Cabin addition: Progression in Pictures

There were many things I was planning on doing over vacation, including writing a journal entry each night about our trip. I wrote Day 1 - that counts for something, right? Right? Kira wrote a much better recap post here. One of the other things I wanted to do was take daily pictures of the cabin progress. This task, I'm happy to say, I did accomplish.

Sunday, June 21st

If you remember, the last time I saw the cabin it looked like this. Collin and his Dad stayed a couple of days longer to work on backfill and finishing the outer wall. The guys were supposed to start working on the basement walls and floor on Saturday, but due to one of many delays from Menards, the delivery did not show up on time. So our first day up there ended up truly being a vacation, with no work! On Sunday, though, they started strong.

Here's the inside basement walls around noon on Sunday. The top right corner on Picture 1 is the downstairs bedroom. After the addition was done and we were walking around in it we decided each room is going to have a theme (anyone that has been to my parents house knows where this idea originated!). The downstairs bedroom will be the fish room. Picture 2 is the kids play room. This room will be turtles & frogs. I should tell you, all the themes are animals native to the Northwoods.

The next pictures were taken around 7:30 pm on Sunday after the floor was on and the guys started pulling the old siding off of the cabin.

Monday, June 22nd

On Monday the guys put on the 2nd floor. The top right corner on Picture 3 is the upstairs bedroom - the deer room. The lower right corner is the "wolf" bathroom and the left side is the "loon" master bedroom.

Thursday, June 25th

I don't have any pictures from Tuesday or Wednesday. On Tuesday they dug the drainage pipe and completed other miscellaneous projects and on Wednesday, because the next material shipment still hadn't arrived, the guys spent the majority of the day shopping for shingles and such.

On Thursday they put up the trusses and the roof phase began.

Friday, June 26th

The roof is on! Justin specifically asked me to take Picture 1 - which depicts him standing over to the left, taking a break, while the other two work. You know, because he works for the state :) I don't even want to know what it was like shingling in this weather. I'm pretty sure they got a glimpse of Hell - hot, blistery sun, sweat stinging your eyes, standing bent over on an incline all day long. Yeah, I think they were saying a couple extra Hail Mary's on Friday night. In Picture 2 you can also see that the windows are now in. Picture 3 is of the inside wall before the big demolition on Saturday. Please excuse the mess, it was tight quarters with 6 adults, 2 kids, and 3 (large) dogs.

Saturday, June 27th

Now that everything was enclosed, Saturday's major project was cutting down the inside wall. The boys did really well with all the pounding all week long, but with the screechy saw going on Saturday we decided it was best to get them out of the cabin while the wall came down. This meant Kira and I packed them up and went into town to do a little shopping. Oh, shucks, what a rough day for us.

Picture 1: Annnnnnd, we're in!

Picture 2: Standing at the landing looking up into the 2nd floor of the addition.

Picture 3: View from the master bedroom. I can't wait to see this in the winter!

Sunday, June 28th

This was the last picture we took before we left last Sunday.

My parents stayed up for an additional week and have been busy staining the siding and the electrician has been in working for a couple of days. We're planning on going back up in August for a long weekend with the plan to start siding.

It's safe to say we're all just a little bit excited about this project!

Hodgepodge: Vacation recap, rice cereal, Point 5, SYTYCD

Vacation Recap

You know what is awesome? A week at the cabin up north. You know what sucks? The week following a week at the cabin up north. Dude, this week is kicking me in the ass. Coming back to reality sucks.

Our vacation was awesome. I had alot of things I was hoping to get done but ended up spending most of the time kicking back and relaxing, and it felt so good. We went on lots of walks with the boys and the dogs, I read two (TWO!!) books, we watched The View and soaps all week long (among my current addictions is OLTL - love it!), and Kira and I actually, no lie, worked out 4 days before our DVD player took a crap on us. I am so proud of us for this, I NEVER work out on vacation, but having someone there to share in the pain was so motivating. It also made me feel less guilty about all the fudge, salt water taffy, brownies, cookies, ice cream, etc. that I consumed last week.

On Wednesday afternoon Kira, my mom, and I packed up the boys and went to Minocqua for the day. It was so fun looking in all the little stores. We didn't buy much, but sometimes browsing and getting ideas is just as good. And on Thursday we celebrated Kira's golden birthday with a dinner at the Whitetail Inn.

The guys spent most of the week working on the cabin addition but did find time to get some fishing in. We are SO happy with the addition. The night they cut the wall down inside and we were able to walk between the old and new areas was like Christmas. We were all giddy with excitement. I'll post some pictures later this week.

Ahhhh, vacation. I love you!

