The Graduate

I had a hard time last year when I registered this guy for kindergarten. 

And then suddenly we were attending his kindergarten graduation. 

He was, as you can tell, incredibly excited. 

His poem is entitled The Shark. 

High five to Old Navy who was stocking a shirt printed with....sharks! 

That's the level of commitment we have at Casa Bejos. 

A little privacy please

Out bathroom is mostly done, and has been in working order. There is just one minor detail that we haven't figured out - the door.

We know we want to hang a door, barn style, so not to give up any precious space within the micro bathroom. The rail has been purchased but the search for an old, interesting door has been elusive. We have been regulars at the Restore in town and have searched craigslist morning and night. 

When Nana came to visit we hoped to have it up and installed, but no such luck. She, and all our other house guests, have  been good sports about it. 

But then, on the airport run for Nana, I made an appointment for mr. bejos at a newish vintage/salvage store in Scottsdale. And there we hit the jackpot. 

I simply can't bring myself to sand off someone's family recording of their children's height. Sentimental fool. 

We still have a few details to work out - like the installation of the door rail and if the door will stay as is, but we are creeping our way closer and closer to having a little bit if privacy in the loo. 

Another soccer season comes to a close

And thus we reclaim our Sunday afternoons. 

and yet some more on the bathroom

Eventually the bathroom started to look like a bathroom .
We were all very excited about installing the parts that one could actually see on a day to day basis. Not the pipes and fittings that will hide behind the sheetrock forever and ever.

And then Brother Bejos had to leave.
No extra time, no luxurious days spent touring the newer brew houses of our town.
All work, no play.

Which of course left us with an DIY project that including a crash course in grouting.

This is 3

I let the boys decorate the cake for the littlest one's birthday, not realizing that the tops of the sprinkle containers no longer had the shaker tops that regulates the amount of sugary crystals that come streaming out. Oops!

As a 3 year old this one now demands to use a grown-up bowl, and is content to occupy his time alone if no one is around to do what he wants.

more on the bathroom

So to recap - brother and I decide, via long distance phone calls, that bathroom will be a facelift event. Book the flight, stay a little longer, just in case. Hey maybe we'll even get the chance to play in the woods or travel the state a bit. I mean if you're coming all the way out here....

And then brother bejos began demolition and discovered layers of rotted flooring.

Our trips to the store became less and less enjoyable.  I think this was the 84th trip.

The project turned into a complete and total demolition and gut job. Sigh. 

I think it was right before this picture was taken, when we realized that we had to remove the old enamel cast iron tub that we expected to refinish and leave in place, that I sat and started to get a bit teary eyed. At which point I put life in perspective, chiding myself for crying, crying!, over a silly bathtub and remodel gone wrong. 

A trip out to the dump yard made me laugh. 

And a beer, sitting on toilet, on the porch, seemed to turn around the situation.