Harry Potter and the Out-of Control Remodel

Tuesday we were all enthused about the next cinematic installment of the Boy-Who-Lived chronicles.  Connie bought a big section of seats for the midnight premier, and Melinda, Lisette and Miles were excited to go.  I however got bragging rights because Ian and I got to go see it at 9:00 because a software vendor with too much money on their hands invited me to go (customer appreciation.)  It was really cool to just stroll past the people camped out waiting for the midnight showing.  Plus, they had an open snack bar which was way cool.

The movie was fun and exciting movie and it had quite a few funny scenes in it as well: it didn’t disappoint.  However, I had the sneaky feeling that watching movies in the morning was not quite as fun as in the evening. Though, I had to admit it was better than being at work.

Looks like besides the replacing all of the plumbing, electrical, upstairs heating and cooling, we will also be replacing the main wastewater line out to the sewer.  It has several small breaks and one big one. We thought we were just making a small snowball, but somehow it has rolled down the mountain and turned into a veritable avalanche.

But we’ve made great progress and things are moving along very well.  Our pile of refuse was reaching epic proportions (if you notice it literally has everything AND the kitchen sink). Melinda loaded it all into the dumpster with a little help from Saffy.

Digging.  Filling.

Carrying.  Dumpling.

   

Scott and I got the window wells installled.

Arden and Kevin raised the threshold at the bottom of the stairs so I don’t have to duck anymore.  In case anyone wonders, sawzall saws do cut through galvanized pipes.  Ian took all these pictures in case you couldn’t tell.

Our formerly finished basement is unfinished again, but we are taking some space out of the furnace room to expand the living room.  Here is the installation of one of the windows. 

 

Arden and Scott have worked really hard this week getting these projects done, and I just try to keep up.  Kevin helped us one night and Lorraine cooked us yummy food, too.  Thank goodness for families!

Birthday breadstick

Tuesday Carrie and Ruth came to visit.  Ruth and Joy are visiting from Alaska, and they brought Ruth’s twins, Ben and Zack, with them.  Darius is working for Alaska Airlines now, so they get flight benefits.  Very nice.   It was so much fun to see the little boys again but alas, they have forgotten me since last time when they were very very small.  I tried to hold Ben but he then cried and had to hide his face in his momma’s lap.  But they were very cute playing around the house. 

   

Melinda made mini pizzas and breadsticks and we sang happy birthday to Saffy.  Can you believe she’s already 4?  Saffy was very happy with the pink balloons that Ruth and Carrie brought. 

After dinner we all went to Game Night Games in Sugarhouse.  It’s a great little shop that has lots of cool board games and card games.  Then we went next door to the Tea Grotto to get a couple of refills.  They have some great herbal teas.  My favorite is the red bush chocolate mint tea and the red bush gingerbread tea.  They are both so delicious, and sweet enough that they don’t need any extra sugar.  I think I’ll go brew a pot right now.

Obama!

For the past couple of weeks Saffy has been going around saying "Obama!"  She didn't know who he was, but she heard his name and somehow it captured her fancy.  The kids thought it was funny when she said so she started saying it even more.  It has been really cute and funny hearing her go around saying "Obama!" all the time.

During the inaguration she asked who that was, and Melinda told her, "That's Obama."  Saffy replied, "Why is he Obama?"  

By now she has figured out who he is and she knows that Obama isn't just a funny expression.  Tonight I was looking up the transcript of the inaguration speech and Saffron saw his picture and said, "There's Obama!"  "Let's watch Obama."  So tonight Saffy and I watched President Obama's speech together.

Here are my favorite quotes:

• On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
• As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.
• For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.
• America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words; with hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come; let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Melinda called in from the other room and asked Saffy, "Are you watching Obama?"  Saffy answered back, "Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama!"  

Cosmic screensavers

Melinda and the kids got a year pass to the Clark Planetarium. It's really great because besides the dome theater, they have an IMAX which gets the really good IMAX shows, plus all of the 3-D shows as well. Saturday Michel and Brent and their family rode FrontRunner from Roy to Salt Lake for a staycation. We met them at the planetarium and watched Deep Sea 3-D. It was really fun to see all the cousins reach out and try to grab all the fishes and coral that came popping out at them.

Tonight we went and saw one of their "cosmic shows" in the dome theater: Laser U2.


It was actually quite good. Saffy was really impressed with the lasers shining through the fog. I like sitting in the dome with the projections all around because when you see all the images with your perifieral vision as well, it seems almost 3-D and it starts to feel like your actually moving.

John (who had seen it 3 times) said it was worth it the first time, but the third time felt like watching a screensaver. At least it was a really cool screensaver.