Barry’s Daily Web News

Home Office Project, Day 4

I finished the wall cabinets, which completes the major work. I even installed the indirect lighting. I was too tired to complete the molding, so I’ll get to that tomorrow. By the end of the day tomorrow, I hope to be using this computer at my new desk.

Tonight, we went to a first birthday party. Amanda, daughter of Sean’s friend Alyssa, is one year old today. Sean was really cute. He waited to give Amanda her gift, but everyone seemed to give their gifts first. Sean patiently waited until it was his turn, then gave her the gift.

Home Office Project, Day 3

I completed the desk unit, on schedule. The hardest tasks are now complete; the rest should be easy. I should complete the wall cabinets tomorrow, and if Cortney gives me the time, I should complete the molding as well.

Speaking of Cortney, I decided to give her a break this afternoon and take Sean and Ethan to Burger King. We went to the one by the mall, which still has a ball pit. Sean and Ethan behaved well, and they had a good time. I’m surprised at how social Sean, and even Ethan, have become. Sean immediately talks to the kids when they come to play. Ethan plays his cute act, and says hi to both kids and adults.

Home Office Project, Day 2

I had lots of fun with my new power tools. The power mitre saw made short work of cutting 2×4s for use in the base supports. I completed building the base supports, and cut out and attached the side panel to the end base cabinet. Tomorrow, permanent construction starts as I mount the base units to the wall and add the desktop.

Sean’s School Christmas Party

We all went to Sean’s school for his class Christmas party. When we arrived Sean was decorating a gingerbread house. Sean did a good job of singing Christmas songs. Ethan was able to join in with Sean in eating the Christmas food. And Cortney and I left with presents, made by Sean during previous classes. Sean now has a two week break from school.

Starting my Home Project

I started my big home project today, working on my “home office”. Today, I marked out the locations on the wall where all of the cabinets are to go. I cut out the carpet where the base units will go, making my first mistake. I cut out the full depth of the cabinet, forgetting about the toe-kick area. I’ll just cut out a strip of the carpet I took out to replace the bare spot. It shouldn’t look too bad. We will be getting new flooring sometime soon anyway.

The good news is that the floor is nice and level, and the wall is straight, so the remainder of the installation should go smoothly.

Sean and Ethan with Santa

Here’s the copy of the picture we got yesterday with Sean and Ethan visiting Santa (click for full-sized image):

Back from the North Pole

Sean and Ethan made it home safely from the North Pole last night. They had no problem staying up for the train ride, but passed out shortly after we put them in the car. As I expected, we arrived home after midnight, and carried the kids straight from the car to their bedrooms.

Sean had a great time. He was excited when we arrived at the “North Pole”, and was thrilled when Santa came aboard the train car. Santa gave Sean and Ethan a sleigh bell. Ethan enjoyed himself, but I’m not sure he understood everything that was going on.

I didn’t get anywhere near enough sleep last night, but I promised I would get up in time to send Sean to school and watch Ethan while Cortney and Laura went out for breakfast. I caught a quick nap in Sean’s room, since the cleaners were still working on the downstair’s rooms. That quick nap gave me enough energy to finish the day.

This afternoon, we took Sean and Ethan to the mall to get their picture taken with Santa. Sean didn’t miss a beat, and he told Santa he saw him on the train car last night. Sean and Ethan had no problem sitting on Santa’s lap, and so we were able to get a good picture.

Since this is Laura’s last day visiting, she took us all out to dinner tonight. We had a good dinner, and Sean and Ethan were well behaved, in part because Ethan isn’t feeling well and was too tired to get into trouble.

We finished the day by decorating the tree. Sean helped me put up the lights, and we all put on the ornaments. It’s hard to believe that Christmas is still a week and a half away.

A Trip to the North Pole

This evening, Sean and Ethan are going to the North Pole, or at least that is what Cortney and I are telling them. I’m posting early, since we may not get back until after midnight.

We plan to leave early this afternoon, stopping on the way there to let Sean and Ethan play in the snow. We will then stop to eat at a place with a children’s play area, then drive to Williams to catch the train. It should be a fun trip.

