Update on House "Renovation"

Here is a list of what hubby has done so far for 870, which was originally built in 1880 (as printed on the property assessment we received today):

1) Replaced the two wooden foundation posts with steel jack posts that now sit on level concrete platforms, whereas the wooden posts were sitting on original "herak-herok" concrete floors.

2) Added heating ducts to the back toilet, children's rooms and spare room (the "office"). We completed this job in the early hours of 3 Nov, whilst the children were sleeping but didn't dare turn on the furnace until daylight. New heating ducts work really fine and we are comfortably warm in the house. Picture shows the new heating ducts leading to the upstairs rooms. Hubby had to cut holes in the floor (really thick solid floors) and through one brick wall. By the way, setting the thermostat at 19 deg Celsius throughout the day is very comfortable. I set it to 20 deg in the morning because we shower at that time of the day.

3) Completed painting D2's room and the office. D1 is now sleeping there by herself, whilst D2 bunks in with mom and dad in the master bedroom. We are putting on the primer for D1's bedroom now.

4) Frame for our new fireplace is now in place (see picture).

5) Installing the table and cabinets in the office. Will post pictures when completed.

6) Set up the desktop computer for our use.

7) Replaced the clothes dryer duct and vents (it's the first thing he did so we could use the washing machine and dryer).

8) Oiled the pulley of our clothes line.

As for my contribution, I've

1) unpacked and put away all the kitchen stuff. Now can cook and clean house for children.

2) been taking care of the children - take D2 every Mon and Thurs mornings to Ontario Early Years Learning at Bayview (25 minutes brisk walking) for playgroup time, and every Tues and Wed mornings to the library (15 minutes "soh-soh") for storytime. Waiting for D1 to come home from school around 3.30 pm.

3) been doing the day-to-day maintenance of a home - preparing D1's packed lunch for school, going grocery shopping with D2 (he'll pull the basket with wheels for me or push his size trolley. He loves pulling and pushing trolleys, no matter how big they are, and he does a pretty good job of it too.), cleaning house, doing laundry (every weekend), raking the yard (we have 12 big bags of leaves, and there are still more leaves to rake up) ... pretty humdrum stuff.

Would like to help the hubby more but not possible ... help him as and when I can, most times when the children are sleeping or occupy the children so he can work in peace. Would be good if D1 would help out more, either with daddy or me, even if it means just playing with D2. But she is learning to slowly accommodate him and him her.