The end of the home remodel

Fall has arrived and we have lived through the summer. Phase I of the home remodel is all but done and and now we are slowly creeping into Phase II (the house interior) which will start in October. A great crew of many workers literally replaced everything on the exterior of the house from the roof, walls, doors, a few windows, a new deck and railing. It has been quite a project.
So here's a few pics of the remodel. The front and the back. The coloring on the back is more true than the front. Pics were taken at sunset.

Firsts

So this weekend has to be at the top of the list for firsts.
First time I rode on a wave runner. We went with Nathan Saturday afternoon.
First time to Hyrum Dam. That is where we went wave running with Nathan.
First time to have Jessica, Nate's girlfriend, visit our home (currently under construction) and get to know her better. She's awesome.
First time we saw Monet, who is nearly three, and the daughter of Anneli (my niece) and Frits Grader (her husband). They live in Perth, Australia and came to Logan to visit Grandma Eva and our family. Also visiting was Kaeja, their 16 year old daughter, and Austin, their 11 year old son.
First time for their family to go wave running and I believe they really had fun.
First time I gave Frits and Austin rides in the Corvette.
First time for the Graders to stay over. As Frits said, "we're on holiday." We had a great visit and so glad they could stay overnight.
First time I was totally surprised by my whole family. . .(they all knew about the surprise).
I was planning to pick Staci up from the airport Tuesday evening (the 15th) from London.
Curt and Megan had invited us over for a BBQ Sunday evening (13th) to celebrate Staci's birthday and skype with her. At this point, I thought Staci was in England.
So after my family history center shift was over, we left for Bear River City. Things were a little strange but I didn't question anything, I even thought it was strange we took the minivan to BRC. When we arrived at Curts, Craig jumped out the car and started getting his camera out. Curtis opened the front door and gave me the funniest look, and I just kept staring at him and thought, OK, what's going on.
At that moment I turned and saw Staci. Well the rest is history and on film because I just screamed, and started hugging her and crying and couldn't believe the whole scene. It was quite surreal. I went into shock. It was such a great surprise. I was so relieved that Staci was safe and home at last. Well I have no pictures, because they are all on Craig's camera.
What a great weekend of firsts. We will reminisce this experience for a long time to come.

Joshua Craig Gulbransen

Today is Joshua's birthday. Joshua is now seven years old. He is currently living in Michigan, but will soon be moving to California. What an adventure. Joshua shares a birthday with his great-grandmother, Eva Kohkonen who is 89 years old today.

Joshua was a very cute baby with strawberry blond hair. He is very smart and has many talents. He loves to build legos and play with transformers. He enjoys video games, and is a very good reader. Joshua can make his little sister and baby brother laugh. He is a happy child and likes to have time to build lego ships. Often you will hear Joshua singing as he is transforming his favorite transformers.

Joshua plays soccer and enjoys his friends. He also enjoys playing with his older brother, Jonathan. They do lots of fun things together.

One of my favorite things about Joshua is a tradition we have. We often travel to Michigan to visit the grandchildren. When we get picked up at the airport and start traveling to their home, Grandma pulls out a bag of gummi worms for the trip. This tradition occurs every trip. One time, when we were leaving the airport, Grandma pulled out the gummi worms upon which Joshua exclaimed, "Yep, I knew it." He had anticipated the airport tradition - the unveiling of the gummi worms.

He is such a fun boy and we love him so much. We are excited to see you very soon.

Happy birthday, Joshua. Enjoy your legos and activities today.

Love, Grandma and Grandpa Armstrong

Jonathan Robert Gulbransen

Today is Jonathan's 9th birthday. I do remember the day he was born, like it was yesterday. I got a call from his parents and was so excited to have a grandson, my first grandson. It was such a thrilling day. I remember driving to Orem to the hospital to see this new baby and being thankful he was healthy. Jonathan had very blond hair, nearly white. He was a very sweet baby.

