March Renovation 2023

 This is the month we finally got to say goodbye to the bright yellow dumpster that had been sitting in the driveway (well, we actually had to get 4 different ones) since the previous April. The last steps were lighting in the dining area and finally, ripping up carpet in the bedrooms and replacing it, after sweeping, scraping and scrubbing all the grossness underneath the old carpet. The boys room got a complete makeover. They planned out how to rearrange their furniture and since we had to take their bed apart anyway they were able to give it a fresh coat of (better colored) paint. They filled in walls and even painted the room. We helped of course, but they took full ownership of the whole project.

Looking Back January 2023

 We started the year off sick in bed so we had a low-key new year, but did make it to midnight to watch the ball drop and Jude saved some confetti poppers so we could celebrate. It was a month of settling in. We didn't have much going on house-wise. Phase 2 was completed as soon as the hardware was installed on the kitchen cabinets. Lighting would be going in the dining area in another month or so, but other than that we were all done moving the contents of our home around like tetras to get another project knocked out. Our roosters were becoming more and more, um, vocal, so we re-homed them to our friends who own a small homestead and I hear they are very happy there. It was hard to let them go but necessary. After a very rare, very cold, Christmas (we may or may not have had to take our dog to church with us on one of the most stressful Sunday's of the year) we needed to make arrangements for Berkley to stay warm in the winter when we are gone. Everyone in the family began putting our kitchen to good use as we rotated making dinner. Zeke got his permit (after the most frustrating of driver's ed and DMV experiences known to man!). The new floors made for an excellent ice rink for hockey. And Alethia and Zeke got braces.

December Renovation 2022

 Kitchen cabinets and flooring completed the final stages for phase 2. We were still without water in the kitchen until right before Christmas but we were able to make Christmas breakfast in our new kitchen (Minus the hardware. but who is keeping track of the details?).

November Renovation 2022

 Getting ready for kitchen cabinets. That demo was fun and very therapeutic! But man, all the little details in the process became pretty stressful, during an already stressful time of year. But we survived. And wait until you see the final product! But you'll have to wait. You know nothing is easy...or quick. And then we had the demo of the flooring in the better part of the rest of the house so that the flooring that was installed in September would match throughout.

October Renovation 2022

 With our COO issued just days before getting a call of a placement for 3 teenagers we immediately put our addition to use! And all three siblings could stay in the same room. My heart couldn't have been happier! With the permitting done we could move onto phase 2. Knocking down a couple of walls to open up the kitchen, dining and living areas and installing custom bookshelves around the door. Once again living in chaos, but this time with three more bodies in the mix!