy things our government has been doing, maybe the plot isn't so far-fetched after all...

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Michael Pena, Danny Glover

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Nanny McPhee - Movie Review

Near the dawn of the twentieth century, Mr. Brown is a widower who must tend to his business as an undertaker while looking after his brood of seven children. Brown's offspring are a singularly ill-mannered lot who have managed to drive away 17 different nannies when their father arranges for one Nanny McPhee to help out with the children. McPhee is an strange looking woman with a large nose, protruding teeth, and pock-marked skin, but it isn't long before the kids realize she has magical powers and isn't afraid to use them to help keep them in line. While the children aren't taken with McPhee's insistence on such things as saying "please" and listening to their elders, it becomes clear everyone has bigger things to worry about. Aunt Adelaide has insisted that if Mr. Brown cannot find a new wife within a month, she'll take custody of one of the children and cut off Brown's inheritance, and while Brown and the widow Mrs. Quickly seem fond of one another, his ineptitude in courtship seems to insure he'll never get her to the altar.

This was definitely a kids movie that I'm not sure I'd want to let my kids see for fear they would try some of the antics they saw on film. The kids in the film are mischievous and just plain rude in the beginning. As the film wears on and Nanny McPhee works her magic, they become more descent. That's the scary part of the movie - it took actual magic to change the kids behavior. Without a magic cane, I don't think I'd want to put those ideas in my kids heads. Emma Thompson did a great job playing the lead role and the kids were perfect for their parts. Colin Firth did an OK job, but nothing special. Overall, I wasn't very impressed and was a little bored. Not that it was a bad film, just not my cup of tea.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Kelly MacDonald

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Breach - Movie Review

A key member of the FBI's elite Soviet Analytical Unit, Robert Hanssen would, for 15 years beginning in 1985, sell thousands of pages of classified documents to the Soviets. After making roughly 600,000 dollars on his clandestine endeavor and compromising everything from the identities of KGB spies working for the American government to nuclear war contingency plans, Hanssen was eventually transferred to a newly created position at the FBI's Washington headquarters and assigned the task of guarding his country's most sensitive secrets. It was while working in this capacity that a young agent named Eric O'Neill was assigned the task of keeping tabs on Hanssen by suspicious higher-ups. Later, after being arrested while delivering a cache of secret documents to a "dead drop" spot in a Virginia park, the notorious traitor was arrested and sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole.

The true story of Robert Hanssen is as fascinating as it is disturbing. The challenge for the makers of this film was to figure out what to focus on and what to leave out. They ended up doing a great balancing act by showing just enough of Hanssen's history to give a sense of why he might have committed these crimes as well as a good deal of focus on his current situation (family, religion, work) to show how he covered his tracks and was able to avoid detection for 15 years. Chris Cooper did a great job portraying Hanssen and Ryan Phillippe did a pretty good job in the role of Eric O'Neill. If this story was fiction, it would have been a gripping film, but the fact it's based on real life makes it a must see movie. The special features even include the original Dateline NBC report shortly after Hanssen was busted - bonus.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Girl in the Cafe - Movie Review

Lawrence is a mild and unprepossessing British civil servant assigned to his country's delegation at the G8 Summit in Reykjavik, Iceland. Although he'd resigned himself to a life of lonely bachelorhood, Lawrence finds himself drawn to Gina, an odd, outspoken young woman whom he has met in a cafe. On a whim, the shy Lawrence invites the decidedly un-shy Gina to accompany him to Reykjavik. The burgeoning relationship between these two seemingly mismatched souls is counterpointed by the political jockeying at the conference, where the avowed purpose of G8 - to adopt the all-important Millennium Development Goals as a means of reducing world poverty - is obscured by egomania, xenophobia, and foot-dragging. Ultimately, the time comes when both Lawrence and Gina must make crucial decisions, with not only their own future but also the future of humankind in the balance.

