All Good Things Must Come to an End . . .

I guess this could mean summer, as we paid our visit to the State Fair today. But what I refer to is my 15 month stint without formal employment. I look at Phoebe and really do not want to go back to work. The last year of my life was truly my best. My year teaching abroad is up there, but nothing compares to this past year.

It's especially difficult when I now see the advantages of being around friends who also have kids. Spending time with Shelly and Matthew and their kids has made "child care" much easier. I don't mean to whine here, but after a year with no family or friends, I realize how much easier being with a child all day is when you can get together with a friend who also has kids!

Anyway, we went to the fair today and saw lots of cows and even one that took a "big poop." Zach Vernig was a winner in his catagory (Cow/Calf) so we got to see him show. Phoebe liked the cows and sheep.

Phoebe really enjoys walks around the block with her wagon. We have 23 kids under the age of 12 living on our block. That makes for many greetings from our new neighbors as we walk around.

Alisa picked out a piano at the St Olaf piano sale last week. It's a beautiful piano and Phoebe really likes playing on it. When the lid is down she knows it's "sleeping," but often asks if she can play it "one more time."

Sidewalk chalk is a hit. We have the "ABCs" and many other drawings she enjoys.

Remodel is coming along . . .

I couldn't post a blog without including a great picture of our happy little girl who (we think) really likes "Phoebe's House."

As you can see from some before and after pictures, we've made some big changes. We now have a pantry of shelves rather than a toilet 2 feet from our kitchen. An improvement I'd guess . . . We also have a "full" bathroom in the basement. I closed it in using a few (very few) 2x4s and some plastic panals. It's clean and does the job for anyone peeking in our windows when you need a shower or a toilet.

Our furnace is in, along with AC--just in time for the weather to cool off, eh!? The massive gravity unit was abated (covered with asbestoes) and Boehm Heating put in all new ductwork and a new furnace. We'll get over 20% back in rebates and a tax credit. A good year to do a furnace fer shur!

I'm busy sheet rocking the upstairs. We'll have pics of that in time. Alisa just finished the kitchen painting which looks great!

Hope you're all well!

The orignal bathroom was just a changing enclosure for the shower. It was made of moldy sheetrock. Ugh . . ..

The original "octopus" gravity furnace. And the beautiful new one from Boehm Heating.

A pantry or a water closet (final two pics are of the same space!)?

Grandma and Papa

My parents visited last week, giving them some great time with us and Phoebe especially. Since their departure, Phoebe points out "grandma's bed" and if she hears me hammering in the basement, she wonders if Papa is down there.

My dad did an amazing amount of work for us in the basement. The do-it-yourselfer who lived here since 1969 had a mess of copper dead ends running downstairs, leaving no room for a furnace. Dad cleaned that up and roughed in a bathroom in our basement. So long toilet in the stairwell (see above--taken from stairs coming up from basement)! Thanks a ton dad/Papa!

The rocker (below) is from Oma. It was originally Alisa's when she was little.

Below is some before and after contrast for you all (guess which is which!!!). We're still deciding green shades for the kitchen. After a lot of swearing (sorry Alisa . . . Grandma's: I assure you Phoebe wasn't around), I got some track lighting in. Toggle bolts are the dumbest thing invented: meant to make it easy for the do-it-yourselfer, but only made a mess.