November 3, 2009

Jacob was rocking out to "The Joker" by the Steve Miller Band on Guitar Hero! I have some awesome goodies to scrap this with...I can't wait to get my laptop so I can work more comfortably on my stuff. Today marks 2 weeks since I purchased it on eBay. It's a long story, but the seller left on vacation thinking his assistant would mail it out. The assistant didn't. He just arrived home from his 'holiday' and will ship it out tomorrow. But, get this, he won't 2nd-day-air it because it's too expensive. Well......I replied back to insist his "assistant" make up the difference in the shipping cost! Ugh. I'm not sure what kind of feedback to leave. I guess I'll determine that when I actually get the thing....

We are getting more quotes on countertops downstairs. Mark is finishing up the flooring tonight, so I'll be on clean-up duty tomorrow.

I'm anxious to watch the news tonight to see how all the elections turned out. I'm thinking there will be a clear, conservative message delivered in the way of local, state, and national elections. I'm especially curious for the NY-23rd district outcome. Christine, is that your jurisdiction?? I've been meaning to look it up, knowing that it's upstate NY...

Until tomorrow.

November 2, 2009

Jacob got his glasses today!

November 1, 2009

Today we celebrated Grandma P's birthday a little early.

Mark almost finished the basement floor. He figures he only has 4 more hours to go and it will be done.

October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween!

Basement Update

The Pool Table is in Position!

And, it wasn't pretty...

October 30, 2009

Kendall had her Fall Party today, with a costume parade and songs, and a gym full of craft and activity tables run by the moms. It was tons of fun. Grandma P's costume (lamb) was a hit. However, the dress drew so many compliments! Kendall and I ran errands all afternoon and everyone we made eye contact with had something to say about Kendalls halloween/Hello Kitty dress. It was just too cute!

Mark took today off to start on the main part of the floor. He wants to move the pool table back into place yet tonight since we're renting the dollies. The first picture was taken at 5pm. The second picture, from about the same perspective, was taken at 8:15pm. He has the rest of the weekend to finish: the playroom, storage/bedroom, and down the hallway. He's doing a great job! I've got the easy job: feeding him and keeping his water cup filled. :)

October 29, 2009

Soo many pictures! We rented dollies from Mason's Billiards and Barstools to move the pool table out of the way. It was kind of scary seeing it hoisted up like that. We should have cleaned up Mark's jack for the photos! :)








Then the kids and I carved our pumpkins tonight. I actually bought a pumpkin carving set with the little knives and scoops. Oh, my goodness! Why didn't I do that years ago! Carving and cleaning out the pumpkins was a breeze! I even did one of the design patterns that came with the set and carved a cool cat on Kendall's pumpkin. We lit the pumpkins up to "test" them out and the kids were thrilled. Halloween can't come soon enough!

October 28, 2009

Mark is anxious....he's supposed to wait 48 hours to let the laminate get acclimated to the environment. Well, I guess he just couldn't wait any longer!

Kendall had picture day at school. Jacob and I surprised Mark with a visit at his work. We then shopped both Gymborees in the area looking for particular things on behalf of Kim for Kennedy(and Kendall and Jacob!) and ran into relatives: Uncle Euie and Aunt Sally and cousin Linda. :) The lady who came out and measured 10 days ago for carpet and countertops finally stopped over this afternoon with her estimates (that's the last we will be seeing of her). A neighbor girl (Izzy) came over to play for a little bit. Fixed a good pork chop dinner. I had a great time at book club tonight.

It was a busy, fun day. We'll see what tomorrow brings...

October 27, 2009

Well, I borrowed Dad's big pick-up truck and went up to Adrian to purchase our laminate flooring! Good thing Dad's truck is 'Heavy Duty'....it was filled up! And, it was very nice of Dad to show up, unannounced, just as Mark was getting home from work to help carry it all down to the basement.

I picked up Jacob from school (but couldn't find him - long story). Then, we had an impromptu photo op. in our leaves. The kids had a blast burying each other and jumping into our little pile, over and over! What fun!

October 26, 2009

Jacob had an eye exam this morning. He failed the vision screening twice at school, so we were notified by the school nurse of a potential issue. Yes. He needs glasses. He is +4.50 in one eye and about perfect in the other eye. That is what is called having a "lazy eye" (refractive amblyopia). He gets this from his mother, who gets this from Grandpa C, as well. We picked out some eyeglasses in the afternoon.

Jacob just thought he was pretty cool to wear special 'shades' while his eyes were dialated! :)

October 25, 2009

Yesterday brought us Jacob's last soccer game - and it was the first that he didn't score at least one goal. Way to go, Jacob. It was such a fun season to watch Jacob improve and get aggressive.

Yesterday afternoon was Uncle Les' memorial in Pittsford, MI. We mingled a bit with family (why don't we get together more often?) over desserts at the church.

On the way home, we stopped at a large flooring outlet in Adrian. We brought a bunch of samples of laminate flooring home to see what matches the best.

Today, Grandma & Grandpa P came over and we just lounged. I've been fighting a cold and have felt yucky, so Mark actually did the "necessity" grocery shopping. What a guy!

The kids had fun helping clean and organize in the basement (photo).

October 23, 2009

Today was uneventful. The weather was dark, dreary, rainy, cold. I cleaned the house and did lots of laundry. Leftovers (the delicious pork roast) for dinner.

Mark laid the laminate pad down the hallway and in the bar/eating area tonight. I did get a call back today from Megan's uncle who installs granite (not laminate!:) ) and worked up an estimate for us. Of course, it's a lot of money. Of course, it would look beautiful. Of course, we will continue pricing other options. Still waiting for Perrysburg Floor to call back with pricing....hmmm...

We'll see what tomorrow brings.