Well our Mr. Cruz has now passed the 8 week mark... WOW. The time has really flown by, and I can't believe how much he has changed. I finally got more pictures posted and we compared his newbord pics and you can already see such a difference.
Here is a link to his pictures: Second Month (top bar has navigation to check entire album)
This week we started looking at local daycare providers... it is an interesting process. I mean we can't make cost an issue, cause this is about getting good care for Cruz that will help him develop and grow... BUT we are on a budget. I nearly made if the kids at a place are cute an issue, cause this one kid scared me when he (she/it) turned around and looked at me... all I could say was, wow, "he likes to eat doesn't he?" I realize that was a little rude, but the parents weren't there, and I am sure they already know its a problem.
Anyhow... no matter who you ask they tell you, "Don't go there, go here." But each person lists the place someone else mentioned as a no on their yes pile, and vice versa. So who do we listen to? Do I just judge it based on cute kids? Cause that seems easily something I can measure according to my own standards.
So to all four people who read this blog... suggestions? Ideas? Scholarship options? Maybe a grant? He has a couple of weeks of being home with mom before off he goes... all growns up... all growns up...
2.24.2011
2.21.2011
Daddy Daughter Construction
Our basement when we bought the house was partially finished... I say partial very loosely because because basically all they did was paint the concrete walls and lay down some cheap stick on vinyl tiles (that are all peeling already). One wall was framed up down there, and in true previous owner fashion they only finished one side of the wall. I have been meaning to get to it since we bought the house...
So last week I bought some paneling Heather and I picked out. I was going to finish that wall off and this summer we would paint and finish that storage room a little more. So one room in the basement would be "done" and actually "finished".
Well I got lucky and Novali had a four day weekend she got to spend with us... and guess who likes doing projects? Yep... thats my girl! We got the circular saw out (and safety glasses), hammers, nails, tape measure, power drill.... and we even ended up needing my reciprocating saw...
First we got a claw out and pulled nails, Novali unscrewed the shelf brackets and we removed everything from the wall. That weird wood bracket that was built in we had to cut out! The previous owners had nailed it on with huge nails and then bent the backs of the nails so I could not remove it... but we got it out.
Novali helped me cut the top of the paneling to fit under the ceiling, we measured and used the circular saw. Yes she wore glasses, and no I didn't actually let her use that saw. She did all on her own assemble the large storage closest (wardrobe) on all her own. She followed in the instructions and I only had to help her snap in some of the hard pieces and pull the cover over the frame.
There is our finished product... we still need to put one more piece of paneling up. I need some 2x4s to frame up where to mount the last piece and we will be done... well at least with that one wall.
More pics of the project: Novali's Site
What is funny is that during that afternoon we went and looked at a house in our neighborhood for sale. It is one block over and I like snooping to see what other homes look like and their value. It was listed at more than 2.5 times what we paid for ours... and had everything done I want to do to our house... and that includes finishing the basement. When Novali saw the basement there she said, "This could be a cool place for me to hangout"... hopefully that will keep her motivated to keep helping me out and get that basement done.
So last week I bought some paneling Heather and I picked out. I was going to finish that wall off and this summer we would paint and finish that storage room a little more. So one room in the basement would be "done" and actually "finished".
Well I got lucky and Novali had a four day weekend she got to spend with us... and guess who likes doing projects? Yep... thats my girl! We got the circular saw out (and safety glasses), hammers, nails, tape measure, power drill.... and we even ended up needing my reciprocating saw...
First we got a claw out and pulled nails, Novali unscrewed the shelf brackets and we removed everything from the wall. That weird wood bracket that was built in we had to cut out! The previous owners had nailed it on with huge nails and then bent the backs of the nails so I could not remove it... but we got it out.Novali helped me cut the top of the paneling to fit under the ceiling, we measured and used the circular saw. Yes she wore glasses, and no I didn't actually let her use that saw. She did all on her own assemble the large storage closest (wardrobe) on all her own. She followed in the instructions and I only had to help her snap in some of the hard pieces and pull the cover over the frame.
There is our finished product... we still need to put one more piece of paneling up. I need some 2x4s to frame up where to mount the last piece and we will be done... well at least with that one wall.More pics of the project: Novali's Site
What is funny is that during that afternoon we went and looked at a house in our neighborhood for sale. It is one block over and I like snooping to see what other homes look like and their value. It was listed at more than 2.5 times what we paid for ours... and had everything done I want to do to our house... and that includes finishing the basement. When Novali saw the basement there she said, "This could be a cool place for me to hangout"... hopefully that will keep her motivated to keep helping me out and get that basement done.