Home Repair Day 11 (Week 3)

We had a lot of progress today! They were able to finish installing the new countertops, to match throughout the kitchen. We also got the backsplash tile replaced where needed and the wall repainted. It looks so much more like a regular kitchen today. Now we will have a bigger wait for the next jump in progress when the flooring is delivered, hopefully next week.

New Paint

and New Countertops

Ok, so the boring stuff for the rest of you is over. I am excited for the progress, but I know it is not as exciting for all of you. We spent a lot of time this weekend getting ready for the new carpet to be installed. We cleaned out all the closets and purged a lot of stuff. I always love that fresh feeling with a good decluttering.

It was a productive weekend but also a lot of time for fun stuff too. The kids were so excited to get Skylanders for Christmas but we had to wait for a replacement piece and they finally got to play a bunch this weekend. The little kids dug into the Little People as much as possible. And I got to do our tax return, which is really my joy of Jan. It was a good weekend!

The picture is a bit of a blur, they were moving like crazy

Looking forward to using the kitchen all week :)

Sheri

Home Repair Day 10

There wasn't a lot going on this week to share. We have been awaiting the delivery of the materials we picked out for flooring and counters. Today they replaced the broken countertop and got the sink in and working! We are so excited to have so much more use of the kitchen this weekend. We will still be awaiting the flooring materials for a bit longer but we won't notice that as much as the sink for sure. This picture probably doesn't look a lot different, but the countertop is finished now and there is water in that sink :)

And for a more fun photo, here are the boys reading together some books we bought in Rwanda at Nakumatt

Sheri

Home Repair Day 6 (Week 2)

Today went much better than I expected. There was no school today and Jeff was at work so I thought it could be very bad! 4 kids, 1 mom and just a couple bedrooms to use all day. They did very well. They played, they watched some Phineas and Ferb, they worked on homework and they played some video games. No fights broke out and just a little screaming by Isaac. So I am thankful for the good day.

We also had some progress downstairs. The machines have all been removed for the drying process, it is soooo quiet now. We also have our cupboards back in place and ready for the countertop and the sink is in place though not ready for use. Here is the kitchen today

And here is Isaac in his new "dress ups", he got this dragon/knight (it is reversable)costume with some Christmas money. We are glad Isaac can play with the girls but to see just 2 princesses in the house :)

Sheri

Home Repair Day 5

Yesterday was the 5th day since we began the needed repairs in our kitchen and living room caused by a leak. I was feeling very sick, I don't think the extra dust and less humidity in the house, from machines to dry out the floor, were helping my already bad cold. Jeff took care of the kids and spoke with everyone and got some pictures. They got the new drywall textured and checked the moisture levels; also, getting info in from the insurance company. We will possibly be looking at flooring options next week and painting. Here is a picture of the wall now, I am including it because of the super cute boy who wanted to pose

Jeff also made some grilled cheese sandwiches for us out on the grill that we had been wanting to try after seeing them here

Ours did not look anywhere as great, but they sure tasted good! We will definitely try them again. We also used bacon and we needed more avacado but just did our best with what we had to use in our current conditions.

Spent today out, just staying out of the tighter quarters. We ran a few needed errands and saw Puss in Boots. Now we watch our Broncos game, hoping to see a Win.

Sheri

Home Repair Day 3 & 4

Ok, so I didn't have a chance to post yesterday, first not a lot to say but also we hit that point where we were feeling the confinement in the house and needed a long break. We went out for some dinner and got home just to get everyone to bed and enjoy the quiet for a bit.

We did have some progress yesterday on the project. We are awaiting the decision from the insurance company but also waiting on the drying process to finish, so much water!! The plumber was able to replace the pipe that was the cause of this whole mess, yea :) I forgot to take a picture, but look at my last one and imagine the black pipe continues down to the floor, that is what we had.

Then today we got new drywall. It is nice to see the complete wall again. And because I know you are dying to see this picture:

I know there may be someone so bored they are watching with much interest daily to hear of our progress. I know we are beginning to really feel the loss of space. The area really has some things that the little kids need to stay away from and so we are rarely even downstairs. The upstairs is starting to be a bit small, so I hope this weekend we can agree on some activities to be out of the house for a bit. Maybe time to use some of the prizes that the kids get at school for Wahooz or Pizza Hut... We are really looking forward to the finished product and no more leaking water. So, for tonight praying for a good decision from the insurance agency tomorrow so our contractor is able to move forward.

