Final renovations post (almost)

The workers have all gone, except those we've subsequently hired to put in the back walkway, and the only thing we have left to do inside is have the built-ins installed (built in, I guess) in the mudroom the second week or so in December. Amazing. It's already a little hard to believe we ever lived without the changes, which I guess means that it all fits seemlessly. So here are some pictures:

Looking into the mudroom from the back hallway

 

Door to the garage

 

Facing the back door

 

Facing back into the house

 

New 2nd floor new bedroom (also known as the Cleveland Browns room), facing in from the hallway

 

Turning counter clockwise

A little further counter clockwise (the long window looks over the garage)

 

Another turn, facing the same way as toward the backdoor in the mudroom

 

Looking back into the rest of the house

 

Renovations update

We are VERY close to being done with the work on the house (on the current project - I have about 20 more on a list somewhere, so we'll never really be done). Both new rooms have been painted and will have their respective floorings in by the end of this coming week. Furniture for the bedroom will be delivered very soon after that. We ordered built-ins for the mudroom, but they won't be in until the second week in December, so that room will be pretty bare for a while yet. However, I have to say that the single most exciting thing right now is that the garage is FINISHED. And the single most exciting part about that is (drumroll, please)...

Parking both cars in the garage at the same time - with room on either side and in the front and back to move around - and places to store things like bikes and shovels and gardening supplies. I must confess, I actually go out there at random times in the day and just stand in wonder. We had a little drama with the siding paint and garage door color, but we've decided we like it all well enough and even though it isn't what we originally planned, it looks very nice.

In other (but perhaps somewhat related) news, Reece's bed broke. When I sat on it. And then I immediately threw out every sweet in the house (no, not really). Turns out, you DO get what you pay for. We bought it almost exactly one year ago, and when I emailed the company (with photos - see below) they said there is no manufacturer's warranty but they would be willing to send us the part (basically a 2x4 board) at no charge if we just paid $44.95 for shipping and handling. For a plank of wood. They gave us free shipping when we bought the bed originally! Needless to say, I sent back a reply saying thanks but no thanks. We'll dismantle the bed this weekend and take the broken board to a lumber yard near us to see if we can just get one the same size to put back in.

 

A huge congrats for Nick

I didn't get his permission to post this but I doubt he'll mind. I wanted to give a huge shout-out to my little brother who got accepted into medical school!!! He'll start at the University of Vermont in Fall 2010 (which of course means another move across the country).
We're so proud of you, Nick! And Dan would like to add "I told him to go to medical school right from the beginning." You also must leave room somewhere in your vehicle to take a large stack of medical books with you when you stop here on your move this summer. I will be beyond thrilled to get them out of our house, and we promise to warn you which ones we refer to as the hernia makers.

The requisite Halloween photos

This was the first Halloween since we moved here that the kids needed layers under their costumes. We only missed the balmy weather by one day. There were a few tears on the part of Reece, who had trouble keeping up with his brother and cousins who were so excited to move from one house to the next. I'm sure the sleepover the night before and all the excitement didn't help either! All four parents got to go with the kids while Grandma handed out the candy at our house, and everyone was happy. Enjoy!