Seasons

So I started taking these pics of my side yard last fall - one each season. I had some plan, but now I can't quite remember what it was. I must be getting old... Maybe it was for my calendar? I have no idea. Maybe one of the kids suggested it? I even had a reminder programmed into my phone to remind me to take the summer pic. Too bad I didn't put in the pop-up reminder why I was taking these pictures...

kitchen take 2

For some reason my little pics aren't clickable. Annoying... Here are bigger versions of the key "after" photos:

new fridge wall and new pantry cabinet

basement door/living room door

wall that came down (old fridge wall)

stove wall and mud room door

new sink/window wall

the whole sink/window wall

view from dining room

"Blog Your Kitchen!" - DSH

So Deb will stop yelling at me...

We started our big kitchen renovation in April. I have 100s of pictures of the process. (It was a total gut - floor to ceiling... Took about 8 weeks.) But for this blog entry I'm just going to show before and after. Trust me, it's better if you're spared the "during." I'm trying to block it out myself... Totally worth it though. We are very happy with the end result. Now on to other projects we've talked about but not done for 10+ years... :)

the basement stairs and doorway to the living room

mud room door & dishwasher

mud room door & stove

stove area and the wall that is no longer there

pantry and fridge wall - this wall is still there but smaller. The old pantry was removed as well as an enormous center chimney (buried in the wall) which went roof to basement through our house.

pantry - once the chimney came down we had room for the fridge and a massive pantry cabinet on that wall

old, ugly, stained dropped ceiling and fluorescent light/new (clean! white! high!) sheet rock ceiling and recessed lighting

sink wall with drafty, back-breaking windows, crappy drawers and cabinets and ORANGE counter top

the whole sink wall/window to side yard

view from the dining room

maybe my new show...

It wouldn't let me post to FB. Stupid new FB. Have you seen the promos? This show has musical theater, teen angst, no vampires, but I'll let it slide... And I IMDB'd, it does indeed have Spring Awakening original cast members. Of course it's on Fox, so it will probably get cancelled...

Happy Easter!

First stop - Nana and Poppy's for brunch. My annoying children will not pose nicely (or even act normal) for pictures. So hoping Deb will whip 'em into shape... And so hoping those crazy teeth of Jack's will fall out...

Jack took this with my phone, but I kinda like it...

One "nice" shot of the 10 cousins - with the promise of one "crazy."
Go figure got 2 crazy ones...



Erin and Lily with their cute new haircuts

Caitlin looking very grown up

Em and Caitlin are always the same height... And were pleased to discover they wear the same shoe size, size 9!

Lily enjoying the Easter egg hunt

Brendan loved his eggs!

trying to find the last 3...

the Easter egg hunt gang - Nic, Nate, Hayley and Kris retired

Can you see Brendan's 2 new teeth? Love babies with just the 2 bottom teeth!

Brendan kept patting Jon's knee and trying to grab his fork saying, "Num, num." It was pretty funny! Finally Jon gave him a bite. Bren says - num, num (for food) wow, that, bye and a few others... He is pretty darn cute!

Just because I never blog anymore...

"I don't think facebook is my thing..." Remember when I said that? :)

biking this weekend at the high school - hurray for spring!


Booo...my videos won't load. Oh well.

swim team banquet

Last night the SH Swords did their end of season banquet. They had an hour of open swim and then a potluck dinner and awards. (And a very funny slide show with pics from the season) The coaches gave out each award individually as they read a little blurb about each swimmer. It took a long time, but it was personal and the kids really enjoyed it. There was a mountain of food. (Deb, my frozen BJs lasagna was a hit!) :)

Emma and her friend S with their medals

the whole team