Kuhn Construction

Family first. | St. Louis Home Remodeling

Work is important. There are houses to renovate and deadlines to meet. Clients to make happy and work to get done. But sometimes you have to pause for a moment (or a long weekend) and put your family ahead of all the work needing to get done... which is just what Rick, MJ and I did last weekend when we took two days off work to go visit my sister's family in Wisconsin!

Dad and my little guy, Grayson at Waun-a-bowl in Waunakee, WI!

When you build your business on the principle that family is first it allows you to remember what's most important. Work will get done, it always does, but grandkids grow up fast! I love that my parents will put their work+life on hold for our kids so often. They are helping us teach our own children that they are what's most important in this world. And we can teach them this because it's what we were taught.

More pics from our weekend trip to WI coming soon!

TODAY: the company is having a snow day so the three of us are staying warm and working in the office! Enjoy the snow day!

St. John's Episcopal Church | St. Louis Church Remodelers

We are working at St. John's Episcopal Church right now renovating some classrooms and other odds and ends. We've worked at Tower Grove Church before, many times actually, and it's always such a pleasure!

No one was actually working the day I stopped by so instead of photographing an empty worksite I decided to pop into the sanctuary with my dad. I'm sure I've been there before but it's been a long time and oh my gosh it's a beautiful church!

My favorite part of this church is its location. In the city, across the street from Tower Grove Park on Arsenal. I love that it's tucked in among homes because it can be such an integral part of the neighborhood. I love that.

The other thing we love about St. John's?

Today:

November 19, 1977:

Rick and Mary Jane's wedding day! This is the church MJ grew up in and where she met Rick. They met, three months later they were engaged and six months later they were married. And 33 years later they are happily working to continue to improve this awesome church!

We've worked in so many churches over the years but of course this one has a special place in our hearts! We can't wait to show you the before and after pics of our work here!

Working. | St. Louis Home Remodeler

We've been working working working which we know is such a blessing right now. Are we crazy busy? No. Are the doors open and the families fed? Yes. And we're happy. Happily working!

Our business is so much more than a group of guys renovating homes. It's a family. And since I work in the office it's always fun to go out on the jobs and see the guys. Because they're awesome. And always make me laugh. And I'm going to start going out in the field weekly just to capture them doing what they do. Working hard for us and for our amazing clients.

SO Monday, in the FREEZING cold I stopped by the "Mithen" job where we're doing a gut rehab, addition and new garage in the city... it's going to be so incredible when it's done! Truly it will be some amazing "before and after" shots to share one day! Now, it's still a work in progress!

One day soon I'm going to find an image of Larry, Jordan's dad who use to work here, because Jordan looks JUST like him with the beard he's grown! I love it!

We've mentioned before that the guys sign the wall before drywall goes up...

I seriously love these guys!

Butternut Squash Soup.

Let's start this blog out with a big fat apology for the lack of posting in the month of December. Two bouts of the stomach flu, Christmas, family in town, croup, New Years... time got away from me!

But I am BACK and we are ready to share some of the great things we have going on around here. Soon. Soon I will share what's going on around here. I need to gather images and words first.

So today, on yet another cold winter day, I wanted to share with you MJ's FAMOUS butternut squash soup recipe! If any of you know my mom, you know she's amazing in so many ways. For me, I value her friendship the most... she's my best friend, the one person in the world that knows EVERYTHING about me and still loves me! But for a less picky eater you may love her cooking the best! How I grew up to be a boring+picky eater when I had her as my cook for so many years is beyond me and drives her insane! Luckily my husband and kids make up for me and love everything she makes!

Anyway, ON TO THE SOUP!

6 T. chopped onion

4 T. butter or margarine

6 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash

3 cups chicken stock

½ t. dried marjoram

¼ t. black pepper

1/8 t. ground cayenne pepper

2 – 8 oz. pkgs. Cream cheese (one is probably ok, I would say one pkg. per squash you use) (could also use low fat to reduce calories if you are concerned)

In a large saucepan sauté onion in butter until tender. Add squash, stock and seasonings. Bring to a boil and cook 20-30 minutes or until squash is tender.

Puree squash and cream cheese in a blender, food processor or with electric mixer. Heat through but do not allow it to boil.

If it is too thick, thin with stock or milk. Leftovers are great, they get very thick and will need to be thinned.

For added flavor you can roast the cubed squash with olive oil and a little pure maple syrup. Add to onions and the stock as above, but you won’t have to boil it quite as long as the squash is already cooked.

Enjoy!