Bethany Beach

It is more fun starting a vacation then to end one.  We had a great week of R&R, good eats and drinks.  The only thing missing was a few family members.  :( aka Glenn, Papaw, Kyle and Maggie.

Booking a vacation retreat via the internet can be an adventure in it's self.  You never know quit what to expect but this time we won!  We did check out one we almost rented and were thankful someone was watching out for us because it looked awful.  Our beach week would have been quit a different experience.  It was nice going early in the season before the masses of tourist arrived.  I enjoyed talking to the locals who were very friendly and eager to share their favorite places to eat or get a pedicure.  On our last night we decided to get all you can eat crab.  On a recommendation we headed to Ocean City  which was about 30 min away.  The buffet wasn't exactly what we had in mind so we left the waiter a tip and walked out.  In the parking lot an older couple flagged us down saying they over heard we wanted crab.  Their favorite place was up the road on the left.  So piling back into the car we make the journey in search of all you can eat crab.  The parking was a challenge but determination paid off.  When we got to the lobby there was a sign advertising the buffet for Fri. and Sat. night.........Uh, it was Thursday  :(  so back to the car.  At this point we decided to go the the Crab Shack across the street from where we were staying.   Several people had told us their crab was delicious, we were just hoping for a cheaper deal and a buffet with other choices in case we didn't want just crab .  So 2 hours later we had our crab dinner.  It was a fun experience.  Mamaw and Josh were the pros at getting the meat out and actually had enough to get full.  Elena decided she couldn't eat anything that was looking at her while she bashed in it's shell.  Lansen and I had problems with cleaning the poop and guts to get to the meat.  So we just made a mess and looked like we had plenty to eat.  I think we had about  2 tablespoons of meat each.  I suggested going to McDonald's for ice cream sundaes and Lansen decided a hamburger would be yummy also.  Josh said his hands were itching so he went to wash up before heading out.  His hand itching was just the beginning by the time we got to McDonald's he was coughing and his face looked swollen.  So we doped off Lansen and Elena and headed to the ER.   By the time we got there he had a rash and his breathing strained .  After being treated for an allergic reaction we headed home at about 1am.  I guess we should have figured all the curve balls were an attempt to keep us from eating the crab.

We are all safe and sound and ready to face Monday.

Adventures to Austria or Not

     This is day 5 of our Austria Adventure.  Glenn and I are hoping to catch a space A flight to Germany and end up in Austria before January 5th.  Kyle decided about a month ago to get married while visiting his girlfriend Maggie.  We are thrilled with the news but decided to go the cheep way and use one of our military benefits.  If there is space on military transport planes we can fly free.  As retires we are at the absolute bottom of the list though.  Knowing how this works, you have to be very flexible and willing to hang out in a terminal for hours or possibly days.  This made great sense on Sunday when there was a flight with 105 seats but just before leaving Glenn discovered his passport expired 10 days ago.  A new plan took shape in a few short hours.  He got an appointment in Philly at the passport office on Monday morning.  They can expedite the process to get a new one.  Trying to beat the snow we left for Philly Sunday night.  We didn't quite beat the storm but did arrive safe and sound.  We chose a hotel within a few miles of the office so if the roads were too bad GLENN could walk there.  I would remain in our warm hotel room.  Monday morning feeling optimistic we checked out of our hotel and  navigated the snow covered streets to the passport office.  The downtown businesses were busy shoveling sidewalks for any brave soles that would venture through their doors.  That is all but the one we cared about.  A sign written on plain white paper hanging on the door, "Building Closed due to the Snow".  So Sunday Night Football and the Passport office would be canceled until Tuesday.  Glenn rescheduled his appointment for Tuesday and we went back to the hotel for another night.  On a positive note, we finally got to see newest Harry Potter movie.  
     With Glenn's new passport we headed for Dover AFB to see about getting a flight.  We waited around for two days with several other families.  As the hours ticked by the kids got wilder.  It was quite comical, above the running and screaming an announcement could be heard "parents need to keep control over their children at ALL times, no running in the terminal".  :)
     Last night we made a decision to drive to NJ to another AFB since it sounded like there were more flights and seats available.  This morning once again things change.  The two flights with 73 seats each are reduced one flight with 8 seats,  these were filled by two families in a matter of minutes.  Ok, next chance at 6pm tonight maybe 73 seats.  We have our laptops, movies, books and puzzles so here we stay hoping for the best. 
     Stay tuned for more updates.  I am writing this for my sanity so you really don't have to keep reading I am sure you all have better things to do.

