Basement bathroom project

OK, so I could have closed the lid before I took the "before" picture...but the plumbing in the downstairs bathroom was interesting to say the least. The toilet was plumbed in the middle of the room, and the drain for the shower was centered on the toilet and less than 2 feet away(it's under the yellow chair), such that you had to step over the toilet or squeeze between the toilet and shower to get in. There was no plumbing for a sink. So first I moved the wall behind the toilet back about 16 inches to make room for a vanity beside the shower. Then I rented a small jack hammer and hammered out trenches in the concrete so I could move the toilet back and away from the shower, extend the shower drain back for the vanity and connect a new shower drain. It's a fairly cozy bathroom, but now at least you can wash your hands!


The way the room looked before I started.

New walls installed and new concrete in the trenches

Toilet reinstalled and operational, shower set in place.

Family Closet complete!

Well, 99% complete. I still need to paint the window, but that's going to have to wait until summer. And apparently I have a few things to learn yet about the seasons up here. We had a stretch of warm weather in Feb, and then there was a 10 day forecast with no negative numbers in it. I said to the kids, "Well, it's almost March and there's no negative numbers in the forecast...maybe we're done with the really cold weather! A few days ago it was 20 below, and this morning 10 below. Oh well, I know Spring will come at some point...

Family closet

The family closet project is still underway, but all that remains is for the cabinets to come in so I can install them. We didn't get all that many "before" pics, but here is a rough chronology:

Along one wall were 2' deep shelves on 2X4s with plywood doors.

Here is where the new cabinets will go...one large/deep cabinet for milking stuff, etc where the white cabinet was, and two side by side cabinets above the washer/dryer

I had to enclose the chimney for the wood stove that I put in last fall.

This gives an idea of the color and new flooring.

The folding station...dirty clothes below and cubbies for the 3 smallest children's socks, underwear and pajamas. Doubles as a great spot for hide and seek!

New hanging racks installed.

We'll do a "finished" post when the cabinets are in.

Teachable moments

Today I was working in the downstairs bathroom, and Tanner asks from the other room, "Dad, how much money do you get in life?" Now as a homeschooling Dad, I recognize this as what we call a "teachable moment." So I said, "Well, that depends." He responds, "But how much money does everybody get in life?" I said, "Not everybody gets the same amount." He says, "They don't?" I said, "No, how much money you get depends on lots of things..." Then it hits me..."Are you talking about the game of Life?" He says, "Yeah, how much does each person get when you start?"

Talk about talking past each other!

We're pregnant!

OK, as Tanner pointed out to me, technically only Sheryll is pregnant. But I get to share in the joy. She is due in September.

Additionally, Carrie is now walking!

Growing up

Trevor is growing up! We attempted to get his license before we went to Texas, (he turned 16 Nov 1st) only to find out the first appointment they had available was in January. We returned on January 11th, and I was flying out to my nephew's wedding on the 13th, so we scheduled his appointment for January 12th. He passed his driving test with flying colors and got his license.

I had decided to get a new cell phone to use has a business phone, so my old cell got passed down to Trev, also on the 12th. Big day for Trevor!

Last Saturday Trev, Court and Tuck wanted to go to town...just the three of them. As they drove up the driveway, I had that feeling that I had experienced a couple of years ago when Tyler left Crowley, TX for Montana, driving my old Toyota Tundra he had just purchased. Time is passing waaaay too fast! I came in as the three of them drove away and told Sheryll, "It's time for a prayer meeting."

Trev folding laundry...his favorite pastime...no...favorite chore...no...something he does to help out. Yeah, that's it!

Trev's first car...a 1996 Pontiac Grand Am

New Year's Resolution?

Text below the pics...

Violin recital at with Lexi Hughes at the assisted living facility she works at.

Home schooling around the kitchen table.

Nice snow boots on Mom and Dad's bed!

It's been a while since the last blog. Firm grasp of the obvious, right? November was busy working for Howard Rodgers, and then UPS from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. On Dec 27th, we left for Texas, making the drive in 2 days...a first for us. We visited family and friends and had a blast. We returned on January 11th, and two days later I flew to Virginia for my nehpew's wedding. All of my siblings were supposed to be there, but unfortunately there was a death in my older brother's wife's family, and they were not able to come. But it was good to catch up with the other siblings, and we had a lot of fun.

Now we're all back home, and trying to get back to life as normal, whatever that is! Plenty of winter/spring projects to keep me busy. Hopefully we'll keep you more up do date as we roll along over the next few months. Right now I"m working on converting our laundry room into a family closet. More on that later.