MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

WE HAD A GREAT TIME TOGETHER THIS WEEKEND. WE DID NOT DO ANY OF THE USUAL THINGS FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. WE STAYED HOME AND WORKED ON THE HOUSE.

MARK FRAMED THE KITCHEN WINDOW (LOVE IT!) AND BUILT THE FRAME FOR THE KITCHEN FLOOR TO EXTEND INTO THE ADDITION BEFORE YOU STEP DOWN INTO THE DEN.

I WORKED ON TEARING DOWN THE LAYERS OF PANELING AND OLD WALL PAPER FROM THE BACK GUEST BEDROOM...ABSOLUTELY GROSS! I HATE TO SOUND LIKE A PRIMA DONNA BUT THE DIRT AND MOLD WAS COVERING ME AFTER THAT JOB. EVEN WEARING A MASK I COULD SMELL IT. MARK HAS TO LAUGH AT ME BEING SO CAUTIOUS BECAUSE HE JUST JUMPS IN AND GETS THINGS DONE. I MAKE THE BOYS EVACUATE THE AREA, PUT ON MY MASK, PUT ON MY HAS MAT SUIT...JUST KIDDING ON THAT LAST ONE, BUT IF YOU KNOW WHERE I COULD GET SOME... ;-). THERE ARE NO PICTURES OF ME WORKING SINCE I AM THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE FAMILY.

THE BOYS ARE JUST THE BEST SPORTS ABOUT ALL OF THIS. BY MONDAY I COULD TELL THAT MASON AND ANDREW JUST WANTED TO STAY HOME AND VEG OUT. WE SLEPT IN A LITTLE AFTER MARK LEFT TO GET STARTED ON HIS WORK THEN GOT UP TO WATCH CARTOONS. BY 1:00pm I ASKED THE BOYS TO GET DRESSED AND WE WOULD GO SEE WHAT DAD WANTED FOR LUNCH AND HELP HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE. THEY WERE BOTH A LITTLE WHINY BUT WENT ALONG WITH ME. INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING, THEY MADE SOME FUN FOR THEMSELVES.

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU COMBINE DIRT, ROCKS, SHINGLE NAILS AND TWO LITTLE BOYS "WORKING" WITH YOU ON A REMODEL PROJECT?

A ROCK TRAIN, OF COURSE!

THEY FURNISHED THEIR NEW BEDROOMS WITH FURNITURE BUILT FROM SCRAP LUMBER. ANDREW IS SITTING ON HIS "SOFA" WHILE MASON TAKES A NAP ON HIS "SEMI-TWIN BED".

EVERY GUY NEEDS A RADIO IN HIS NEW BACHELOR PAD!

AND OF COURSE, AN ALARM CLOCK TO GET UP IN TIME FOR SCHOOL. ALTHOUGH, IT MAY BE A LITTLE LATE FOR THAT!

AND THE CHICKS CAN'T RESIST WATCHING SPONGE BOB ON THIS COOL FLAT SCREEN TV!

I JUST LOVE HOW THEY CAN USE THEIR IMAGINATION SO VIVIDLY! SOMETIMES I WORRY THAT OUR "INSTANT GRATIFICATION" SOCIETY HAS STIFLED THIS IN OUR KIDS. THIS OLD HOUSE RESTORATION JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT KIDS ARE STILL KIDS. GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY THEIR LITTLE MINDS WILL AMAZE YOU. WHEN WE ARE AT THE "YUCKY HOUSE" WORKING THERE IS NO TV, VIDEO GAMES, COMPUTER, OR ELECTRONIC GADGETS. JUST A RADIO PLAYING, A FEW DUMP TRUCKS, HOT WHEEL CARS AND THEIR IMAGINATIONS. AS IT TURNS OUT, THEY ARE CHOOSING THE LATTER...AND I AM SO THRILLED!

VISIT MARY TO CHECK OUT WHAT THE OTHER KIDS HAVE BEEN UP TO ON THIS TINY TOT TUESDAY!