Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Grand Baby Work Trip (part 3)

When I was with my sisters on Sunday Kim mentioned that she could come up just on Monday and help out and then take me home and I wouldn’t need to take the shuttle.  We had already discussed if my sisters could come up for some of my visit and it was a really bad time for them, their schedules were very busy. So I thought this was a great idea but wasn’t sure it would work out.  Well it didn’t just work out but Becky and Megan came too!  We were getting tired and weary at this point so extra “fresh” help was so great!  

Mickayla made us super yummy lettuce wraps and we had so much fun visiting.  Now we will be getting to work!  Once we gave the the home tour it was time to get to work!  Did I already say how grateful I am that they came and were willing?!!  



Kim channeled Dad and realized we could tape a paint brush to a long pole for those tricky spots. 


Megan has never painted before but she was a natural right away! 


Baby helping work, he’s adorable! 







Kim is super fast and got so much done and Becky is a professional at cutting in!  We basically painted the family hallways and master bedroom! 



I would be leaving soon so I took time with baby.  I hated the idea of leaving him.  



 
I loved every minute of my sisters being there.  I drove home with them that night and in the car had some really good sister therapy.  I stayed the night at Kims.  The next day Kim and I went to the temple.  It was wonderful.  I didn’t know them but I know now that would be the last time I got to go to the temple for a long time. 

Grand Baby Work Trip (part 2)

Back in November Dale found a great flight price and asked if I might need a grand baby trip March?  Of course I would!   So he booked it.  Then in January Mickayla and Steven found a home that they wanted to buy.  They have been living in a 2 bedroom apartment that has been perfect for them but with the birth of another baby in July they have been feeling like they needed a bigger place.  The home they bought had really great bones but needed cosmetic work.  Some of the work would pretty intense (the kitchen) but with a little hard work they knew it could be a perfect home for them for many years.  
They closed on February 28 and I arrived for my grand baby visit on the 29th.  They picked me up from Mom’s and we drove to Idaho and literally got to work! 



Kitchen Before...


Mickayla is always awesome to have lots of veggies for me to eat.





Life sanding 




Steven pulled up all of the tile and removed all of the doors and removed the upper cabinets to the left of the sink, and the sanding and priming began.  There will be open shelving where the cabinets were.  

Steven cutting new doors for the cabinets 




Paint is looking good on the cabinets!






This is their family room that is an addition on the back porch of the house!  It’s an amazing room full of windows and amazing lights and trees outside each window.  We decided these beams needed to go. 


So much better with them down!  It made the room feel so much taller without them.  



I was super impressed with Steven’s willingness to learn to do new things and his over patience with the projects! 



Paining began!  Mickayla decided to keep the wood in the windows because they are beautiful and to paint all the wood trip white that was not beautiful.  It made a huge difference!  





The kitchen floor became a much bigger beast than anticipated!  Steven got the tile out pretty quickly but then there were screws and staples and a sub floor that had to come up and that took much longer.  Steven was a trooper and kept at it!  




One day was super beautiful outside so we decided we had to stop and take baby to the park.  He loved it! 


Many trips to Home Depot were taken!  Baby loved those trips because he could ride in the buggy that had a steering wheel. 


Madi and Haylee arrived!!!!  They had been in San Diego with the Wheelers and as soon as they returned home they came right over to help!  I loved seeing them and I’m always super impressed with what hard workers my girls are. 



Madi and Haylee decided ice cream was in order because of all the hard work.  Baby loved it! 


The kitchen sink was another “simple” project that was totally underestimated.   The old faucet has a lot of rust which made it impossible to remove.  Steven kept with it and asked his friends and researched how to get it off and eventually it came off!  


The old stove hood was super ugly and super old.  There was discussion about cleaning and painting it.  Once the discovery was made a new hood could be purchased for 50 bucks the decision was made, out with the old in with the new! 



Cabinet doors were sanded and painted by Mickayla and are ready to hang!  We started hanging them but other projects were more pressing so these would need to wait.


I was super impressed with Mickayla and Steven’s willingness to do projects correctly and not skip steps. I was also impressed with their willingness to learn how to do new things and not be frustrated and finish projects completely. I see many more projects in their future! 

Grand Baby Work Trip (part 1)








My trip started out with one night at Mom’s house.  My sisters are amazing and all heard I was coming and scheduled time to come see me.  I got one on one time with mom and time with each of them.  It was wonderful.  Ever since Dad has been gone time with these people is extra healing balm to my soul.  Each of them remind me a bit of Dad and we all need to still share tear soup and it’s nice to do that together.  Megan brought the BEST papaya.  We had them in Hawaii but they are always gross here we thought.  But she bought this hopeful and it did not disappoint!  

Friday, September 6, 2019

Adult Sisters

I received a text from Mickayla on Monday that melted my heart.  

“I love having adult sisters so much.”

Mickayla, Steven, Thomas, Haylee, Jesse, Madi, and Rachel all rented an Airbnb at Bear Lake over the Labor Day weekend.
  I got that text after the weekend was over.

Hannah and I were so sad not to be there too.  

Hannah even made a fake post on Instagram like she was there! 




My Dad always said, “The greatest gift to parents is when their children love each other.”
I’m so grateful that my kids do love each other!  
I pray as our family grows that the love will just grow along with it and we will forgive each other when necessary.  

First Day of School

The time has come that I hate so much!  
School starting!
All the kids have now had their first day of school!  

Sam 5th grade
 Ben 7th grade
Hannah is a Sophomore at Eaton High!
 
Madi’s first day at Utah State!

Haylee’s first day of her student teaching, and last semester at Utah State!  She is majoring in Mathematics and Statistics Education. 

Jesse will graduate in April and is double majoring in Mathematics and Statistics! 

Mickayla and Steven are thrilled to not have a first day and loving their lives as parents. ❤️❤️
Sure love my crew!
#tobiinthewindow❤️ #letthenetflixbingebegin😒