Archive for June, 2008

Poll: Faucets

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

We have a dilemma.  Which faucet to get.  There is a significant price difference between the two we are considering and it’s really hard to justify.  They have similar features (pull out neck, spray feature, general faucet duties) and they’re the same color but they look pretty different from each other.  We definitely have a favorite but please tell us what yours is.  We’ve been back and forth about why to get the less expensive one and why to get the more expensive one but we’re still so torn.  Which would you choose and why?  Thanks!

Ignore the white streaks in the photo of Faucet 1, it’s a photo of the box because we couldn’t find the promo photo anywhere – including the manufacturers website (is that a cause for concern?).

Faucet 1 -

Faucet 2 -

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner!?

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

Our kitchen consists of a stove and a refrigerator.  No counters, no cabinets, no sink, no running water, no ice.  It’s pretty pathetic.  We’re trying to eat in as much as we can and while we don’t mind the plastic utensils, plastic cups and paper plates the PB&J’s aren’t appealing for long.  We are attempting to grill tonight and defrost frozen side dishes (after we find a place for our microwave) but it’s certainly not healthy.  Eating out constantly isn’t healthy for our budget though and believe it or not that gets old too.  Anyway, just a vent.  The cabinets arrive on Tuesday and then a week or so until we get our countertops.  We’ll be having you all over in no time but for now we’re taking all the invites we can get.  We’re even taking offers to wash sippy cups somewhere other than the bathroom!  Pray this all comes together right the first time.  I don’t know if I could handle a delay.

Here are some current photos of the kitchen…

And because everyone asks how big the new office is since the photos of empty space give no relation to size, here’s how big it is – it can hold our entire kitchen, all of our new appliances and the beginning of closet storage from the office.  No, we still haven’t moved in.  I don’t know if we ever will.  I have a feeling we will finish the kitchen, move into the office, move all the nursery furniture from Noah’s room to Kate’s new room (yes, he has two bedroom sets in his room at the moment) and paint the nursery about a week before the baby arrives.  Can you say exhausting?

This photo of the “office” also has a beauty shot of our new hood parts.  It is by far my favorite kitchen purchase (and probably the most expensive).  The contractor opened it and promptly asked if we were opening a restaurant.  Of course not, not with my cooking!

And our pantry -

One nice thing about moving all our stuff out of the kitchen is finding that we were storing A LOT of garbage.  We have about half as much junk to move back which doesn’t make the trip worthwhile but definitely shows us the silver lining!

The New Kitchen (in theory)!

Friday, June 20th, 2008

I have tried so many ways to describe what we’re doing with our kitchen and I usually confuse everyone and get a “that’s nice” so I’ve decided to share our rendering.  Bless my husband’s need to be nerdy, er… technical, I can always count on a perspective before we do anything (paint a room, move a photo, change furniture around).  He loves doing it and I love teasing him so it works out.

Here it is before (from the other day) -

And this SHOULD be after (you can click on it to enlarge) -

He was going to put crap all over the counters to make it more realistic but I’m guessing from the daggers I shot him he decided against it.  We’re really looking forward to having a lot more cabinet and counter space (there are cabinets under all of the countertop “L” closest to you in the photo.  He even rendered the appliances we purchased so this should be incredibly realistic.  I love how much more open it looks without the 70′s soffit to hold the range vent.  Walter is nervous about our fridge.  It’s massive and it’s going to stick out as far as it shows.  He would have much rather had a counter-depth version but GE doesn’t make one with ice and water through the door (which is a requirement for me).  We will keep the old fridge in the garage but with the size of this one we may not need it.  Then again we’re going to be chilling juice boxes for several years so who knows. 

Thank you for letting me share my excitement!

Noah’s New School

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

Some of you know that Noah has started a new school.  This is his second week at Summit Montessori Private School.  We chose to make the change because we felt he would get more out of the montessori environment and while we’re not expecting him to be a master of statistics by kindergarten we figured if he was going to a school he might as well learn something, even if by accident.  His previous school (which I loved to pieces) sent home progress reports with their weekly lessons and unfortunately it was “This week we learned about ice cream!” or “This week we learned about cookies!” and I’m not exaggerating!  While its great for them to focus I think dessert is something they’ll learn all on their own in the real world, and definitely in our home!

So at the new school he has 9 weeks of swim lessons during summer camp and they spend a good majority of their time outside.  They play on the playground, they have lunch on picnic tables with the other classes, his teacher plays the guitar and they all sing in a little circle in the mulch, and in between all these super fun summer activities they do lessons in their classroom.  I think all the outdoorsy stuff and physical activity is finally catching up with our little guy though.  Today was the third or fourth time he couldn’t keep his eyes open on the way home.  I couldn’t resist taking a photo, I thought he looked adorable and as you can see he’s still madly in love with monkey (who is a little worse for the wear). 

