Finished Basements

We've been working on finishing a basement since we lived in Grimes.  

We didn't even consider the possibility in Granger.  That was the basement we questioned the radon levels and at one point called the fire department as we thought there was a carbon monoxide leak as Mike was nauseous.  After several fire trucks arrived with flashing lights and I stood on the cold on the front stoop with Baby Ross to get "fresh air" the carbon monoxide levels in the house were found to be safe.  Turns out Mike just had low blood sugar and needed to eat.    

Winterset wasn't really a basement-finishing-basement either with a huge crack in the floor, a mysterious 'cave' nobody seemed to know the purpose of, and a wall that leaked the smell of cat urine when the humidity was just right.

But when we built our house in St. Charles, the finished basement we always planned was included in the blueprints. 

It didn't happen as soon as we hoped, because what does? 

But it finally happened. 

And last night we had our first family game night in our finished basement.

(Ross was at a friends- but still).

We surprised the kids with big TV and Pool Table at Christmas.

Maisie cranking up the game/snack/drink table when Jasper was invited into the party.

and of course Molly loves clean-up duty.

My girl.

Cooking and Church Basements

I'm so glad my girls know how to cook and bake.  

Molly has perfected a recipe she found so she and Jayson can eat Snickerdoodle Bars for breakfast each morning during the school week.  

She mothers him pretty hard.

My Foods 2 Students struggled a bit as they learned to make soufflés this week.  I kept catching myself telling the high school students my 13 year old likes to make soufflés on Saturday mornings for fun and  that they are one of her favorite foods.

When my Culinary Arts students were prepping for their Friday Cafe, I explained that my 11 year old already washed and cut all the fruit to save them some time in class.  When she was preparing the strawberries for the parfaits, she stated, "These berries are bussin!"

One of the ingredients in the Snickerdoodle Bars in Nutmeg.  I always encourage my kids/students to smell spices as they use them.

Molly took a big whiff and and realized the spice smelled really familiar. 

We haven't been to church in years, let alone a church basement but it turns out Nutmeg smells a lot like an Old Church Basement.

Who Knew!

2022 and Snow

The first day of 2022 brought snow.  I helped Ross and his friend get bundled up for the cold.  Tracking down gloves, wrapping a scarf behind the head, keeping their pant legs from bunching up in snow pants and pulling them OVER the boots to keep the snow out.  It sorta took me back to when he was little. 

With his fur hat, I think he still looks the same as he did 10 years ago.  

The main difference is his best friend has a mustache. 

And not only did January 1st bring snow, it also brought snow crab to Grandma's house.

We celebrated January 1st with as many scissors/shears and bowls of butter we could find so 10 people could eat crab legs at the same time.  

Grandma busted out an old tub of toys she had been storing for Ross since he was little.  

The boxing ring was a hit.  Glass Coke bottles had also been stored for him, along with a yellow gummy bear, a cap gun of some sort, and lots of pieces of gum. 

She asked him before we left if she needed to continue to store the toy tub.

The answer was a definite Yes.

The days are certainly long, but little did I know how fast the years could fly.