It seems we are back to winter here with rain and sleet this morning.  It's not going to get very warm the next couple of days but hopefully this is the last of it as we have a busy schedule ahead and need good weather to get our sessions in.

A friend help me get my tires out to the shop in Topeka the other night.  We got out there about 8:45pm and left at midnight.  I got home at 1:30am and the alarm going off at 6am was not pleasant but it was a fun night with friends hanging out and talking Jeeps.

Our tile backsplash gets started this morning and should be finished by tomorrow.  That will complete our kitchen project and we are happy to have it done.  I could never live in a house that is being rehabbed. 

 

My cage came in and I got it to powder coat.  I pleaded with them to get it done quickly so I can get my Jeep back in time for our wheeling trip.  They were saying 2-3 weeks but I think I'll get it much quicker. 

We are busy preparing for our upcoming workshop and we are suppose to have our first senior session of the year tomorrow but a lot of rain is in the forecast.  Geez!  Not how we wanted to start our Spring season!

Jodi's Jeep was making a chirping noise, best I can describe it.  Looks like the water pump is being replaced today.  We wanted to get that problem resolved before it heads to its new home in Alabama over Easter weekend.

Long story short, my cage will arrive at my house tomorrow and I will take it straight to powder coat.  I've been hearing that it is en route to the shop for a couple weeks now with flooding the reason for the delay.  I just decided to order one from another supplier and get the project rolling.  Tired of waiting. 

Jodi's mom left yesterday after spending a couple days with us, Jayson and our niece, Elayna.  They went to Lego Land while here and spent some time shopping for new clothes and some toys.  We had a nice meal out at Corner Cafe on Friday night and we had smoked ribs and other goodies on Saturday. 

Saturday evening we hung out with Jeep friends around the firepit and Sunday we went to a club event at a local Jeep dealer.  It was a fun weekend with the Jeeple.

Photo shoots start up again this week as we have temps in the 70's ahead.  Next month will be very busy as we have model shoots, client shoots, our workshop and more.  We finish up the month of April with a wheeling trip to SMORR.

  

Jodi's mom and our 7 year old niece arrive today for a two day visit.  Jayson will be staying with us over the two days as well. Luckily, all of the work has been done at the house with the exception of our tile backsplash in the kitchen and the quarter round along the baseboards.  The backsplash gets installed next weekend and the quarter round should be done this weekend. 

We had to delay the delivery of Jodi's Jeep until mid-next month but my photographer friend who is purchasing it and his wife will be staying a couple days when they come and that should give us an opportunity to go to Kansas Rocks and show them what off roading is all about.

My 40" tires are in our garage as I wait on my Jeep to get finished.  I'm not 100% sure it will fit in the garage after going to the bigger tires but we shall see.  I figure it will be three weeks before I get it back and that will be putting me awful close to our SMORR trip the last weekend in April and then yesterday I was invited to go to Disney, OK for a two day trip the first part of May.  It's going to be a busy year of wheeling.

   

We spent Friday evening and all day Saturday installing a lift and 37's on my friends' Jeep.  The girls drank wine while we worked Friday night and once the job was completed on Saturday, we had a celebratory meal at Texas Roadhouse.

On Sunday, we worked a bit around the house before going to take care of JD and Megan's dogs while they were out celebrating St. Patty's Day.  We then drove to Wabash for BBQ with some Jeeple before heading over to Dari B for ice cream.  We then went back and took care of the dogs before heading home for the night. 

I decided that while my Jeep patiently awaits the arrival of the sport cage that other work might as well be done while it sits.  So, an Artec truss for the front axle will soon be going in.  I had the c gussets done a while back so the front axle should be pretty beefy going forward.  Good thing because I have 40's on the way.

By some miracle, we actually found and purchased our tile backsplash for the kitchen yesterday.  On our way to the Jeep club meeting we stopped at two tile stores on the Kansas side.  We didn't see much at the first but we found two options at the second.  After consulting with one of their designers, we chose a glass beveled tile.  Now we just need to line up the tile setter to get it installed.  The project inches toward the finish line.

This weekend I will be helping a friend install his new Metalcloak Gamechanger lift on his yellow JK.  It's going to look pretty beastly once we put the 37's on it.  He won the set of tires in a raffle last Fall so that was awesome.

JD and Megan have a contract on a new house after the other fell through due to the seller not wanting to put a new roof on it.  The home inspection on the current house under contract went pretty well overall.  If all proceeds as it should, they close in about 6 weeks.   

Hopefully our cabinets are finished up today and we will be one step closer to completion of our kitchen remodel.  We still have to choose a tile backsplash and have it installed and I have to install the under cabinet lighting but we are making progress. 

Tonight is our Jeep club meeting so we will be out most of the evening to attend.  Our club has grown to 365 members this year already.  We are looking forward to all of the off roading events that are planned this year including the Sunflower Trail Ride where Jodi will get behind the wheel of Nemesis again and show us her driving skills at this event created specifically for the ladies. 

I would really like my Jeep back but I'm guessing at least two more weeks. I still have my new inner fenders to install when I get it back and a couple other ideas. 

I lost my voice yesterday at the hockey game.  What a game it was and of course, our section won the rowdy and loudest section award, hence my lost voice.  There were multiple fights, multiple blood on the ice incidents, a lost tooth or two and more.  Tony Stewart was there also and we all had a great time.  Afterward, three other couples joined Jodi and I for dinner.

Our cabinet refinishing project begins today and should be completed by tomorrow.  We are both excited and nervous as we hope we like the final result!  If we don't, it's only money I guess.

We sold Jodi's Jeep yesterday.  She's having trouble getting in and out of it with her back and seems to do better with the car so she decided to sell it.  A photographer friend from Alabama and his wife are flying up later this month to get it.  It will be hers and they are very excited to get it.  I think we are going to follow them down to Branson and hang out for a day or two with them and another photographer from Arkansas.

Our granite counter tops and sink were installed yesterday and we really like them.  Now it is a waiting game to get the cabinets finished up.  They should be done by end of day next Wednesday.  

We went to hang out with Jeep friends last night to escape the mess of our house.  We started at a small ice cream shop who is struggling a bit due to road construction in the area.  They stayed open late just for us and then we went next door for BBQ dinner.  

I have to work on Saturday but on Sunday, We have about 60 Jeepers going to a hockey game which should be a fun event. 

Our granite counter tops will be installed on Thursday so things are moving forward on our home update.  The lady painting our cabinets picked up the doors yesterday and will return with them and do the cabinets next week.  There's some light at the end of the tunnel. 

This morning at the plant, a recognition ceremony was held for those of us that had recent 30 year anniversaries.  There were about 15 of us recognized and we received our 30 year award certificate from the plant manager.

We are one month away from hosting our first photography business workshop.  We have much planning still to do but I am confident that it will be a great event. 

 

As if we weren't making a big enough mess with all of the current work at the house, now we have decided to tackle painting the interior walls and trim.  I don't see how people do remodels that last months.  I'm already going crazy living in an unfinished state.  At least the floor should be finished by this weekend and we may see our granite installed next week.  That will leave the cabinets and backsplash to finish up.