Backside of 40, Summer of 2017

Bought myself some "cup cookies" to share at work

I woke up this morning at 5:51. The window near my head was open for the storms and cooler wind last night. I should have closed it for today's heat, but I forgot.

Vodka and a card from the
boss at Bo Ling's lunch

Ed quickly wished me happy birthday, and gave me a bear hug. I joined him in the kitchen to make lunch for the boys and coffee for us. I ended up mostly washing dishes and fruit.

I love bringing my boys their milk in the mornings. This is a guilty pleasure we have, a holdover from our nurturing days when they were infants. They still get warm milk in bed each morning, though now it's flavored - rabbit (strawberry) for Jonas, chocolate for Gill. They drink out of sippee cups and remind me of little calves drinking thirstily from a bottle.

The morning progressed well past an early scuffle between boys over accidental injuries when I asked Jonas to wake Gill up. Ed jacked up Bruno Mars' "24 Carat"  to get us over the hump. Jonas, you pay attention to lyrics and kept pointing out bad words until I finally said, in exasperation, "Bruno Mars just has a potty mouth Jonas. Deal with it."

Ed and Jonas set off walking to school while Gill and I headed to McClains for danish. I got ham and cheese while Gill got his regular cheese. A dozen cup cookies seemed like a good thing to share with others on my special day.

 A surprise birthday banner from a couple of fun co-workers

About the walking to school, this has been an exciting (and perhaps stressful though it's hard to tell) transition for Jonas. For me, it's been sad and stressful. I am awed and excited about how he has met this challenge head on with no reservation. He wakes up eagerly in the morning, is motivated, and out the door by 7:30 or so. School starts at 8:15 and it only takes 15 minutes to walk there. I worry about you crossing the busy streets - Main, Rockhill, and Oak. Though there are crosswalks at Rockhill and Oak, cars won't stop, not even for kids in a school zone!

The empty sushi boat

I walked around the SOE handing out cookies. My phone has been buzzing all morning with happy birthday texts. There was a birthday card from the UMKC Foundation staff, plus Lydia Allen and Helen LaValley, and a box from Noni. Tonight, we hope to head to Jun's for sushi and then a backyard movie. I hope I get to pick it!

A few things that surprised me on my birthday: google creates a "birthday candle" search that says "Happy Birthday Shelly" on it when you hover over it. Fun! I received email birthday wishes from my podiatrist, dermatologist, State Farm agent, and various women's clothing stores. (I think that's so bizarre!)

Dinner at Jun's with Xye and Grace was a perfect end to the day!

Kitchen Update #6: The last of the plaster

It's Sunday, June 25th. This is how Ed and I started our day:

Don't we look intense? We were bracing for the removal of the last of the plaster, and boy howdy, it WAS intense! It took us about 2 hours, and then another 2 to let the dust settle and try to clean up. 

Here's a pic of what our back patio looks like. Note the wheel barrow, stove, garbage disposal, dishwasher, bucket, broom, rugs, etc. What a mess!

Kitchen Update #5: Big D Day

It's Saturday, June 25. I call it Big D Day. Ed, Adam (a young chem-e student we found on NextDoor) and Gill are taking out cabinets today. Plaster and lathe will come later. Ed removed the dishwasher and the stove yesterday. Last night, after he turned off the water, I freaked out as there was a sink full of dishes. So, we broke in the outdoor sink. I got very wet doing dishes with the hose, but it didn't feel too bad on a summer night. Plus, spilling water all over the floor is no longer a concern. I watered the plants with the grey water. It felt very bohemian.

The hammering this morning was so profound it shook the house. But there's now a lull. As I type this, I can hear Ed in the kitchen talking to Adam about becoming an engineer. "As an engineer, you only have one job - to get what's in your head into another person's head. Communication. And you only do that with your writing, drawing, or speaking skills. You need all three."

Gill got in on the action early. He was sleeping, and I whispered in his ear, "do you want to take out a cabinet?" His eyes popped open and he bounced out of bed like it was Christmas morning.

Yes, he really was swinging that sledge hammer. 

Kitchen Update #4: Desk Demo

We finally got a dumpster delivered, and have moved everything out of the kitchen. 

Well....truth be told, not everything is out of the kitchen. The last bits of "things we don't know where to put" are hanging out in almost-empty, doors-torn-off cabinets. Things like cleaning products, large pots, old spices, wire racks, and a random watermelon. We both keep acting like it's not there.    