I stayed with Steph and Jeff in their apartment in Provo for a couple of weeks to help. It was an adventure for all of us. It had been 14 years since I had had a baby, Staci, so we called Grandpa (the pediatrician) lots with the "what to do" situations.

We have watched Jonathan grow and become a very handsome boy. Some of the things he loves are balls. He had very good eye hand coordination and loves to play with balls and is very talented with most sports. I believe his favorite is soccer which he plays seasonally.

Jonathan is a very good reader and loves books. He likes computer games and enjoys building legos and playing with his brothers and sister. He is a good student in school and is friendly with other classmates. Jonathan has many talents and will be an excellent young man and missionary when the time comes. He loves to read the scriptures with his family.

Jonathan is a very caring person, is a big helper to his mother, loves to camp with his dad, and has been a good example of a big brother.

Here are a few pictures from our last trip to Michigan in June.

Happy Birthday, Jonathan. We love you very much. Enjoy your birthday gifts. Grandma and Grandpa Armstrong.

House update

Some think the house remodel is progressing slowly. They ask, "When will it be done?". I just reply, "it is coming along well and will be a summer project.

The funny thing about expectations is that if you think the work is going slowly, you become impatient. If you think it is going on schedule, then life is good and you are happy.

Somehow, remodeling to some is very inconvenient and needs to be done quickly. I, on the other hand, have the attitude that I want this remodel job to look great when it is done. No matter how long it takes, it will be done well. I don't want the subs to do a quick, hurry up, get it done now, kind of job. No job can be done well that is done in a hurry. Most subs take pride in their work and want it to showcase what they can do.

The stucco subcontractor told me that he had sent many people to look at our (previous) house color and repeated it on many homes in the valley. I am sure he wants to do the same with the remodel. I have discovered how difficult it is to visualize the materials in small size that will be applied to a large space. I have looked at many many homes to see what choices have been made. It is easier to see what I don't like rather than what I do. So far I haven't seen anything quite like what we are doing. I guess that is good, or scary. So I am very willing to make the decisions with thought and help. If you want to see what is going up, we have color samples by the garage wall and you can drive by and take a peek. One comment was "very interesting". I guess we really won't know until we see it up.

The mud layer will be applied this week, it has to cure for a week or so and then the stucco layer will be applied, then the stone on the east side, soffit and fascia, deck flooring and rail and stairs, finish off the roof and we will be done with the exterior phase.

This is a summer project that we will live with for a very very long time. Hope we like it.

Sunset every 24 hours

One of the best moments of my day is catching the sunset. This time of the day is frequently amass with color. Depending on the clouds and weather, the sunsets are amazing looking westward from our house and now especially from our new deck.

As our family started leaving for missions, marriage, education, etc., and when I viewed the sunset, I would think about those family members who were living elsewhere and wonder if their sunsets were as beautiful. Everyone now has traveled and moved to far away destinations. So as I view a sunset, my thoughts still turn to my family.

When you see a sunset, I hope your thoughts will turn toward Logan, and may you enjoy them as much as we do.

Boise, Idaho

Never been to Boise, Idaho before. The reason for the trip to Boise was to help with Brad's move to Emmett. So if you say Brad moved to a town near Boise, people know where that is. If you say, Brad moved to Emmett, then they ask, "Where is that" so you just save time by saying "near Boise". Emmett is about 1/2 hour drive northwest of Boise.

So we had an adventure last week. Wednesday we loaded a UHaul truck. Thursday I drove the truck 6 hours to Emmett. Brad drove his car, mostly way ahead of me. The truck was unloaded in less than an hour with the help of three guys from the ward. Friday we dropped the truck off in Boise, and I flew home. Air time was 39 minutes.

Took the Cache Valley Shuttle home from the airport. A great little adventure.

We got most of Brad's furniture arranged in his 2 bedroom apartment. How many ways can you arrange five pieces of furniture in a room with three walls? Several ways, I found out.

