Getting Stuff Done

Scott went out of town for 2 weeks during November to do his Air Force reserve duty.  Scott has changed units - he used to be attached to a unit in Northern California (Travis AFB) but has now changed for job reasons to Scott AFB near St. Louis.  So he has to fly out there.  We had a busy time back at home.  I am used to managing things when Scott is out of town, so I don't wither and die when he's not around.  I can do it, but it IS hard and stressful and we're all very happy when he comes home.  Here are some of our adventures while he was gone for two weeks.  Matthew was working on his science fair project about different kinds of leavening agents in bread.  So he baked A LOT of bread!  For science!

Playing a super long game of monopoly with Matthew, Grant and John.  

John owned all the railroads at one point, so we named him the Railroad Baron!!  Eventually Matthew and I got tired of playing (several hours later) and called it a draw.

We had our kitchen worked on while Scott was gone.  We were having the countertops replaced and a backsplash put in.  The countertops when we moved in were Corian (that plastic solid surface stuff) and there was a crack by the stove.  Plus Scott and I didn't like the sink orientation, which was all part of the Corian surface.  So we wanted to replace the countertops and sink.  Here I am getting prepped for countertop measuring day.  They measure and make a template then plan to install the cut quartz countertops a week later.

We also have been having our basement worked on, but its been slow going.  We had the framing and the some of the plumbing done.  There used to be a doorway here and we had the framer take it out so it can be open.  Unfortunately now the uninsulated part of the basement is open to the rest of the house.  The insulation is supposed to be done soon.

The large room in the basement.  I'm eager for it to be done.

The framing that now separates the storage room from the future bathroom.

Not exciting pictures...I know.

We had lovely fall weather for a lot of November...until the end.  The kids were excited to rake the leaves into piles...and jump in them.

A day later we got a very light snow dusting.

The kids have been really excited for snow.

And countertop installation day!!  We got white quartz countertops.  

And expanded the island by 9 inches.

There was a mistake with one little piece and they had to come back another day to fix it.

We're loving them so far!

They installed the counters one day, then came back to hook up all the plumbing and new stove top the next day.  We got a granite composite single basin sink and we love it!!

Our new stove

And the new faucet installed.  It's touchless so that's very nice.

We were also getting a tile backsplash in the kitchen.  There wasn't any tile backsplash before.

Picking up some personal pizzas that Grant and Matthew earned from a school reading program.

I had to take Emma with me to the boys martial arts class since Scott was not home.

We drew some unicorns to keep ourselves entertained.

And then tile day.  We got standard white subway tile done in a herringbone pattern with a warm gray grout so you could see the design a little bit.

I like the way it looked.

The tile setter did a great job.

This is the kitchen before...this picture makes the kitchen look lighter...but the countertops were kind of brown gray.

Here is after...the shiny white stone countertops make the kitchen seem a lot lighter and brighter.  I also love the big sink and the touchless faucet.

Scott got home a few hours after the tile was done, so he missed all the excitement.  

We were so glad to have him home again.