A fun, positive moment today; in the confines of our environment Bailey took a moment to snuggle with Isaac. Usually they are both snuggling with me, Bailey loves to snuggle and Isaac gets jealous or vice versa. So it was fun to see them filling the need for one another

The best part is that they were able to snuggle together at all after all the work it took for Bailey to get herself comfortable. Isaac weighs only, at most, 5 pounds less than her, so it was a big effort for her to hold him and she kept trying to move his legs just so, so they wouldn't crush her.

Hoping for more to report tomorrow.

Sheri

Home Repair Day 2 and First Snow

There isn't much to say about day 2 of the repairs. Last week was a little exploratory but it wasn't until yesterday that they really could see what needed to be done. They discovered a bit more damage than expected. Today we had one of the contractors over to take measurements, pictures, notes,... in order to give an accurate view to the insurance company. So it was a pretty quiet day here, the kids are getting used to where the snacks can be found now and the excitement of eating from a lunch box is not close to ending. We are now awaiting the review by the insurance agency, possibly an adjustor coming in to check it out, and then we will resume the repairs. We are excited for the finished product, excited to know it will all be repaired properly. And, I especially, am happy to see the kids handling the displacement rather well. Another blessing was the half price happy meals at McDonalds tonight to feed everyone at little cost since we have no sink :) Our bathroom sink can only handle so much.

We did have a very fun moment today. I had to rush to get the camera when I saw snowflakes colleting on the back deck. Our area in Idaho does not have, in my opinion, much of a winter. Today was extreme winter weather for us, the snow actually stuck to the ground for a few minutes. It isn't like what we were used to in Colorado where it snowed 3 feet one day then was 70 degrees out and melting the next. We just have consistent mild temps for a few months then it warms up and it very hot for a few then cools down and repeat. But it just doesn't get that cold. If I was in any photos you would see I had shorts on today, the kids don't feel the need for a jacket all the time, it is pretty mild.

But, it did get cold enough to snow and this was Isaac's first experience with the snow. He really didn't know what to think of it. I wonder what he would do with more, but he didn't want to get too close to this new stuff.

This doesn't seem too bad

It looks good right there

Well, maybe I'll see how it feels, no never mind

I'm happier with Bai and posing for pictures

Hope you're enjoying winter too!

Sheri

Home Repair

We have had a leak in our kitchen, we of course hoped it was something small, something we could easily remedy. We replaced the dishwasher but that wasn't it. We thought somehow the sprinklers from the side of the house were causing a problem, but even with no water, still we have a wet floor. Our kitchen floor has warped and discolored and our living room floor is always wet.

Last week a contractor who is a friend from church came and found the problem, a pipe from the sink/dishwasher had a crack and was leaking into the wall, floor...

So, we are relieved to know what the problem is and to know we really couldn't fix this and thankful to know someone we can trust to help us get this repaired.

Today the work began. Well, a little yesterday, our part. We had to clear out the area they would be working in. All the cupboards empty, counters and floors cleared. We established some routines for the repair time so we can get everyone breakfast in the morning, lunches packed and off to school and work. We really can't use the kitchen except the microwave, toaster and fridge; and not during the day when they are working.

This morning we got everyone ready and Jacob and Camryn off to school. Bailey and Isaac were excited to pack their lunches as well for today and so ready to dig into them by 9:30am. At 8:30 the guys were here. They have demolished the ruined parts and begun the repair and reconstruction. Jeff was here to meet them, answer questions and see the project started. I am very thankful for that. I am useless for this kind of thing. I most of the time don't really know what is going on, I have let Jeff take the reins on these things, or I am too distracted by the children to give it my attention and end up directing incorrectly. I so prefer to not be involved.

While they began I got the little kids situated upstairs. We did some prep work for this yesterday as well. We had some extra toys moved up and some movies to watch if needed. We also brought up the packed lunches, extra snacks and water. We settled in for the day. And it went better than I expected. Isaac and I are both coming down with colds or worse :( very sore throats, so I didn't really want to be outside in the cold and we really don't have any errands to run. I could possibly take them somewhere but need to be careful we don't end up just spending money to be out of the house. Isaac was able to take a nap, even with all the racket, and they played a lot as well as the picnic lunch.

So, now the work is done for the day, Jacob and Camryn came home to the work in progress and straight upstairs for a snack. We all went down to see how it looked, here it is now:

The Living Room

The Kitchen

They thought it would take a week to finish, so we will see how it goes and how we do. For this reason I am glad that Christmas break ended today, much easier with just 2 kids at home all day!

Sheri