The Kitchen

 Last month, we embarked on a kitchen re-do.  It wasn't a total remodel because we kept the cabinets and appliances but we picked out a new floor, counter and backsplash.  At the last minute, we decided to have our contractor build a kitchen island, which is probably now my favorite part of the whole project.  We had a tough few weeks with no sink, dishwasher or oven but with many sub sandwiches and takeout salads from the grocery store, we made it through! 

The before picture, except we had already painted the walls and had a new microwave installed.  

The fridge was plugged in next to the front door which was nice to be able to access food but weird when answering the door for UPS packages.  Glenn cheerfully suggested we leave it there because it opened up a lot of extra room in the kitchen and made it easy for entertaining.  "Hi come in, can we get you something to drink right away?"  I'm pleased to report that it's now back in it's original spot.  

Coco was not delighted in the remodel.  She was not a fan of workman coming in and out but she has enjoyed exploring the new developments.  

The contractor tells all of us to stay off of the floor for 48 hours.  Coco says "LOL." 

New floor, new backsplash installed and last minute work on the island.  Glenn and I painted it ourselves on a worknight and everyone lived to tell the tale.  

The final project in not-so-great lighting.  We love how it turned out!

A letter to the birthday boy

Dear Will:  Today you are TWELVE.  Officially a tween, not yet a teen and growing before our eyes.  You told me tonight that this was one of your best birthdays and that made me and your Dad really happy.  You woke us up around 6:15 this morning to open presents.  We surprised you with a fancy new controller for your X-box, some clothes and socks (!!!) and a cookbook just for teens.  Reina picked out a Fortnite pinata for you and when you were done opening everything, Dad gave you your first hunting rifle.  I think your Dad is just as excited to have you hunt with him as he's been for any of his solo hunts.  You and I had lunch at school together and then at the end of the day, I brought donuts to your class.  All 40+ kids in both sixth grade classes serenaded you with "Happy Birthday" and I believe it was the long 90 seconds of your year.  

Opening presents in the wee hours of the morning.  

Will, we are really proud of the young man you are becoming. I know that sounds like something super old to say, but it's really true.  You have a marvelous sense of humor, you are super sweet to your cousins, you and your sister have days when you really have fun together, you are a terrific teammate, you hustle on the field and the court, you are paying more attention to your schoolwork and take pride in your good grades and you love beating us in card game.  In case I'm making you sound too angelic, you love a good prank, you are crazy competitive in video games and many card games end in someone (you?) screaming and you grumble when you have to feed the dogs even though you love your Tootsie girl and she loves you too.  You are getting more interested in cooking and you'll see videos of people cooking on Youtube and you try it out at home.  The ramen dish topped off with american cheese was a big hit with you and Reina.  I thought it sounded a little bizarre but I applaud your creativity! 

A boy and his dogs and the sunlight streaming in.

Don't forget the cat.  I did tell her to smile for the camera. 

 You are gearing up for Junior High.  Every moment of sixth grade feels like "the last..." Today was the last day I'll bring you lunch at school for your birthday.  Well actually I'll probably bring it next year but I don't think I'll be invited to stay.  We've had your last elementary school basketball game and soon we'll have the last track meet, school program and sob sob sob. 

You picked Taco Johns for your meal and I only forgot the queso sauce.  We ate in the hallway because you said the cafeteria was full. I think the other sixth graders just aren't ready for my awesomeness.  

You thought the previous picture was too cheesy and you prefer this broody teen look.  You sure are cute.  

You asked to postpone your birthday dinner until the weekend so that Reina can join us - she had dance tonight.  You asked for homemade spaghetti tonight and we celebrated with a homemade chocolate cake with oreos in the frosting - that you had requested earlier in the week.  You actually wanted a giant oreo cake but I didn't have that creativity in me just yet.  Maybe next year? As we ate cake, we watched the videos that your dad took 12 years ago in the days leading up to your arrival and our time with you at the hospital.  In the video, you hollered when Dad and the nurses gave you a bath and when you are storming around the house now, I can see flickers of that squealing little almost 8-pounder from 2007. It brought tears to our eyes to see your cute little face and big blue eyes.  It's hard to believe that little guy is almost as tall as me and can almost beat me in a game of Horse.  Almost. 