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Rice Cereal

Much to my mom's delight, we started Keaton on rice cereal this week. He seems to really like it and has done really well so far. He is grabbing everything these days, so naturally his little mits go right for the spoon and he gives me this look like, thanks woman, but I can take it from here.

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Point 5

Keaton turned six months old yesterday. Collin looked at him last night and said "Happy 0.5 Birthday Buddy!" Not half birthday or 6 months, but Point 5. We are both such math nerds, I love it, Point 5.

He is so active these days. He's rolling everywhere and grabbing everything. He doesn't really like to sit still so while we were up north I put him on my lap alot during dinner and I nearly lost more than one plate of food. I got good at eating with my plate half way across the table, out of reach of the Stink.

We took him for his 6 month pictures today and I am so happy with the way they turned out. Our appointment was at 3 pm and I was afraid if we didn't time naps right we might have a crankster on our hands, but he did awesome. So smiley and happy. I love this kid!

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SYTYCD

It's now 11 pm so I'm going to make this quick, but here are my thoughts on tonight's show:

* In general, I'm really not a huge fan of the Broadway routines

* I love Kayla & Kupono together!

* I also like Carla & Vitolio together

* Nigel hit it on the head, Brian Friedman (sp?) is weird - but I like it.

* I'm not really digging the hip hop routines this season.

* My all time favorite style of dance is classical ballet. I'm sure you could guess this one, but Melissa & Ade's routine??? Loved.

* I can't believe I did this but I forgot to call in my votes tonight. If I had voted it would have been for: Kayla & Kupono (C2), Caitlin & Jason (C4), Melissa & Ade (C6)

Your thoughts?

SYTYCD: fill me in!!

There is a very real possibility that I am missing SYTYCD right now. So will you help a girl out?! Fill me in - what did you like? Who was boring? Did anyone fall on their ass?

SYTYCD: trumps the to-do list

I had a long list of things I wanted to get done today which included, cleaning the kitchen & dining room floors, laundry, laundry, laundry, upload/edit pictures and write a couple of posts to be published next week while we're gone, finish thank yous, go through a few bags of clothes to look for summer wear for Keaton, and exercise.

Other than two loads of laundry and finding some summer clothes for Keaton, which I HAD to do because we decided today that we're leaving on vacation at 5 pm on FRIDAY night instead of Saturday, I managed to go out to lunch with my boys, devour a 2 lb burrito, browse the candy shop and walk out with not one but TWO truffles, and snap a couple of pictures of Keaton nibbling on his toes. Oh, and watch SYTYCD.

The day was definitely more fun/less work that I had planned but I am SO going to regret this when we come home next Sunday to a dirty house. Oh well. The good news is - one extra day of vacation!! Woo Hoo!

So, I really need to hit the sack because I really need to get up and work out in the morning (see to-do list not done above) but I wanted to talk SYTYCD real quick. I loved last season so much that I was really worried I wouldn't be able to fall in love with the dancers as much as I did last year - kinda like the fear of not loving the 2nd child as much as the first - but I'm happy to say I'm really liking this season already and I don't think I'll have any trouble liking it just as much as last season. Here are a couple of thoughts I had tonight:

* I feel like sometimes I let the judges comments sway me and I wish I wouldn't do that. Case in point: I liked Jeanine & Phillip's (couple 8) tango, I thought it was fun, but after hearing the judges I found myself saying, yeah, they weren't so strong technically. But here's the thing, I don't know the first thing about ballroom dancing, ALL I really care about is whether or not it is fun. Yet, by the time they walked off the stage I was agreeing with the judges.

* I was happy Lil C finally gave props to Brandon tonight (if you remember he was one of the ones that basically told Brandon he didn't him). I thought Brandon and Jeanette (C4) did really well on their disco and I think he deserved those props.

* I'm probably the only person who feels this way and I guess that makes me heartless but if I'm being completely honest I wasn't really all that moved by Asuka & Vitolio's(C5) dance. I really, really wanted to be and I liked the dance just fine, but I just didn't feel it. (ducking as you throw your tomatoes)

* I felt more from Karla & Jonathan's (C7) contemporary routine.

* Keaton was being a crankalotomus during Kayla & Max's (C6) routine and I feel like I missed to much of it to get a sense of whether or not I liked it - can you fill me in, what did you think? Because even though I don't want to play favorites, Kayla is kinda at the top of my girl list.

* In no particular order I voted for: Randi & Evan (C1), Melissa & Ade (C2), Karla & Jonathon (C7)

Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Trouble

We've mentioned it before, with two boys so close in age we know we're gonna be in trouble.

Remember this picture I caught of Keaton?

