For the past few years on Memorial weekend, Andy’s parents have come to help with house stuff. We actually didn’t do any demolition this time and instead focused on little details of past projects that never quite got finished.

Last summer we switched the house from oil to gas. We finally got rid of the 250 gallon oil tank this weekend. Andy cut off the old pipes and with his dad’s help, moved the tank outside. There is SO MUCH more space in the laundry room now.

“Ok, now what?” Haha, they managed to get it out to the road somehow and within a few hours it was picked up by a scrapper! Andy scraps stuff too, but this monster was just not worth the effort.

Andy’s dad built shelves for the storage room off the office. We don’t have an attic or basement so every space needs to be used efficiently. I would love an attic, but honestly we’ve built so much storage into the house that didn’t exist before that we’re doing alright. Plus, I’m not really tempted to hang on to everything!

Andy installing the pergo floor we picked out. We were just going to go with linoleum tile but this flooring was on clearance at Home Depot. We ended up only having 1 piece left over, crazy!

Camping stuff all nestled in its new home. We’re just leaving the drywall as is, there’s wiring and pipes that might need to be accessed so it doesn’t make any sense to finish-finish the room. Our storage freezer is at the opposite end in a cubby we made for it.

The windows in my office finally have trim too! The boys measured, cut, nailed and caulked while I filled nail holes with wood filler and put the first coat of primer on. Hopefully I’ll get back to painting them soon!

Andy’s dad installed a mirror and its edging in the downstairs bathroom.

He also put up glass shelves in the bathroom. With details like this I’d have to call that room totally finished. A far cry from this bathroom of 4 years ago.

Andy’s mom was so helpful through all of this. When she wasn’t working on a project, she was watching Ben so the rest of us could work on a project. Here, they’re enjoying Sesame Street with some graham crackers.

Jack was tremendous help.

As was Colby the Supervisor.

It was a really warm weekend too. We had some copper pipe in the garage so Andy made a sprinkler for Ben.

It even included an old kitchen sink sprayer that we used to squirt each other.

Maybe Ben doesn’t have such lame parents after all.

Next year Andy’s cousin is getting married Memorial weekend, so we’ll be all fancied up instead of grimed up. Thanks again mom and dad for helping this weekend, you’re probably as sore as we are, huh? :) And most importantly, thank you to the men and women who gave their lives so that we could enjoy the freedoms we do. So that we could be together as a family, safe to live without fear in this country. To the military families that have lost someone, my heart goes out to you. I am so humbled by your sacrifice.

There is no greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13