end of second day

The pile is growing by the hour. It is sort of crazy how fast things come out of the house and how much junk is in there. I don't know if you can see Ray in the left corner but it's almost chest height.
This is coffee break time. Lunch was outside on our patio today and now it's infront of the two houses. I tried making the Tim's coffee from a can but obviously not as good as going to get a real one so I've been told. Thanks to all 9 guys who worked today and the 10th who came with his van to take the pile to the dump this afternoon. Yeah for family and friends. I can't show pictures of everything but there was alot accomplished today. Wall gone, flooring out, bathrooms gutted (Karl did a ton of work with that wall of tile in that bathroom and it took 3 of them to remove the bathtub). Ceiling smoothed out and patched, kitchen painted, and a lot of electrical work. Anyways, we appreciate all the big and small jobs that everyone did and it's looking very different already.
Smokey blue colour - same colour we used in Wpg.
Bathroom down stairs -YIKES!!

end of first day

end of first day the living room wall is part way gone and the kitchen cupboards have been removed!! YEAH for starting a day ahead of schedual!!

Reno's first day

This is the front enterence with nice old smelling carpet. Remember this is the same layout as our house but in reverse. The house smells a bit but I'm sure glad they didn't leave us a mess to clean up before the renos started. The kitchen was the first to go - Thanks to Ray getting the extra day off Friday. The first impression is - smelly, dirty, cat hair everywhere, old and ugly.

This is the kitchen with the ugly uppers that block you view into the dinning room.

This is the bathroom with a lot of tile to be removed and the lovely green that we have enjoyed for the last two years at our house. Thank goodness ours were in better shape then these. We are SOOO happy dad has flown in to help with all the work and lookforward to all the help on Saturday with many others coming.

Valentines Day

We are not usually the typical Valentines sort of people. I could care less if I get something that day. Ray has known this from the beginning. I would rather do stuff for eachother throughout the year. I do appreciate the flowers I usually get, but I appreciate more that Ray usually (and again this year), gets the flowers earlier this month rather then right on the day. Somehow it is a nice surprise still as to when they'll show up. We also hate trying to go out on the actually day with everyone eles trying to go out then too. I do try to make a nice dinner though. This year I tried cooking crab legs for the first time. The leg was as long as my own arm. We think it must have been from a Spider Crab. Atleast, it was something that Mark could relate to after seeing them in Oregan this last summer. I LOVE the fact that our kids love fish and seafood. Mark tried crab at one of Costco's snack counters in a wrap, and has loved it ever since. Anyways, it is actually a nice fancy dinner with the kids this year and it went over great!

Grandma going to China

It was nice to get two days with my mom before she flew to China for 5 months. It will be a great experience for her although I'm sure it will be hard being so far away at times. What an adventure to tell your kids and grandkids about, as well as many friends. The kids have been learning about China since the last time she went (Nov. only for 1 month). Looking at the globe, seeing maps, learning what kinds of animals live there (Kyla loves her new book "Panda Bear Panda Bear, What do you See?") and all about different cultures. The last night mom was with us we had Salmon and rice for dinner using Chopsticks - forwarning to other parents about the mess with rice and chopsticks. Make sure you don't care before you start the meal there really is no getting around it at 4 1/2 and 2yrs. We love you mom and lookforward to hearing all you stories and calling you while your there.