Construction update:

No pictures... yet.
What started as a simple project has blossomed into an entirely monopolizing entity.

I wanted a bead board backsplash. Tons of work. But check.

I wanted real shelves in my pantry. You know, the sturdy kind that can actually hold more than 3 cans of beans before they bow and sag? No check.

But I can't have the pantry shelving until the floor is done because eventually we would change the floor of the kitchen and it would have to flow into the pantry. Of course.

When I can't find a tile that I love (and am willing to pay for!) I would naturally choose a beautiful hardwood laminate. Of course. But since we would someday want the entire downstairs to be the same wood floor, we couldn't do just the kitchen and pantry. You would see a seam when we added on later. No. You can't have that. So we have to start in the office- removing EVERYTHING that has not been moved since we moved in 7 years ago. Not so bad. But then on to the living room. Darn that linoleum and it's horrific underlayment! I didn't realize they made staples that long! But we made it. I should say Larry made it. But I did stand by with encouraging words. Then the living room furniture could be put back (with felt padded feet, of course) so that we could, then, empty the dining room. But we got through that. Which leads right into the bathroom next. The toilet and sink need to be removed, right? But we can't just put them back. No, not the Jensen's. We have to purchase a new vanity and sink that I fell in love with at Home Depot on one of our many visits there weeks ago. If we're going to have the sink ripped out- why not put in the pretty wood vanity now? Exactly.

Now this is where we all get worn out. We have finally made it back to the kitchen. I convince Larry, luckily, that we could use some help to rip up the linoleum/underlayment. (That is after I pulled up said floor in the bathroom all by myself- it felt good to finally contribute.) So Dion came over last night and from 6-9pm he and Larry shoveled, hammered, scraped, chiseled, pounded, crow-barred (is that a word?) and tossed the entire kitchen/pantry floor. Bless them! It would have taken us a couple of days without Dion's help- thank you, Dion!

Note to parents: with Dion here, a certain other teenager seems to work pretty hard, too.

After all was done, I swept, pulled staples, shoveled scraps, vacuumed, vacuumed and vacuumed some more. I'm amazed at the amount of dust that has softly covered each and every surface of my entire downstairs! Now my frig is halfway in the family room- but still plugged in. My pantry items are on the kitchen table which is sitting in the living room. Many pantry items are also covering the dining room table, as well as the kitchen chairs. The family room is also housing several small appliances, casserole dishes, buckets of flour and rice, and, I believe, the potatoes and onions. I couldn't tell you where to find anything this morning. Thus, the desire to wake Porter, quickly dress him and leave! Construction zones are not suitable for 2 year olds.

But it won't be permanent, I know. Larry is determined to finish, and finish soon. I so appreciate all of his hard work. There isn't much we can all do but cheer him on and sweep up afterwards. It is looking beautiful so far. What a difference new flooring makes. Would we do an entire floor again? Perhaps not. Unless we weren't living there! But will we be grateful and happy when it is done and I can swiffer my way from the front to back door? Absolutely.

So if the Jensen's haven't been patient on the phone or available in any other way- please forgive us. We will be back to ourselves soon enough. Because after the floor we only have to paint the pantry, build the shelves and probably replace the unmatching baseboards. Wait. Then the door trim won't match either. Hmmmm.... maybe someone should invite Maisyn for a playdate- she isn't keen on construction projects!