Day 17

We've been really busy, and it isn't that I've been neglecting the blog.  I just haven't had anything to report!  Jason had his first Symphony season concert this weekend, a recital, and Jason's cousin Allan is staying with us as he is taking the french horn audition today.  Jason also has had many contract negotiation meetings.  I've been working a lot as well, so we haven't done much work at the house.  We've had an electrician come look at the place, but he hasn't started working yet.  We rented a dumpster and with the help of Eric and Jon, Jason emptied the garage of plaster, cabinetry, flooring, etc.

Yesterday we moved in!  With the VERY generous help of Eric, Gini, Jon, Adam, and Allan, we moved the piano into the basement and the dining room furniture into the garage.  We also couldn't have done it without the furniture and appliance dollies that we borrowed from the Omaha Symphony.  We had to move EVERYTHING into the basement since we are still working on the upstairs.  Luckily, there is a bedroom in the basement that we can use until we are ready to move upstairs.  What do you all think of the knotty pine?  I've always thought we would paint it, but some say we shouldn't.  At the very least, we plan to replace the carpet. 

It's a side view, but you can see that we have a big fireplace down here.  It's currently surrounded by a wall of boxes.

This is our utility room.  This is the fridge from the upstairs.  Jason, Eric and Jon had to remove the doors and carry it around the house to get it down here.  We also had to move our washer and dryer the same way.  You can see that we have a lot of room down here!  I think we will survive until the upstairs is finished.  Thanks for all your support!  It really means a lot to us.  

Day 11

We are so excited!  While we were at work today, the professionals we hired put in the header!  Finally,the first step toward putting our house back together! 

It only took them three hours to do it, plus however many hours it took us to demolish the wall before that, but it was worth it, don't you think? 

Jason surveys the work. 

Obviously, an electrician is needed to help us with these random hanging wires.  That, and we need to turn those wall air vents into floor air vents.  Those are the next projects for the next couple days, and then we can start putting the drywall back up with insulation!  

Day 10

Today was Jason's birthday!  We didn't want to do any work today, but since the professionals are coming tomorrow to put in the header, we had to do some last minute cleaning. 

We tried to clean up the drywall by cutting off the wire netting.  However, Jason's sawsall blade broke off!  We did as much as we could.  Hopefully tomorrow, I'll have a picture to post of the header.  After this, we had birthday cake at the Magnusons!  They are awesome friends.  

Day 9

After recouping a little from our Kansas City trip, we resumed work on the house.  Mike and Kristy came over to assess our work.

After showing us his vintage can modeling skills, Mike gives us some bad news.

Mike and Kristy think that the drywall is too gross and tattered to save.  We can all agree that it is definitely gross looking, but also there isn't any insulation behind it.  We made lots of holes in it removing the cabinets, and they think that it would be easier to just replace it all at once and add insulation.  Drywall is not expensive, we hear, and our friend Scott also had a similar opinion. 

So we started right away!  This is what I did all by myself!  While I was doing this, Jason ripped up some installed carpet in our utility room that had gotten wet.  Who puts carpet in a utility room?  I guess the same person who paints their walls pink.

These tables and counter are installed in the space, so it was a chore for Jason to rip up the carpet while not destroying the work space.

Jason then helped me finish!  For all of you who thinks destroying drywall is a glamorous and fun project, think again!  We're exhausted and covered head to toe in white dust, but also pretty darn pleased with ourselves!  

Day 8

We didn't get a chance to work on the house at all because we went to Kansas City for Dianna Robinson's wedding!  Dianna is the older sister of my dear friend Karen. 

Here is a picture of us NOT all covered in dust and sweat.

Reconnecting with Karen is always a blast!

 

The blushing bride!  Dianna was a GORGEOUS bride!  Not that she could ever be anything less than gorgeous :)

 

We had a great time seeing Karen and Mike and witnessing Dianna and Kameron's marriage.  These guys know how to party!  It was also really nice to have a break from remodeling!  

Day 7

It's day seven, and there's no resting for us! 

Jason finished ripping out the flooring!  Now we're waiting for the professional type to come and put in our header.  In due fashion, he now says he won't be able to make it until Tuesday.  Argh!

In the meantime, there is still PLENTY of stuff to do.  We started to clean up the drywall so that it will be ready after the header is finished.  First, Jason had to remove a large wood beam to which the soffits were attached.  He assured me it wasn't structural.  Then we trimmed the edges of the drywall.  I think you can actually see drywall flying in midair in this picture.  It was difficult to do this because our house has drywall with metal netting mixed in.  We had to beat out the drywall with a hammer and then cut the metal with the sawsall.  Good thing it saws all!  (Just laugh anyway.) 

 

We finished the top part of this project, but obviously, we have the bottom edge left to do.   Tomorrow, we won't be doing a lick of work here!  Don't worry, we have a good reason. 

Day 6

Hello All, today Jason removed the rest of the cabinets and started ripping out the floor! 

This stuff is even worse than the entryway because it has a layer of linoleum, then another layer of linoleum, then the plywood before we get to the subfloor. 

I don't know if you can really tell by this picture but there are maybe a million staples in this little chunk alone.

 

He has his work cut out for him tomorrow!  Hopefully I can lend a hand after work, since Fridays aren't as late for me. 

Jason even found a vintage oil can!  25 cents.  Ah, those were the days.