Varnish and Doors...

Our basement project continues to keep us on our toes and very busy. I will be so thankful when we are finished and can finally enjoy it! I was actually thinking once it is done it will be a great time to take a trip:) We decided in order to save a little bit of money we would stain and varnish our woodwork for the basement. It actually turned out pretty well and didn't end up being too bad. Shea and I took finished the varnishing on Friday (Feb. 11th) and were able to hang some of our new doors upstairs. When I initially thought about our trimwork I forgot to take into account all of the window casings, door casing, door jams, ledges, etc. Wow there was a lot more work than I expected! We also stained oak doors for our main floor. We had 6 panel white doors on the main floor, but decided to bring those down to the basement and get new ones for the main level. We were in need of new doors anyway...

We decided to use two coats of a satin varnish on red oak for our basement trim.

Varnish, dry, steel wool, wipe down, varnish, dry, done!

Larkyn wanted to help out in the afternoon when moving doors so we put her on the backpack! She enjoyed the first 40 minutes and then decided she wanted to climb out!

A look at the new bathroom door on the main level...

Our small coat closet just inside the mudroom/garage entryway.

On Saturday, my uncle Rick came up to help Shea hang our double closet door on the main level as well as all of the doors in the basement.

The finished product!

The door to the basement looks great too!

Here is Shea learning the ins and outs of putting in a door jam!

Coming downstairs toward the Utility Room...

The linen closet door and the bathroom door...

Its beginning to look more like a basement...

The weekend...

This weekend my mom and my sister Courtney came up to visit. We were supposed to be doing some staining and painting in the basement, but that got pushed back a couple days because the tape and mud job didn't get finished until Saturday afternoon. It was still a great weekend to see family and spend some time together. Larkyn got to hang out with my mom and sister for the evening while Shea and I went out for dinner and to a DP staff party. Though Shea and I enjoyed our time out, Larkyn is still working on being away from Mom and Dad for longer periods of time! My mom and sister can come visit anytime! We definitely appreciated all the laundry my sister did for us and all the dishes and staining of doors my mom did for us!

Larkyn received a Valentine's package of clothes, clothes and more clothes from Grandma Debbie!

Grandma Debbie gave her new shoes for Christmas but had to exchange them for a smaller size. She brought them to her this weekend...

"Yah, I think these will fit me!"

Reading books with Grandma...
(Notice Larkyn's face...she's into biting the inside of her cheek. It has to be something she picked up at Tracey's!)


Showing Grandma her arm...
"Look out Arizona...here I come!"
(Shea has always said that our daughter is going to be a switch hitting center fielder for University of Arizona...we'll see about that!)

Jessi and Hannah came over to visit. Hannah and Larkyn "played" very well together!

"Here you go...chew on this Hannah!"

"You push this side, I'll push this side!"

"You're right Hannah, it works better if we work together! We do make a good team!"

"Thank you for the Valentine Hannah! You are so sweet!"

"It's okay Hannah, this happens to us every time. Just smile for a couple minutes and they'll be happy!"

Grandma Debbie and Larkyn

A good attempt at capturing a photo for the birthday invite...

Super Bowl XLV...

Super Bowl Sunday was a big day for the Mueske family as we prepared to cheer on the Green Bay Packers. Though we watched the Super Bowl just the three of us (until half time...Larkyn was in bed by 7:15) we had some neighbors and friends over for a "tailgate party" in our driveway before the game. We grilled up some burgers and brats and froze our tails off! Shea was very clear about everyone leaving by 4:30 so there weren't any distractions for the big game. It was probably better that way considering both Shea and I took turns jumping up and down, letting out shouts, and "running the ball into the enzone." It was just so much fun to see the Packers win!

Sometimes we call Larkyn Baby Raji because of her belly:)

"Ha! Like the Pittsburgh Steelers even had a chance..."

Now this is how we roll in the 'hood! Well, this is how Mike and Hailey roll anyway:)

Hailey and Hailey having some snacks by the heater.


Only in Minnesota...

If only they were all Packer fans...

Larkyn's first tailgating party...

The girls were entertained by Pat throwing them in the snow!

Larkyn enjoying a "tailgate snack" indoor!

GO PACK GO!

Our Super Bowl party attendees

Larkyn was more interested in her toys than the game. She was only startled a couple times with shouts and screams from Mama and Daddy!

After a few screams and shouts, she had to see what all the hype was about!

Green Bay Packers 31 Pittsburgh Steelers 25

GO PACK GO!

Bath and Bedtime developments...

Baths have become quite interesting now that Larkyn is standing!

She saw the camera and wanted to show off her big toothy grin!

"Okay, I'll sit for one picture...CHEESE"

And we are back up...

Larkyn also loves to brush her own hair now.

She has also inherited her Daddy's tongue...

Sheetrock...COMPLETE!

After a VERY long weekend of teamwork...the Sheetrock portion of the basement is complete! Shea, along with the help of Davis, continued hanging Sheetrock this weekend beginning at 7:30 AM on Saturday morning. They worked until 8 PM Saturday night only taking two meal breaks! After Davis left, I joined Shea downstairs and tried to do my part by cleaning up, throwing away scraps, and taping up air return vents, but it was nothing compared to the labor these guys have put in! Sunday morning Shea was joined by Pat and Davis again at 7:30 AM to hammer out some more. Mike joined the crew around 10 AM and helped Shea get a lot of the green board up in the bathroom. (I do my best to remember what everything is called and why this or that is done, but sometimes I just pretend to know:)) The helping hands were all gone by 3 PM and Shea continued to work, work and work! Kunze came over around 8 PM to help finish under the steps and throw all the scraps out the window. Shea took all the scraps to the dumpster and finally sat down tonight around 10:30 PM. I'm so proud of my husband and his determination and willingness to do new things. Though I haven't seen much of him this weekend because he has been living in the basement, he continues to amaze me every day with his abilities! He just told me he spent roughly 30 hours this weekend in the basement...that's ridiculous!

Mike and Shea working on the bathroom.

Davis and Pat working on the ledge in the family room.

The finished product...finished Sheetrock project that is! Here I am standing on the top of the stairs on the main level. You can see the window in our landing area.

This is at the landing looking down towards the utility room.

The utility room...

Under the stairs...

Looking into the family room from the bottom of the steps...

Family room from the south end of the house looking toward the bedroom wall.

Family room looking from north end...

Hallway linen closet...

The bathroom...shower on the right will have cement board for the tile...potty on the left!

The spot for the vanity in the bathroom...

Bedroom from the window wall looking toward the closet...

From the bedroom door...

Mud and Tape begins tomorrow and we hired that out!!!!