At about 6:30 p.m. we had made it to this point.  This wind was blowing.  It was around 32 degrees Fahrenheit--COLD!   

To keep the men going we loaded them up with hot pizza and praise.  Doesn't Nate look joyful? 

All is quiet for now.  It's 9:40 p.m. and this is how it looks.

I think they have done a fabulous job.  It was too dark for a picture from the backyard, 

so that will come at a later date.  Monday we will be busy finishing up the electrical for this wall, paneling the outside, and placing a call to the inspector.  He should arrive on Tuesday.

My construction crew has decided to unwind and relax with a game of Wii archery.  They will probably embrace the "day of rest" tomorrow like never before.

Happy dreams to you.

So, today is the day.  The day we start the official remodel.  Here are the last pictures before the door and the window switch places.  I think it is going to be wonderful to not have a walkway directly through the middle of our kitchen any longer. 

A shot from the east of the back door and kitchen window.  I'm not gonna lie.  Love the cool air provided by the evaporative cooler, but hate the view of it from every angle.  We've not been able to look out on the backyard ever from the kitchen window.

Two members of the construction crew arrive right on time with our first truckload of supplies, which include a door and wood.  Yea!!! 

More construction crew.  Well, one construction worker and one Wii operator (at least for today).

And . . . We begin!  Let's remove the door frame so we can move the table into the family room.

Whap!  Bang!   Boom!

We don't need this fancy old trim any longer. 

Window gone!  Siding gone!  Woosh! 

 Gonna saw a big hole here, install a door, build a header, just a few little things for a Saturday morning.

Header in, door in, and on to bigger things.  Go Chris, installing the door knob and dead bolt.  Jeff there is figuring out what all the old wires he found in the wall are for.  Hmmm, which ones are live and what are they providing power for in this 55 year old house.  He's so smart.

Oh, Snap!  Look at that.  We have two back doors.  Should we make one in coming and one out going?  Hmmm. . .   And look at the cool window in the new door.  Looooooove it!

That's Nate getting busy removing the rest of the siding.  We'll post later tonight after it's all done.

Happy Saturday to you.

THE 7 NEW WINDOWS ARE IN!!

They are wonderful.  And the crew that came to install were Heaven sent. These guys also installed insulation all under our house and all replaced all the  light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs.  Almost forgot the blanket for the water heater and the weather stripping on the back door.  There is a new smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector.   They even vacuumed the whole house when they were done.  

Joseph especially enjoyed the day with the installer "Chris".  He followed Chris around from noon till 6:30 p.m. when they finished.  It was hilarious to watch him just talking away to this gentleman while he worked.  

The pictures won't do them justice, but here they are for your gazing pleasure.

The beautiful truck that brought the wonderful installers and windows to our home today.

Window removed.   Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr . . . 

Children very cold while window is gone, but happy for the adventure that is disrupting school today.

Window installed.  

Another window goes in.

They are cleaning up and getting ready to go.  

Window installer HELPER Jo.

In the end it took 9 1/2 hours.  The poor man under the house in the crawl space putting in all the under house insulation must have a sore back tonight.  I hope he has a soaking tub and a comfy bed to put his weary self into.  Oh, how we love it all.  We can already feel a difference in the warmth and the quiet of our home.  Thank you weatherization program.  You're the best.

Happy trails to you.

Quick, quick, quick.  So excited I hope I can sleep tonight!  The new windows go in tomorrow at 8 a.m.  We have been scurrying about all afternoon finding places to put stuff so it won't be in the way of the installers.  That's not so easy when you only have 1,998 sq. ft. to work with.  Couple that with 5 kids at home and their stuff, plus our 22 years of stuff.  That's a lot of stuff.  The shed is packed with the stuff of the absent kid.  (hehehe)   We even have a storage unit, small one, for work stuff and many boxes of books.

Ah, my books.  How I miss you.  You'll be home soooooooooooooon.

Good stuff.  I must sleep now.  I will sleep now.  I can sleep now.

1  sheep

Another  sheep

4  sheep

Wild and crazy lots of sheep . . .

  Close eyes and try again.


Ah...

Just a quick check in to announce the accomplishment of a resolution for the year.

I have picked a science curriculum.

Sonlight 4:  Electricity, Magnetism & Astronomy

Woo-hoo!

Yeah, not too exciting to everyone, but I am a bit hyped for the morning over this.  You have no idea how hyped.  Why did I pick this program?  Let me tell you.  Two of my kiddos can use this simultaneously with a third coming along for the ride.  This act of two or three using the same level at the same time is designed to continue throughout the years of use.  There is at least one experiment per week (fun!).  It is pre-planned for me (best part).  This program can be used from K-6th.  It is reusable so buy once, use multiple times.  Lots of good living books and pictures involved.  Finally, it is designed to prepare a student for transition into the science program I am already using for the upper grades.

So, there you are.  Decision made.  Just waiting for delivery.  Now back to the tasks for the day.

