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!

Halloween Festivities

We had a late start to Halloween this year. Generally, the girls start planning each holiday at least a month ahead of time. This year other things have taken priority and everything Halloween, except a vague discussion of costumes, has just not happened. In an attempt to show some last minute holiday cheer, we made a quick trip to a local pumpkin patch after Catherine's soccer game Saturday afternoon in search of the Great Pumpkin. We came pretty close.
Everyone got to feel the gooey yuck of the inside of the pumpkin.
Our jack-o-lantern. This is the first one we've carved in years. It was fun!
Getting ready for the big day. Seth and Sam were trying out their 'silly hair' to go along with their clown costumes.
Ta-dah! Ready to hit the streets and get some sweet treats.Our little Harrison was so cute. Harrison kept trying to make candy trades. As folks would hand him candy, he would try to hand candy from his basket back. Of course, he did that only when he wasn't trying to fight his way into the house.
After two hours of candy seeking, our little clown was done!
Everyone else was just getting started. They all dumped their loot in the living room. The girls sorted theirs while the boys just marveled at the small hill their candy made.
The loot sort by type. Almost make you want to draw a bar graph, doesn't it?
Bring on the whining for candy at all hours of the day and the sugar crashes!