Basement Progress

Slowly but surly we are making headway on our basement improvements.  The markable progress is slow, but it is happening.  Last weekend I did some plumbing in order to reduce the space required for the washer, dryer, and utility sink.  (There's still a little bit of plumbing that needs done if anyone is feeling left out!)  This weekend we primed the closet walls and installed the shelving rails.  We also cut the shelves to size and primed them. Once those are installed, the closet will be ready for paint and doors. 

Florida in Winter

If you are prone to jealousy, envy, anger, or hatred when  reading about perfect vacations...please navigate else-where. 

Otherwise, imagine taking a trip to Florida in the dead of winter.  Think about swimming in the Atlantic Ocean and visting gift shops along the beach.  Contemplate sitting by the pool in the evenings to stay cool while eating oranges right off the tree.  These are a few of the things we did this week!

Grandma and Grandpa Knaab live near West Palm Beach, and since we have not seen them since our wedding, we took the opportunity to visit them. 

We had plenty of beach time.  There were a few jellyfish to watch out for, and a bit of wind, but it was nice to hang out in the surf and soak in the 85-degree day.

   

Lion Country was perfect for our kids.  We drove around to see the majority of the animals, and then entered the park.  All the rides and activities were geared toward young children.  We rode the carousel, went on a boat tour, fed giraffes, fed birds, played in the splash pad, and played miniature golf. 

We got plenty of pool time.  Grandma and Grandpas' pool was a cool 75 degrees, but that didn't stop the girls from jumping in...every day.  The hotel pool was closer to 95 degrees, which lended nicely to parental participation. 

Before bed on the last night in Florida, Caitin said our family prayer.  She was in tears as she prayed that we could come back to visit Grandma and Grandpa again soon.  We really had a great time there.  Grandma and Grandpa kept us entertained with all kinds of stories about their lives.  They have made a great life there in Florida, and we hope to visit again soon!