I snapped this one of Jackson a few weeks ago:

Aaaaand another one of Keaton at the end of May.
I'm sure some day I'll look back on this post and shake my head at the naive me of 2009 - but I'm kinda looking forward to the shenanigans of these two.

Daycation

I know I say this, like, all the freakin' time, but seriously, how do the weeks go by so quickly? You might have noticed that I missed my Keatsday post last week. I've been meaning to write it for the past, what has it been? 5 days! Last Tuesday night as I pulled into the driveway and opened the garage door I saw the dog's food sitting out in the garage and I was instantly excited, we're going, we're going! When I left in the morning I thought we were going to go, but our plans went back and forth 800 times before we actually made the decision. Before I was even out of the car Collin was bringing bags outside and we were packing up the Envoy to head Up North to the cabin for a Daycation. Well, a daycation for me, a work day for Collin.

The addition to our cabin started earlier this month and Collin and his dad had a little more work to do before we head back up there this coming weekend with Kira & Justin and my parents for vacation/project: cabin remodel. Because Kira & I were pregnant, we didn't make our usual trip up this winter so I hadn't been there since last August. I love that place. It is so peaceful and it is one of the few places that I can truly relax. Man, did I miss it.

Wednesday was overcast and cool. When Keaton and I were outside we were bundled up in sweatshirts and hoodies, but that didn't matter, we still enjoyed ever second of it. Collin and I are so antsy to get back up there on Saturday.

Here's the cabin

Here's what construction looked like on Wednesday morning.

Here's Maia saying, come on out chipmunks...I dare you!

Here's Keaton saying, hey woman, I got an idea...how 'bout you put that camera down and take me back to the dock. I wanna see that big bath tub again.

Here's what construction looked like when I packed up the baby and the puppy and headed home Wednesday evening. Collin & Pa Kono stayed for a couple more days to continue working.

Countdown to Vacation: 5 days!!

SYTYCD: How it works

After last night’s show, Amanda left the following comment on my most recent post about SYTYCD:

Okay, so last night I watched SYTYCD. I kind of don't get it. Will the voting change? What if you only like one of the people? What if your partner sucks and the good one is eliminated? Who competes like that? Do they have partners the entire time? I ended the night more confused than I started. I did like the short couple who danced to Richard Marx...they were cute. And the dance from Slumdog Millionaire. Help me understand...please???

After reading it I thought, yeah, this show is kind of confusing for a SYTYCD newbie, so I thought I’d clear up some questions. Now, I have to warn you, my brain is only working at like, hmmmm, 80% these days, so if I screw anything up, please leave me a “hey, dumbass” message in the comments.

Okay, here’s how the show works:
* The dancers are all paired off and (as you saw last night) each week they get a different genre and choreographer to work with.
* At the end of Wednesday night’s show America gets to vote for their favorite couples.
* On the Thursday “results” show the bottom three couples are identified and then each dancer individually has to “dance for their life.”
* At the end of the Thursday night show the judges pick one guy and one girl (from the bottom three couples) to be sent home.
* It won’t necessarily be a “couple”. If your partner gets sent home, you automatically get paired up with the other remaining dancer.
* If your partner sucks, well, ummm, life pretty much sucks for you. Hopefully the judges will realize it’s your partner bringing you down and spare you.
* If I remember correctly, I think about half way through the season they have a big ‘ol partner change-a-roo. Also, I’m pretty sure they dance in partners right up to about the end of the season.

Okay, hopefully that clears some things up. The thing I personally like about the show is that although America has a say, they don’t have the final vote. In the end the judges make the call about who should go home. I like this because, seriously, we don’t need a Taylor Hicks of dancing. Sorry if you’re a TH fan. I’m just….not.

Anyway, moving on…

What did you think about last night’s show? I have to say, I was impressed. I’m a big ‘ol dork and I actually vote for this show. I usually limit myself to 3 couples and last night I had a really hard time deciding which three to choose. Unfortunately I still don’t know all of the dancer’s names, but here are the ones I liked:

Couple # 1 – the hip hop routine about the couple who couldn’t go to bed while arguing
Couple #4 - Evan & Randi – the short couple; I didn’t really like the song they danced to, but I loved the dance
Couple #6 - Caitlin & her partner – who danced to the Slumdog song
Couple # 9 – the ballet girl and, oh my gosh, I can’t remember anything but that, I don’t remember her partner, I don’t remember the song, but I liked it
Couple # 10 – I think her name was Kayla – they danced a salsa maybe?

At 9 pm when voting started all hell broke loose in my house as my mom arrived and the dog started going nuts and the baby woke up, so, based on my phone log it appears I voted for # 4, #6, & #10. If you voted, who did you vote for? If you didn’t vote, feel free to play along anyway, who would you have voted for??