This Week's Building Progress (Oct 18-22)

 So many things happened this week. On Monday the entirety of the SEC company descended on our house. Additionally, electric and plumbing subcontractors were in and out this week. It was pretty exciting to know that a lot was getting done in one day.

The last replacement windows were finished and the sliding door was installed.

Window trim was started and worked on throughout the week. I think there are two windows left to trim in the old house. It look s so nice!

The new doorway was cut. It opens the dining room into the addition.

The soffit was replaced on the second story.

AND a new roof was put on the old house. This was subcontracted to an amazing crew. They worked so hard and efficiently. It was finished in one day.

When the new doorway was opened I realized that going to Mom and Dad's house during the day was going to need to be the routine until the house is finished. There is no privacy and I know it would be awkward for us and the workers if we are at home. I took all of our schoolbooks to my parents so that I can prepare for school the next day without having to lug our books back and forth. It's a very different rhythm and routine, but I think all of us are adjusting to it. I came across this towel and thought I had to have it for the most literal interpretation of it.

 This finishes week 7 of no laundry room or kitchen.

This Week's Building Progress (Oct 11-15)

 This week was all about widows. Progress was steady--and slow--in my definitely unprofessional opinion. Every day one or two windows were replaced.

By the end of the week all but two of the windows in the old house had been replaced. 

 The ceiling on the porch was finished also.

This week was particularly grueling for me. Every day we went to my parents house to do school. We left the house by 8:00 and came home at 4:00. This week my aunt, uncle cousin and her 3 boys were visiting from Arizona and staying at my parents house. After school we were visiting or doing something fun with them. Then when I came home I needed to sweep, vacuum, and mop the floors to feel like we could live there for the evening. The SEC crew cleaned up but there was still a powder dust left behind. It was just a lot for one week.

This Week's Building Progress (Oct 1-8)

 The big thing we've been waiting for is windows. They were ordered in June and expected arrival to the supplier was "early October." I was so surprised when Jeremy told me that the windows had arrived to the supplier on October 1st! The thought was that the windows would be delivered the following Monday while we were in DC, so I worked really hard to have the house ready when we left. This is how I left the house for "vacation." Everything moved away from the windows.

As it turned out the windows were not delivered until after working hours on Wednesday, October 6. I was really disappointed because it seemed so ideal that some of the work inside our house be done while we were out of town. "Ideal" and "efficient" are not words that go along with construction projects. 

On Thursday, though, we arrived home to all of the new construction windows in the addition. It was so exciting to see.

And the front replacement windows went in on Friday. I'm SO excited about how the front porch is turning out.
 

And for fun--a before and after (before trim) from the inside.

Washington DC--Thursday

  I'm finally back with our last day in Washington DC! After packing up and checking out, we headed out to Arlington National Cemetery. None of the children were very excited about it, but I was convinced that they would be impressed by the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. Changing of the Guard happens every hour and when we arrived we had adequate time to get there. I figured there would be signs so we didn't seek out a map. Problem was that we missed a sign and ended up having no clue where we were going. We kindof followed the crowd and ended up at the Eternal Flame at the grave site of the Kennedy family.

Time was ticking away at this point and what we finally figured out was that the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was on the other side of the cemetery. We started walking as fast as Isaiah would let us as we watched the minutes ticking. I didn't really want to wait around for another hour, but I didn't think we would make it either. When the clock struck 11:00, we were within running distance and Aliza took off. I followed her and, ultimately, we made it only a minute or two late.

Everyone was glad we made it. When the official Changing of the Guard ended we moved to the middle and a few minutes later a wreath ceremony started. We were right in the middle and had a great view.

We took a leisurely and direct path back to the parking lot. 

Our last stop was to view the front of the White House. We were pretty tuckered out and ready to head home, so we opted to pay for a close parking garage. Totally worth it this time!

 

 

There was a protest happening in the park across the street which led to interesting conversation and education about freedom of speech. Aliza had a few more memorials that she wished that we could have seen so she started a "Things to Do in DC Next Time" list. 

This one will go down in the Heslop Family memories. Aliza, Josiah and Anna thanked us over and over for this adventure.

Washington DC--Wednesday

 After the last two days, we did NOTHING this morning. After lunch we went to Mt Vernon. This was another site at the top of Aliza's must see list and another place neither Jeremy or I had ever been. We only scratched the surface of the educational aspect of Mt Vernon. There was a lot more to see and do than I realized. 

Aliza took pictures and I found some treasures when she shared her album with me.

I'm so glad that I added the mansion tour to our tickets. It is only $2.00 more and SO worth it.

The grounds were beautiful even on a cloudy day. It is a large estate with multiple views of the Potomac River.

On the pier at the Potomac River.

Aliza took this picture of Isaiah and it makes me laugh.

We took the trail from the river back up to the main grounds area where the Washington's are buried. This area required "silence and respect." We, well, our youngest two, struggled.  Anna had just realized that she had left the camera she had been carrying and using in the bathroom (at the other end of the trail) and was distraught.  I walked back to the bathroom and it wasn't there. Anna was devastated. It just about ruined the rest of the day. The end of the story is that it had been turned in to lost and found. She was one happy little girl to have that camera back and the day was saved.

Isaiah loves loves loves to carry on a conversation with either his brother or sisters about games they are playing. He never runs out of words AND he will walk a long way without complaining while he is talking.

It was just about closing time at Mt. Vernon when we left. We finished with Fu'real milkshakes from the cafe and a trip into the gift shop. 

For our last night the children really wanted to do a Pokemon adventure. They didn't get to do a raid, but we made quite a spectacle anyway walking around with all of our devices glowing. I'll vouch for it though, this is legitimate family time! Never a quiet moment! Next time riding the ferris wheel is on the list--for some of us.

National Harbor has a bunch of posed statues that Anna got a kick out of.

And a children's play area with a bunch of animals that Anna had so much fun posing with. We had the street to ourselves by this time.

Ben and Jerry's closed a minute before we got to the door. Naturally, we had to pick up a pint at the CVS that is on the same block as the timeshare for tonight's snack.