Family Day

THE BASEMENT IS FINISHED!!!!   This is so exciting for our family.  For the past year and a half Jacob has been working on finishing the basement.  It was a huge project that included adding new flooring, digging into the floor to move a bathroom drain, framing, drywalling, tiling, painting, electric.... The list goes on.  It looks amazing now.  The carpet came last Friday, and we just purchased the two big bonuses:  new furniture and a new TV.  We have a few more things to do to complete the whole project, but it is usable and Jacob can finally take a much needed break.

Thank you to all of our friends and family who helped Jacob work in the basement or helped me with Jack while we worked together.  So many people gave up hours of their time and energy, and now we need to have a party to celebrate.

I've got to go through all of my saved pictures to find some good befores and afters.  I'm so thrilled with how it turned out.  Thank you, Jacob.  (Every time he was completely annoyed with the basement he jokingly reminded me that this was all my idea.... now I can remind him of my great idea while he's reclining on his new couch watching baseball on his new TV.  Hopefully he'll think it was worth it!)

Last Saturday was the first time in a long while that our family was free to do only family-related things.  No construction, no grocery shopping, cleaning, or preparing for company, no showers, weddings, or parties to attend.  We took full advantage from morning to night to spend quality time together and enjoy the wonderful feeling.

We had plans to take the bus down to Washington Park, but the rain came in and so we quickly decided to try the Children's Museum.  We were able to borrow Mom and Carl's pass and got in for free.  (Thank you!)  Jack loved every minute and cried when we left.  We have to go back more often.

One of the highlights was the ball-pit area.  As much as Jack loved it, I think Jacob loved it even more.  They were both fascinated by each unique thing.  I wish I could have captured it with a picture!

Train Table!  His new favorite thing to do.

After awhile I put down the camera and just enjoyed the day.  We went out to lunch and dinner and threw in some furniture shopping, too.  We finished the night with some ice cream and a very late bedtime.

I don't know if the day was so great because it had been so long since we had done something like that, or if it was just me trying to create memories before the baby arrives.  Either way, I went to bed that night feeling so blessed and thankful to have these two wonderful guys in my life.  I told Jack last week that God must have known what he was doing when he made me his mom.  He nodded his head like he understood and gave me a hug.  What a guy. 

For those counting down with us, I'm 39 weeks along today!