Basement remodel -- part 2

Drywall. Wow... did we ever hang some drywall. I think we'll be seeing drywall dust in our dreams. If you know Shannon, you know he is precise. Exact. Perfectionist. You should have seen his mad drywall cutting skills. He measured the cuts for the outlets and switches like a pro. I like that in a man. I found out that I'm quite good at mudding and taping the seams. I have mad drywall skills, too.Shannon likes that in a woman.

Wall number one... I think I said "I can't believe I did that" about a thousand times.

Second wall taped and mudded. It's starting to take shape...

This is the closet. It spans the length of one wall and has two doors. And a light. Wow, look at us!

This is the first wall of my sewing room! Now that it's done and full of my craft stuff, it's amazing to look back and see how it started...

More to come!

The Basement Remodel...part 1

We had an unfinished room in the basement that served as kind of a catch-all, storage room. We decided we should finish it and make a new bedroom for Shannon's son, Sean. So, back in May, we started our construction project... after we cleaned everything out, we got started on building...

The newly-emptied room -- and a hot shirtless man. Move on, Sonia.

There were really nice shelves along one wall; we tore all those out...

This picture is kind of fuzzy, but this is the A/C unit, water heater area.

Our super-handy construction guru and nephew, Josh McGowin came over and helped us frame the walls. (Thanks, Josh!) Once we got the framing done, we installed the insulation.

Shannon finishing one wall of the insulation. On the right is the area that became a huge closet. There had been a door there leading out to the garage, but we sealed that up to finish the closet. As we were planning this room, we decided to build a sewing room for me... I'm so thrilled. Just wait until you see it! More pictures to come...

Libby's Art Show

During summer break, Libby and Roan have been attending several different camps. Last week, Libby was able to attend 'Visual Arts Academy" -- she LOVED it. They worked with several types of media, including clay, paper, paint, textiles and pencil. At the end of the week, each student put together an art show.

This was the mask the decorated.

This was part of her display -- the picture on the right was really cool. Her instructor took each child's picture, then printed only half of it. The child then completed the other half of their picture. Libby did a great job!

This was the front of her display. The picture of the rooster is so good. She drew it, then used water colors. She has clay figurines on her fingers...

Here's a better shot of her self portrait. She had such a good time. She was one of the youngest students in the camp, but she did a terrific job. Roan, of course, was SO jealous that wasn't old enough to attend. The instructor of the camp gives art classes, so he's hoping to participate in the fall.

Donations for Joplin

After the devastating tornado in Joplin in May, Libby and Roan's school held a donation drive for "Grab & Go" items that might be helpful to the folks in the area. They encouraged families to donate shelf stable food, bottled water, granola bars, toilet paper, paper towels, baby wipes, etc. The kids were eager to help. Luckily, mom is something of a pack rat -- so we had a lot to choose from.

This is Roan with his bag of paper towels, napkins and granola bars. I guess it takes big muscles to carry all his stuff... what a goof ball!

Libby Lu with her bag of goodies to donate...

I included this picture, purely for its future blackmail potential.

I was really proud of the kids for wanting to help. They don't really understand what a tornado is, or just how much destruction it brought, but they do understand how much their donations might help ...

The Man on the Roof

I have a man who likes things clean...including the gutters. I respect that in a man, but I'm very uncomfortable with his insistence on getting on the roof to do it. I have nightmares of him crashing to an untimely death, so I insist that he take his cell phone up there with him and only do it when I'm home.

Here's the ascent. Can you feel my panic?

Clearing the brush and limbs off the roof.

He's proud of himself, despite me, on the ground, in a nervous heap.

Using the blower to clean the leaves out of the gutters. He finished the job safe and sound... we're getting a new roof soon. I'm hoping I can talk him out of getting up there with the roofers... lol.

Nerd Day

During Spirit Week for the kids' school, they had "Nerd Day".
Here's my little nerd. If he had dark hair, he would remind me of Alfalfa... Libby dressed up too, but it's a little harder to capture true nerdiness with a girl. At least it was for us!

Girl Scouts...

Libby has been in Girl Scouts this past school year. She's a Daisy, and thinks it's awesome. A couple of weeks ago, we got up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday and went to earn her "Wearable Art" badge. I actually thought it was a bridging ceremony, but I was wrong. So I showed up in slacks and everybody looked at me like I was an alien. Anyway...

This is Libby decorating a tote bag. This type of activity is SO up her alley. She LOVES crafts. And can you believe how grown up she is? It seems like just yesterday she was born.

Here she is getting ready to make a Mardi Gras mask. Note her intent listening. This girl follows the rules. The rest of the girls are wiggling and squawking and running around like wildcats, and little Lu is right on task.

The best part of the morning... getting to tie dye a shirt. Hers turned out really great. She wore it to school this week and was so proud! Her troop had their bridging ceremony last night, so she's now officially a Brownie!