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

Bye Bye Wagon Wheel

Remember this??

Step 1: Remove ivy and stuffed calico hearts and stars.  Live with wagon wheel for 9 months...

Step 2: Remove!!!

Step 3:  FAN! (imported from upstairs)

Step 4: Turn it on and enjoy!

Moving (again)

Well, we've reached the point upstairs that requires getting all of our stuff outta there.  SO, I spent the morning making room in the "dirty room."

and the next day, we moved all of the stuff downstairs.

And, now, we're pooped.

Electricity

The electricity is the scariest part of this house so far. There are FOUR breaker panels, and wires are running everywhere!  We spent an evening last week chasing down breakers -- flipping them on and off and trying to discover where they went.  Even woke Charis up in the process, flipping her lamp on and off.  LOL. 

This also required a couple of new holes in the wall.  The fun begins...

The guts of the house

Yes, we're getting into the guts of the house -- rafters, joists, studs.  Speaking of studs, my man's doing some pretty impressive work these days.

Last week, he hoisted 9 2x12s NINETEEN FEET LONG up into the second story for new rafters.  And it was HOT up there.  But he worked HARD. 

I was sad to see the yellow panels go back up on the porch ceiling,

but oh so relieved to know that it's only temporary. :-)