Archive for November, 2008

The all new Meyerplex, opening Dec 2008

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

Update: The projector arrived today (Friday, 12-5)!  So did the cables I ordered.  My first impression, is that it is huge.  The photo below gives the impression that it is a small box.  We’ll it is more like two shoe boxes sitting side-by-side.  I set it up around 6:30 for some initial testing, and the girls came down and watched “The Grinch” starring Jim Carrey, which was on TV tonight.  There is still more tweaking to do, plus I have to mount it to the ceiling, finish trim in the room, install wires, etc.  So today wasn’t the official opening of the Meyerplex, but it is getting close.  Did I mention, that the picture was sweeeet?!

Original Post: All of my renovations in our basement has lead to this one goal, an HD home theater with drop down screen, 1080p projector, and 7.1 surround sound system (sure, I was making a space for the girls to play too, but really, give them a decent sized cardboard box, and they are entertained for hours).  I was not ready to buy the projector quite yet, but the one I wanted went on sale this weekend for a Black Friday special, and I, I mean we, couldn’t pass it up.  Now I need to put that blu-ray player back on my Christmas wish list, and then decide on the title for the first movie to premiere at the Meyerplex.  If you have a suggestion on what it should be, let us know in the comments!

Posted in Entertainment, Tech, The House | 2 Comments »

Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

We are not sure when, or if, we last took a photo of the whole family together.  We have had a great weekend so far.  Thanksgiving dinner with the Fronza’s, dessert with the Meyers, and a trip to the Ringling Bros Circus on Friday!  Hope everyone else had a wonderful holiday!

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I gots skills

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

Here is a quick post.  We spent last weekend (Fri-Sun) tearing down the exterior wall by the kitchen table, removing the old header over the window, and putting in a 9-ft header for the new French doors and sidelights.  By late Sunday, we were able to get the doors in place.  We had ordered the sidelights, and they were suppose to arrive at HomeDepot, but they didn’t come in on time.  So, I picked them up on Wednesday, and WITHOUT Slowsky, put them in myself.  Ahhhh, grasshopper, who is the master now?

 

Before pic of the window

Before pic of the window

Before pic from the outside

Before pic from the outside

Now that is a big hole

Now that is a big hole

 

I walked into this frame, to pretend that I was working

That pole in the center is a house jack, holding up my second floor. No worries.

 

Ta-da!

Ta-da!

Posted in The House | 1 Comment »

“True Story”

Friday, November 14th, 2008

Ever wonder what your parents do at night?
Well one night, I found out.
My parents were quarreling,
This is what they said:

Mom: “This is an old photo,
of my ex-ex-ex boyfriend.
It’s a black and white photo,
And it is so beautiful!

Dad: “My ex-ex-ex-ex girlfriend,
loves to eat junk food.
And I do too!

I know that is what they said,
At least I think so.

By Emma

Posted in Emma's Stories | 1 Comment »

Make a wish

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

Jenny celebrated her 30-something birthday last week on National Election day.  We have a tradition in our house, that the birthday person gets a homemade cake made just for them.  My last three cakes for Jenny, were:

3. Chocolate with pink and blue frosting swirled together (1999) “well done” so that you could eat the edges, but not the bottom,

2. A nutritious cake made with prunes (2000)–although we are still arguing if this one was ever actually made, or just discussed, either way, Jenny is not fond of the memory, and 

1. A chocolate with orange peel frosting and the pan bottom accidentally left inside so you couldn’t cut through it (2001).

Since 2001, an interesting occurrence has happened, just before her birthday, Jenny suggests that since we are going to celebrate it at her mother’s house anyway, why doesn’t Joyce make a cake for her that year?  Interesting.  After 6 straight years of this, I suspect that Jenny might not like the cakes I have made her.

This year, with Joyce out of the picture (visiting her new granddaughter that is), I was free and clear to make a cake for Jenny.  Two nights before her day however, Jenny suggested that instead of making a cake, the girls have really wanted to try ice cream cake.  So, on election eve, we held a vote for the type of cake we wanted to get for Jenny.  The vote was confidential, with 3-1 in favor of an ice cream cake (Jenny wasn’t allowed to vote, and Lauren just chewed on her ballot).

So here is Jenny’s first ever store bought cake for her birthday.  At least her birthday wish came through…

Posted in Family | 1 Comment »

Starting to fill rooms

Friday, November 7th, 2008

Here’s the basement sofa just for you Sarah.

Posted in Family | 3 Comments »

Welcome Mary Elizabeth Fronza!

Monday, November 3rd, 2008
We are thrilled to announce the newest arrival to our Family.  Our niece, Mary Elizabeth Fronza, was born on October 31 to Jon and Sarah.  That makes four, for the Oregon Fronzas.  Way to play keeping up with the Meyers Jones’.  We are very excited for you, and can’t wait to meet her. 

Jenny took one look at the photo, and said that Mary looks just like Grace as a baby.  We think they must share a Fronza nose.

Mary is the first photo, Grace’s b-day pic is the second.

This is Mary     And this is Grace

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Now on to the back door

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Every exterior door (ok, there are only three, but saying “every” is more dramatic) in this house is/was broken in one way or another.  The front and back doors no longer sealed, and had gaps large enough that snow blew in last winter.  The patio door (which we already replaced) on the other hand, wouldn’t shut without giving it a hip-check.  I was able to find a dealer that had the back door we wanted in stock.  So Slowsky and I tacked that project this last weekend.  I knew it was going to be ugly, because in the crawlspace beneath the door, there was evidence of a lot of water damage and wood rot.  We took out the old door, and found that the subfloor was rotted through, and the joists were sinking.  We had to cut out a large section of the floor (as shown in the photos), plus reinforce the joists.  It was a major PITA that took all of the first day to complete.  Day two was finishing the installation, and working on the outside trim.  True to form though, I only have the “during” pictures for this post.  The “after” will have come later.

      

That's a lot 'o rot.

That's a lot 'o rot!

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Trick or Treat

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

With the exception of Emma, this year’s costumes were a repeat.  Gracie was Grandma, Olivia was Little Red Riding Hood, and Lauren was the Big Bad Wolf.  Gracie’s and Olivia’s teachers couldn’t stop fawning over them.

Emma was Pippi Longstocking, or as I thought before she and Jenny explained it to me, the Wendy’s Girl.  Emma had this great “Pippi skip” down, just like Pippi does in her movie. It was awesome.

Spooky!

Spooky!

Posted in Family, Little Meyer Mermaids | No Comments »

The New French Doors

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

We finally took a picture of the doors that we installed the other day.  Sorry for the delay.  Here they are:

Ooooh. Aaaaah.

Ooooh. Aaaaah.

We haven’t put up the interior trim yet.  We’ll work on that after the rest of the room is done.  Yes, the woodwork around the fireplace will eventually be painted white as well.  Give us another 6 months, and we’ll re-take this photo for the real before and after shots. 

After the door was up, Jenny liked the sidelights so much that she wants to do the same with the doors we plan to put in next to the kitchen table.  We had already ordered the second door, but sans sidelights.  They will take 3-4 four weeks to arrive, just in time do the rest of the demolition (and for the first winter snow to arrive).

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