Vist From Aunt Tam Tam

My sister and her dog, Lexus, came for a visit a few weekends ago. The kids always love it when she comes and it was nice for Joe and I as we were able to go bowling and have dinner with friends.

10-10-10

Chicago Marathon 2010: registration complete and flight booked I have decided to run the Chicago Marathon. I have wanted to run for quite some time but have always decided against it due to the fact that it is in October, which happens to be football season. (Yes, I am aware it is football season in October) I have managed to talk one friend into running it and two others to come along for the other great things Chicago has to offer (theater dinning and shopping). Joe still questions why I would want to run another marathon and I told him it is not that I want to run another marathon it is that I want to run the Chicago Marathon. It is going to be a great run and it happens to fall on 10-10-10! How cool is that??

MORE WRESTLING ACTION

Keenan, is not really a fan of the headgear he has to wear for wrestling. However, Keylee loves to wear Keenan's headgear and when we go to wrestling tournaments if I can't find Keenan's headgear I can genearlly find it on Keylee. I will say, I have never been a real fan of wrestling. However, this year has been a lot of fun to watch Keenan learn and compete. He seems to really like it and he does a great job. He has had a lot of success.

Phase 3 and 4 Complete

Phase 3 and 4 are now complete. Phase 3 was new white trim and casing. Phase 4 was installation of new carpet (which was almost as bad as moving).

Now we have been busy filling the nail holes on the trim and painting over the holes. Now that the trim and casing are up we see that our doors aren't quite as white as the trim and casing so now we get to paint doors. It is never ending . . . .

Proud Mama

Keenan had his second wrestling meet this past weekend in Manhattan. He had a lot of people (a/k/a "his fans") there to cheer him on. He wrestled well and finished second. He is really having a good time with wrestling. Joe and I have been so pleased with his efforts.

Phase 1 and Phase 2 of Home Improvements FINISHED!

Joe and I recently decided to take on some home improvement projects. Once we finally decided what we were going to take on I thought to myself, "wow, this is going to be a lot of work and I am going to have to invoke my (rarely used) patience." Guess what? It has proven to be true it is a lot and we are only finished with Phase 1 and Phase 2 with Phase 3 and Phase 4 to be started this week. Below are pictures of Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 1 was replacing the tile that surrounded our fireplace with stone. We are very pleased with the results. Phase 2: consisted of Joe tearing out the kitchen floor and literally pulling 5,000 staples from the floor one at a time. We hated the kitchen floor but we could never decide on a tile. We finally decided on tile and after a long long long weekend and some help from some people who know how to put down tile the job is complete! Phase 3 will be replacing all oak trim (baseboards and casing) with white trim. Phase 4 is new carpet in the upstairs and stairway. Hopefully by end of February I will have my house back. Right now, it is a MESS!!

You can see the old flooring in this picture.

New floor!!

Keenan wanted to help. We are also replacing the tile in the front entry way. The picture with Keenan shows the old tile that we are tearing up. (and when I say we I mean Joe although I did grout the kitchen tile). I didn't get a picture of the fireplace with the blue/gray tile that was on it. This is the best before picture I had.

You don't want to get tangled up with this . . .

Keenan had his first wrestling tournament today (or as Kira kept calling it "The Big Smack Down." It was pretty funny listening to her give him pep talks throughout the day). Keenan did a great job. Joe and I could not have been more proud of his efforts. He took third place. He wrestled all the way to the end and never gave up. He wrestled some kids that were pretty good and not as new to wrestling as he is. The Manhattan Optomist Wrestling Club coaches have been doing a great job with Keenan. I am amazed at how much he has learned in such a short period of time. He cooperated for the picture above but then insisted that he get another picture taken of him doing his "game face."

I also scored wrestling points today as I wrestled Keylee the entire day at the tournament. It was a long (but super fun) day.