Home Improvement Weekend -- Tim Allen Style

Where to start . . .

We normally do not get a full weekend to be at home all together. To get 3 days is a miracle! We were not supposed to be in town this weekend but cancelled our plans just to have a weekend at home. Since we have 3 whole days, why don't we make it a home improvement weekend.

First the list (and not necessarily in this order):

• Fix kitchen light that sizzles and flickers when turned on.
• re-grout shower tiles -- is that mold or mildew growing UNDER them?
• clean large picture window over foyer (2 stories high)
• change out flood lights around house (some 1 story high, some 2 stories and some 3 stories)
• trim holly tree (2 stories high)
• fix and re-design air conditioning drainage system (current design broken and obviously designed by an idiot who has more time on his hands than we do)
• And general weekend stuff (wash cars, laundry, groceries, etc.)
• Oh, and keep kids entertained while doing it all.

DAY 1:

So first we worked on the kitchen light. Actually this went rather well. Believe it or not, we had a switch to change out the dimmer switch. So within 20 min . . . FIXED . . . cost $0

Now to the shower. Hmmm. There is a lot more to be re-grouted than we thought. Oh, the prior owners spray painted over all the tiles so when we re-grout it will all chip off making the tiles look even worse. Our friend with experience in this area says . . . That's Not Good! GREAT. Okay, no biggie we'll figure this out, but not today.

Now to the drainage system . . . Darling B figures out a re-design of the system. Mad Monk doesn't understand Darling B's design. Mad Monk draws out exactly the same re-design as Darling B, but doesn't think so. Darling B and Mad Monk get into an argument over the SAME design. Typical when re-designing anything around here. Finally get on the same page. More stuff to buy . . .

Darling B now climbs up our 24 Foot latter to clean windows. Actually gets them done with a lot of courage. Of course Mad Monk tells Darling B on the AM of Day 2 not to look at them b/c she won't be happy.

Mad Monk climbs up 24 Foot latter to trim holly tree. Latter teeters and totters as he balances the hedge trimmer . . . lops off the top, can't reach the other side and only half down the side he's on b/c the latter is half IN the tree. Darling B keeps saying it just isn't right. Mad Monk says she'll have to live with it. Darling B says FINE she'll hire someone. Mad Monk says go for it!

END of DAY 1. Time to go OUT to eat b/c we didn't get to the grocery and to Home Depot to get stuff for changing out lights and new design for drainage system.

DAY 2

Darling B wakes up with SO much energy and a feeling of accomplishment (from what I'm not sure) that she suggests that it's time to paint Big E's room . . . space ship theme.

Mad Monk agrees but suggests that maybe we should skip church to get this done. NO, Darling B wants to go to Church too!

Darling B DOES NOT look at picture window

Go to church . . .

Return. Mad Monk heads out to change lights with light changer extension pole. 1 story light bulb changed no problem. 2nd story light . . . when screwing OUT the bulb, he screws out the entire fixture causing it to dangle by its wires. Now what? Light changer extension pole doesn't work to screw BACK IN the whole fixture.

Darling B suggests that he reach it from 2nd story bedroom window. Great idea . . . Mad Monk removes screen from window and hangs out as far as he can (where is a camera when you need one) except Mad Monk's reach is 1 ft. too short.

How about reaching it from the attic? Mad Monk heads up to attic to check it out. Darling B meanwhile researches space themed rooms on the internet. Next thing she hears . . . CRASH . . . BOOM . . . @#$@%&^. Darling B runs upstairs to find a hole in the ceiling and dry wall and insulation all over the floor. Mad Monk put his foot through the ceiling and fell through up to his thigh!

GREAT! ANOTHER PROJECT!

Well, ceiling is taped up. We're working on how we're going to fix that one. Lights are still not changed out and are still dangling by their wires. Holly Tree still lopsided. Picture window worse than it was before. Drainage system still not fixed. Tiles same as before. Big E's room has space portals and a cockpit drawn onto wall . . . Big E sleeping in spare room. Laundry still not done, haven't gone to grocery store, cars still dirty and WE are having guests tomorrow to celebrate LABOR day. Hmmm.

Maybe we should just stick to laundry, cleaning cars, groceries and enjoying a weekend off.

Southern Boys

"That, it! We're Moving!" That's what Steve said when we heard IT this morning.

In response to the question, "Are you getting your shoes on, Evan?" The response was, "I'm FIXIN' to." "You're what?" "I'm FIXIN' to." "I'm sorry, you're what?" "Uh, uh, getting ready to put it on."

AND Kyle . . . He says "ya-ah"

What's happening? It doesn't seem to matter what their Yankee parents do, these boys are turning "Suthurn."

