Party Room

Another room is shaping up. We went to IKEA yesterday and bought a futon. We now have an area for video gaming, a table for D&D or board games, and the computers for-what else-blogging :) The futon is also great for anyone that needs to sleep over because they've had a little too much.

Counter/Sink-Check

It was a full weekend of housework (at least for Margaret and Mike again). We feel guilty going to functions (this weekend was Jon's company party and a visit to my cousin that was in town from New York) when they are still at the house slaving away on a project. Jon did help Mike as much as possible when we were home to put the laminate on the counter. Saturday morning they had one side done. The other side was a bit tricker. It wouldn't stick even after 4 coats of glue. When we left to see my cousin, Mike and Margaret stayed behind to try and get the other side done. When we got home they had it on and Jon helped get it upstairs. Then Jon and Mike installed the sink. We still have a little leak, but I think it just needs some white plumbers tape on the threads to seal it more. Now we have to call Best Buy back to install the dishwasher and the kitchen will be done!

Before

After

Front Lawn and Other Things

As some of you know over 90 percent of our lawn was covered in leaves. I am not just talking about the average leaf cover from like fall to spring. This lawn hadn't seen the light of day in what seems to be about 2 years. I had to make about 3 or 4 passes at some spots just to get all of them (and taking a large amount of dead grass with it). But now I can officially say that our lawn is now about 65 percent covered in leaves! Now just the sides and back to go!

Carrie put up the new mailbox yesterday as it was being tipped over everyday (we are thinking it was the kids that are walking to school).

Upstairs Bath Done

Before

After

New light. New cabinet.
New counter, sink and faucet.
Fresh coat of blue paint.

New toilet.
New window shade and storm window/screen.

Itching for Wedding

Since going to Jenni's wedding I have been thinking about our wedding quite a bit more. Now that the house is getting near complete on the top level, I have started to think more about things on the wedding front. I am getting more excited to look at dresses and look at flowers. Jess is still in school-working very hard on many final papers, so the flowers thing isn't going to be for a few more weeks. Dress shopping I wanted to have Jodi there so it may not be until this summer (maybe June since she will be here for the Twins/Brewers game). Jon and I are getting a photo taken this weekend through my work that hopefully we can use for our invitations and announcement.

Internet is back!

I edited some the posts to include pictures from the past few weeks. Yesterday Jon and I finished painting in the basement and he steam cleaned the carpet. Today the boys came over to help get the computer and TV hooked up and then they had some fun.

Mike and I put the microwave up.

Nate was making himself at home.

Currently the boys are playing Rock Band behind me. Male bonding isn't it great :)

Getting Closer

Everything is coming together. The last week has been slower than the first few weeks. Just getting pooped out. Mike has come over and replaced water shutoff valves and has been working very hard on the upstairs bathroom. Mike and Jon installed the new counter and sink in the bathroom. It looks very nice. I put a kink in the works when I was painting the ceiling yesterday and chunks were coming down. So I decided to scrape it off like the other side. It just looks so much nicer smooth, plus it was coming down anyway when I painted it. So Margaret started scraping. Now I have to finish the blue paint so Mike can put the tile up around the counter. We will be watching this closely because we want to do it in the kitchen too.
Last night Olaf also came over and helped paint the downstairs family room so we would be ready for Comcast on Thursday. Now we can watch the WILD playoff game tonight.