What a difference a day makes!

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

Construction on the kitchen has officially begun!  Today they started ripping out the wall that encased our stove.  It will still be a wall but much shorter and not nearly as 70′s.  We will also no longer have an island but instead a whole bank of cabinets connecting to a new set of more cabinets and tons and tons of counter space.  Why the kitchen was ever designed like this is beyond me but we’re very excited for the finished product.  Unfortunately I’m sure the time between now and then will be riddled with dust, dirt and plenty of frustration.  Let’s see if you really can get sick of eating out!

So here was our kitchen yesterday (after we cleaned off the countertops, all of the junk now residing on our dining room table in the back) -

Here it is during the wall demolition (sorry about the shadow – I had to shoot and run!) -

And this is how it looks right now -

They will be back tomorrow to cut down the steel pieces and extend the back wall to the side wall.  The range will be replaced by a cooktop so don’t worry, there won’t be a huge unsightly piece sticking out like you see now.  I’m not sure where the hot pots go once they come off the stove and I’m also not sure where dinner is supposed to be eaten.  If I had absolutely no shame I’d give you a close up of our dining room table but that’s just too embarrassing right now!  Wish us luck – and patience!

Happy Father’s Day!

Sunday, June 15th, 2008

Today is Father’s Day!  It’s a pretty uneventful day this year for us but with no less love or honor for all the father’s in our lives.  We had breakfast with Walter’s parents, his mom made her famous shrimp fritters that we stuffed ourselves on.  Tonight we’ll have dinner with my family at the Outback Steakhouse, as dad has requested.  For “our family” we got up early thanks to the poking and prodding of poor Noah who decided to celebrate by catching a cold.  We let Walter open all of his cards and gifts and then Noah used him as a jungle gym, as usual.  Unfortunately there was a piggy back ride incident with a cabinet door that was left open (my bad) and both guys smashed right into it.  Oh the joys of a crazy toddler household!  Anyway, we hope you all have a great Father’s Day and find time to honor all the men in your life.  Here are a few photos from our day.

Here’s the poor munchkin at lunch time (explains the split peas soup on his face).  Mouth hanging open because he can’t breathe, a gash over his swollen left eye from the cabinet door, rosy red cheeks and nose from his cold and generally a little droopy looking because I’m sure he’s wiped out.  As I type this he’s passed out for a nap, hopefully a long one.

And here are the boys…

What a difference two years makes – this was them on Walter’s first Father’s Day…

 

 

Photo as promised

Sunday, June 8th, 2008

And here’s the office as of today, as Walter promised.  I can’t wait to move in!  Notice the junkyard that is now our backyard just outside the window.  That should be cleaned up soon, and again, can’t wait!

 

And the rest of the story…

Saturday, June 7th, 2008

Sorry its been so long since an update.  Unfortunately between the weather and gravity the more I sit at my computer the more swollen my feet become.  I’ve been trying very hard to keep away or keep my feet up but it doesn’t seem to be working very well so I might as well give you an update.

My camera.  Poor thing.  It really is broken.  The flash of life it gave last week was a last ditch effort to let us salvage what was there.  It has turned into Noah’s new toy I’m afraid.

Our house.  The addition is nearly done!  We have a few little minor things left but we should be moving furniture this week.  They are also starting on our kitchen which will be a HUGE renovation, a very needed one!  Very exciting!  Unfortunately Noah will be so disappointed when he realizes the office addition is not a play room.  He’s been enjoying the big empty room to race around in.  Here’s a recent photo of the space, Walter promises to take some full room shots very soon -

Noah’s bed.  It arrived!  We got it all put together and its working out great.  We had no idea he would need a step stool to get into it but its working so we’re not complaining.  Here’s two photos of his finished big boy bed, doesn’t he look so little?! -

Noah.  He starts a new school on Monday.  Its a Montessori program and he’ll be attending three hours each morning (Monday-Friday) plus swim lessons for the first 9 weeks.  I hope he likes it and the transition won’t be hard.  I’m very nervous for him!  Noah also had his two year check up this week.  He weighed in at 24 pounds, which is only 10% on an average scale and measured 33 inches which rates him 20% on that scale.  The doctor said we should just resign ourselves to the fact that Noah is going to be a little boy.  I’m still sneaking vegetables in his food in an effort to help!  And yes, I know, it will all work out and he’ll be average or better in no time but a mother worries – there’s no getting around that.

That’s about all that’s going on in our life.  Be well and stay in touch!