The Special-ness of Special K

Some don't believe me when I tell of Special K's determined personality. "He's so laid back." "I've never seen him even fuss a little."

Well, my experience yesterday truly sums up Special K's determined ways. After church we went to lunch with a friend. When I parked, I accidentally hit the concrete slab that the light post was in. No biggie, I just backed up -- just enough so I wasn't hitting the slab anymore. So imagine about a 3" - 4" distance between the slab and the van's bumper. We had lunch and were leaving. The kids were acting silly and Special K was on the other side of the van. I asked him to come over -- around the slab. No, he had to go between the slab and the van. Now, he barely could get his hip in between the two, but by golly he was going to do it anyway. So he started screaming. I tried to help by getting him to go out the other way. "No" he was going to do it his way come hell or high water. So he wedged himself in even further. Now he is stuck right in the middle, was crying and screaming because he was stuck. I was starting to get concerned about exactly how I was going to get him out. Why should I worry though, he didn't want my help! I knew I couldn't back the van out further because when I turned it on and put it into reverse it might lurch forward just enough to truly hurt the kid. He kept screaming and yelling and crying. I couldn't move him forward or backward -- he was stuck. But he kept trying, and crying, and yelling and screaming. Well, as things usually go for Special K, he finally squeezed through, with little injury.

And so, this sums up the personality of Special K. This determined spirit is bound to get him somewhere in life because he won't quit until it does. Hopefully it doesn't kill mommy in the process!

Positives of having a dog

1st Positive: Now we have a walking partner!

Today I took Lucas and the boys to Edwin Warner Park for a "little" walk/hike. WELL, I didn't prepare and went on a trail that was new to me. I THOUGHT it would end up on the main paved trail. WRONG! It was a 2 1/2 mile loop trail (the longest in the park!)up and down the hills in the park! Those poor boys. They did so great. Big E hung in there the entire time. Special K's little feet wouldn't go much further. I held him on my shoulders for a small portion. By the end, he could barely walk. Evan Lucas seemed like he didn't want to go any further by the end.

We did it though. The boys were super ROCK STARS! Now they are napping. Big E even requested one!

2nd Positive: the Boys actually clean up now!

It's amazing what happens when you have a new dog that will EAT your things if you leave them out! We've been having a particularly difficult time with clean up of toys around the monastery. We instituted a "library" policy 3 weeks ago, thanks to a friends advice. That has been helping b/c the kids can only have 2 toy bins out at a time and then must put one back to get another. Pretty simple. But the Dog clean up method works immediately! No, "I don't want to do it now." or "He got it out" or "it's just too much"

All it takes is, "Boys, I've told you that Lucas might eat your toys if you leave them out. Lucas is currently eating one of the cards to your favorite game." I tell you what, those boys have never cleaned up so fast." It's truly a miracle. I think I'm going to like having a dog!

Now I must go and deal with a possible dog ownership negative. Zoe is testing her fate and is downstairs checking out Lucas . . . pray for me!

We figured it out!

Well, we've been trying to figure out what Lucas is mixed with and finally figured it out. The receptionist at the Vet thought maybe a pointer or hound. We looked up pointer/lab mix and the pictures that came up were Lucas. It explains some of the things I've noticed like his front leg lifting up and his whole body "pointing" when he is checking something out in the yard. It's still a guess, but we think it's pretty close.

A new friend for our family

Truly confirming that I am a glutton for punishment, we adopted a dog, Lucas on Saturday, August 16, 2008. He is about 3 years old, so we are just making that day his birthday (1 week after Special K's birthday).

He is a very good dog and I don't think we could have chosen better dog for our family. You may remember that Big E was afraid of dogs. Regardless, we still are having to work out those special behaviors that come with getting a new dog. I think we're going to be very happy with Lucas.

Kindergarten is Here

Well, 9 days in and we're all still surviving. I'm constantly amazed at the things Big E will bring home now that he's meeting so many kids. On Friday, he was talking about some kid saying he was going to punch Big E in the stomach. Big E said it wasn't in a mean way. Mom is not sure how that wasn't mean, but oh well. Then on Monday (day 6) he didn't get an "excellent" b/c he was fighting with a kid -- not sure, but may be the same one. Apparently Big E said to the kid, "Do you want a piece of me?" Well, I was taken back when I heard that. We had a big discussion about what that meant and also about the fact that he is going to learn a lot of new things and he might want to check some of those things out because they won't always be good.

I was told that he was going to bring new things home and that I'd be surprised. Well, I don't think I expected it on DAY 5 & 6, that's for sure!