Kitchen Remodel Update!

Did I really miss the entire month of November? I'm sorry! But I have a good excuse. Remember that kitchen remodel I mentioned before? Well, we're almost done! I know our goal was originally Thanksgiving, but that was kind of my goal, and I didn't really talk to the man in charge. "Do you want it done right, or do you want to rush it?" my super smart and lovely brother said. So, we pushed the timeline out a month. And good thing we did, because we've run into all sorts of problems (mainly that every wall in the kitchen is ridiculously crooked).

So I know I promised updates along the way (with pictures!), but better late than never, right? :)

It wasn't until Trip started demo-ing that I realized we hadn't taken a "before" picture. So here is the kitchen after he started taking off doors, taking things out of the cabinets, and I was rushing to cook a bunch of meals before the stove would be gone. What a disaster!

Notice the lighting. Ew.

Cabinets off!

All cabinets out!

The last piece of linoleum to rip up. Definitely something you should be doing in flip flops.

Peebs inspecting the work. I believe he was satisfied.

Walls painted. Now time to install cabinets.

Adam helping Trip. (Hahahaha -- we ALL know who's really been doing all the work.)

Pantry cabinets installed!

All cabinets built! Pantry cabinets installed! Lighting done! Backer board down!

The doors on the back pantry. Trip demonstrating how it will look with the pulls.

Got the fridge panel and the microwave vent installed. Cheers!

Look how dedicated he is! He even worked through an injury.

Microwave installed and working! (They had to test it.)

Placing the range for the counter plywood measurements.

How he is so happy with all the mess around him is beyond me. It's making me slightly insane.

Range fits like a glove!

All cabinets installed! Notice the cabinets all the way across. Gaining a whole cabinet. Woo hoo!

Starting to place the tile.

Look at that gorgeous 18" porcelain tile.

Last tile!

Kickplates installed and tile placed and grouted!

Cabinet doors installed in pantry. Just need to install baseboards and we're ready for the new washer and dryer.

Other side of the pantry.

All shelves, drawers and doors installed! Lemieux's turn to inspect.

Countertops installed!

So pretty!

CaesarStone Quartz in Pebble.

What's left:

• Install sink fixtures (faucet, soap dispenser, filtered water faucet)
• Install sink cabinet door
• Backsplash
• Place appliances (fridge, range, dishwasher, washer and dryer)
• Install all cabinet pulls
• Install beauty bars under cabinets
• Install under cabinet lighting
• Replace all outlets and switches

We're getting there!!

Oh My Goodness! A New Post!

June 2nd was the last time I posted here. Over four months ago. Wow. To be honest, I kind of forgot all about infectious joy. It's been hard enough finding the time update Kieran's blog once a month.

But I went on one of my lame rants the other day, and it reminded me that I do have a forum for such rants! Where people don't judge (okay, let's just pretend), and I can say whatever I want (kind of)! Dur.

The rant itself was stupid (Why am I constantly seeing commercials for dark chocolate Reese's peanut butter cups but have yet to see them available ANYWHERE!), but I realized how much I've missed blabbing to you, my peeps of the interweb.

Obviously with a soon to be 7 month old (on SUNDAY! Why The Face!), my life has been a juggling act. Now that he is in daycare full time, though, I actually have a tiny bit of time to myself. Which I didn't realize was so important. My son -- our little family -- is my life now. How could I not want to spend every minute with him. I find myself missing him while I'm at work, knowing that smiling face will always make me forget how stressful my day was.

But let me tell you, being able to run to Target at lunch without a stroller, Ergo baby, or car seat is kind of amazing. Like, the highlight of my day. Grocery shopping -- almost too good to be true.

So it's taken almost 7 months, but we're in a routine now and have pretty much figured this whole baby raising thing out (I just laughed out loud as I typed that). The first three month were rough. Not awful, just rough. If we knew then what we know now, we probably would have done a few things differently, like, accept help and not insist on taking care of the baby by ourselves. So ya, having someone watch Keiran for 7 hours a day is a huge help. Balance is key. We all need family time, work time (debatable), and "me" time. It's so nice to... breath.

But the Johnson household wouldn't be complete without some kind of life changing thing going on. That's just so not us. Thus our decision to remodel our kitchen. By ourselves. (Okay, not really by ourselves since Brother will be doing most of the work, but we're not paying anyone we can yell at. Only each other.) So, taking advantage of Grandpa and Grandma visiting and being able to watch the baby, we began demo on Sunday... and life is crazy again! Hooray!

Kieran could care less, thank goodness, even taking an hour and a half nap through Daddy taking a crow bar to the counter tile. Mommy is slightly stressed, though. Being in a house of chaos and no stove kind of makes me break out in a rash. But it's temporary, right? The goal is to get it done by Thanksgiving. I mean, our kitchen is the size of a walk-in closet. This can be done, right? Or are we completely delusional?

Anywho, I'm back and can't wait to share with you how the kitchen remodel goes. I promise to post pics of the progress, and to give public praise to my brother, who we are the mercy of for the next few months. (Insert eyelash batting and big smiles here.)

Oh, and if someone can tell me where I can get those dark chocolate peanut butter cups, I'd be forever grateful.