Kitchen remodel - Before, during & after

Okay, for those that actually follow and read my blog, I've got lots of posts following this one (keep going until you're caught up). I finally managed to update the blog - at least up until the last two weeks. Those will have to wait until another day, though.

So, we've lived here for 2 1/2 years, and are finally getting to re-do the kitchen. It took a lot of work and a lot of help from family, with lots of laughter and even some frustration along the way, but we love the results! It turned out awesome!


The kitchen before, complete with drop box


Dining room before. And, yes, the colors really are awful.


Taking off the chair rail. Take a look at those nails - seriously!!


Taking the cupboards down - these were a beast to take off. But, we did it.


The drop box

The drop box had full size cupboards hanging over the counter when we first moved in. But, because they were full-sized, there was only about a foot and a half between the bottom of the cupboards and the top of the counter. Not even enough room to roll out bread dough or cookie dough. So, they came out the second or third day after we moved into the house.


Brandon scoring the drop box for demolition


Taking the crowbar to the drop box


An interior view of the drop box


Most of the finishing wood off the drop box


The cupboards are down, the drop box is out, it's time to sheet rock

So, Brandon and I (mostly Brandon) took the cupboards down and the drop box down. That night, my sister and her family came up and stayed for several days to help us finish the kitchen.

The next morning, my sister primed the walls while the men sheet rocked, taped, mudded, and textured the ceiling while I took Connor to the dr. Turns out he had a double ear infection, plus an eye infection in both eyes. Plus, four teeth coming in all at once. He was miserable, but even still did quite well.


Gavin decided to do Dallin's hair one morning - complete with hairspray. Lots of it.


Rachel - our built-in babysitter


Priming the walls and getting rid of the old, yucky colors


Whoa - It's a bird, it's a plane, it's, it's . . . SuperMike!!


Dude - my head! Let me out of here!


Mike working on the insulation


My super awesome sister taking off the baseboards.

Whichever owners put the baseboards up made sure they weren't ever coming off. Instead of finishing nails, they used 4 inch nails to nail the baseboards to the wall. Yikes!


Taking a break to play with Dallin


One panel of sheet rock is done.

Since we didn't have a kitchen, meals were eaten outside on the picnic table. I'm so grateful we had good weather. We BBQ'd that night, then the next morning, Anne Marie & I headed to Home Depot to pick out the paint color. I had some color chips picked out, but I kept going back and forth. I couldn't decide what to do. Plus, we weren't really sure how to do the faux finish that I wanted.

So, we headed off, and spent two hours picking colors and learning how to do the finish. (The colors are Popcorn Ball for the base, and Riviera Sand mixed in with a glaze for the faux finish.) We found what we liked, then had Brandon google the technique.

It said that once the color and the glaze was mixed together, to roll it on the walls in small sections. Then use craft paper (think thick brown paper you use to wrap packages for the mail), crinkle it up, then lay it on the wall. Rub it on, then pull it off. But, it wasn't working because the paper was too thick.

So, we came up with the idea of using garbage bags. We cut the bottom off the bag so that we could unfold it all the way, and it worked great! Now, we just had to figure out the best way to get it on - do we rub, pat, use fingers, palm of our hand? It took us a while, (okay, a LONG while), but we did figure it out, and I LOVE the finished results!


The yellow base coat


The ceiling is finished!


Touching up a few places


Our practice wall - behind the cupboards


Putting the cupboards back up - be strong boys!


The garbage sacks we used to put the faux finish on the walls. We hung them out to dry, then would use the other side as we continued with the faux finish.


The dining room walls - don't worry, we fixed the cross lines in the middle


The kitchen - notice the fan is still there


A close-up of the paint and faux finish


Minus a few decorations - the finished kitchen

We had talked about looking around for a cupboard to put on the wall next to the window, and with my MIL's suggestion, we took one of the cupboards that was originally hanging off the drop box over the counter, and put it up on the wall. We really like it. I just need to organize the kitchen, now, and get rid of stuff I don't use.


Notice the fan is gone - it's now in . . .


. . . the dining room (with our clock now on the wall)!


Another view of the kitchen

We've decided that we don't like the full curtain over the window - it blocks our light switches. So, I'm going to cut it off and make it into a valance, and then we'll put some blinds under it.

Our next projects will be to replace the floor in the kitchen, dining room, entryway, hallway, and bathroom. It's in serious need of some help - the linoleum is curling, the top vinyl coat is peeling off allowing dirt to get in, and mold to grow in the wet spots. Plus, it's old and 70's-ish. It's time for something new! Then, we'll work on the countertops - either painting them, or just getting new ones.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and that you like my new kitchen as much as I do! Thanks again, SO MUCH, Mike & Anne Marie for your help. We love you lots!

Gavin's b-day

So, we were down in Salt Lake on Gavin's actual birthday, but we came home the next day and celebrated with him. I can't believe my little guy is five! He'll be starting kindergarten in a few weeks. My baby is growing up. I still have a hard time, sometimes, believing he's growing up, but then I look at him and he's so tall and such a goof. I sure love this kid! He knows how to keep me on my toes.

Happy b-day Gavin!


B helping him open his water guns


His huge tennis ball


The boys with Gavin's loot


He wanted a fire truck cake


Fire, fire!!!


Hurry and blow them out!