Brad is within six blocks of his office and will work with the youth sports programs for the city of Emmett. Great job, nice community, beautiful valley, near a large city, great location.

We are excited for Brad's opportunity in Emmett. His address is 523 West 1st Street, Emmett, Idaho 83617. Packages are always welcome. Good luck, Brad!

Celebrating 36 years

I can't let today go by without remembering 36 years ago when Craig and I were married. It was in the Manti temple on a cloudy, blustery day in May. It was a special day with family and friends. Our 36 years together has been a great adventure. We have an awesome family of six children, three married spouses, and seven wonderful grandchildren. Each person is very dear to my heart. Thanks for sharing your love - Brad, Brian, Quinette, Cameron, Jessica, Rebecca, Jeff, Stephanie, Jonathan, Joshua, Brooke, Seth, Curtis, Megan, Nathan and Staci. The best part of our marriage now is being married to Grandpa Armstrong. (holding Rebecca - 2 mon)

The white house

The white house (all covered in Tyvex) ready and waiting for it's stucco & stone covering. The home makeover is progressing very rapidly. Thanks to a great contractor and his crew who keep the job moving. The air conditioning is installed in the upstairs floor. This will be a cooler summer around here.

Below is the floor of the deck on the west wall.

The exterior doors have arrived and we are just waiting for the four windows to come. As soon as we get the fireplace installed, the chimney will be built, and the doors and windows installed, the stucco guys can start.

We have a deck off the back west wall. It is covered and it is awesome.

We have most of the roof on. The rest will be finished after the stucco job is done.

So today I went looking for door hardware, stucco colors and stone styles and colors from homes around the valley. So many colors, styles and variety.

Estimated completion date for Phase I is 6 - 8 weeks (July sometime) Yeah!

It's for real

Well, we have gone and done it. It's too late to turn back now. Yes, we have started our Extreme Makeover-Armstrong style. We project the entire makeover will be completed summer of 2009.

Phase I is the exterior including new roof, stucco/rock exterior, new doors, and deck on the west side with a roof covering. Inside we will install air conditioning for the upper floor (badly needed), replace four windows, and install a new glass crystal fireplace in the living room.

Phase II will be inside redecorating with new painting, touch up, furniture, window coverings, and anything else I can afford.

Phase III will be landscaping. Pretty much there will be no need for yard care this summer. It is pretty much demolished. Oh the big boulders have been removed. I am keeping the slab rock for future use.

Needless to say, there have been many hours of thought, searching websites, and driving around neighborhoods looking at houses, getting ideas, and thinking, thinking and more thinking.

The biggest question is "Now that I can change the look of the house, what do we want it to look like?" I should do a survey of the family and get some input. So if you have seen anything really cool, email me a picture or a website to view.

So here are a few pictures of progress so far. Today is day 10. The best part is working with a great contractor, Nyman-Reeder. They built the house and are the best guys to work with including their crew and subs that they use. Exciting project. Perfect for the creative personality.

the rest of the story

I accidentally hit the post button before I was done. Can you believe it?

Craig is an excellent example of studying a subject and learning all about it. He studies medicine, history, computers, photography, current world affairs, politics, and gospel doctrine. When you ask a question, not only does he know the answer, but he can explain the history behind it. It is great to live with an intelligent man.

We are who we are and can only hope to become better. Just don't blame everything on your parents. We are, in fact, only human.

Balance is good in life. Creator vs. Maintainer - maybe a little of both is best.

Inherited family quirks

This may help the family understand where they get a few of their quirks from, me or dad. Craig is mostly a maintainer and I am mostly a creator. I sure hope some of you have a little of both, because then you are perfect.
I have discovered that it is best if I work on becoming a better maintainer, such as learning to clean up quickly after meals, cooking even though I would rather be sewing, find a place to put essentials, and dejunk all the unnecessary stuff in my life.When my trainer once said after being the perfect weight and fitness, "You now are on maintenance." It put me totally out of my comfort zone and I had no idea how to maintain. I have discovered anytime I go on maintenance mode, I just get lost in the day to day and totally get distracted by another new project.
I have never been good at excelling in one subject. I love to learn something new all the time and as soon as I feel I know enough about that subject, I move onto the next one. So consequently I know how to do many things, but only the basics and then I turn around and teach the basics to others. As least I know more than they do in the beginning. I am usually only a few steps ahead.

