Kitchen Remodeling -- Weeks 11 & 12

Well, I think we've crossed the finish line on our 12-week kitchen renovation. Check it out!

BEFORE (of the south wall and old island):
AFTER:
BEFORE (of west wall):
AFTER:
Week 11 started with a flurry of activity as the countertops and appliances went in. We rolled from one crisis to the next and didn't escort the last of the help out until after 8:30 p.m.

Then we escaped. We headed out for three nights in our trailer to clear our heads and reconnect as a family. We came home and have since been moving into our new kitchen, organizing and reorganizing. We've trimmed, puttied, caulked, and hung lights. We still need the dishwasher panels and a second pendant light but we're feeling pretty good about how the project turned out.

Now, to get to the serious business of cooking! Ah, my first New Year's Resolution.

Kitchen Remodeling -- Weeks 9 & 10

This was supposed to be the big reveal post. You know the one showing the before and the after. The one where you, my loyal audience, ooohs and aaahs and marvels at our clever design and industriousness. Alas, you'll have to wait another week.

We were moving along right on schedule. The cabinet install got done. The electrical work got done. The holes in the wall got patched...twice. The template was done for the granite. The appliances were scheduled for delivery. Of course all these things required at least five phone calls and being home as much as possible in case someone stopped by to do something.

We built out the pantry last weekend. It came out great, don't you think? I can't wait to move into it. I've never had so much food storage space. Until I can start canning, I think I'm going to need to make a huge Costco run to fill it.
This Wednesday we hit the snag. The granite folks called to tell us that the machine that performs the final process on the stone BROKE! The message was that the part would be in tomorrow because they would certainly have us installed by Friday (only one day late). OK. We could still keep our plans to go camping on Monday. Then, the part was delayed another day but they would surely install Saturday because that's what they do when they inconvenience folks. On Friday, the plan changed yet again and the new plan is to install Monday morning. The excuse: Our island rock weighs 1,000 pounds and they couldn't get enough installers together to bring it Saturday.

Of course, for every push in schedule from the granite folks comes a push in schedule with the appliance folks. We've daily been begging to get on the schedule and that's gotten harder as we've gotten closer to Christmas when apparently EVERYONE wants their appliances delivered. Ugh!

So now we're attempting to make the most of our wait. You know, take lots of Tylenol, put up the Christmas tree, take cues from our kids that Christmas is around the corner and is a reason to celebrate.

We're on the schedule to have granite installed Monday morning and the appliances Monday afternoon. We're leaving Tuesday for a much needed escape from this craziness and frustration. Well, at least that's the plan today.

Kitchen Remodeling -- Week 6 thru 8

The pace of our kitchen remodeling really picked up in Week 6. We had electrical work done...
And plumbing...
And sheetrocking...
And we had the wood on the ceiling sandblasted. The sandblasting gave the kitchen a major face lift. Our kitchen actually felt like new construction. Of course the dirt and sand that filled the rest of the house reminded us otherwise. But it really served as the turning point from the depression of demo to the excitement of what's to come.

We spent Week 7, also known as Thanksgiving week, starting to put things back together. The walls were textured. I stained the ceiling in one very long, very stinky day. Mark laid the tile and I painted.
Mark grouted and the girls helped clean. That's always such a drag. It takes so many passes with the sponge to get that 'new tile' feel. By Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend we were exhausted and sore, but we were ready for Week 8.
Week 8 brought cabinets! Yes, cabinets. It took us nine months to decide on which cabinets to buy and it was so worth it. They are beautiful!
After the first day of installation, it's starting to look like we have a kitchen again.
Week 9 will bring the rest of the cabinet install, drywall patching, electrical finish work and hopefully the beginning of a pantry. We're getting near the end. This whole kitchen remodel has been a taxing process to be sure but one we hope our family will enjoy for years to come.

Kitchen Remodeling -- Week 5

I get further behind on this post each week. We're already two days in to Week 6 which probably doesn't matter to anyone but me. But it's my blog, so I'm clarifying.

Week 5 was demo week. As in, take it down to the studs. As in, no more sink or cooktop. As in, more dust than I can shake a broom or Swiffer at.

The kids are always looking for ways to help with the remodel. This week Chloe was Daddy's superstar helper. After our rented tile stripper failed us, Mark manually took up 400 sq. ft. of satillo. He needed an extra set of hands to get rid of all those chunks of clay. Chloe did a great job shoveling and transferring tile to the wheelbarrow for disposal.
The demo only came after taking a full day to set up a temporary kitchen. I've always wanted a galley kitchen, sort of.
This is our new pantry/countertop/cabinet space. The shelves filled up faster than either of us imagined. Ugh. We have the microwave in the kids' bathroom along with our wash station. And this is our kitchen now. We have it quarantined to try to contain the dust and to prevent trespassing.
We also finished ordering odds-and-ends like cabinet hardware, more tile, grout, the sink and faucet. Now, we need to get a firm delivery date on those cabinets.

