2021, September 13-19

The updates to the house have started, Eliza gave us the gift of another ER visit, and we took a road trip that reminded us of the excursions we used to make in Michigan.

Eliza went to gym Monday afternoon saying, "I think my earring is going to come out some time." Whether it was a self-fulfilling prophesy or coincidence, about an hour later, she calls us up telling us that her earring had torn through the lobe. Our neighbor, Nurse Julie (thank you, yet again!) suggested we find out whether it was safe to wait to have it dealt with, but Dr. Bartholomew (thank you, yet again!) said it needed to be dealt with within 12 hours. This meant another ER visit for Eliza to get three stitches. 

The attending physician was named Dr. Murdock. Eliza thought this was funny considering one of her favorite shows is Murdoch Mysteries, so they got a photo together. 

Here is her ear the next morning. 

On Tuesday we got started on renovating the downstairs. We are starting with paint and flooring. It worked out that the painter (Payden Law, who served his mission in Detroit when we lived in the Belle Isle Branch) was available before the flooring people, so we started with paint. Eventually we'll have to change out or repaint the cabinets, appliances, and so on, but we're going to have to take it one project at a time. We opted to paint the walls in Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams as part of an overall beach cottage theme we hope to create. Mike loved the front room in our house in Michigan, and hopefully we can eventually recreate a similar vibe. 

A few days in, and the walls seem to be coming together. Hopefully the new flooring will bring out the cooler colors in the paint, which seems to change quite a bit as the day goes on and different lighting hits the walls. 

Landon stayed home from gym on Thursday and Friday to catch up on homework (with Mike's help) and nurse his sore back. Eliza ended her first mini-term, and we're working on giving her grade-level reading comprehension and math activities while addressing lingering issues with her phonological awareness. We're grateful for teachers who are working so hard to help our kids have a positive school experience!

On Thursday evening, Landon went to see our bishop (who does chiropractic) to get an adjustment for his back. He got all ticklish as he went through the process. Silly kid! 

Landon went to school Friday, so Fergus just had Mike and Eliza to keep him company. 

Our neighbor Matt decided to shave his head in solidarity with another neighbor who has had a cancer relapse and will be losing his own hair. 

On Saturday, Landon had a gymnastics excursion at Lagoon, and Mike and Eliza joined Hallie for a trip up north to Logan to pass the time until Landon finished. We went to Grossner Foods and Herm's Inn (too long a wait) and then to Vintage Market Days (which apparently is a nationwide thing) at the county fair grounds. This outing felt like a throwback to when we'd go on mini-excursions to points unknown in Michigan. 

We found lots of fun and interesting items, particularly those having to do with words on boards. We found some articles we particularly liked at Averie Lane. 

We hoped to get some yummy grub. Did enjoy a Navajo taco together but missed out on Sugar Mama's. 

We intended to go to Angie's (having heard it's a tasty place), but Landon called letting us know he and the other boys were done, so we'll have to try it on another visit. 

We did manage to sneak in a last stop at Cox Honeyland on our way out. We saw the beehive in the store along with many other bee-themed items. Plenty to see and do left up in the Logan area, and hopefully we can take the time to come back up soon!

And wall art. 

We had dramatic skies to enjoy on our journey, and those skies extended into the night, where they were backlit by the waxing gibbous moon. 

Oh, yes. Landon won a giant Tabasco inflatable for holding an extended pull-up. 

One more shot of the living room with the new paint. We're looking forward to seeing how it looks with our stuff back in it. 

In preparation for the flooring guys who are coming tomorrow, Mike removed the old powder room toilet. We opted to buy a new one with dual flush. 

Eliza had fun riding with Mom up to Grandma and Grandpa's (who are away at Penelope's baptism) to run some errands for them there, including harvesting some ripe fruit and tomatoes.