Home Improvements

After taking a break on the home improvement cycle last year, it seems we're back on task this year. I think inside work is about over (ripping out and replacing the kitchen floor, installing tile back splash, painting and painting Willa's new room might be enough for the year).

Yesterday a crew started ripping off the shingles on the house and they've already got new shingles on the back half. It's amazing how fast these things go with a crew of properly trained individuals with the right tools. We will be re-shingling the garage ourselves with the help of some friends.

The other projects are things we'll most likely take on ourselves and include new sidewalks and steps and fixing our chimney. It is, at the same time, both wonderful and horrible to have a partner that is skilled in home construction. Of course, it can't be debated that we've saved a lot of money doing much of our home re-construction ourselves. But often we do not have the tools and sometimes we do not have the skills to do everything required in a job. And always, we completely under estimate the number of trips we'll take to Menards even for the simplest project. See Willa's Tree House project and just count up the running total of Menard's trips.

It's fun to do some of these things ourselves, but this time I'm glad it's not me or Jamey up on that roof.

Heart Matters

Willa says what's on her mind.

I'm always amazed at how honestly Willa can describe her feelings. On Sunday night, after much time spent holding Cam, singing to Cam, making him smile, etc. she said "you know what Mommy? I think Cam just isn't all the way into my heart yet." Of course I asked what she meant by this, and she said "Well, I've been loving you and Daddy my whole life, so you're in the middle of my heart, but I've only been loving Cam for a little while, so he's not all the way in there, yet."

Of course! It's so simple and yet so complicated. Hopefully Cam wiggles his way into the middle soon.