Ed took the day off of work to try and fill that dumpster so he can have it emptied and returned for the weekend's major tear-out. His focus area today is the desk area near the back door. We moved the refrigerator last week (right side of this photo) and the desk tear out is on the left. 2nd photo is after plaster and lathe removal. The door to the right is for basement stairs; the door to the left is to the backyard. He finished all of this in less than 2 hours. 

Kitchen Update #3: Temporary kitchen and dining area

Ed and I spent about 8 hours each this past weekend preparing for the upcoming kitchen demo. Even though we've been working on demo for about 2 months now, this upcoming weekend is the biggest and (hopefully!) final part. The dumpster arrives on Wednesday. 

At this point, the butler's pantry and central hallway closet/pantry have been demolished (i.e. down to the studs). Upcoming is the kitchen, including all cabinetry. We will be without water, stove, and storage so we've been preparing our side-porch to be the "cooking" kitchen and the patio to be our "cleaning" kitchen. Ed set up a temporary sink out there for washing dishes. We plan to use an electric tea kettle to warm water for washing. 

Here are a few photos of the "new" spaces. 

The "game table" has been moved into the living room, and can seat 4.
Note the Zima on the table, a surprise that Ed brought home from the grocery. They are surprisingly good!

Pantry, stove, electric griddle, microwave have all been moved to the side-porch (former toy room).
Note the makings of father's day nachos, per Ed's request.  

Kitchen Update #2: Butler's Pantry and Closet Demolition

Ed has been working on destroying the Butler's pantry. He started with this space because he needed to "see behind the wall" so that he'd know what size door to order when we move the access to the half-bath. Hm....

I have to say, he's done a great job with the plastic wrap (what we call visqueen down in Louisiana) so the plaster dust hasn't reached most of the rest of the house. We're still using 100% of the kitchen, so no pain yet on that score. 

Though I'm publishing this in June, most of this work was done in March/April while it was still cool outside so I used the lathe for firewood on the patio. It burns really, really well which is a bit concerning. 

We've been watching Chip and Joanna Gaines' "Fixer Upper" as a family. It's about the only thing we all like. Funny, huh?

NW view, bathroom door on right side, will be
moved to open near the window on the left

West view. The dining room is on the other side of this wall. That window is large so the
cabinets we want to install on this wall will have to be very shallow. 

Kitchen Update #1: the plans

May-August, 2016

After much deliberation, Ed and I decided to leave our house-project hiatus, and start talking about the last main area that we haven't touched, the kitchen. It'll be the almost last house project, unless we finish the attic, which is unlikely. The upstairs bathroom is likely the last house project. 

To recap what we've done so far: 

1. Upstairs master suite - full remodel (including removal of plaster and lathe) of bed and bathroom, plus installation of washer and dryer. (started this ourselves but hired a guy to finish it, except for painting)
2. Enclose side porch, install Pella windows and french doors (hired out construction but not painting) 
3. Remove and re-brick entire front of house (hired this out)
4. Jack-up and wench-in garage, re-roof, install new side-door and entry (all Ed)
5. Remove existing brick patio and install stamped concrete patio (hired out)
6. Remove roof to studs and replace (Brookside Roofing)
7. Paint entire interior of house, except for foyer and kitchen (we did all of this)
8. Water-proof basement, install full bath, shelving, sheetrock, egress window, paint concrete floor and walls, fabricate murphy bed, including jackhammer of concrete floor, relay pipe, and remove whole house trap (Dry Basement Solutions)
9. Replace stack pipe (iron) with PVC (hired plumber, Pat Corti I think)
10. Build stairs to attic, and installing attic sub-floor (still in progress, all Ed)

All of that in 12 years. Whew! Despite all of that work, our house looks shabby! Peeling baseboards, worn out wood floors, creaky staircase and floors, peeling wall paper, and broken kitchen cabinets in an outdated kitchen in which there is no seating and inadequate lighting. 

We struggled for months, our discussions bringing us no closer to a plan until we threw up our hands and decided it was time for professional help. After visiting the home of a fundraising colleague, I obtained the name of his talented designer, Erica Krzykowski, Prairie Home Design. She has 4 boys so she understood us, and worked with us to come up with the designs below. We met with her in May, 2016 and had a final design by August. Because we decided not go use a GC, Erica only consulted on the design, so we lost her after she completed this work. Maybe this email Ed sent her from his plane ride back from Hong Kong is part of the reason:

(Email from 8.23.16:)

Thanks for keeping on this Erica. Not trying to throw a wrench in things, but in a previous email you discussed that you weren't sure how to deal with the column.  Once again I was on a plane and had time to think.  It seems to me that the trick is to figure out how to make the column a 'feature' of the kitchen, so I did some brainstorming and came up with a huge list.  I want to be clear that none of these ideas hold any specific desire to incorporate into the design.  They are purely tied to free associated brainstorming on my part.   Take this with a big grain of salt.  Shelly is gonna kill me for this.