Seeing that this film was produced for HBO and I had never heard of it, I wasn't sure what to expect. After watching it, I'm glad I stumbled upon it while flipping channels. It is full of dry, British humor that I loved - the best line was, "The pea soup was awful. I'm pretty sure there were two types of pee in it." In addition to the humor, there was a very serious side to it as well. I actually learned a thing or two about the G8 Summit and some of the issues affecting the world - not sure if the stats they used were accurate, but they were certainly shocking. The romance between the two main characters was unexpected in that I'd never pick those two people to strike up a relationship, but they made it work. The bottom line is that this offbeat film is worth a look as I'm sure you'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was if you give it a chance.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Bill Nighy, Kelly MacDonald

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Music and Lyrics - Movie Review

Alex Fletcher may have been all the rage in the 1980s, but these days he's lucky to get a gig playing at the local county fair. Just when it seems as if things couldn't get any more bleak for the dejected has-been rocker, reigning pop diva Cora Corman offers Alex the opportunity of a lifetime - write and record a duet to be sung with her and watch his career receive a much-needed boost as the nostalgia-crazed public laps it up. Little does Cora realize that not only has it been years since Alex has written a song, but he's never actually written a single lyric. Now, if he hopes to make the comeback needed to save him from a life of complete and utter obscurity, Alex will have to craft a radio-friendly hit in a matter of mere days. Luckily for Alex, his quirky plant-keeper Sophie Fisher has quite a way with words and may possess just the kind of songwriting talent needed to make such a hit happen. Unfortunately the beguiling Sophie is still reeling from a recent break-up with newly famous novelist Sloan Cates, and she isn't quite sure if she's ready for any kind of collaboration right now - romantic or otherwise.

This is your general, run of the mill, romantic comedy. From beginning to end, everything you expect to happen, happens. In other words, it follows the romantic comedy template to a tee. That said, I really enjoyed this movie. It was fun, upbeat and very entertaining. The pace of the movie was quick, so it never stalled and I didn't look at the clock once, wondering when it will end. Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore had great chemistry, which is obviously key if this type of film is going to work. Of course, Barrymore is so likable, she has good chemistry with anyone (see 50 First Dates , Fever Pitch , Never Been Kissed, etc.). The fact that Hugh Grant sang (pretty well) and danced (not so good) was a bonus and added to the comedy and freshness. This is certainly one to watch when you just want to veg and be entertained without a whole lot of thinking necessary.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Brad Garrett

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Alpha Dog - Movie Review

Though barely out of his teens, Johnny Truelove has already built a lucrative career for himself selling drugs - he has his own home, a luxury car, and posse of friends who do double duty as his crew, including Elvis, Frankie, and Tiko. While life at Johnny's house is usually a constant party interrupted by occasional dope deals, Johnny has lost all of his patience with Jake Mazursky, a regular customer who has run up a large tab that he can't pay. Determined to clear Jake's account, Johnny and his boys plan to kidnap Jake and hold him for ransom, but when they happen upon his 15-year-old stepbrother, Zack, they impulsively decide to take the youngster instead. Jake's father, Butch, and his stepmother, Olivia, are already furious with their junkie son when they learn about Zack's disappearance, and aren't sure what they should do. Meanwhile at Johnny's place, Frankie takes a liking to young Zack, who already admires his brother's high-flying lifestyle, and introduces the kid to the joys of grown-up partying, which he takes to with dangerous zeal.

I have seen an investigative report (I think it was Dateline NBC) about the true events that this film was based on and I must say I enjoyed the Dateline story much more than the movie. The true story is fascinating, shocking and sad, but the film was just a bunch of guys sitting around and smoking pot with the kid they kidnapped. While the film closely followed the facts of the case, they certainly could have made it more interesting and included more of what happened to "Johnny Truelove" after he fled Southern California. The acting was OK (how hard is it to act stoned), but Justin Timberlake stood out and really did a surprisingly good job. The rest of the cast didn't make a big impression on me and there was one scene in the middle of the film where one of the characters started doing kung-fu moves on a bunch of people at a party - very out of place and awkward. If you're going to spend the time to watch this film, try to track down the Dateline NBC episode to see the real people behind the story - I was disappointed they didn't include it in the special features on the DVD.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Justin Timberlake, Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Deja Vu - Movie Review

A New Orleans based maverick ATF agent named Doug Carlin is brought in on a top secret government program to catch the terrorist responsible for a ferry bombing that kills hundreds. Able to do what most law enforcement officers only dream of, Carlin is now able to look back in time at the perpetrator's movements, and at the life of the innocent woman whose death would set the events into motion. Carlin's instincts tell him that something is amiss, however, and while the government agent who tapped him for the job and the team of ultra-cool scientists who run the project tell him one story about the quantum physics behind this marvel of technology, the hotshot agent suspects that there is a greater power at their fingertips - one that might not just solve the crime at hand, but prevent it.

