Kitchen Construction 10 and Pre-Thanksgiving

This is what happened to my kitchen floor yesterday:





Today, with the girls out of school I utilized them to help keep their brother busy and I put up the outside Christmas lights. Usually I don't put up the lights until it has snowed and the chore is a cold pain in the neck. This year I decided to get the task done early while the weather was nice. Plus, this way, I can enjoy the beautiful lights (one of my favorite parts of Christmas) all month! Don't worry...I won't turn them on until after Thanksgiving. ;)

The kids and I also went to lunch with Kent. A fun little thing we try to do whenever we have the girls on a day off from school. We ate at Fazoli's, one of the girls' favorite places.

Since we won't have the girls tomorrow for Thanksgiving I decided to make a little mini Thanksgiving dinner. I made a Jennie-O turkey roast, mashed potatoes, yams, green beans with mushroom soup and we even had an apple crumble pie for dessert (I think I am missing something else we ate but I just can't seem to remember what it was...). It was fun and I know it will help when I start missing the girls tomorrow.

Throughout the day the girls and I texted my niece Nikki. I really think I like texting WAY too much. It might not have been the best decision buying me a new phone with unlimited texting... :) But on the upside, I am learning lots of fun things about my niece Nikki and nephew Mitchell (my other new texting buddy). I actually feel closer to them than I have in awhile. Maybe texting in moderation, like most things, won't be such a bad thing.

I am looking forward to seeing my family tomorrow and eating lots of tasty things!

Kitchen Construction 9

Textured walls!



Today we had a ton of errands to run so to reward the girls and their unlimited patience, after we were all done we got pizza and movies and had a little family party. It was nice to relax and have fun after a long day spent in the car.

Kitchen Construction 8

Just more mudding and taping and putting up drywall...

U.S.M.C. 233rd Birthday

Happy Birthday United States Marine Corps!

A little background for those of you that don't know much about this auspicious birthday:

During the American Revolution, many important political discussions took place in the inns and taverns of Philadelphia, including the founding of the Marine Corps.

A committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore.

The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines.

As the first order of business, Samuel Nicholas became Commandant of the newly formed Marines. Tun Tavern’s owner and popular patriot, Robert Mullan, became his first captain and recruiter. They began gathering support and were ready for action by early 1776.

In 1921, Marine Gen. John A. Lejeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921 that directed the history, traditions and mission of the Marine Corps to be read to all Marines on Nov. 10 to honor the service's creation. And in 1925, the first formal Marine Corps Birthday Ball was held in Philadelphia.

The celebrations were formalized and standardized by Commandant Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. in 1952, outlining the cake cutting ceremony, which would enter the Marine Drill Manual in 1956. By tradition, the first slice of cake is given to the oldest Marine present, who in turn hands it off to the youngest Marine present, symbolizing the old and experienced Marines passing their knowledge to the new generation of Marines. The celebration also includes a reading of Marine Corps Order 47, republished every year, as well as a message from the current Commandant, and often includes a banquet and dancing if possible. In many cases, the birthday celebration will also include a pageant of current and historical Marine Corps uniforms, as a reminder of the history of the Corps. Marines are reputed to celebrate the birthday, regardless of where they may be in the world, even in austere environments or combat.

Each year, the Marine Corps marks November 10th with a celebration of the brave spirit which compelled these men and thousands since to defend our country as United States Marines.

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Obviously the Marine Corps Birthday is celebrated in our home. Kent usually calls those Marine Corps friends he is still in contact with to wish them a "Happy Birthday" and we have a special dinner. Last year the girls and I started a tradition of taking a treat plate to the homes in the area who also fly a Marine Corps flag. Just a little something to let them know we are thinking of them on their special day.

It is a very introspective day for me. I know there are so many Marines around the world fighting for my freedoms and celebrating this day in less than ideal conditions and my heart goes out to them and their families. Yet, I feel so grateful my Marine is home, safe and celebrating the day with us.

Happy Birthday Marines! May God protect and bless you, wherever you may be!

Kitchen Construction 7 and Family Pictures

The guys came over this morning to tape and plaster the drywall. It doesn't look all the different from yesterday but here is a picture anyway:



Kent helped out this morning with an emergency food drive the scouts were doing. Then we got ready to go take family pictures in our pirate costumes. My kind sister Sallie offered to take the pictures and her family came along.

Here are a few of my favorites:









































Ok...so that was more than a few...but I have such a cute family!

Sallie offered to take our family pictures if at the same time we could take some pictures of her cute kids, so that is what we did.

Sarah:



Donovan



After we got done with pictures we hurried home to staple plastic to the outside walls of our remodel. That way we could protect the wood from the elements until we get the brick on it.





It was a long day with very little accomplished to physically look at and be proud of...but I know we did things that we needed/wanted to get done and that is good.

Kitchen Construction 6

Last night the guys who are doing the electrical/drywall/paint came over and wired in the necessary outlets and light fixtures. We are getting 4 outlets inside and one on the porch as well as getting a new light fixture inside, one on the porch and one in the new 'room' downstairs we made by covering up the stairs.

This morning after the wiring was started:



This picture is an attempt to show you how the ceiling is higher in the addition...



In the afternoon after the insulation went in...that will help warm things up!



Late evening when the drywall was going up:



Things are moving along nicely and I am getting more and more excited!

Tonight Kent and I went on a date to Red Lobster. Oh my goodness...all you can eat shrimp, yum yum! And it was nice to have an evening without Kent III. I sure love that little boy but it was nice to get to spend time with and talk to Kent without being interrupted. :)

Snow!

It snowed more last night! Guess I need to throw out our pumpkins, huh? They are looking a little droopy. :)





And sadly I caught whatever Kent III had. Guess snuggling all day with him was bound to do that! :) Here's to hoping my sinuses take pity on me and this is over quickly!

Election Day & Kitchen Construction 5

Today poor Kent III was sick. He just wanted to lie in bed and snuggle with me. And for a super battery powered always on the go kid, that really goes to show you how sick he was. Fever, sniffles and runny nose: nothing too serious but enough to make him slow down.

Yesterday we had the roofer come and start roofing the remodel. After Sunday's rain storm almost all day and scrambling to borrow tarps to cover everything, it is nice to have the roof finished.

This is what the roof looked like yesterday in the morning:





This is what the roof looked like today in the afternoon:





The shingles don't match our existing roof shingles but in the next couple of years when we have to replace the old roof, this is the color we want.

In the late afternoon this was the scene from my front porch:



If you look closely you can see that the lower hills (under the clouds) don't have any snow on them. :)

By late evening we had a bit of snow on the cars. Nothing that stuck to the sidewalks or grass but it was snow nonetheless. :) Guess we got the roof on just in time!



Kent and I took turns voting tonight rather than bundling up Kent III and dragging him along with us. In the world we live in and especially being a woman, I am grateful for the opportunity to vote, to know that my voice matters. The person I voted for as President didn't win and I get a little nervous when I think about the next 4 years but I do marvel at the wonderful, inspired country we live in and I hope for the best. I hope you took the opportunity to voice your opinion tonight as well.