Adventures in Paint

Last Sunday, as we looked at the week ahead, the kids and I picked an adventure for each day. For Monday we chose to go to the botanical gardens and for Tuesday the kids begged and pleaded to paint. Painting with six kids is definitely an adventure.

I was apprehensive getting started as I looked at all their smiling faces and all those paint jars and brushes and newspapers. The boys have never painted before. What was I thinking? But, you know what, they did great! I gave everyone a lesson on how to love and care for their brushes and away they went painting their little hearts out.
Harrison even got in on the action. He painted with water. It's hard to tell whether he was more excited about painting or being included in an activity the big kids were doing.
Seth was a master color mixer.
Sam preferred taking it one color at a time.
We need to have more adventures like these!

Another day at the park

The kids are off from school this week. The weather was beautiful on Monday so we headed to the botanical gardens for a last look at the fall colors.




Harrison discovered the fun of playing in leaves!



It's so fun to watch children discover the wonders of our world. Our children remind us daily that joy is found in the small stuff.

Fashion Week

I love when our children work together towards a common end. Last weekend they put on a fashion show for us. They were adorable! See for yourself...




Harrison loved all the attention and watching his siblings. There's no lollipop on that stick, by the way. I know you're out there judging me. ;-)

A Walk in the Park

We took a break from our kitchen woes to see what was left of the fall colors along the river. It's always a treat to crunch through the leaves and smell those earthy autumnal scents. We take a similar walk every year to enjoy our community and to attempt a family photo that is Christmas card worthy. It's hard to say which goal has higher priority.
I love this picture of the kids!
Fall colors galore
Another shot of the family. It's a little bright, but two decent family pictures in one day, that's some kind of miracle.


Studying...always studying. Then demanding...always demanding.
The one who started it all. She's getting so big.

Kitchen Remodeling -- Week 4

This was another roller coaster week. We kept our 'high' going after seeing the results of our labor last weekend by making a deposit on appliances last Monday. I'm excited to have a cooktop with more than two burners and an oven with a fan to keep the heat even throughout, but more than anything I'm excited about our drawer microwave. It seems very high tech and has lots of buttons.

The rest of the week was devoted to getting bids from electricians, sandblasters and drywallers. I introduced myself to a drywaller while voting Tuesday. He was wearing his company hat but I think I took him off-guard. Anyway, he seems like a nice man and will probably win the work. As for the sandblaster, he seems great too. He's local and flexible and while he takes some effort to get a hold of he comes with references.

Then, or rather first, was the electrician. He nearly derailed our project. He comes through and starts spouting off code. At first we absorb and take notes. Then we start to get a little uneasy as he's telling us we need to add this and that and oh, by the way, you may not be able to have a pantry here because of the fuse box. WHAT!!!! This whole project is based on the new pantry which takes up the entire width of the entry. We are not adding quirks, we're trying to minimize quirks in this house. So, now what? Do we go along with his string of questions and see if we can make it all work? Or do we drop him and find someone who's less ethical?

So, again, we end the week asking WHY?!

Toddler Tricks

Harrison is full of toddler tricks these days. His forehead has a perpetual bruise on it from headbutting something or tumbling over something or just generally not respecting the limits of his one-year-old body. He is a daredevil, to be sure.

Catherine taught him how to climb up the slide and go down by himself. He is quick to transfer his knowledge as he was an eager slider at the park yesterday too.
At the last soccer game, he toddled out on the field at halftime and moved the ball and wrapped himself in the net. Busy, busy, busy.
Chloe discovered his next trick when she walked into her room to get something. Harrison was already there climbing the ladder to the top bunk. Ugh! I guess I need to add that to his interests: electricity, toilets, and now, ladders.
So cute when he reaches the top though. Too bad the door is now closed all the time, along with the bathroom doors and the cat room door. Our house gets smaller by the day.

Farewell Fall Soccer

Fall soccer is over! Surprisingly, I'm not doing cartwheels. I expected to feel a sense of relief, of new found freedom, of an extra two hours in my week. Those things are indeed true but I will miss the predictable friend time (for all of us) at the park every Tuesday night. I will miss cheering for the Crush every Saturday with the other families.
Most of all, I will miss Catherine's smile after the games. The one she gets when she knows she's done her best and she's getting loaded up with compliments.
Catherine has learned a lot this fall not only about her athletic potential but about teamwork and building friendships. Way to go girl! We're so proud of you!