Talk about over the top and completely unbelievable, this film is the very definition of far-fetched. I know it's a science fiction movie, but it should at least have some semblance of reality mixed in. Instead, scene after scene kept piling up the "give me a break" moments until it was just a laughable, shake your head story. I will give a thumbs up to the special effects. The ferry blowing up in the beginning was pretty spectacular, but where there wasn't fire, there was smoke being blown up your @$$. The ending wasn't satisfying either - no big surprise there. Definitely not a must see unless you really want to bend reality and take huge leaps of faith.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, Val Kilmer

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Ghost Rider - Movie Review

In order to save his dying father, young stunt cyclist Johnny Blaze sells his soul to Mephistopheles and sadly parts from the pure-hearted Roxanne Simpson, the love of his life. Years later, Johnny's path crosses again with Roxanne, now a reporter, and also with Mephistopheles, who offers to release Johnny's soul if Johnny becomes the fabled, fiery Ghost Rider, a supernatural agent of vengeance and justice. Mephistopheles charges Johnny with defeating the despicable Blackheart, Mephistopheles's nemesis and son, who plans to displace his father and create a new hell even more terrible than the old one.

As far as comic book based movies go, this wasn't one of the better ones. I expected more from Nicolas Cage who grew up reading the comic book and even has a Ghost Rider tattoo (for real). However, the acting in this film was more goofy and sloppy than I had hoped. Cage and Eva Mendes didn't have that magic spark, so their relationship didn't seem real. The plot was very rushed and shallow. It's as if the filmmakers tried to pack 3 hours worth of storyline into a 100 minute movie. Some of the major, climactic scenes were over in a flash which made me wonder if the climax was yet to come (I'm still waiting). The best thing about the film was the special effects. The transition from Johnny Blaze to Ghost Rider (and back) was pretty impressive as were the "cold" death scenes. Overall, it's not a must see unless you're a Nicolas Cage fan or comic book junkie.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Wes Bentley, Sam Elliot, Peter Fonda

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

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Stomp the Yard - Movie Review

DJ Williams is a 19-year-old growing up in Los Angeles; while DJ is at heart a good kid and a gifted street dancer, he runs with a dangerous crowd, and one night an underground dance competition turns into a brawl and DJ ends up in jail. DJ's younger brother has already died a violent death, and his mother, hoping to put him back on the straight and narrow, sends DJ off to Truth University, a historically African-American college in Atlanta. At first, DJ feels like a misfit at Truth, but when he gets a chance to show off his dancing skills, he attracts the attention of two campus fraternities. Greek life is a major presence at Truth, and each year the fraternities take part in a "stepping" competition, in which the members show off their synchronized dance moves. DJ joins the ONO house, and is eager to help them take the championship away from their campus rivals, but in time he also comes to understand the brotherhood and community service that's a key part of his fraternity's background.

This film started off on the wrong foot and never really got on track. The one positive thing that this film has going for it is the dancing. There are some amazing dancers that are showcased who definitely have original and "off the hook" moves. That being said, there's not really anything else positive to say about this movie. The plot was very weak and the acting wasn't much better. When there was dialog (which wasn't much), it seemed forced and almost like the writers created some lame banter to fill space between the dancing. So, while the dancing was great, it got a bit repetitive midway through and thinking back, it was kinda cheesy how these hardcore, buffed men solved their heated disagreements with a dance-off - now that's old school.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Columbus Short, Meagan Good, Ne-Yo

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Ocean's Thirteen - Movie Review (Theater)

The only hotelier in Los Vegas who can claim that each and every one of his establishments have earned the Royal Review Board's Five Diamond Award, Willy Bank has made more than his share of enemies during his impressive ascent. While most of Bank's adversaries amount to little more than the occasional nuisance, however, this powerful player is about to find out that picking your enemies in Las Vegas can be a true gamble. In betraying Rueben Tishkoff, Bank has finally crossed the one man who could bring his entire empire crumbling to the ground - Danny Ocean. Now Rueben is in critical condition, and Ocean is determined to strike back at the man who nearly murdered his mentor. Bank may have taken down one of the original Ocean's Eleven, but his efforts only managed to unite the remaining ten closer than ever before. As the opening of Bank's newest casino draws near, Danny and the crew set into motion a bold plan to humiliate the cocksure casino owner and forever tarnish his spotless reputation.

