Weddings, basements or "why I spent two weeks without my kid"

A week after the KC incident, we packed up the Outback for a trip to Ohio for my cousin Nick's wedding. Elizabeth got to spend some quality time with Grammy and Papa. For pics from this stay, where she got to have an early birthday party, see: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0QYtGbRy4aMXEw

Nick and Allie's wedding was a lot of fun. The first time Jeff and I were back at Our Lady of Peace since we got married nearly 5 years ago. Then we checked into our hotel room at the Hampton Inn downtown, which ended up being a lot of fun. To see downtown from a tourist point of view was something we hadn't done in a while. But back to the reception. Held at the Union Club, a beautiful old private club in downtown Cleveland, Jeff and I had our jaws wagging at the architecture, paneling, stairways, art, blahblahblah. That was, until they started the swing music. For pics from the wedding, check out my Shutterfly album: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0QYtGbRy4aMXIA

Monday morning, Jeff and I left little Lizzy Beth in Cleveland and headed back to Chattanooga to "hit it hard" on the grim task of plowing through a huge chunk of work on our basement remodel. In case you haven't noticed, there is nary a day here at Casa DeFlinnerFranco where we aren't fixing something. Unfortunately for Jeff, I had to get back to work, so he was left to toil alone in a VERY QUIET house. Mudding, sanding, painting. Rinse. Repeat. We have an enormous basement space, and it's an enormous job for one man. And one can't do these things with a toddler. Mud, paint, sandpaper...hmmm...sounds like lunch for most toddlers.

If there's one thing you think we'd have learned in 6 years of home renovations in two different homes, it's that things take at least 3 times as long as you plan for. And they cost at least that much more than you planned on. This makes Visa happy. Oh, yeah...and they NEVER improve marital bliss. Until they're done, then there is much rejoicing. Needless to say, not done yet.

Two weeks without my kid. Now that she's back, I could sleep in her room I'm so giddy. See next post for Elizabeth updates