We had a lovely and productive Easter weekend, plus a day or two on either end, with Josh, Michelle, Ben, Ethan and James!
Michelle has some great ideas for remodeling their kitchen, but since we couldn't tackle the whole project this time, she decided taking out the built-in desk would be a good start! With the desk in place, they weren't able to fit a table big enough to accommodate their growing family. Michelle and I envisioned taking a sledge hammer to the desk, but Dad showed us a much wiser way--though maybe not quite as fun.
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| Dad used a jack and 2x4 to lift up the tile counter top. |
Michelle demolished the back of the desk using her kick boxing skills:
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| Ethan and Ben had fun taking the jeep for a spin. |
Ethan didn't give Ben much opportunity to drive! But we all had fun playing kick ball in the backyard.
Ben is currently very excited about Pokemon. It's not clear he knows how to play the game yet, but he knows about many of the characters and how much damage, etc. they can do. I think he enjoys creating his own drawings as much as talking about the cards he wants to get or has received from friends.
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| Mega Charzard EX/GX/Jumbo by Ben Cook |
Meanwhile, the projects continued. Dad was impressed by Josh's "fishing" skills: only one hole was required to connect the wire for the ceiling fan to the switch next to where the desk used to be. Josh fished the wire from the center of the family room ceiling to the hole on the side, then aimed his phone as a periscope to see inside the ceiling to where the wire had to bend down the side wall. He Facetimed with Michelle's phone to see the images on his phone--very clever! Unfortunately, I don't have a photo because I had already gone to bed. Michelle's high fitness class and pulling nails out of 2x4s did me in!
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| Michelle and Ben helped Grandpa install the fan. |
Dad and Josh spent the better part of Saturday figuring out how to rewire the switches that were on the built-in desk. It was especially challenging because there were three switches, including a 3-way and a 4-way.
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| Ben helped Josh who helped Bruce with the wiring. |
It was wonderful to go to church with Josh and Michelle on Easter Sunday--especially because Josh was the final speaker! He didn't have much time, but he bore a tender, powerful testimony of the Savior and the reality of His Atonement and Resurrection. We were so glad we could be there to hear him!
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| We love our family! |
My goal is at least one family photo every trip. Michelle's friend took about a dozen and this is the best. Ethan actually did look up in one but then Ben wasn't, so we went with this one. Two-year-olds are awesome.
Everyone but me took a much needed nap after church--the first one Josh and Michelle have had in a long time! I enjoyed a little quiet time to read the scriptures and watch the Come Follow Me Easter videos--beautiful and inspiring.
A highlight of the day was the opportunity to talk with Craig!
A highlight of the day was the opportunity to talk with Craig!
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| Ben improved his chicken and cheese enchilada with Easter candy and Oreos. We tried not to think about it. |
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| Ethan has mastered hopping on his right leg and kicking with his left. |
Bruce wisely kept some of the painted dry wall from the built-in desk so he could use it to patch the holes he had to make in the walls to move the wiring. Michelle cut the grout around the old tiles and she and Josh pried them up--not easy work. Dad taught Josh and Michelle how to lay tile. We barely made our flight home, but there were only a few tiles left to go when we left Monday night!
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| Michelle, Josh and Dad worked very hard--and I got the best job of all! |