Happy birthday big kid.  I hope 2019 is filled with winning sports teams, good books and some terrific adventures. 

Snow Day #2

For the first time in decades, we had another snow day!  The sun came out but we have at least 14 inches of snow on the ground and the wind is still blowing so everything is shut down.  Here's a lazy blogger's recap of the day. 

Will needed a pie for school today because it's PI day (3.14) and he doesn't like regular pie so I found a recipe for a chocolate chip pie.  It looks less than edible but hopefully it tastes good! 

Trigger is feeling much better and he takes a lovely selfie.

We were all out shoveling and didn't want Coco to miss out on the fun.  She stood on the porch for about 15 seconds before she wanted to go back inside. 

I call this The Reluctant Shoveler.

Less shoveling and more climbing on the giant snow pile.

He asked me to take this picture.  Reina was outside too, but she managed to avoid the camera. 

Glenn wearing a neck warmer on his head instead of a stocking cap because why not.  While I was on a work call inside, one of our neighbors offered Glenn their snowblower and Glenn TURNED HIM DOWN.  When I came outside, I had no qualms in asking to borrow it back.  Glenn wants me to memorialize that he was trying to build character for our kids.  I was hoping to not spend all day shoveling the driveway.  Plus, I'd never used a snowblower before and it was quite fun! 

The view to the chicken coop.  Our girls are warm and dry inside the hen house. 

Inside the coop it looks very disaster-movie-ish.

Glenn shoveled everything out because he is a good chicken Dad. 

The front walk after reluctant shoveling, the neighbor's snowblower, Glenn's brawn and a little bit of sunshine. 

Back to work tomorrow, which most of us are happy about. 

Snow Day

For the first time since I think ... 2009?  we all had a snow day.  Schools have been canceled a handful of times over the years but the State rarely shut down.  Glenn or I would usually have to take a vacation day to stay home with kiddos in the snow.  When I picked up the kids from school yesterday, the temperature was near 50 and the sun was shining when my phone rang announcing the closure for the next day (today) because of an expected blizzard.  When Glenn and I woke up this morning, it had been raining on and off all night but there wasn't a hint of snow on the ground.  I came downstairs to check my phone and to my surprise, there was a text message announcing that state offices were closed.  Almost simultaneously, the snow started falling and the wind started howling.  It is blizzard city around here.  

The view from the phone window.  We've rarely had snow build up on the windows like this.  

The view from the back window.  We have some crazy drifts in the backyard and it's still snowing.  

 Glenn snuck in to work for a few hours this morning.  I had a nice leisurely jog on the treadmill, did some work online, watched old mystery tv shows with Reina, watched another Hunger Games movie with Will, cooked, baked, cleaned up the kitchen, got our taxes ready for the accountant and watched basketball. 

Will needed a pie for school tomorrow (3.14 day).  He doesn't like regular pie so I found a recipe for a chocolate chip pie.  Yum!  Hopefully! 

A few minutes ago, we got another message that school is cancelled tomorrow also. I feel like I ran through all of my fun activities for the kiddos today.  Tomorrow I'm strapping them to the treadmill to burn off some energy.  Maybe they'll learn cursive.  Stay tuned. 

We interrupt this blog again for kid and dog sickness

Our Spring of Weirdness continues.  Last week, I took a half day off from work because Trigger pulled a muscle/slipped a disc if dogs do that/has something we still haven't discovered after two trips to the vet and was feeling very poorly so I stayed home to keep an eye on him. It worked out well because we had new windows being installed and workman finishing up in the kitchen and I could keep all of the pets corralled in the basement.  Trigger had us pretty worried for a few days but he seems to be feeling better and is getting back to his perky self.  