End of Summer

This morning it dawned on me that the Summer of 2010 is over.  For me it has been a different sort of summer.  Usually they are marked by places we vacation and trips to the lake.  This year the only trips taken were to Fairfax to work on "The House".  I do have more accomplishments this summer in the before and after photos.  Both Glenn and I even lost a few pounds, I guess we were too busy to eat.  Our before and after photos don't look any different though.

It has been fun watching the two sets of Lambs grow over the summer.  I faithfully look for them as I drive by the farm.  One set was born totally black and now there is just a little on their face.  Some of the eight Hummingbirds I have watched over the summer have left for their long flight to Mexico.  I still see five of them taking hits at the feeders.  It is nice not having to refill the feeders every day.  I was making eight cups of sugar water every other day to keep up with their eating.   There are still a lot of deer around but the fawns have lost their spots.

I enjoyed getting to know Maggie, an au pair from Austria.   She didn't just steal Kyle's hart but mine and Glenn's as well.  I miss her smile and contagious laugh.  We hope she can come back to the USA soon.  Lansen's girlfriend Elena spent a lot of time with us over the summer.  It was so fun getting to know her better.  I felt sad each time she needed to return home.  Having another female around was a special treat for me. 

Monday I go back to work so Summer is defiantly over.  There is still a list of projects left to do and I will chisel away a little at a time.  It is time to move on to Fall and see what this season has in store.  Cooler nights, breezy days, daylight savings (yuck), lots of yard work and best of all Football and Hockey to name a few.

Kick Off

This has nothing to do with "The House" so I know some of you won't be interested.  I will still keep you updated from time to time but for now some new material.  Any one that knows me knows I am a sports fan.  Yes, little ol'me.  I go for the more violent sports aka, hockey, football and MMA.   This comes from being a Mama to three sons and even a male black lab.  I call it survival!  The funny thing is I love sports even more than some of my sons.

Tonight is opening night for NFL which is a great moment since it means Hockey season is just around the corner.  I started out watching football and knowing hockey was another cool sport but didn't pay much attention to it until about two years ago.  Now football is ok but Hockey is the one I love. 

Our family has a Fantasy Football League the BLF.  This will be our forth year.  We play for fun but are pretty competition.   My team name this year is the Marsha Mellows.  This name should put fear into the other team owners.  I am acting as the League Manager since Glenn already has more jobs than time.  We did an automatic draft this year due to last minute timing.  There are several players on my team I have never heard of so I need to do some homework.  I do recognize Tom Brady though.  Glenn picked up Ben Rothensberger  who is suspended for at least 3 to 4 games.  Mom and other sports fans have been wondering why Bret Farve is still playing and not retiring while he can sill walk.  Well he ended up on her team.  My sister-in -law who lives in Denver and is a Broncos fan ended up with Jay Cutler (their ex QB).  So there were a few funny automatic picks but for the most part the teams should start out even.

Our teams are set for tonights game and an exciting weekend ahead.  Lets play some football!

The House update #1

It is time to up date you on progress made at "The House".  No, it isn't finished yet.  Glenn has continued to stop in after his real job and put in a few hours of work.  Last week he finished the upstairs bathroom.

Perfect shirt!  "Handy Dad INC"

Over the Laber Day weekend I helped Glenn hang the mirror, and cabinet in the downstairs bathroom.  So both bathrooms are finished! Yea!!!!!  I painted doors and more molding pieces.  Lansen cut the molding, Glenn brought his table saw over which made this job much easier.  Monday was very frustrating since most of the day was spent on cutting out the place for hinges on doors.  They were having all sorts of problems.  But there are door on Andres and Joshua's bedrooms and the downstairs bathroom so far.  Lansen patched the hole in the living room wall that was still open from electrical work.  Glenn re routed the vent for the clothes dryer.  It was just going into the crawl space which was a very bad idea. 

