Here are some of the other folks who were helping:

Our friend Hal Owens (who we double dated with many years ago) flew all the way here from MD to help!

They tried to figure out what to do with the square windows in the brick fireplace.

It was the END of March - who knew Hal would have to scoop out snow???

Brother-in-law John Kottke came for a day.  He worked a lot and only took a short break to get his pix taken.  Also in picture is Dave, Don's regular worker, who has been with us from the very beginning.

Beckie Green has sure been a big help and friend with picking out furniture and all sorts of things.  Here she is brainstorming other uses for our windows into the brick.  

By the way, the DRYWALLERS came all the way from the south side of Chicago. Had a lot of work in our area just from word of mouth.

The drywallers worked VERY fast and did a great job.

No horsing around - 

They were all business - ZIP and they were done.

Finally getting some pictures in to bring our journey up to date. At this point just about all the drywall was on and mudded in, just about ready to PAINT!

Former back porch will be breakfast eating area in kitchen.

Stairwell is partially open

New linen closet in upstairs hallway

Guest bedroom (was Jenifer's room)

Former Master bedroom, will be guest room

Closet in former Master bedroom 

Upstairs hallway - that linen closet is to the immediate left

Looking from middle of kitchen out door - new breakfast room to the right, laundry to the left (formerly back porch)

Another view through the kitchen

Yep, one more showing the kitchen.

Looking from edge of kitchen through the dining room to the stairs and living room

That is about where we are coming up to Christmas 2012. They have started putting on drywall so it is more difficult to take pictures of the upstairs. So far there is drywall up in two bedrooms and some closets.

We are excited to see what 2013 brings!

Then the ducts for heating and a/c and, of course, more fiberglass insulation ON TOP of the sprayed-in foam insulation and new bath and bedroom walls.

First layer of insulation was the sprayed on kind... Made everything nice and pretty, again.

After the old stuff was gone and the new I-beam was put in then we got the new floors in the dining room and kitchen.  Next the ceiling which was the floor in the upstairs was removed and the floor joists in the second level were either replaced or reinforced.