Later,
Little 'ol Me

All things are difficult until they are easy    

--from a fortune cookie

So, it's a new year.  Resolutions are a given with any new year, at least they are for me.  Last year I did pretty well on my resolutions.  In fact, I completed about 85% of the goals I set out to accomplish in 2010.  Not too bad I'd say.  Now what to do for 2011.

As I was contemplating 2011, I happened upon a little segment presented on CBS's "The Early Show" about setting New Year's Resolutions.  Listed below are their 3 tips for setting and achieving your resolutions:

1.  Be concrete
2.  Think small
3.  Hold yourself accountable

This list struck a cord with me.  "Aha, I can do that," I quipped quietly to myself.  I sat there thinking about all the things I've been planning, wishing, or contemplating doing this coming year.  That was the easy part.  Dreaming and imagining what I can do or accomplish just feels good.  In fact, my mind went a bit crazy for a while.  Let me set things straight in case you hear otherwise:  I will not be buying a drum set any time soon; I will not be signing up for tap dancing lessons; and I will not be going back to college (although that one was hard to put to the wayside).

The tip about thinking small is tricky.  I will prefer to think in terms of "one small goal at a time" instead of "complete" the entire list at once.  Thus, my list is probably too large to comprehend, but I'm only working on a bit of it at a time.

As for tip number 3, holding yourself accountable, that is where this blog is going to play a part.  Usually I just write my resolutions down on a piece of paper which is kept handy in my personal planner.  No one ever sees this list.  No one can ask me, "Hey, how ya doin' on that one?"  This plan has always served me well as it is private, but I'm ready for a new chapter in my life. 

While I will still have a few private things being worked on, my main list of resolutions for 2011 is going right here for you all to see.  Feel free to encourage me along as I go, but please do not harass or ridicule.  After all, this is an effort to improve, to feel better about one's self, and to progress forward in life.  If I stumble or even completely fail along this path, at least I will be striving to move forward and that is what counts for me in 2011.

Alright then, let's get setting some goals.  I have a theme for my resolutions in 2011.  

REMODEL

1.  Remodel the House:

                  Kitchen and dining room remodel                                                January - February 2011
                  3 bedroom closets redesigned                                                      January - February 2011

                  Paint the interior of the house                                                      February - April 2011

                  Buy new towels                                                                              April 2011

                  Tear down the old swingset                                                         May 2011

                  Put in grass                                                                                     May 2011
                  Work on sprinkler system                                                             May 2011

                  Replace all the sheets being used as window coverings         June 2011
                  Lay cement along the north side of the house                          June 2011 ?                 
                  Rehouse the returning missionary                                              July 2011
                  Vacation                                                                                          August 2011

2.  Remodel the Homeschool:

                  Make a choice for science and stick to it                                             January 2011                  
                  Clean out the old, unused curriculum taking up space in my life     June 2011

                  Finish writing the transcripts                                                                 By May 2011

                  Have all curriculum ready to go for the new year                              August 2011

3.  Remodel Me:

                   Physical -- Set up a plan to regain my health and actually do it                  

                               Step 1--Get up and go to the OFC to exercise daily

                               Step 2--Set up and follow a good eating plan (with vegetables and protein included)

                               Step 3--Get to bed early and arise early 6 days a week 

                               Step 4--Drink plenty of water daily

                   Spiritual -- Renew my spiritual self regularly

                               Read from and study the scriptures daily

                               Pray daily morning and night

                               Attend the temple monthly

                               Read Jesus the Christ

                               

                   Mental -- Spend time growing in my hobbies

                               Read 12 books that are not self-help books                    one per month

                               Progress through level 4 and 5 in piano lessons            by December 31, 2011

                               Make another pieced quilt                                                  October 2011

                               Learn to knit and make one thing                                      November 2011

                   Social -- Entertain guests in our home that aren't just family          Every other month

My reading goal will actually be a continuation of a goal I've been following for the past two years.  I had gotten in the habit of only reading self-help and improvement books.  After delving back into novels and fun stories over the past two years I am totally hooked.  You get to travel, make new friends, and experience so much within the covers of a story book/novel.  In fact, if you're looking for a good read check out my list of books on the side bar here.

So, there you have it.  Nothing too monumental to the rest of the world, but nonetheless work for yours truly.  I have perfectionist issues you see.  If I can't do it perfectly I will research and plan until I can do it perfectly.  Unfortunately this often results in doing nothing.  Research, especially with the advent of the internet, simply presents too many choices that all seem wonderful and overwhelming.  Making a decision is crippling to a person like me.  "What if I do it wrong?!"  My poor husband has suffered long enough with an indecisive wife.  

This year I choose to overcome and concur.  Pretty good is good enough.

For 2011 I invite you to join me on a forward journey in life.  Come with me.  Check on me.  Help me and in return I commit to help you.  I challenge you to set one resolution for 2011 and share it with someone else.  Ask them to check on you regularly to encourage you on your way.  I'd be thrilled to help you if that works for you.

Happy New Year to You!