Construction Projects

We have about a dozen ongoing projects at our house at the moment, but the two most pressing ones are finishing our deck and fixing our Master Bathroom toilet. I am "in charge" of both projects and decided at Christmas that both would be complete before my birthday in March.

Project 1: Master Bathroom Toilet needs new Fill Valve

I attacked this one
the weekend after Christmas. Got all the right parts, followed the instructions to the letter, tested the new valve, works great. Went to put on the new handle, old one is on really tight. Used my Plumber's Wrench (yes I have one), still not budging. Tapped the old handle with a rubber mallet one tiny time to get it moving and......

Water everywhere, toilet broken, mass chaos. Good news is, the toilet is fixed, because we bought a new one.

 

Project 2: Finish the Deck

 

This project has stretched over a few months and with the weather getting cold is taking a lot longer than I thought. However, I do have some help with this one:



 

Tom is always available to lend a hand. And, as you can see in the background, with his help I am nearly finished with this project. The lesson is, it always helps to have someone smarter than you helping out!



Sled Riding

Christmas 2012

Christmas Carols

Just before Christmas we went to our friends, the Morgans, house for some cookies and caroling.

What Have We Been Up To, you ask?

In case you haven't heard, 2013 is going to bring us another Anderson. We are waiting to find out if our kids will have a brother or sister to torment...I mean play with! Any guesses?

Dancing Queen

Sarah Jane at Ballet class.

The "Big Man" Visits Cincinnati

Last Saturday, Santa stopped by Cincinnati to check in on all the good little boys and girls. First, he stopped out at Legendary Run, by GG and Hi-Pop's house. The line to see him formed pretty quick and on the opposite side that we were standing, so that wait took some time. When it was Tom and Sarah's turn, they stepped right up showed Santa their lists and got to have a few minutes with him.

Later that day, Santa made it all the way across I-275 to Terrace Park and St. Thomas Church.This time we were the first in line and once again both kids stepped right up and declared what they wanted for Christmas. Santa's elves were there and gave each kid a book for being so good. We also made cookies and some picture frames. Then went out to dinner with the Williams' family afterwards. It was a really busy day and both kids handled it perfectly. Great way to start the Christmas season.