Spring Broke, but the Bunny Kept on Going....Part 1

This past week was Spring Break here at La Casa Duchow, and while we didn't go on a big fancy trip or anything we did have a fun a productive time. The early part of the week was spent laying new flooring. After eight years of babies, toddlers, bottles, potty training, spills, otter pops, muddy shoes, and a certain Guinea Pig the carpets in this joint were shot. There was nothing a good shampoo could do to improve their appearance. So after doing some research, the taxes, and finding a decent sale at Lowe's we ordered enough laminate wood flooring to redo the dining room/living room/entryway (it's an open floor plan) and down the hallway to the bedrooms.

I've had several people ask if it was difficult to install and to that the answer is "no." It's just like arts and crafts. If you can cut and glue and lightly tap with a mallet you can install the flooring. The first few rows while you are still getting in your floor laying groove are probably going to make you want to say some choice swear words, but after that it's fairly smooth sailing. Really the longest part was the prep phase. We decided to paint our ceiling to get rid of some ghosting left by a poorly vented propane fireplace that was in the living room when we first moved in (ditched that for the wood stove several years back). It's nice to have those gray shadowy spots gone! That took a day and a lot of strain on the ole neck (we have vaulted ceilings - I think that's the term - in the main part of the house...so really high). The rest of the project, moving furniture, putting down underlayment, and the flooring itself, painting and reinstalling baseboards took about 2 days and then the office area took half a day.

No major injuries. There were a few pinched fingers and a few bare feet might have found some staples. Kevin tried to take out his knee stepping on a loose piece of flooring laying on, and well camouflaged by, the new floor while carrying more flooring but seems to be okay.

The kids were very patient with us while we walked through the project. They even helped from time to time. Still, by the time we were finished they were a bit stir crazy and had more than earned an outing. We took them locally to the Herrett Center and Toy Town (hands on toy store) and one day we took a trip to Boise and the Zoo. 

Boise means we have to drive on I-84 which is Jack's idea of a great time. I overheard him talking on the phone to Grandma after our trip and he's telling her, "...and then we went to this place called Mountain Home (Idaho). It's like a truck stop and they have cookies and candy and trucking magazines. It's AWESOME!" Yep, this is the same kid who also told some friends this week that he would be 8 on his next birthday (he wants to party at a truck stop), then he'd be off to college, and then he was 'going trucking'. Yes, his current career plans involve farming and long-haul trucking. (Mom's pretty tickled that he includes higher education in his future plans though).

Emilie has been taking good care of the fluffer-nutters. All eight are still kicking. They've been through 10+ pounds of food in the last week and a half and are starting to feather out. This means they rush to flutter up to the side of the brooder when you open the lid. I guess all the flying lessons Emilie has been giving them are paying off. They are rapidly outgrowing the term fluffer-nutter and are more accurately described as Raptor-birds. Have you seen Jurassic Park....yeah, they're like that. 

Because we weren't having enough fun we also had Easter wedged into this fun week, but I'm going to save that for a 'part II" post.....hopefully...maybe, I'll get to that this week.