This was a very good third film in the series. There was a nice balance of a new plot with links to previous plotlines from the first two films. That said, it would be a good idea to see the first two films before you see this one. Since it had the same formula as the previous films (a bunch of guys pull off an impossible heist), I'll give it a ding on originality. However, it was sufficiently funny and entertaining to make up for that shortcoming. The fact that all of the major characters from the last film (including a surprising ally) came back together for another go-around, adds to the credibility of this franchise and makes me wonder if they'll just keep cranking out the films until we stop watching. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing another one and I'm still amazed that a film with this many big name actors works as well as it does (with no noticeable power struggles). Bottom line - if you liked the first two, you won't be disappointed.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Al Pacino

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Freedom Writers - Movie Review

Her students had been written off, and her chances of succeeding scoffed at, but Erin Gruwell wasn't about to go down without a fight. Long Beach is a place where a new war is waged with each passing day, and when the hardened students who walk those dangerous hallways sense an outsider attempting to understand their plight, their cynical resentment threatens to keep a deadly cycle in motion. Despite the initially hostile reaction she receives in the classroom, Gruwell uses the writings of Anne Frank to teach her students not only the basis of the English language, but compassion and tolerance as well. Later, when the time comes to tell their own tales in a project specially designed to explore the daily violence that the majority of students have grown numb to, the barriers that had once stood so strong gradually begin to crumble.

Wow, this was a gripping and amazing film. It reminded me of Dangerous Minds which I thoroughly enjoyed as well. Of course, I'm a sucker for true stories and this one is not only inspirational, but also just plain engaging. The time seemed to go by so fast and it's one of those stories that I now want to read more about as well as read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. The cast of actors all did a great job and were completely believable in their roles. Hilary Swank has been in some great films and this one just adds to her already impressive repertoire. It's definitely worth a look.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Hannibal Rising - Movie Review

Hannibal Rising travels back in time to World War II-era Lithuania, where an impressionable, well-to-do young boy named Hannibal was forced to watch helplessly as his family was massacred and his young sister suffered a terrifying fate at the hands of desperate, famished soldiers. After seeking temporary shelter at the Soviet orphanage that was once his family's home, Hannibal later flees to Paris in search of his long-lost uncle. Though his uncle has passed away, his uncle's beautiful Japanese widow, Lady Murasaki, warmly accepts the frightened orphan into her home. But even the love and kindness of this generous stranger isn't enough to calm the raging storm that is brewing inside this troubled young boy. Plagued by nightmares and determined to seek vengeance on the murderous war criminals who brutalized his family, the profoundly disturbed but academically gifted Hannibal enrolls in medical school in order to hone the skills that will allow him to exact horrific justice.

Much like I said in my review of the book, this is the weakest film in the series. However, this is one of those rare instances where I think the movie was better than the book, but not by much - maybe because it only takes 2 hours to watch the movie where I had to invest a bit more time to read the so-so book. The guy they chose to play the young Hannibal did a good job, but it just wasn't the same as seeing Anthony Hopkins play the serial killer. It was interesting to see the events which transpired early in Hannibal's life that turned him into a violent psychopath. However, there wasn't much meat behind the story and the ending was a forgone conclusion which the filmmakers didn't even seem to try to conceal. That means the suspense was virtually non-existent, which takes some of the fun out of a thriller. Overall, if you're a fan of the Hannibal films, you have to see this one just to "complete the picture," but don't expect a masterpiece.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Gaspard Ulliel, Gong Li, Rhys Ifans

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - Movie Review (Theater)

Captain Jack Sparrow is hopelessly trapped in Davy Jones' locker after a harrowing encounter with the dreaded Kracken, and now Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann must align themselves with the nefarious Captain Barbossa if they hold out any hope of saving their old friend from a fate worse than death. The East India Trading Company and it's fearsome leader Lord Cutler Beckett have taken control of the ghostly Flying Dutchman and it's Captain Davy Jones, and now the baleful Admiral Norrington has taken the helm in a relentless bid to destroy every pirate ship in his path and bring the Age of Piracy to a violent close. Meanwhile, Will, Elizabeth, and Captain Barbossa navigate treacherous waters and face bitter betrayal as they set sail to gather the only army that can stand up to Beckett - The Nine Lords of the Brethren Court. But Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the Lords, and as long as he's stuck in Davy Jones' locker, Beckett and his nefarious armada are sure to emerge victorious. There's still hope, however, if the heroic team that includes Tia Dalma, Pintel, and Ragetti can reach exotic Singapore and convince vulpine pirate Sao Feng to provide them with charts and a ship. But even the powerful Brethren Court may need a bit of help from volatile sea goddess Calypso in order to weather the coming storm. With the entire future of the pirate way at stake, everyone will be forced to choose sides while drifting precariously to the edge of the Earth for one final, spectacular battle.