Creator vs Maintainer

I have thought about this idealogy many times now.

I have shared this idealogy many more times.

I have analyzed this idealogy for a year now.

So I have come to the conclusion that I am a creator, not a maintainer.

Read the following and see if you share my conclusions.

A maintainer is very good at the following:

- brushing teeth and flossing after each meal

- physical activity (exercise) every day

- having a place for everything and putting it away after every use

- cooking food and cleaning the dirty dishes as they cook

- when asked to get something, they easily and effortlessly find it within minutes

- they plan ahead when they have an appointment or meeting and dislike being late for any reason

- have a well planned shopping list and know where everything is in the store

- they like a regular daily schedule and are early risers

- they normally do not like surprises or unexpected events

- and the list goes on,

I think you get the idea

So the creator is about everything that makes life fun and exciting. (well at least from my point of view)

- enjoy looking at each day as a grand adventure

- making very few plans and winging the rest of the time with "what else can I do that's fun"

- being in my sewing room and especially starting a new project

- it's not essential to finish any project. It's the process that makes the project fun

- inpulse shopping for anything, especially non-essentials

- looking for something and being surprised when you find something else, that you haven't seen for a very long time. (like my marriage certificate)

- love surprises like a new car, and then riding in a new car

- planning and implementing a new project like a whole house remodel

- blogging, chatting and emailing friends and family

- vacationing anywhere

- going to work and finding 75 different ways to tell telephone sales people "NO THANK YOU" especially the ones from India.

- and anything else that uses the creative side of the brain

I have found that understanding this creator vs maintainer idealogy has helped me understand myself. It really doesn't change anything or anyone around me. In fact, those who know me think I'm either a little crazy or now have an excuse for not putting anything away. Which is true on both accounts.

So which are you? A creator or maintainer or a little of both?

to be continued. . . .

the dream car

It has been the most fun week. You know the week that you never ever get. So let me explain. I have had a week where I had no meetings, no classes to teach, no classes to take, no obligations except for work. The rest of the time I have been able to do those things I have been waiting to do, like complete my Mystery quilt from quilt guild. It was so stress free and I really enjoyed it.
The best part of the week was seeing my husband get excited about something he has wanted for as long as I have known him. It all started with going to a car dealership when we were first married and looking for our first car. Not only did we look for a car we could afford, but looked for that "dream car" that we hoped to have someday.

As we would see the "dream car" on the highway, someone in the car would say, "Hey Dad, there's a . . . . . " and we all would stare at it until it was out of sight. Or, "Hey Dad, you missed the . . . ." and we would keep driving always looking for the "dream car."

Recently the thought of owning the "dream car" has been more openly discussed. Recently there was an opportunity to obtain the "dream car" but it sort of slipped through our fingers and after being a little (a lot) disappointed, life continued and we knew there would be another "dream car."

Sometimes things just fall into your lap and you know they are meant to be. So this is how it happened. Craig was visiting with the wife of a car dealer and mentioned what was his "dream car". She said they rarely have any on the lot, but just happened to have one delivered two days before. Her husband called up Craig and invited him to come have a look and test drive.

Now we have been to the car shows in Detroit several times. Every time we sit in the "dream car" but never have gone for a test drive. I think we felt that if we had a test drive, we would buy it. Somehow we couldn't resist the temptation. And we were right.

So after a long test drive last Wednesday, there was no question that this was the one and only "dream car". It is now resting in the swept and cleaned out garage just waiting for the first road trip. Craig is really, and I mean really, excited about now owning his "dream car".

It is a black 2008 Corvette Coupe. License plate: 4CEKA.