Santa Clara Flood

We have been having a crazy monsoon season this year and it all came to a head on September 11 when our area got 3" of rain in "relatively short period of time" and with the ground already saturated it  caused a 100 year old dike to finally give way. The first building in the line of fire is Nick & Liisa Frei's  Dutchman convenience store and Cravings Cafe, my poor darling friends. The devastation is unlike anything I have ever seen in person. It just broke my heart for them, but true to form, they were unbelievable; positive, grateful, humble, and much more concerned with the 60+ home owners that were flooded out. When I grow up I want to be Liisa Frei! 

Initial News Coverage

We're Not in Kansas Anymore!

Jenna and I joined Papa Nick and Grandma Liisa for a trip to Kansas to visit Papa Stu and maybe look at some investment property to buy out there. We had a fun couple of days. Stuart had to still work the whole time but that was okay. Gave us some time to explore Kansas, where I felt like I had gone back in time and was exploring quintessential Americana; red farm house barns, random run down pianos in burnt out houses, a classic truck junk yard in the middle of nowhere, and some of the most beautiful sunsets we have ever seen. Plus, a little shopping thrown in there for good measure. It was a really fun trip and it was so nice to get to see how Stuey is living. We miss him so much! 

If she's not on one plane, she's on another...

Nick and Liisa ended up buying this house. It was a cute little 900 sq ft home.

I picked up this fabulous little Michael Kors rain coat for a dream while we were there. Who would have guessed? 

Riding The Horseys

Liisa called us this afternoon and told us that Nick was saddling up the horses for their grandkids to ride them and invited Jenna down to join them. We felt like this was an opportunity for Jenna that we just couldn't pass up. So we took a break from our working around the house and headed down the hill. Jenna is such an animal lover and she didn't seem to have any fear whatsoever. We started by just letting her stand next to another horse. She was ready to ride pretty quickly. So away we went....she had a total blast. Thanks for the memories, Papa Nick and Grandma Liisa! 

Remodel Day Fourteen...oh, and it's Christmas Eve...

Casey spent the day at the other house finishing packing up all of our remaining belongings and making trips back and forth while watching Jenna. Ugh. Jordan finished glazing the kitchen and pantry while I spent another day laying the hardwood floors. They are quickly becoming hated! It's not super easy to get them laid because they have to go in a row at a time and as I get one end locked in, it pops the other end back out. So I end up walking back and forth the length of the room trying to get the whole thing to go in and stay in. My knees and the palm of my hands are killing me. 

We finally stopped to celebrate Christmas Eve down with the Freis. Amazing people, fantastic friends. Poor Jenna was completely exhausted and cried the whole time she was unwrapping her presents from Papa Nick and Grandma Liisa and then fell asleep in the car before we had even pulled out of the driveway. Poor tired girl. 

Remodel Day Twelve

The Freis and Berrys were back at it with us, bright and early this morning getting the master bedroom glazed before the carpet layers arrived. 

The living room and hallway all got glazed today as well. 

A close up of what the glaze looks like on the walls: 

 And as promised the carpet got laid in the craft room and master bedroom. 

And to round out the day, we put up our bed. Still not sleeping here though, the fumes are way too strong. 

Remodel Day Eleven

DAY ELEVEN BEFORE - Dining Room rug remnants: 

The second coat of texture was completed in the master bedroom.

 We hired Jordan Frei to help us out. He was key, because I am running out of steam. We got the ceiling  and walls painted in the living room, dining room, kitchen, pantry, and hall way. 

Got the master closet painted. 

 The patch in the living room got textured. 

The master bedroom got painted. 

And some surprised guests, Liisa Frei and the Berrys came and helped us paint the craft room. The carpet is being laid tomorrow so it was crucial that the craft room and master bed get finished before they get here to lay the carpet. They saved our hind quarters! 

 Seriously, how cute is he?