This was my least favorite of the Pirates trilogy. However, since the first two were brilliant, it would have been hard to top those, so even though this was my least favorite, it was still a pretty good film. Like the two films before it, there was plenty of action, lots of swashbuckling pirates and first rate special effects. Although, it was a bit tough to follow, hard to understand the dialog at times and started very slowly - they could have easily cut out about 30 minutes of fluff. The comedy was a little too silly instead of clever sometimes (the scenes with the monkey were only funny to 10 year olds). Johnny Depp's portrail of Jack Sparrow is getting a little overdone for my taste, but at least Keith Richards (whom Depp used as inspiration for the character) made a cameo which was fun to see. While I was really looking forward to seeing the third and final Pirates film, I don't think it was quite worth going to the theater instead of just waiting to see it on DVD.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Oakland Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins - June 1, 2007

Shawnna got 4 tickets to the A's game from the CEO of the company we work for and we invited Dan and Kelley to come with us. The game was at 7:05pm and while it was 82° in Tracy when we left, we dressed warm knowing it was in the low 60s in Oakland. The seats were three rows up, right behind the visitor's dugout - nice! To our right were the seats reserved for the visiting team's owner and to our left was the family of Kevin Slowey who was a rookie making his very first major league appearance (he was the starting pitcher for the Twins).

The game was less interesting than making up stories about the relationships between Kevin Slowey and the people we assumed was his family to our left. They actually didn't have tickets to sit that close, but the security guard let them sit there after telling him who they were. Even though they were related to the opposing pitcher, letting them sit close was the right thing to do. For their sake, I'm glad Slowey pitched a great game (he gave up 1 run, 5 hits in 6 innings).

The game started slow and was pretty uneventful until the end. In the 3rd inning, Jeff Cirillo hit a sacrifice fly to score Nick Punto and put the Twins up 1-0. Eric Chavez answered for the A's in the 6th by hitting a homer to tie the score. It remained 1-1 until the 10th inning when Jeff Cirillo hit a single to score Luis Castillo. Then, Mike Redmond singled to score Jason Tyner putting the Twins up 3-1. The A's rallied in the bottom of the 10th but only managed to score 1 run when Dan Johnson hit a sacrifice fly, bringing home Travis Buck and making the final score 3-2. Tough loss for the A's, but an exciting end to a pretty boring game.

Painting & Landscaping - May 29 - June 1, 2007

A couple of weeks ago, I took a day off work to paint the baby's room. Shawnna and I had settled on a lavender color (Cheerful Whisper by Behr) which goes very well with the decor we picked for the room. After taping off the room and getting the brushes, roller and paint ready, I began to transform the room into a space fit for a princess. Three and a half hours later, I was tired, hungry and finished painting. I took a step back, looked at my work and thought, "It needs another coat... CRAP!" Some people enjoy painting and think it's relaxing and therapeutic - I don't. The thought of painting the room with a second coat wasn't pleasing.

Enter The Paint Pros. Luckily, we had been talking about hiring a painter to paint some other rooms in our house for a while, so I saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. We hired The Paint Pros to paint most of the interior of our house. The living room, staircase and upper hallway are green (Prickly Pear with highlights of Hawaiian Luau from Kelly-Moore). The family room, dining room, and kitchen are a neutral beige/brown (Soft Buckskin with highlights of Bourbon Street from Kelly-Moore). The master bedroom is a lighter neutral color (Baked Biscuit with highlights of Soft Buckskin by Kelly-Moore) and master bathroom is Soft Buckskin. While they were at it, I had them do the second coat in the baby's room as well. It took them 4 days with 4-6 people working to complete the job and it really looks nice.

At the same time, we had the landscapers who did our backyard (Tracy Landscaping) re-landscape our front yard as well. Over the years, we have replaced some of the plants that were originally planted when the house was built, but it needed an overhaul to look complete and match our backyard. So, we had them rip everything out and start fresh. We added a mow strip, a few boulders, black lava rock, 3 birch trees, spotlights, a bunch of smaller plants and flowers with a new drip system. The whole project only took them 2 days to complete and now our front yard is presentable again.

With the landscaping and paining now done, we were able to cross a couple of big items off the list of things to do before the baby comes and takes all our attention. Everything looks so nice that it's almost like living in a new house again.