Three Projects and a Birthday

MLK Day weekend my parents drove down to help us with three of our latest projects: install shelves in the office walk-in closet, replace the 1960's oven, and install new flooring in the dining room, entry and kitchen. Plus celebrate Henry's birthday. That was a lot to do in 2 1/4 work days, so we were pleased to get 2 out of the 3 checked off. Plus we saved $1200 on the floors doing it ourselves. That was my mantra as we measured and cut and pushed and pulled til our knees and backs ached and my fingertips were feeling raw. "Saving $1200, saving $1200".

First thing Saturday my dad and I went to work on the closet shelves while Matt took the kids out to play and my mom pulled up the floor moldings, carpet and existing laminate in the entry. We actually lost power right as we finished breakfast! So the shelves went a little slow since we only had one cordless drill to work with. Fortunately my dad had cut the shelves to length before they arrived. And right about the time we needed the skilsaw back in action, the power was restored.


With the floor prepped and spackled (taking much longer than we'd anticipated), we got the first 4 feet of Metroflor laid down late Saturday night.


Sunday we "rested" and celebrated Henry's 2nd Birthday (a day early) with an orange cake, Princess plates, Dora hats, and a horse pinata. He seemed a little traumatized at first that we were hitting his kid-sized horse friend with a stick, but got a little more into it when the first bits of candy flew out. We ended the day with a delicious dinner at a friends house just south of town.


Monday we worked straight through and laid down the rest of the floor, getting just inside the kitchen when my parents hit their 3:30 deadline to get in the car and head home. Several hours later after the kids were in bed, we got the last little piece put in by the kitchen door. Whew! It was close to midnight and we were beat. But the floor is just what we were hoping for. The phrase "sweat equity" means so much more now!




It is oh so lovely to simply SWEEP the food and playdough from beneath the table rather than vacuum. Thanks Mom and Dad for all your help!! Next project: replace the wall oven...