So here goes:

• Hang coats on it
• Hang pots and pans on it
• Make it part of the green wall
• Make it part of a fixed bench
• Ant farm
• Digital mirror
• Fountain
• Blender bar
• Sound column
• Power center
• Carbonation station (vis a vis soda stream)(
• Beer tap
• Chalkboard, Whiteboard
• Drinking Fish tank
• Fitness wall
• Corkboard
• Memory column for pictures
• Display wines/olive oil/balsamic vinegar/etc.
• Plate shelf
• Coffee mugs
• Vitamin station
• Fruit display
• Bicycle rack
• Drone control station
• Safe
• Seafood farm 
• Algae farm
• Tilapia farm
• Wicker basket
• Bird Cage
• Distiller (vis a vis Steampunk design)
• Disguise as a tree
• Flower display

Equally hilarious are my sister's responses to his email:

Ant farm - yes, b/c everyone wants ants in their kitchen. Why not have a fruit fly farm in there, too?

Drinking Fish tank - WTF is this?

Fitness wall - seriously? I don't get it???

Bicycle rack - because everyone wants bikes in their kitchen. Really.

Seafood farm - I think a crawfish farm would be better. Although it would take you forever to get enough for a crawfish boil.

Algae farm - How in the HELL would this be useful at all. Ever.

Tilapia farm - fresh harvested fish for dinner - Booya! Fresh seafood in the heart of the midwest. Only in the vogt household.

Wicker basket - ???

Bird Cage - No. Just No.

Distiller (vis a vis Steampunk design) - a distiller of moonshine? Poppa would be proud.

Disguise as a tree - this just sounds like a giant dust collector and a pain in the ass to clean

How about an indoor Herb garden? I think that would be useful.

My one biggest hope for this project is that we keep our sense of humor, and enjoy the process as much as possible. So far, so good!

Enjoy these. I'm sure there will be more changes a'coming!

May 21st - Gill's 7th Birthday

Gilly McGillicuddy, Gilla Monster, Gill Meister, you are 7 today! 

There are no strangers in your world; you are never afraid to make a new friend. 

Often, you are so very funny, without even trying to be. 

You love your teachers, playing dress up, hanging out with the girls next door, and reading books. 

Spiderman Spaghetti is your favorite meal and your brother is your very best friend. 

We love you to pieces even though you can be obstinate and contrary at times. 

Happy birthday Gill!

First Day of Summer School, 2016

On Wednesday, June 8th, we got into the car and headed to the first day of summer school. You had only been on "summer break" for 5 days yet you were more than ready to go back to school. I am simultaneously relieved and grateful that you both seem to enjoy school so much and embrace the idea of attending school for 7 weeks each summer. 

Jonas, as you walked to the car, you were singing songs in French. It inspired me to hit record on my phone and record the next 20 minutes of your lives. We are in the car for the 15-minute commute to school, then we are walking into the school building, finding your classrooms, greeting your teachers, and meeting your new classmates. 

Gill, you were equally eager, trying to sing along with Jonas, but not knowing the words. The world will open wide for you when you begin to read, and you are ready. It will happen very soon.

As you listen to the recording, you will hear a negotiation over water bottles. As we walk into the school, you can hear the nearby church clock tower chiming 8. We always get to school right at 8am, rarely late, but never early. Jonas quickly went off, on his own, to the new wing where third grade classrooms are. Gill, you and I headed downstairs to the cafeteria where we waited for your teacher. You introduced yourself to lots of people, and tried to convince me to let you into my phone using my "fingerprint" software. 

Here's a link to audio of our morning. 

Gill, you and I walked upstairs to Mme Defosse's classroom; you are wearing the blue shirt. 

After I left Gill, I walked back downstairs and down the hall to the 3rd grade classrooms to snap a quick photo of Jonas' class.

And here's a photo of our family before we left home. Sadly, it's blurry. Oh well.

Capoeria Batizado, February 2016

Gill's Batizado:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1Z_k33j4PNzaGpqSGU0UzNGZXc

Jonas' Batizado:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1Z_k33j4PNzbDNVTmdqcnNsTHc