Getting There

We've been working so hard. We've been living between three houses, going back and forth between packing up our old house and sleeping at my in-law's while working on our new house. And we're exhausted. Productivity has decreased and whining, fighting and grumpiness has increased over the past few weeks so we're taking a break from all the renovations and heading back home for our last week before we officially move. We haven't accomplished everything I had hoped to but its good enough and we've gotten a lot done.

BEFORE: Kinda scary

AFTER: Pretty!

BEFORE:

NOW: Still a work in progress, but improving!

 

We still need to replace the sink and countertop and lose the awkward peninsula but it's nice to see progress. 

The secret of our success!

I'm so proud of my kids. They've worked incredibly hard the past few weeks. No one is making them do this. They can decide that they don't feel like working. At times, they have, and thats ok. They know that this is what needs to get done and they are willing and happy to help. That's not to say that no one has gotten tired or sick of all the work but I've been so impressed with their ability and willingness to work, work hard and to stick with a task until it's finished. Tanner has painted most of the house herself. Dominick installed the living room floor almost completely by himself. I just helped with the measuring. He did all the cutting and hammering into place. 

Aravis and Dominick ripped out two carpets, pulled up all the little boards with nails (I'm sure they have a name but I don't know what it is) and pried out all the baseboards. 

 Aravis was most happy when she had work to do. She painted, sanded and filled in nail holes. She worked tirelessly, one afternoon, removing the screws from the old, beat up mailbox that were completely stripped and rusted in place. She stayed with it for hours and didn't give up until she had figured out a way to get those screws off. 

There was more I was hoping to have done before we moved in but sometimes you need to know when to let things go. My kids need a break. I need a break. And more importantly, we need a few last days in our current home before we say goodbye. It will all get done eventually.