Katie Allard - First Grade VIP

Katie was VIP of her first grade class last week. Basically her teacher gives every child an opportunity to share with the class. The child decorates a poster, and brings in different items each day to share with their classmates. The VIP also gets to be the classroom helper and pass out papers to all the children, tell her/his classmates when to line up to go to the lunchroom/gym/ library/recess etc...

We never had VIPs when I was a kid. Basically at my school, the nuns picked their favorite students to pass out the papers and start the recess line - or in my case, to lead the class in the national anthem every morning - and then get teased mercilessly on the playground. Thanks a lot, Sister Mary Harrington! I think that being VIP was a lot of fun for Katie. On the day when she was to bring in her favorite toy, she brought her baseball glove and ball to school. Katie has an excellent throwing arm and enjoyed demonstrating that for the other kids.

She brought in a jar of 103 tootsie rolls on "Estimation Jar" day. The kids were supposed to estimate how many tootsie rolls she brought; Katie chose 103 becuase she thouhgt that some kids would guess 100 right off the bat! After school, Katie whispered to me that she told her best friend Brittin how many were in the jar so that Brittin could win the prize. Every girl learns early that nothing comes between her and her best friend!

On Friday, I was asked to read a book of Katie's choosing to the class. She chose a copy of Paul O. Zelinski's "Rumplestiltskin", which her Uncle Shawn had sent her. When I asked her why she wanted me to read that particular book, she replied "Because it has a smart queen, and the girls will like that; and it has adventure, and the boys will like that; but mostly because it has a happy ending, and I like that." Yes Katie, I like that too!

You will get a kick out of the part of her poster that addresses her future dreams:Yup, I do believe that you will grow taller, Katie! I just love the way you interpret questions, kiddo!

Move over Norm Abrams - Check out This Old House

Many of you have been asking me to send photos of our bedroom remodel; I thought it might be easier for those of you with older model computers if I posted them here rather sent them via email.

Steve and I began this project two summers ago, when he replaced the windows in our bedroom. Unfortunately, as often tends to happen with parents and home owners, other things in the house took precedence and we lived with beautiful windows outside, but unfinished trim inside. As you can see from this picture, the old sheetrock had been hung and taped by a novice - something that truly annoyed my handy husband.

One of the factors in the delay was that we knew that the project was going to be huge; horsehair plaster needed to be ripped out (several layers as it turned out) not to mention the fact that the lathing strips must have been installed in the late 1800's. As an aside -I've decided that ripping this stuff out is most certainly the seventh circle of Hell. I don't ever intend to do this again!

After ripping this stuff out (almost a four day project), I installed the insulation and then Steve hung the wall board. I then announced that for my birthday, I wanted Steve to hire someone to finish the sheetrock and taping for us. He did - what a great husband.

The carpet badly needed upgrading - After all the carpet in the room had to be AT LEAST 40 years old. Once we ripped it out, we discovered several different layers of floor underneath. Surprise!

Yikes - check out this lovely linoleum. Hard to imagine that this was once in style, huh?

The fellow Steve hired, hung the sheet rock and began the process of taping and mudding the walls. Then he disappeared on us. The strange thing is that he left all his tools here!

I was afraid he may have been in the hospital or something, but Steve says that he was either on a bender or in jail. He says that sheet rock and taping guys are "the drummers of the construction world" (translation - they are total party-animals and trouble makers when off the job site. Think Keith Moon or Tommy Lee trashing their hotel rooms and you get the picture). Luckily, we found a great handyman to finish the job for us. In fact, we were so impressed with his skills and his work ethic that we've hired him for a few more jobs. Check out these shots of what he did with the walls and ceiling:

I wanted the room to be a warm, soothing and relaxing color - we agreed on brown, but spent a good deal of time debating on the shade. I wanted a darker tone than Steve. Eventually we met in the middle (as most good married partners do) and settled on what I think looks like a shade of coffee ice cream.
After taking a day or so to level the floor (after all, this house is nearly 150 years old), we had new carpet installed. Steve says that carpet will have a greater impact on resale value than hardwood floors will - especially when you consider the fact that we would have had to do major work to level the base floor in order to install hardwood.

Rather than take the time to make new curtains, I simply bought some marroon panels. Then the new furniture arrived! After 2 weeks, we we no longer had to sleep on the pull out sofa. I am finishing up the new quilt, it will be a scrappy patchwork of maroons, tans, and greens. For now, we will keep this "summer quilt" on the bed. I will post new photos once the quilt is done.

For all of you, I am grateful.

Over the last 2 months, Steve and I have lost several friends to sudden and unexpected circumstances. Death is always hard to comprehend and process; I think that the abruptness of these losses has made me even more attuned to how fleeting life can be. It is important to express how much we love those individuals who are in our lives everyday, not simply on special occasions. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful family members and friends in my life. I love you all.

Nothing is sexier than a man who is a good father. Steve, you are amazing. Your patience with Katie is limitless. I love to sit in the background and listen to the two of you discuss the ordinary and the sublime. You manage to turn every discussion with her into a joyful learning experience. You are a wonderful husband as well; I am truly blessed.

Katie, you are truly effervescent. There is not a day that goes by that you don't make me smile.

The Allard Family Clan pose in front of the Bartlett Inn, Bartlett, NH. You are all so tremendously special. Thank you for the love you share.

Sunset at West Denis beach. What could be better? Well having Mimi with you, of course!

Little House on the Big River

One of the perks of living in Minnesota is our proximity to the many childhood homes of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Ingalls family.

Katie has been enjoying the Little House books for years now. Yes we've read her books, we've watched the televison episodes; however, I think that for Katie, the best fun has been dressing up like Laura and her sisters.

Today Katie and I joined our friends Julie, Lydia and Gussie on a trip up the Mississippi River to attend the "Laura Ingalls Wilder Days" in Pepin, WI. Pepin is the birthplace of Laura and is the setting of the first book in the series, "The Little House in the Big Woods". Like each of the Locations of the childhood homes of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Pepin holds an annual celebration in honor of their famous native. http://www.homestead.com/LHOTP/pepin_mansfield_trip3.html

The girls had a great time (in costume of course), exploring the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum. We then made a trek to the park for the rest of the festivities. There were hayrides, a bus trip to visit the "little house in the Big Woods", a fiddle playing contest (Katie's favorite part) and lots of smiles .

Welcome to our Blog

Because we live so far from so many of our friends and family, we have decided to start this blog in order to connect with you. We hope you will visit and comment often.