Sweet Children of Mine

While this is going on around them...

...these girls are having fun!

I'm not sure they know anything other than naps, meals, and play while sawing, pounding, hammering, grunting, etc. are going on, but they sure don't seem to mind.  I'm so glad that they can still have fun while this is going on around them. And seeing their reactions when they notice something is different... That's just priceless.  Life sure is fun!

Defeating our ARCH enemy

BEFORE

This arch is theoretically a nice touch, but the fake brick wallpaper pushes it over the edge...

the corners of the arch cut out

the fun part -- picnics in the living room with unlimited Hulu

taking out part of the counter

here it comes!

amazing what this man can do by himself!

the mess

um, yeah, I mopped the night before... :-)

it's gone!!

THE AFTER!!

(still so far to go, but amazing!)

ah, the floor (can't wait 'til that's gone, too!)

The Beam of Bellaire

MAJOR things happening here this last week.  First of all, it was time to prep for a major beam to cover the span from the garage wall to the fireplace wall (so that the arch could be removed).  That "beam" in the above pic is merely a brace. 

The Before

temp "wall" to brace

THE BEAM

(it's the one standing on its side ready to be put in place -- 14? feet long, CRAZY heavy)

and there were actually two of them that went in side by side

the cheering section

(she got herself dressed to come upstairs to watch)

James giving the beam one last look before heaving it into place

the beam (obviously only part of it is visible) in place

(view from downstairs looking up)

You may wonder what I did this whole time:  Flashlight Holder