EEEEEKKKKK

It's Done!!

The kitchen's been done for a couple weeks now and I just love it! I'll post a picture of it on this post this weekend. I love everything about my kitchen and it's a lot more "user-friendly" for me because everything is new.

John is starting to do a little work on the rec room this weekend so we're moving right along. After that, he's going to be finishing up work in the utility room that he started, oh let's say, approximately 7 years ago!! My husband doesn't like to rush into anything--ha-ha.

Evin and Wyatt spent last week with us and we all had a good time. We took them to a movie and saw "Horton Hears a Hoot" which was a really cute show. Then John bought them the movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks" which Evin watched over and over and over (I'm still hearing Alvin's voice in my head). The week went too fast and then it was time for us to meet John and Adelas on White Pass to "give the kids back". From White Pass, we went directly to Seattle, as it was Lola's 50th birthday and Melissa had a surprise party for her at Salty's. John and I didn't eat as we arrived late, but I hear the food is fantastic. It was nice seeing everyone.

The weather today is going to be nice, so I think when I get enough energy, I'll go outside and pull a few weeds.

Countertops

Yippee! Right now as I type this, our countertops are being installed and I absolutely love them. I took a picture of the fellas working on it. It's all starting to come together now. The kitchen sink will be installed tomorrow and then you know what that means--no more bending over the bathtub doing the dishes. Then on Friday, the guy will be here to finish up the cabinets and by this weekend I should have a working kitchen. I didn't think I'd ever say this, but I'm actually looking forward to cooking dinner.

Good News

We just got back from Seattle today. John had an appt at Virginia Mason for his 3 month colonoscopy and the doc gave him a clean bill of health--yippee. We are relieved. He's been having these procedures about every 3-4 months for the last couple of years, so this is really good news!! We're going out to dinner to celebrate. More later. (Hopefully the kitchen will be done next week). Things are looking up!!

More Sad News

My step-mom Billie passed away on Sunday. She'd been suffering for a couple years now, especially these last few months, as she was totally blind and could not breath due to emphysema. I have mixed emotions right now--I'm relieved she's no longer suffering, but sad to see her go. I've actually been mourning her for the past year, as she wasn't the person she use to be. It saddened me every time I went to the nursing home to see her. She had requested no memorial service, so my family is getting together on Sunday for a brunch at my niece's house. She was the only Grandma the kids ever really knew, as both their biological Grandmas died very early in their lives. But now, she's at peace with my dad.

On a lighter note......gggggrrrr. Our countertop is ready to be installed, but the earliest they can do it is March 19!!! So now this means we're probably looking at the end of April before the kitchen will be completed!! Oh well, there's nothing we can do about it so might as well go with the flow.

John and I sure had fun last weekend at the Little Creek casino. The Bill Engvall show was great--he's absolutely hilarious. By the time we left the show my stomach was hurting from laughing so much. Needless to say I donated my fair share of money to the slots. While we were there we found this seafood bar that was really good. A couple brewskies, a bunch of prawns and I was in 7th heaven.

What else, the kitchen

Things are at a "lull" right now. The cabinets are in, the floor is in. Now we just wait for the countertop which was measured the other day. That will take about two weeks so we're just waiting, waiting. We need to go buy our refrigerator. Geeeez they're expensive---anywhere from $900.00 to $2500.00. Well, I can tell you, we won't be paying $2500.00 for something that just keeps food cold!!! We were hoping the kitchen would be done by Easter, but it's probably not going to be.

John and I are actually going to go have some fun on March 1. We're going with some friends (Barb and Norm) to the Little Creek Casino in Shelton. Bill Engvall is appearing there. For those of you who don't know who he is, he's part of the Blue Collar Comedy (Larry the Cable Guy). We're spending the night, so it will be fun. That casino is a nice one. That's all I have to say for now, so bye-bye.

Flooring

Finally! The flooring is in. The installer was here on Monday. He got it all done and we're sure happy with it. The guy is coming this afternoon to measure for the countertop. Moving right along.

It's gettin' there..

Today is Saturday and the cabinet installer finished up yesterday doing as much as he could. He will come back after the countertop gets in and finish up with with the molding and two other cabinets that need to go in. Hopefully, our floor will be installed on Monday. Tuesday the guy is suppose to come and measure for the countertop. It might be up to two weeks before the counter top is done (I hope it doesn't take that long). John is busy putting up some molding around the pantry door and then will paint the trim around the windows and the pantry door. As you can see by the pics, it's all starting to come together. Can't wait!! So, the million dollar question is, are we really ready to tackle the bathroom after the kitchen is complete????

Getting Soooo Excited

Today is Friday, so happy Friday everybody. Progress is being made on the kitchen cabinets. The installer got the bottom cabinets installed yesterday and now he's working on the top. Maggie is sitting on my lap as she's afraid of the nail gun. It's a little awkward typing with a 13 lb. dog in your arms.

