(de)Construction

I'm hosting a fru-fru baby shower for my friend Ann this weekend. So, two weekends ago we decided to do this:

Obvious choice, right? Well, with the help of IKEA (countertop supplier), Ray's parents (countertop movers), Resource (sink supplier), and a lot of trips to Home Depot, we now have a new countertop, newly painted cabinets, and a new sink and faucet. And yes, pregnant ladies can paint, *if* it's low VOC paint.

Of course, I totally got out of the two days of polyurethaneing the counters. :)

Anyway, it now looks FABULOUS, and I sooo glad to not be dealing with the darn (constantly stained) beige laminate, never mind how much we both enjoy the gloriously large sink (which also made the disposal quieter, yay). Now, about that microwave and dishwasher....

You know, I always thought it was insulting that people would suggest appliance as gifts for women. Huh. Goes to show what I knew, huh? Several solid days of effort and Ray creates a redone kitchen and I'm ecstatic!

Rock banding all night....and recover the next day

A couple time a year we try to head up to St Cloud, MN to hang out with Bob and Jen.  

Bob and I got to Rock Band all night long.

...then we got to recover by watching the Vikings get crushed by the Titans.  But at least there was nap time and a chance to eat some chips.

Chicago- Museum of Science and Industry

Laura and I decided to make a day run to the Chicago museum of Science and Industry.  Early flight on Southwest and a 45 minute bus ride and we were there.

The huge model train set was great.  Laura found some kayakers and had to share with everyone.   I saw this German war plane as we walked in and was hoping this Fokker was a Messerschmitt.  But alas it was a Stukka.  So much for bad jokes.

Both Laura and I found our jobs in the Museum.  I think all my family would have found their work in the museum. Even my sister,  believe it or not, they had a patent and industrial law display.

The main reason we went to the museum was to check out this house.  Which you can have built if you want.  It showed off a number of eco friendlier ways of design and material use.  It is a modular home, box rooms built in the factory and put together on site.   It was sweet.  Denver has a townhome site being built on a lot of the same design principles.  I am going to check out how much that would be.  

After a long day and no state fairs for me this year.  I at least got to rest in a John Deere wheel.  Ahhhhhhhhhhh

ps from Laura--- I have to note that the first picture is me pouting because we could not, in fact, go see the giant heart that I have heard about since I was 3 - they're redoing all the human body stuff. And Laura Rose- the patent law display was a climbing wall. L:)