Phew - just in time! Good job, firefighter Toady!

And, to close this post, I had to put this video in. This was Christmas Eve of 2007, and it was his turn to say the prayer. We've always had to laugh at his prayers and the way he says them 'cause he's so darn cute, so when we treated ourselves to a video camera for Christmas that year, we decided to get one of his prayers on video. Enjoy!

Salt Lake trip

So, before Brandon was done with his school year (back in June), he had to attend a conference in Salt Lake. Since the district was paying for the room, we decided to go with him. The boys and I could play and meet up with friends while he was at his conference, then we'd have the evenings to play.

So, we booked a room at the Chase Suites Hotel in downtown Salt Lake. It's an older establishment, but as the name says, they're suites. We booked a one room suite that had a queen size bed, pull-out couch, and full-size kitchen. It wasn't ideal for us (with four kids) but we figured we'd make it work.

However, when we called the morning that we were headed down, they apologized but explained that all of their one-room suites were booked, and would we possibly like a two bedroom suite instead? The upgrade would include a separate bedroom with a king-size bed and a full bathroom, a full living area, full-size kitchen, loft with a queen size bed, and a second full bathroom. The loft area was upstairs, as was the second bathroom. It also came with three TV's. "We're sorry for any inconvenience this might cause you, but would it be okay to upgrade you?" Um, YES!!!

So, we had a nice, big suite to stay in, and the boys were absolutely ecstatic at their loft room. We stuck all three of them on the queen size bed - sideways - hooked up the Nintendo Gamecube for them, and let them stay up late. They were in heaven!

Unfortunately, Connor didn't like the sleeping arrangements (or sleeping, period) so I was up half the night with him. We barely made it to the continental breakfast the next morning because after only having about four hours of sleep, I just wanted to keep sleeping.

But, we got up, ate breakfast, then went back to the room where I grabbed a 30 minute catnap before we headed off to the park for lunch and playtime with my friend Amber and her two kiddos. The wind was blowing like crazy, but the kids had a blast playing at the park. Eventually, we packed up because the wind was just too much.

That afternoon, after Brandon got back, we just chilled in the room, reading books, playing the Nintendo, and eventually going swimming. It had rained for a while so we weren't sure we could go, but it finally stopped, so we decided to head out. We spend most of our time in the hot tub - pure bliss!

That night, we headed to JB's for dinner because it was free for the kids. But, the service was slow because a big tourist group had walked in right before us, so we had to sit there for about an hour before our food was served. By that time, it was almost 9:30! We were hungry, tired, and cranky.

The next day, Brandon left for his conference, while I got everything packed up to check out. We had Gavin open his b-day presents, since it was his b-day, then headed to Liberty Park. We headed to the canyons water park, but they hadn't turned the water on yet. Luckily for us, though, that's what they were working on doing. They cleaned out the leaves, then the boys watched while one of the works turned the water on. We were the first ones to play in the canyons! The boys thought that was pretty awesome!

Since it was Gavin's b-day, I also let him choose a ride at the little amusement park they have there. He wanted to go on the swings, but he wasn't all enough. So, the boys went on the swings, then the worker there was super nice and let all of us get on the carousel for a free ride.

Then, we met up with Brandon and headed to the Clark Planetarium, where we took in a 3D movie, weighed ourselves on the moon and jupiter, ate some granola bars, and browsed for souvenirs. Then, we hit McDonalds for dinner on the way home, then leapfrogged all the way home. (Brandon drove the truck down so that I could have the van during the day while he was gone.) All in all (well, minus the no sleeping part), it was a really fun trip, and we look forward to doing it again next year!

I posted a few videos of our trip, but because there are so many pictures, I'll just make a slide show. Enjoy!

Logan air show

Back in June, the Logan airport put on an airshow. Now, granted, it's nothing like the airshow at HAFB with the Thunderbirds, but it was still really fun. We watched a motorcycle and a helicopter race, sat in some airplanes and a helicopter, and even won a prize!

The one downside was that it was HOT. It was supposed to be cool and kind of rainy, but instead, the clouds held just enough moisture to make it really muggy.


My dad owned a plane when I was a child - sadly he sold it right before Brandon & I got married. Does this look familiar Dad? It brought back memories for me - even down to the scent in the cockpit.


Life flight from the U


My nephew was life-flighted to Primary Children's last year, so I was explaining to the boys the different things on the helicopter - the gurney, the oxygen, the medic bag, the pilot/co-pilot, EMT seats . . .


Scott sitting in the Life Flight helicopter - watching the helicopters fly in became our favorite pasttime as we would sit at the U or Primary Children's waiting for surgeries or dr.'s appt's.


Think he might be pilot when he grows up?


Explaining how the plane turns with the different ways they pull or push on the control stick


Heli. vs. motorbike . . .


. . . here they come!

Lawn mowing

Since buying our house, we've had more chores that come with home ownership - plumbing, leaky faucets, lawn mowing . . . Brandon has, of course, become the handy man around here. But, Scott has been wanting to help out - particularly with mowing the lawn, so a few weeks ago, Brandon let Scott mow the lawn. And he loved it! He's pretty special - I didn't get to mow the lawn until I was twelve. :)


Oh - be tough


Up the hill


Look at the determination on his face


Sadly, this is a frequent outfit for Scott on a summer day - snow boots, and shorts.