Kitchen update...budget reflects last weekends shopping spree

We have added crown molding to the top of 2 sets of cabinets. I think it looks fabulous. Up's the look of the kitchen already. I am getting really antsy to start priming and painting. Hopefully contractor Rob can finish the rest of the molding this weekend and I can whip out my paint brush.

Under cabinet lighting is on its way, being sent by a fabulous electrician in Utah. We decided on strip lighting. Saved us over $800 compared to the flex lighting that I was first looking at. We also ordered 100 ft. of rope lighting for above cabinets. Online we were able to find "super" bright, about 4 watts lighter than the rope lighting Home Depot offered. I hope that it will provide the lighting that I am looking for.

Snow Daze

Day three of snow day

Kiddos went to school one day this week! I am feeling no guilt now that I am taking them out for a week in May to go to (disneyworld), don't tell their teachers.

We have done a lot of playing, building, sledding in the snow

Lots of book reading, movie watching and playing in the snow

We ventured out today for new library books and lunch at Chick-fila

It was a zoo! I guess everyone else had the same idea

The storm was fast moving Wednesday evening, 8 inches of HEAVY wet snow. We lost a lot of tree branches including one off my baby tree. I sure hope it survives! Our power flickered for about 1 hour but then came back on. Lots in the neighborhood lost power for over 24 hours.

Brace Yourself

Sam specifically requested a blog post about this one

Newsbreak!! S got braces

No complaints, no sore teeth, lots of flossing and brushing

She sure is proud

The ortho doesn't realize the goldmine that walked into his office this week

B-day Babe

My baby turned two on Sunday,
two...where have those years gone
She loved the day even if she still didn't understand
What is there to understand, new toys and goodies all day!
She requested nutella filled crepes for breakfast/brunch :)
or at least I could have sworn that was what she said



Opened all her goodies, not fast enough in her sisters opinion





For cake, nothing better than a sunburned Cillou



Happy birthday little one

Sanding

This is a glimpse into my life this week:
Sanding 101, I spent $107 at the hardware store today on sand paper, sand belts and primer
That was exciting!
We tarped the kitchen...again,
last night Rob and I sanded the cabinets frames until 1 a.m.
It was hard to get up this morning, I was sore and tired
I had also done a kick-butt exercise video yesterday morning, that could be part of the sore too
We are about 80% done and could have finished last night (this morning) but we called it a day. We kept sanding our fingers and finally realized it was time to call it quits
Tonight we will finish and pull down the tent
This weekend we can hopefully finish sanding the cabinet doors

(We choose to sand vs. strip, the stripping agent was not doing to trick. I think it was to cold)

Then my kitchen can be put back together in a small way




Under cabinet lighting is next and priming the cabinets

Resolution

Goals, siggh!

I always have something on my plate

This year I actually wrote some things down;

a good kick in the butt motivator

While I was folding 5 stacks of laundry yesterday I had another goal

I timed myself, 30 minutes to finish the stack

I did it!

Is that an accomplishment?? For me it was

Back in the days when I had three little ones at home watching t.v. while doing laundry was my break

Now I don't have time, I give myself a goal and race for the finish

My mom always told people when they asked how she got everything done with 7 kids?

"I don't watch t.v. was her response." and it works

Changing?

I keep reminding myself that we will get there
Not much has changed this past week regarding the kitchen
It seems soooooooooo slow at times
Electrician Rob rewired for the new range/microwave
We pulled off the top cabinets in an attempt to strip the stain. Without the faces on the cabinets all the boxes/containers were yelling at me. Instead of working on the kitchen I reorganized cabinets :)
I got around to reading the stain instructions and realized it would not be a good project for the basement (very flammable) and the recommended temperate for stripping (furniture) is 60-80 degrees. So...do I bring space heaters into the garage and warm it up and then apply the stain or sand off all the old stain. I'm not a huge fan of dust and mess, both options entail either.
Hoping to finish off the duct work tonight and get the braces in for the range
wish us luck!

9 Years

This was my life 9 years ago, two little ones and they were little by

Bonner standards

S, 6 lbs. and M, 6 lbs. 15 oz.

They would not want me to tell their weight this year...

I was always told that it would get easier,

it does in some ways

M, no longer cries during the middle of the night....

she now just cries, "every person in the world has a dog, except me!"

Everyone in the stores told me to count my blessings, it goes by so quickly,

and it does except when I am trying to load four girls into the van for church after putting all their hair up and pulling on tights and nylons

and then I look back at the pictures of when they were little and think of how long ago it was and how different it has become

The last 9 years have flown and I'm sure the next 9 will go just as quickly