And down she comes!!!!

Well, we have reached the point of no return. The front room is opened up - the wall is gone. It was so exciting. We did that yesterday and today I cut the pieces for the island cabinets - only two pieces left to cut. Jeff needs the cabinets beside the stove done so hopefully those will be done by Wednesday.

Woohoo, getting started!

It takes a village.

We start'em young! Dylan is having a blast!

Jeff's foot went all the way through the wall. Boys will be boys.

This is actually kind of scary at this point.

Look at that mess on the floor! I was about to have a panic attack.

All cleaned up!

As I sit.....

here having locked myself in my room, listening to the clanging of dishes in my new sink, I realize what an awesome husband I have. I have, for years, asked him if he just doesn't see the messes that need to be cleaned. Today he saw that I was waaaaay far behind on laundry and he started doing it for me. After I got home from work, I took a nap thinking that would help my outlook - it didn't because I proceeded to gripe at him for leaving the clean laundry all over the living room. As I sat and folded and put it all away, I listened to him making dinner and began to feel guilty. I tried to explain to him that since the house was in such a disorderly state with the remodel, the living room was my sanctuary and I really tried to keep that decent since the front part of the house is such a wreck. Because it too was messy, I was feeling even more overwhelmed and well.... crazy (there I said it, yes I am indeed crazy). I don't know that he understood, but like a good husband does, he nodded and said he understood. So despite the fact that his crazy wife griped at him for not seeing messes and then griped because he tried to help, he is in cleaning the kitchen at almost midnight because he wants to be helpful.

As a side note, I am reminded of a conversation I had with a friend today. I was retelling a conversation I had with my boss about how she shouldn't even try to make all of us girls happy because we aren't all going to be happy at the same time and he said, "Hell most of the time you women aren't even happy when you DO get your way." I agreed with him at the time, but even more so now.

Yes, I have an awesome husband that loves me very much and God willing, I will feel better tomorrow and will be able to mentally handle my life instead of going on strike and letting that awesome husband deal with it all. I was reading a blog a few minutes ago and a lady was talking about the Bible story about Martha and Mary. I am most definitely being a Martha today!

I was just talking to Jeff earlier today about how much God has blessed us with such wonderful kids and how much He has blessed us financially.... yet there I sat griping about something. Shame on me! (sheepish grin)

Not much progress going on the last few days....

Today was Jeff's first day of 'vacation'. Poor thing doesn't get a vacation to relax, he has to work. Such is life! (evil grin) He kinda worked out a few things in his head today, but spent some time relaxing and some time doing laundry and helping me a little. I have been working lots lately - not complaining mind you - and have been pretty tired. I am cranky today and decided I wasn't fit to be around so I have locked myself in my room and left Jeff to deal with the restless natives. (double evil grin)

I am hoping to be feeling better tomorrow and be able to get things cleaned up some around here and get the temporary counter tops on and the lower cabinets attached to the wall.

Here is today and yesterday's progress pics

The finished pantry:




And the pantry with the stuff from the old pantry in it. See my pretty shelf liners?

The sandbox

That sandbox is probably one of the best things have ever done for the kids (right up there with the trampoline). They absolutely love it!

It's even made Lucas gain some weight apparently!

And one of Lexi just for good measure!

Monday July 4th

Thank goodness we are done with the building portion of the pantry. Jeff came up with a different way to do the trim pieces on front which took a little longer, but they look soooo much better than they would have had we done them my way.

On that note, I have an observation. Years ago, when we moved into this house and found a bunch of problems with mold and things, I had zero faith that Jeff would be able to fix the problems. But, with lots of help from my parents, we did get the things fixed. Fast forward a little while, and I was putting up border in Daulton's room and Jeff and I just about killed each other! See, we just think so much differently and at such a different speed. I have prayed and worried about this remodel for several years now because I knew that it would be tough for us. Well, God has answered prayer because we actually worked on the SAME project for 2 days and didn't fight - not one time! He was home for just over a week recently working on the sink wall and we had a few 'tense' moments, but really didn't fight. That is amazing for us because Jeff tends to be slow and I tend to be bossy. I am really praising God for answering my prayers!

Anyway, here is today's pic.

Sunday July 3rd update

I have decided that I would try to update more regularly and chronicle our kitchen remodel. I am sure I can look back at it later and relive every moment. The pantry is coming along, very very slowly! I really had no idea it would take so long. Jeff was able to start helping late this afternoon after he got done working some.

Whew, it has been forever

Well as usual, I haven't made time to come and post. So, here I am with news about us. We are finally re-doing our kitchen. We have been working for about a month and things are rolling along. Because I found that cabinets were very $$ and the ones we could afford were basically crap, I decided that I would make my own. For those that don't know, I have built walls and things with the boys before so I knew how to use the tools. But, I had never made anything decorative before. My actual words were, "Well they are basically a box, I can build a stupid box for goodness sakes!" Okay, well they are a little harder than that but I have been doing it - with my own two hands pretty much by myself since Jeff works so much and even when he was off work, he was working on installing my gigantic sink. So, here are some pics for you.

Here are my installed upper cabinets. There will be a small pantry beside this so you won't see the pocket holes and I am not done staining them. And obviously I haven't done doors or shelves yet.


This is my ginormous sink. I absolutely love it!

This is what I have been working on today. This was a closet in the front room, but is being transformed into my pantry.

My shirt!

Logan had come in with pancake syrup literally dripping off his shirt, onto his shorts and shoes. I put he and Lexi into the bath and then got them dressed and washed his shoes for him. He then heads outside and not five minutes later come in:

Logan: Mama, look at my shirt! It's broken!
Me: Were you climbing the fence?
Logan: Yup!
Me: Well you're lucky you didn't get hurt.
Logan: Nope!

He runs off back outside and then again comes in a few minutes later fussing with the buttons on his shirt.

Logan: Mama, my shirt!
Me: So you have a HUGE gaping hole in your shirt, but you are worried about the buttons?
Logan: Yup!

So I take the above picture of him and then he runs off to play some more. About an hour later we hear breaking glass in the front yard. I get up and look and for some reason he had the neighbor's plate and was trying to put it into my car, but dropped it on the concrete instead.

The things that boy gets into!