January 4, 2016

Remodel

So in August we bought a new house. It happened fast and we weren't sure what we'd got our selves into but we were excited for a new adventure. The house was built in the 80s and while well maintained still looked dated. The one big thing was the kitchen/living room area. It was three separate areas. I like the newer open designs where it doesn't feel like you are being banished to the kitchen. Luke talked about remodeling but honestly I didn't really believe that my frugal husband would start such a project. Little did I know he was dead serious. Here is what it looked like before:






Like I said, nice but dated, and brown, brown, brown!! Brown has never been my favorite. This was my first sign that Luke was serious. He said he just wanted to see what was in the wall. 
Next he said he was just going to tear down half the wall and I was definitely still going to have a kitchen.
And this is what I'm left with.
So he hooks up the oven from the ceiling for about a week.
And I still have some counter space and a sink and dishwasher.
...and then I don't. :(

The boys thought it was a lot of fun playing around all the construction.
My Dad came up to help us fix the hole in the ceiling.

Things were a little better once we got the debris and old cabinets moved out.
It took me forever to pick a paint color. After six samples I was ready to get painting.
It mostly happened at night after my little helpers went to bed by lamplight since Luke was adding lights.

The longer I painted, the more pink the previous wall color got. I had to build a baby barricade to keep Ryker out of my tray.





We had no kitchen for about six weeks. Our eating area was downstairs in the storage room and we were eating microwave dinners on paper plates forever! Finally our cabinets came. We had a few that had to be replaced so that took a little longer and it was still another few weeks before the counter tops came. Jax had a great time climbing the mountain of boxes that all the cabinets came in.


We ended up sticking our old sink, counters, and oven in while we were waiting for everything to arrive. Jax loved being able to drive his bike around inside while there were no floors.

Our beautiful counter tops.
Our old floor was a nightmare to tear up. It took forever and was so hard. Luke and I both ended up bleeding several times and we all got slivers at one point. The new floor also took a long time to lay down mostly because we did it ourselves, so pretty much when Luke got home from work and I made him stop when the kids went to bed. We have the cutest little "helpers". My family was coming for Thanksgiving and we finished the floor the day before they came. 
All of the big stuff is done and now we need to finish up the little stuff but it feels so great to have it mostly done and it looks amazing. Proud of my hubby and all of his hard work!


An 10 Month Old

We have a ten month old. Getting him to hold still is a battle. He is a happy camper as long as his tummy is happy and you aren't changing his clothes or diaper. He has loved this remodel and all the tools that he can play with. Bath time is pretty much the best time of day. He loves animals and loves tormenting my parents kitties and dog. 






Another Birthday

I had a birthday shout hooray! This year we kept it pretty low key. My only wish every year is to not cook my own dinner (or my own cake!). Luke surprised me with a pretty blue Kitchen-aid and I love it. Jax sang me the sweetest happy birthday ever! For dinner we had appetizers and cake and Redboxed Inside out. I had a great night snuggled on the couch with my boys. Over the weekend Luke took me out to dinner and a movie. A date night with my man is always a great thing.

4 Kids Under 3

Zach and Jayme booked a trip to Mexico and in a fit of insanity I agreed to watch the kids. So with my two plus their two I was watching four kids under three and lets just say it was crazy! We had lots of fun though and I love watching these cute kiddos play together. Jaxon and James were best buds and went everywhere together. After an unfortunate hug turned tackle the first day, Hayden didn't want anything to do with Jax but she loved "Baby." Lots of playing outside and maybe a few more movies than normal, and we all survived the week. I sure love all of these cute kids! Cousins are the best :)







Halloween 2015

Happy Halloween! This year the theme was a no brainer with our little Darth Vader obsessed little guy. Grandma and Grandpa bought him his costume and he was in love. Luke and I already had cosutmes so Ryker was the only one we had to take care of. His ears looked a little more Shrek than Yoda but he fit right in with the rest of us. Jax had a great time at the ward party. There was candy, music, and a box maze. We had to drag him away kicking. They also did a costume parade. Jax was waving and smiling, and showing off his lightsaber skills. Everyone loved him, and really who wouldn't. 




 On actual Halloween we had our friends the Howells over. The grown ups played games while the kids played with toys. Jax had a great time passing out candy. And of course we watched clue. Can't break tradition!

Family and a Funeral

My cousin Drew came to Idaho from Texas to visit my Grandpa who had a stroke a couple months before so the day after we went to the temple we decided to drive up to Rexburg to see him and Grandpa. As we were driving there Mom called and let us know that Grandpa had passed away. It was a very sad thing but we were fortunate to be together as a family and have a knowledge that families are forever. Luke had to head back to work so the boys and I stayed in Idaho for a week so we could go to Grandpa's funeral. While we were there my mom took the boys to a pumpkin patch/corn maze/petting zoo. Jax was in heaven with the giant slide. He went down one time with me (it was a huge drop off!) then decided he didn't need me anymore. He was going head first the rest of the time. Ryker loved the animals. 


Jax has decided he is still not too old for bubbles in the kitchen sink.
At the end of the week we went to the funeral and I said goodbye to my last Grandpa. It was a beautiful funeral and we are happy to know he is back with Grandma again.