I cleaned and painted the railing and base boards for the stairs.  Mom stained the upstairs hallway.  This is the last of the wood floors.  It will need three coats of polyurethane before calling it finished.  

Tomorrow a new stove is being delivered.  Yes, the one Mom spent so many hours cleaning self distrusted.  :(  We haven't had much luck with keeping the original appliances.  Hopefully the washer and dryer will work for a while.

Andres moved in on Sunday so all three boys are living there now.  It isn't too bad as long as they avoid the back family room/construction zone.  There still needs to be mini blinds for the windows but at least the windows are high so no one can really see in.

Lansen is going to be able to put some of his job experience to good use since he just got a job working for Home Depot.  Maybe he did that so he could see his Dad once in a while.  LOL

Day Thirty three

Waiting on the furniture

New microwave

Ready for more dishes

Medicine cabinet

Mom and I did a lot of picking up and moving of tools and supply's to the family room and soon to be Lansens bedroom (when finished).  I hung the newly painted black and white medicine cabinet.   The bathroom is going to look sooooooo good, with the large black and white square design floor and other black and white accents.  Mom sprayed closets and rooms with bug spray.  Glenn got an early start and finished the ceiling in the orange room and put the finishing touches on the bathtub.  Andres stopped by and measured and cut the molding for the bathroom.  Lansen and Josh spent their day packing for their move.   Glenn was unable to get a U-Haul since all the rental places were closed today.  It makes prefect sense to be closed on Sundays, right?  He was able to borrowed a trailer from a friend.  Most of the larger furniture and the refrigerator fit.  The items left will fit in either Glenn's truck or the van.  You did notice I said "the refrigerator fit".  You faithful followers from the early days are probably wondering about the one in "the house" that Mom spent a lot of time cleaning.  After giving it some time we decided it wasn't getting cold enough.  Fortunately I had an extra fridge stored in our barn.   I will use the stored one at my house and give the boys the one we have been using.   The only problem is the one that has been stored doesn't have an automatic ice maker.  Glenn is not too happy to give that up but at least we don't need to by a new refrigerator.   Oh, when I was looking in the barn for things the boys could use in their new house, I think I found the correct feet for the sofa.  I will let you know later if they are or if we need to use the ones I took from the sofa destined for the dump. 

I hope the boys will find all these cleaning supplies

My blog post won't be as regular since we are mostly finished.  I will keep you up to date on our progress as it happens.  There will be an open house once "the house" is totally finished.  I will also work on a before and after photo album.  Thank you for your comments and encouragement through this process.  It has been fun writing the blog.  Who knows maybe I will keep posting but with a new theme. 

Construction Zone!

Day Thirty two

 This week has flown by and now it is Saturday-----WOW!  Mom and I leave for "the house" around 9am
but stop at Wal -Mart on the way.  There are only a few jobs for us to do today.  Most of what is left has to be done by Glenn and Lansen.  There are a few areas that will need paint at a later date but they are not ready yet.  I decide to finish painting the medicine cabinet and the floor molding.  Elena prepares the bedroom floors so Mom can put a third coat of polyurethane on.  After seeing the living room we decided a third coat was necessary.  Glenn painted the second coat on the ceiling in the upstairs bathroom.  Lansen and Elena measure the living room for floor molding then work together to cut it.  Glenn makes a trip to a rental store to get a special roller for installing the vinyl and a nail gun to make putting up the molding easier.  After we all leave Glenn works on the pluming for the bathtub. 

Lansen and Andres will start moving in tomorrow.  I feel like the home improvement shows the day before the family returns home.  There a several unfinished projects and tools and construction debris ever where.  The living room, bedrooms and dining area are finished except window blinds.  Tomorrow should be interesting.