Schooling Upstairs

Well, we have our school area downstairs in the basement, but it's not quite finished. There are walls and they are drywalled on one side. One of the walls, actually two, in the schoolroom are outside walls and being it is a walkout basement they are exposed to the outside elements and they have not been drywalled yet because we are still waiting to finish the electric & the HVAC. The we have to have them inspected before we can finish putting up the drywall. With that said, since it is in the negatives outside and there is only one heat vent for that whole side of the basement, it is quite frigid in the schoolroom. So, we continue to have school where ever we can find it to be comfortable which is upstairs where it is much warmer in the house.

Matter of fact, Cassie's room in the basement is also in the corner of the walkout basement where two of her walls are exposed to the outside elements. As with the schoolroom, those two walls have not been drywalled yet because we have to have the electrical inspected before we can finish putting up her drywall. She has the only other heat vent in the basement in her room; however, with no ceiling, no carpet, and exposed (they are insulated) walls it is VERY cold in her room, too. We tried a portable space heater, but she nor I like it running overnight for safety reasons, as well as it says not to leave it running without supervision - well she can't supervise it while she's sleeping. So, last night we brought up the trundle bed and put it under Mackenzie's loft bed so at least she can sleep someplace warm. Of course, Mackenzie is ecstatic because her sister is sharing a room with her. I tried to explain to Mackenzie, it is temporary until the basement is warmer and it is only for sleeping!!



Of course, Chloe is happy there's a bed low enough for her to get on.



Chloe especially likes being close to Cassie. By the way, that little pink striped ottoman that Cassie is using is a storage one on wheels that I got at Office Depot for them to store their books in. It was originally $40 and I got each one less then $10. What a great find!!



The girls have decided to work in Mackenzie's room . . .



. . . while Zack set up a card table in his room to work. See Zack's storage ottoman under his table.

I know eventually the basement will be finished. We were really hoping to have it done before the cold set in, but with busy schedules and finances (lack of with the need to holiday shop & pay outlandish propane bills) it might not be done before spring. At least we now have rooms or spaces for everything. And then next year, when it is below zero outside, hopefully it won't be as cold in the basement as it is this winter. For now, we are making the adjustments we need to do our schooling and make sure everyone is comfortable and not too cold!!