Last night John and I had a couple brewskies at "The Bully" (well, I did anyway), with our friends Bill and Sue who we have known forever and ever and ever and who are so much fun to be with. I wanted to update them on our kitchen. They don't live too far from us and sometimes they will "pop" in to see the progress being made.

I'm meeting my lunch buddies today for lunch at Taco Time as I haven't seen them for awhile. I'm going to post a picture of us at our annual Christmas lunch. We all worked together for many years at the Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) and most of us had lunch together every day and have developed liftetime friendships. Since I'm retired, I don't see them that much and sure do miss them, as they have become like family to me. Over the years we have helped each other through the bad times and have laughed sooooo much through other times (oh boy, could we tell some great work stories). One thing I know, is we've always been there for each other and always will be.

Happy Valentines Day

Whoo Hoo! Today is Valentines's Day. Love is in the air, the kitchen cabinets have arrived and they're beginning installation today!! Hopefully, they will finish up on Friday and the countertop installation will begin next Tuesday. Yesterday, Home Depot came and took all the cabinets out of the boxes and inspected them one by one. There was only one shelf that was broken during shipping and we're told that will be easily replaced. I absolutely love them!! John surprised me with reservations at Budd Bay for dinner, but I don't think the workers will be out of here on time, so we'll have to postpone our dinner, but that's okay we'll maybe go this weekend. Better go, my worker bees will be here.

Sweet 16

It's my niece Samantha's
16 birthday today. Happy
Birthday Samantha!! I can't
believe she's that old already,
just seems like yesterday she
was only 3--where in the heck does the time go? Isn't she pretty? Now that I've totally embarrassed her....


John and Brandon got the subfloor done yesterday and now we're just waiting for the cabinets to be delivered on Tuesday. John is tired so he's taking a little nappy poo right now and I'm doing laundry and playing on the computer. Our friends Bill & Sue stopped by yesterday to see how our kitchen is progressing. They got here just as John finished working so we all sat down and had a brewsky together. HEY--it's stopped raining and the sun is actually peeking through. My daffodils are popping up and the robins have arrived, so spring is on the way. It's been a long winter!

Wyatt and Evin

I sure do miss Wyatt and Evin. Snow (and the kitchen) keeps us apart. So maybe I can communicate to them through this site.

Making progress

It's Saturday and Brandon just arrived to help his dad lay the sub-floor. They're working hard. The cabinets are due to arrive on Tuesday, then we need to schedule to have them put up. I was holding my breath that they weren't coming from the midwest because of the snow, but I think they're being shipped from Arizona (thank goodness).

Our Parents

We lovingly dedicate this section to our parents.

Sadly, on December 27, John's dad, Bob, passed away at the age of 79. He had been suffering from the effects of diabetes--dad is now in a better place with his beloved Wanda, where he had longed to be for some time. John's mom, Wanda, died of cancer in 2003. Wanda was a warm and wonderful person--I always bragged that I had the best mother-in-law in the world. My dad, John, died at the age of 83 from emphysema. Dad was a fun-loving man with a great love of the outdoors and life itself. I lost my mother (Lucille) back in 1983 to cancer too. Mom was only 61 when she passed away. She was the best mom ever, and I miss her to this day. She was a sweet lady. I've always felt "robbed" of having a mom in my adult years, as she was taken from me when I was only 30. My stepdad, Lorne, died in 1997, he lived in Arizona and was a very adventerous man. Rest in peace moms and dads, we love you and will see you some day. My stepmom, Billie, is still living at the age of 88. She resides in a nursing home in Tacoma and is suffering from an eye disease that causes blindness. I try to see her when I can. Her son resides in Tacoma also.

Kitchen Remodel

For those of you who don't know, we're doing a major remodel of our kitchen. It's been "gutted" and the drywall was put up this week. Brandon's been over helping his dad and let me tell you, he's a darn good carpenter (of course he's had an excellent teacher). Next week-end they'll lay the subfloor. The cabinets will be shipped on Feb 5th, so I'm starting to get excited. I'll be sooo glad when our new appliances will be out of the living room and into the kitchen where they belong!! I'm sure for those of you who have lived with a kitchen remodel, will have to agree that doing dishes in the bathtub isn't really a whole lot of fun. But the end result will be worth it!! We've gone through Home Depot for most of this project and they have been wonderful to work with, no complaints whatsoever.

My First Attempt

Well, with a little encouragement from our niece Jaimee who lives in Utah, I'm creating my very own blog. This will be a challenge since anyone who knows me knows that I'm not the most computer-literate person around!! Like everyone else, we have family and friends spread around the country so I thought this would be a good idea to update everyone on what's going on with John and I. Also, since I'm retired and don't see my former work buddies as much as I would like, this will be a way to keep in contact with them more.