Tootsie the Nurse Dog doesn't just look after people.  

On the way back from the vet - snuggling the gear shift because he couldn't reach my lap. 

Our kitchen finished up on Wednesday and we are really enjoying the changes - pictures coming soon!  Thursday, everyone went to school and work and Glenn and the kids went to a hunter's safety class that night.  Reina felt a little warm when they left but I didn't take her temperature until they got home. It was almost 102.  Oops.  She slept fitfully, which means I slept fitfully.  She threw up once and then woke up about 4 a.m. and coughed and watched cartoons until the rest of us crawled out of bed. I stayed home with Reina on Friday.  We zipped to the doctor where she was thankfully diagnosed as NOT having influenza even though she had all of the symptoms.  We were sent home with instructions to buy lots of juice boxes and watch movies and get some rest. 

Rockin' the mask and cat pajamas.  

Doctors orders - naps and movies!  

 On Saturday, she felt a little better but was still feverish and a little droopy. I had to run a bunch of errands while Glenn and Will were at hunter's safety so Reina came along.  Letting her sit in the cart really cuts down on my overspending at Target because there's no room - who needs coupons?!

So there you go.  Another weekend in the books.  Another week closer to springtime when the warm weather will hopefully burn off the germs that keep infecting our house.  One week closer to Aunt Vicky being done with chemo.  One week closer to gardening time and green grass.  We have a blizzard warning for Wednesday, is it too early to be talking about gardening?  Stay tuned for snow pictures and stir crazy kids. 

A random list of stuff that hasn't been mentioned in other posts recently

1.  Will signed up for classes for JUNIOR HIGH a few weeks ago.  We won't find out his official schedule until August but he picked Spanish, a combo of shop and home ec, life skills and something else as his electives.  He only gets three of them so we'll see what happens.  Junior High.  Crazy huh?

2.  Reina is finishing up the first Harry Potter book. She tried reading it last year and couldn't get into it.  Some of her friends this year are big Potter fans so I think that's helped peak her interest.  She knows some of the plot points of future books from hearing her brother talk about it but she seems ready to tackle the whole series.  It's fun for me to read along with her again. 

3.  Glenn and I are playing co-ed volleyball and it's been a lot of fun.  As I type this, Glenn is tossing a volleyball up against the den ceiling over and over and over again to practice his serving technique and I only want to mildly murder him.

4.  It's -12 degrees right now and that's without the wind chill.  The chickens are snuggled up in their coop with a hot water bottle and we'll put another one in there before bedtime.  It seems to work pretty well and the bottle in the coop this morning wasn't even frozen. 

5.  We have a remodeled kitchen!  We are waiting on more piece to be completed before posting all of the pictures but we have new paint on the walls, a new counter and backsplash and a floor.  We're putting the finishing touches on a kitchen island and then we'll be finished.  We've had about two weeks with limited kitchen access and I didn't think I'd get sick of eating out so quickly.  I also really missed the sink. 

6.  Will's elementary basketball team won the city championship for the second year in a row.  It was a really exciting game and the boys were super excited.   

7.  Reina designed a poster about Lewis and Clark and included a mountain lion.  Naturally. 

8.  Last weekend, we watched the UW Cowgirls play a great game in Laramie.  The game was honoring cancer survivors and raising money for a cancer center there.  Reina wrote this sign for her Aunt V.  

9.  We had a funny moment after the basketball game.  Will didn't come with us because he had a friend's birthday party to go to.  Reina was in line getting autographs and we thought it would be fun to get the team to sign a poster for Will.  One of the players wrote "To Will, love the Wyoming Cowgirls." I laughed and said something like 'he'll die of embarrassment' but somewhere along the way, the players thought I was saying that Will was going to die.... and it got all weird.  We quickly corrected the conversation and got everybody on the right track.  AND we were wrong about the poster, Will was excited to hang it up on his wall. 

10.  We can't wait for baseball.