It amazes me to see a long-prayed/hoped for dream materialize before my very eyes.  Five or six years ago I joked about the guys of our church finishing our basement. And now it’s actually happening. Over the weekend a few hard-working men cleared the basement, framed not one, not two, but THREE new rooms in my basement. They’re like those little worker ants who band together and totally demolish a gigantic log in a matter of hours. Or something…

Here’s a bit of a recap. This is more for me and my full-hand family than anything. I want to remember all the fun little details of this process so I understand if you just skim the written word and peruse the pictures.

Day 1: I was so caught up in the activity of clearing the basement that I completely forgot to take any pictures. Needless to say,I was completely bummed when I realized it! (Side note: Apparently I was so caught up in the festivities that I also forgot to take The Girl to dance. Nice. Mother-of-the-Year. Thankyouverymuch.) After the kids went to bed and The Music Man collapsed on the couch, I made more cookies. The Girl couldn’t sleep so she ended up helping me make the red velvet cupcakes too.  What?! Men need sweets to maintain their energy and momentum.

We also went downstairs to document the end of Day 1. I’m calling these pictures the Empty Befores.

Muchas gracias to The Music Man, Doug, Rodney, Jerry, Ewing, Michael, and who could forget Jefe (aka Jeff).

Day 2: If I heard it once I heard it a thousand times. “Mommy. I kinna wanna go downstairs wis all da worka guys. Please cannI?” My boy. He struggled with having to stay upstairs “wis da girls” when he knew the guys were hard at work below. He wanted so badly to be one of the guys and help. It was sweet and endearing the first forty seven times. Time forty eight and beyond was just annoying.  Cute, but annoying. My little boy loves to be a “workah guy.”

Now for the pictorial documentation… All of this was done by three or four guys in just a few hours.

Life goes on, so after the guys cleared out on Saturday I started a load of laundry. My boy needed clean underwear and all. It’s weird because I’ve wished and waited for years to do a load of laundry IN a laundry room and now I finally am. It’s wonderful but so surreal at the same time. I even pretended to turn off the light and shut the door before I came upstairs just to see what it will be like in just a few days.

My grateful heart overflows…Thanks to The Music Man, Doug, Rodney, and Jefe.

Day 3: The pounding, POUNDING, POUNDING was beginning to get to me (twitch twitch). It was making naps virtually impossible.  So I did what any sensible mom would do: pack the kids up and go get half-price happy hour frappuccinos at Starbucks for everyone.  Kids napped and mommy listened to some radio station that was only playing one hit wonders. I think this goes without saying, but it was wonderful.

As for the progress downstairs, the playroom is completely framed in. The family/school room is almost done too. They ran out of 2x4s again, but all that’s left is a little closet to frame in.  Next up is to electrify the place. Woo hoo.

Thanks again to The Music Man, Doug, Jerry, and Paul.

You guys NAILED IT!

Literally!

(Bahaha!!!)

Ok, I’m done.

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You have to admit, that was pretty funny.