Cumberland Gal: Family Room Improvements--Update

Family Room Improvements--Update

Sunday January 31, 2021

Kenny & Dana Koogler

Jared, Lydia, Gabe & Mia Koogler

Adam, Crystal, Michael & Tessa Lindsey

I have posted photos of our family room makeover project. Our family has grown significantly and our little upstairs living room just wasn't going to cut it anymore when we are all here. We took out a non load bearing wall between two rooms in our finished basement living space. Kenny & Jared worked hard to overhaul that. Here is how the projects go round here. I am the concept person and come up with the ideas. Kenny & Jared or someone with building skills do the larger tasks. I do the clean up, assist them anyway they need and

do smaller decorating tasks. We're a good team.

The concept is coming together really well. The larger space is great.

It is working as I envisioned. Sunday we all went to church together to worship.

After church everyone came over to Nanny & Papaw's house for a big meal.

I had cooked all sorts of good things. One of the most fun things about these gatherings is how happy it makes Kenny. He loves it. I do too, but I enjoy seeing his eyes light up.

We all went down to the newly finished family room after lunch to be lazy, watch movies, enjoy the fire, and let the kids run around and play. Mia stayed up as long as a four month old can. She is adorable and starting to babble a little bit. She got fussy so I took her and wrapped her up in a warm fuzzy blanket and in two minutes she was asleep sucking her fingers. I tried to lay her down on the couch beside me,but her eyes flew open and she cried. I picked her back up and she was out again instantly. Hold me, Nanny so I can sleep.

Tessa, Michael and Gabe were running around playing. Gabe & Tessa are little enough they are like two jumping beans. I have a big chair in the corner with an ottoman. I heard Gabe say to Tessa "Quick! Let's go get in our hide out!" I watched open mouthed as they leaped into the air and disappeared behind the chair into the corner. This is what family is supposed to be like.

Kids running round getting into everything and being silly. They were fixing me soup and pretend food in the toy kitchen. Gabe fussing at me to eat all my vegetables.

Having a refrigerator downstairs now, a coffee maker, and a microwave has been wonderful. We made after lunch coffee and enjoyed savoring a hot drink while watching a movie. It was cold outside, but warm and cozy in here. Kenny told me later how much fun he had. It really was wonderful.

I know he wonders sometimes about my crazy ideas. It is hard for him to envision how it will better us or how it will turn out, but he sees it now.

Above: I am not the most mechanical person, but our propane heater had quit working and started smelling like fumes 10 years ago. I watched a You Tube video and learned what was wrong with it and fixed it! It has been great ever since. It is working well, no odor, hasn't set off the carbon monoxide detector, and has the basement warm and comfy.