What We Do at Night After the Kids Have Gone to Bed

We sand, mud, and stain like crazy, that's what. We're wild I tell you, wild! Don't worry though, we're practicing safe home repair. I even wear gloves when I stain the cabinets. Of course, it might have helped matters if I weren't barefoot when I do it. I'm afraid my toes are a bit discolored. To the casual observer it looks like I've been out enjoying the warm California sun. They don't have to know it's actually Classic Oak semi gloss.

The kitchen remodel is proceeding slowly but surely. The last of the old cabinets came out over the weekend, and I've been working on staining the new ones. John has been busy with wall and ceiling repair. Every day when he sands the drywall mud stuff, it's like living in the Sahara Desert during a dust storm. The stuff gets everywhere. He ends the evening looking like he's prematurely graying; his hair is just so thick with the stuff. Up next: priming and painting the walls, followed by cabinet installation and tile flooring.





We've relocated the refrigerator to the old pantry spot. We've gained a lot of space by taking out the big pantry. It was a lot of wasted space before, as it was too deep for those of us who weren't blessed with long monkey arms (that would be everyone besides John the Husband) to actually reach the backs of the shelves.

We've been without a functional kitchen since last Sunday. We are still able to use the microwave, so the kids have been enjoying various frozen food items lately. Today they had Bagel Bites for breakfast. We've also become extremely familiar with the offerings at our local fast food establishments. The fish tacos at Rubios are far superior to those at Del Taco, in case anyone was wondering. Also, if you haven't tried the chicken tortilla soup at El Pollo Loco, you don't know what you're missing.

In other Jost family happenings: John the Son passed his Board of Review at his Scout meeting on Monday and made the rank of Life. He'll be going to Scout camp at the end of July where he plans to earn the Archery, Horsemanship, and Lifesaving merit badges.

CJ made the rank of Tenderfoot last month and is well on his way to First Class. He is also attending camp at the end of the month (same week as John, different camp). He should have his First class requirements done when he returns. He plans to earn the Art, Reptile Studies, First Aid, and Woodcarving merit badges.

Noah bridged to Wolves last month and is pleased as punch about it. He'll be attending Cub Scout Day Camp next week. He's excited that he'll actually be a camper this year.

Janet the fish is apparently not pregnant. She's still sporting a chubby belly, but we'll just chalk it up to a fondness for fish flakes.

Sorry for the short, boring update. I'm sure there will be much more to share after the weekend. We have lots of kitchen work on the agenda.