A Day at the Zoo

We decided to go to the zoo today. We picked a nice day to go. The weather was gorgeous, with highs in the seventies and not a cloud in the sky. I was surprised to see that the zoo was not crowded at all. I guess many families were going shopping instead of going to the zoo.

Sean and Ethan had lots of fun. While they weren’t interested in the new exhibits, which included two white rhinos and a monkey walkthrough cage, they did have fun with the old standbys, the tigers and lions and the petting zoo.

Ethan had a ball with the play area that included a miniature house. He just loved walking through it, and even just staying inside.

We stayed later than we normally do, and we were all exhausted by the time we got home.

A Fallen Santa Clause and Tree

I finished the outdoor lights today. I found the broken bulb in the string of icecicle lights, mounted the rope light properly around the front door, and put up the train lights. Everything would be completed, but Sean knocked over the Santa Clause, apparently breaking the bulb. I hope to take a picture tomorrow.

I had a hard time holding my temper this afternoon. Sean and Ethan knocked over the Christmas tree. I had no idea how they did it. Sean claims Ethan pushed over, which I doubt. The tree wasn’t damaged, but a gallon and a half of dirty water was dumped onto the carpet. I managed to clean most of it up, and Sean and Ethan got off lightly with just a time-out.

Cortney and I finished the day by dinner and a movie. Laura stayed home and watched Sean and Ethan. Thanks, Laura!

A Fallen Santa Clause and Tree

I finished the outdoor lights today. I found the broken bulb in the string of icecicle lights, mounted the rope light properly around the front door, and put up the train lights. Everything would be completed, but Sean knocked over the Santa Clause, apparently breaking the bulb. I hope to take a picture tomorrow.

I had a hard time holding my temper this afternoon. Sean and Ethan knocked over the Christmas tree. I had no idea how they did it. Sean claims Ethan pushed over, which I doubt. The tree wasn’t damaged, but a gallon and a half of dirty water was dumped onto the carpet. I managed to clean most of it up, and Sean and Ethan got off lightly with just a time-out.

Cortney and I finished the day by dinner and a movie. Laura stayed home and watched Sean and Ethan. Thanks, Laura!

The Holiday Begins

I am now done working for the year, leaving me with a three weeks until I have to go back to the office. We started off the holidays by buying a Christmas tree and driving to see a Christmas light show. I’m not sure what Sean and Ethan think about the tree, but they certainly enjoyed the lights.

Another Busy Day

Laura arrived back from her side-trip to New Mexico. She will be staying with us one more week.

My new cell phone arrived today. It’s the same as Cortney’s new phone, and we can now call each other mobile to mobile for free. I’m still playing around with the features.

Sean had his regular gym class this evening. Similar to last night, Sean had a class with two other girls, but the two girls this evening were both younger than Sean. I could clearly see that Sean was more advanced than these two girls.

Sean was full of energy today. I thought the gym class would calm him down a bit, but he was jumping around right up until we went to bed.

16 Hours

I’m 16 hours away from a three week vacation. It will be hard to concentrate at work the next two days.

I took another half day of vacation today. Cortney needed help watching Ethan while Sean went to the E.N.T. doctor, so I decided that this afternoon was good as any to take off. I ended up taking Sean to the doctor. The doctor reported that Sean’s right ear is still partially clogged, but there is no fluid build up or infection in that ear. His left ear, of course, is just fine. The doctor recommends just leaving the right ear tube as it is. If Sean does get an ear infection, the pressure will likely clear the ear tube.

I took Sean for a make up gym class this evening. Sean continues to do well at tumbling. In this evening’s class, there were two older girls, who appeared ready to graduate from the kindergym class. Sean came close to matching the girl’s abilities for most of the class. I told Sean on the way home I was proud of his effort’s in gym class.

Half Day of Work

I took off the afternoon off today, mainly to be here when the new cabinets for my home office arrived. The delivery arrived shortly after 11:00 AM, leaving me free for the rest of the day. Cortney took advantage of me being home to get the car serviced.

I took Sean to swim lessons for the first time. Cortney has always taken Sean before, as the classes are during the day when I am at work. Sean seems to enjoy the class, but I wonder if I couldn’t do the teaching myself. I took a swim instructor course way back when I was in college. Of course, I won’t be doing any teaching until next summer, when the pool warms up again.