Have Graduations Will Travel

True to his word, and as a fulfillment of a 30+ year old dream, Jef and crew (Dylan & Michael) took the ceiling out of the west side of the family room. The planned 3 day job suffered from what Jef calls 'scope creep' which means the original scope of work creeps larger and larger. Yes, I have a classic example of 3 long days of work, several great ideas that needed to be added to the original design, and just a few things that still need to be done before the ceiling can go back in.... and I still have a family room with no ceiling. Interesting fashion statement, looking up at the nails sticking through from the roof. But when it gets finished...wow! The ceiling came down friday, Jef worked hard through the weekend with help from Dylan (between work and social life...doesn't leave that much time to spend hammering), and me (who can not be totally trusted to climb to the top of the ladder and still function in a helpful manner while holding on for dear life....). It was a trying time for Jef, but still we were able to accomplish quite a bit before we had to wrap it up...Jef left on a trip on Tuesday. Dylan and I left for New York on Thursday, and Michael Iverson bravely stayed home and took care of the dogs.

Rose & James flight got in just before ours so they waited for us and Sam came to pick us all up and drive us to Brooklyn for dinner with Heather and her family. Then he took us into Manhatten to our hotel. It was a wonderful hotel that was directly across the street from the hole left from the World Trade Towers. There is a lot of activity going on there as they work to reconstruct subway and train lines as well as new buildings...all night long...but it was so interesting to watch from our room on the 24th floor. Just like having front row seats! Jef got us all rooms with his Hilton points, Rose and James were on the 26th floor and Emily and family were up on 40 something. We felt very posh!

Friday was Heathers graduation, we were very proud of her. We were so thankful Heathers family saved us chairs on the grass under a huge tree so we were comfortable and the weather was beautiful. Poor Heather was seated out in the sun so eventually she came to find us and enjoy our shade until the graduation speakers ended and we went in to her depatment graduation. (if this picture looks familiar I snitched it off Emily's blog because someone forgot to remind me to bring my camera to the graduation...). Then we all went to Central Park..the Grays to the Zoo, Heather's family to the playground, Rose, James, Dylan and I to find the pond you can sail remote control sail boats on. We never found that particular pond but we found a few others! Dylan and I rented a row boat, Dylan rowed and I just told him when he was going to run into something and since he was sitting backwards I spent a lot of time talking. It was fun and just as he was getting the hang of it so we could enjoy some amount of dignity it was time to head back to the dock and to dinner. Jef was able to drive down to NY and meet us in time for dinner even though he had not been able to come early enough to come to the graduation. Sam hosted us all, it was quite a group and we ate very well!!!

Saturday was threatening rain so we opted to spend the day in the Natural History Museum. The kids loved it and that made it even more fun for us! Emily and Austin had to start for home in the afternoon. We met Rose and James for dinner and by then my feet had walked their last mile! Jef and Dylan went down to the hotel pool with Rose and James while I wisely sat in the room with my feet up. Sunday we walked all over Brooklyn and walked on the Brooklyn Bridge. Rose & James had a flight out Sunday afternoon, Jef left on Sunday evening for Chicago, and Dylan and I enjoyed having Sam and Heather to ourselves for the evening! On Monday after an eventful day flying across the country Dylan and I finally got home again late in the evening.

Tuesday Morning was Dylan's High School Graduation, Grandpa Nix & Pat, Rosalie, Kara & Anna joined me as we watched Dylan graduate, it was great!!! He looked so handsome.

And Wednesday I was rather glad to get back to work, and Dylan started a class at the U of U. Jef will get home again on Friday and hopefully he will be able to work on the Family Room some more.