Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Ping Pong, Painting, and Game Playing

Grandma and Grandpa Crosby arrived at our house last Monday 7/21/08 about two hours after our basement had a minor flood. One of the pipes that is attached to the back yard hose busted. Mike quickly fixed it... or so we thought... when we tried to use the water again, it was raining in our laundry room. Thankfully, he fixed it completely the second time, but Mom and Dad showed up before we could shower etc. They put up with our stink and even gave us a hug!




The kids were in arts and craft heaven with Grandma here. I don't have the patience for most crafty activities. I really admire those of you who can and do them. Grandma helped all four kids tie dye a shirt; she and Ilah painted 3 canvasses for Ilah's room(rain forest leaves and vines, etc.); she also painted an awesome dinosaur mural on Henry's wall. Henry has been wanting me to do this for three years. Thank you, Mom!


Tucker took every opportunity to challenge G&G in ping pong - even winning a couple
of games against Grandpa! Ilah and Henry played their annual Monopoly game with Grandpa. He won. No one could beat Taysom with her creative debate mind at Balderdash. She fully kicked every one's butt with 5 spaces to spare. (I am quoting Taysom.) This was the same for Phase 10. After Taysom won the first few rounds everyone quit. "I guess they can't deal with my skills." Taysom corralled the family down to the basement on Sunday to watch the Mormon version of Pride and Prejudice which was quite entertaining. Taysom has come to love Mr. Collins and his famous pick up line, "Elizabeth, we are commanded to multiply and replenish the earth."

New Front Doors!

After 3 years of staring at those awful front doors, I now have a beautiful new view. The cracked glass and fake wood embellishments are gone. It's been replaced with a simple white double french door. This is the one project that Mike didn't do himself this summer. He's been busy painting kitchen cupboards, tiling back splashes, tiling a baseboard like trim in a couple of bathrooms, cutting painting and installing crown molding on the cupboards, replacing the old base boards in the den with the new white version, painting the window trims etc. white, and caulking all over the place. I helped a bit... mostly by making a "honey-do" list and a little painting here or there. The main floor of our home now looks how I always knew it could/should. Unfortunately, I am now starting a new list with fixing those ugly porch lights/and black alcoves.