Movie Monday - Our Treehugger

Trick or Treat!

Because Boo loves M&M's and was fine with it, he got to wear the same Halloween costume from last year.  Although he kept telling people that he was going to be a yellow M&M.

Yeah, NOT.

Mommy did not have the time to make another M&M costume this year!  (wonder if I could have just dyed the blue one?  hmmmm...)

Anyways, he was thrilled to put on his costume and we had three Halloween activities to do that day, so I was hoping he would hold up and not have a meltdown.

I shouldn't have worried.

This boy is awesome!!

We started out at the YMCA, where they had all the kids come dressed in their costumes and then paraded them around the building to show off to everyone.  Boo loved seeing "upstairs" where Mommy works out; the kid kind of sounded surprised afterwards when talking to me that I was actually on a machine "doing this" (picture him moving his arms back and forth while marching [I was on the elliptical]).

Later that afternoon, we got dressed up again to go into his daycare building where they had a parade outside for all the parents/families.  Then we went back in and had a Halloween party with snacks and games.  I enjoyed finally meeting a few other parents and putting faces with names for the kids that Boo talks about.

Our final thing was, of course, trick or treating that evening.  He had a blast and did much better than last year, even walking up the sidewalk to some houses all by himself.

at our neighbor's house, who had a special treat for Boo

Need we say more?!?!

He still hasn't quite gotten the hand of the "trick or treat" saying; he would say it as he was knocking at the door, than when someone opened the door, he'd try to pick out his own candy instead of holding his bucket up for the candy to be placed in.  And he wouldn't talk again unless prompted by one of us to say more.  Oh well, he's got plenty of time to learn.

"going through the loot" video

Fully Functional Again

Countertops?     Check.

Sink?     Check.

Plumbing hooked up?     Check.  (thanks, hubby!)

PEOPLE, we are now back to a fully functional kitchen!!!!!

Can I get a "wee-haw!"?  (as our little munchkin would say)

The crew still has the crown molding to put up and we will be doing the backsplash, a bit of painting, and finding the right window covering, but...

...we don't have to wash the dishes in the bathroom sink anymore!

Woot, woot!!

the peninsula/eating area

 Chris was also the electrician for this light.

 He's a pretty awesome handyman to have around!!

Friday Flick - We are ND!!

Movie Monday - Shake Your Booty!

Building Back Up

This is what the kitchen looked like on Tuesday evening...

Honestly, I've been a little, okay a lot, stressed about how this is all going to come together.  Because this renovation hasn't gone smoothly.  I didn't really think it would, but I also didn't think we would pretty much have to have the entire kitchen rewired, which is what ended up happening.  Ugh.  But, that's all behind us now (um, other than the bill...double ugh).

By Wednesday evening, the drywall was up, holes patched, and I couldn't see through my wall to the dining room anymore.  Yeah!!  We were still unable to use the stove, so we ate out once again.  We've been mixing it up a bit: Chinese, P@nera's, and a place with good wraps/pizza.  All very good, but we'll be glad when we're able to use our kitchen again.

This morning, the first of the new cabinets went in.  I love love love them!!!! 

woot, woot!  floor-to-ceiling pantry!!

(and that's the old dishwasher; it's not staying.  the guys put it there to look at spacing.  the new one will be black to match our other appliances)

Cabinets are in!!

They'll be back tomorrow to do finishing touches and the crown molding.  The electrician should be coming as well to finish up his stuff, including an outlet at the work island, which was on my must-have list when we started thinking about this project.  And a different guy will come to measure for the countertops that should be here in two weeks.

It's coming together.  Phew!

Kitchen Demolition

Since we have no plans to move out of our house anytime soon, we decided that it was time to finally get it updated...down to the studs!  So last week, I packed up all the kitchen cupboards and drawers and on Saturday, Chris and I tore out everything in the kitchen, with the exception of the stove and refrigerator.  There is no turning back now.

And I am so freakin' excited!

And nervous.

I just hope everything gets done without too many issues cropping up.

If it does, we should have our kitchen back to (almost) normal by Wednesday afternoon.  Yippee!

We'll still have to wait a couple of weeks for the countertops to be measured, cut, and installed (along with the sink), but at this point, that's minor.  At least on Wednesday, the major part of the kitchen will be back in place and we'll be mostly back to normal other than having to wash the dishes in the bathroom sink.  The payoff's gonna be worth it, though!!!  Now for some pictures to show you the "before" and the demolition:

someone's saying "hi!"

This is the point where Chris and I finished and most of the rest will be the contractor's work.

The last two pictures show where the contractors have removed the soffetts from around the kitchen area.  Very messy!  Can't wait 'til it's done.  I'll post "after" pictures later this week!!!