More Progress on Kitchen

Johne came over today on his day off to help Scott with the opening and installing the header...needed to keep the roof up! He pretty much worked all day by himself getting ready before Scott could break free from work. Then they knocked it out from 5-9pm. It looks so great. I'm so thankful Scott has such a vision for things. Also, the electrician has started on the electrical and it should be done tomorrow. The pictures are a little messy, but thought I'd pass along the progress.

Tyler and I spent the afternoon at Johne's house and Tyler took a nap on a big boy bed! My little man is growing up! We then spent the rest of the night at the grocery stores...yes, I go to 2 grocery stores to help save on certain on-sale items! Tyler was such a trooper and we had a good time...the space jam tape is on constant repeat...yes, I said cassette tape and repeat...which means I rewind the song over and over again. I think he's trying to memorize the words. He dances to the beat, and mumbles and talks to himself throughout the song. Everybody get up, it's time to space jam...get your chance, do your dance at the space jam...alright! His terrible 2's really come out if I try to turn the volume down or eject the tape. He also tells me the moves he wants me to dance...such as "get low mommy" or "raise the roof" It is quite cute, until he screams for more.

Great Grandma is here...and she brought snow!

My grandma made it down to visit last week, she was stuck in Des Moines one extra day because of snow and wind in Iowa and Chicago. Everything worked out though and the airline gave her an extra day in Savannah. She will be here until Friday and we are really having a great time, and I'm definitely keeping her busy (and Tyler too!) She's already babysat for me 2-3 times now as I went to the dentist, took Chance to the vet, and a doctor's appointment. I think Tyler is really getting used to having her around and always asks, "where she go?" when she leaves the room. I sent the itinerary to her before she left and we've pretty much stuck to it. We have wiggled around Johne and Jenny's schedule to fit in dinners and time together. Grandma cooked us all a lovely dinner of meatloaf, au gratin potato's, and corn Friday night. Savannah was also getting excited about having SNOW for the first time since 1986! Grandma, however, was grumbling for hours, not wanting to look outside. Too bad though because we had to drive home in it. We stopped at the movies to get tickets for the next night and the people at the theater had just gotten out of their movie and were just going crazy taking pictures and loving the sight of snow! Grandma was still grumbling. It didn't last long and did not stick. The next morning the evidence was pretty much gone. Saturday night Johne and Grandma watched Tyler while Scott and I enjoyed a Valentine's Date night, dinner and a movie (a gift from Grandma). Sunday we spent the whole day at church it seemed, bible study with the pastor's wife, service, and then small group that night. Scott took off yesterday to go to Michigan for his cousin's funeral, he died of cancer last week, so grandma is staying with me a few extra days and then with JJ the rest of the week. We went to story time today and have been to soft play a few times to help tire Tyler out. She got some pictures developed today at Jenny's store. We've both enjoyed quite nap times and grandma spent the afternoon with Jenny yesterday looking and thinking about garden stuff for their yard. Johne has tomorrow and Friday off and Jenny has Thursday off...so it's good timing for grandma to move out of our house into their house for a few nights. The days go fast and it's so nice having the extra hands and eyes around the house to help with Tyler and all my crazy nesting projects for the past week. So far I've cleaned out all of Tyler's old clothes, blankets, and some stuffed animals, sold the rocker and his old crib bedding set...all going towards the purchase of Myla's new bedding! I've obviously changed my color selection for the nursery...uh um...Amy. Amy gave me quite the lecture on how her niece was not going to have a red wagon boyish room. Who knew red was for boys??? Anyways, after pages and pages of crib bedding this caught my eye. It's light and fresh, some pink and lots of white...and it's all handmade. It's not official yet, but I think the plans are in the work to get this ordered from the company that makes it through Rob and Amy's store. Still trying to figure out and color for the walls....any suggestions? Anyways, I've given most of the clothes to friends that have boys or going to have a boy. I'm trying to sell a few other things and if not...knowing that they are out of the house is a great feeling. Today and tomorrow I'm going to work on donating old books to the library and organizing old pictures and keepsakes (it's so hard to know what to keep and what not to keep!!!) I'm in a clean out mode, less is more, but battling the Bowers side of Scott is tough, who wants to keep everything. Good thing he's gone right now...heehehee! J/K.

We've been having quite a bit of computer issues the past week or so...with viruses and at one time didn't have any computer working. Also the last couple of weeks have been pretty busy, with the kitchen renovations, interim kitchen set up (dishwasher and homemade sink base, griddle, and old range in middle of kitchen floor). But we are getting by, a little frustrated cooking at times and a little cluttered, but I'm trying to be patient so we can get everything done correctly and save as much money at the same time. I am very excited about the kitchen getting done and the opening into the living room is so nice, I love being able to look out into the living room and see the view. More on all that another time!

Kitchen Progress...Phase 1

Many things were done this weekend for our kitchen project while Tyler and I hung out with Grandma and Grandpa all weekend...staying out of the mess and out of the way. Friday night Scott removed everything from the kitchen and after a long days work Johne came over at 10pm to help remove the 1952 Beauty Queen Porcelain sink! VIDEO.

Saturday morning Scott continued to remove the tile and plywood from the floor to get ready to tile. We decided on the faux travertine that we have in our bathroom...I love it because it looks clean when it's clean and clean when it's dirty...he he.

Saturday our neighbor Dennis came over to inspect the progress and encouraged Scott to use some of the beautiful solid 1inch thick floor to replace the the hole in the living room where the oil burning furnace used to be. Then when Scott said there is no way I could do it...he offered to do it! He spent all day removing floor from the kitchen and around the patch in the living room. The result was quite amazing and we are speechless really!! We are so grateful for his talent and wiliness to use his whole Saturday to help in our little project! Johne and Scott continued to get the floor ready to tile. There was a lot of water damage where the sink was so they had to replace some of that floor and other patches where the pantry wall used to be. Sunday morning tile, mortar, and spacers were purchased and the first tile was laid! Scott discovered these new spacers that space perfectly AND level the tiles! Scott and Johne worked all day Sunday and tiled the whole floor. We had some debate as whether to tile the whole space or leave some of the hardwood showing in the dining table area. We are happy so far with the decision to tile everything and make it all one surface. It makes the kitchen look like a big spacious kitchen, then again there are no cabinets or appliance in there yet.

Next on the list is to Grout, set the electrical, drywall patch, paint, wall oven cabinet, dishwasher installed, new sink base and sink hooked up (still have to figure out the how and what), refrigerator and pantry back in the kitchen. The rest will have to wait piece by piece as it comes...especially the tough and expensive decision on coutertops.

All in all I am very excited and have lots of HOPE that it will be close to complete before Myla comes in May! Some say I'm nesting already...well, there is a lot on my list...still need to paint and do Myla's room, I'd like to re-do Tyler's room AND get the living room painted. We need to replace the big windows in Tyler's room and the Living room too. So much to do. I guess I will have to be patient, we've only been living here for 3 years now...I could wait on a few of those things for another 3 years....I guess!