Hey Look, Its Looking Like a Kitchen!

When we first removed the appliances from the kitchen, we thought it would only be for a short while we simply painted and installed the cabinets. Needless to say the "simply" part turned into 6 months and soon enough our appliances made themselves a new home with the refrigerator taking up residence in the living room and the stove in the sunroom. Well, they are finally back in their rightful place. As a reminder, our kitchen looked like this five months ago:

And now it looks like this:

There is still work to do, but it is most definitely coming along.  The new countertop and new sink should be delivered in a couple weeks, but in the mean time the kitchen is at least semi-functional thanks to our custom cardboard cutout countertop substitute.  It was so nice to cook breakfast this weekend on the stove, in the kitchen like normal people. Part of me might miss the fridge within arms distance from the sofa, but a much bigger part of me is looking forward to getting back to the land of cooked meals and food not stored in boxes on the floor.  Check it out, we even got a head start and put some necessities in the pantry cabinet.  (And yes, Special K and coffee are the necessities.)

So, now that the kitchen is back together, time to tear up the next room!

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!

This past weekend was the Spring NASCAR race at Dover.  I admit, I love NASCAR and I don't care if it makes me a redneck (quite literally as I get sunburned every single year)!  I blame my father for getting me into it.  I remember watching races with him and asking him tons of questions since he seemed like an expert as he would tend to say aloud what was happening or wrong with a car before the announcers were.  Luckily, when I met Mike I learned that he also liked NASCAR, I knew it was a sign! Ever since we met we have been attending the Spring race every year and each year it is so much fun.    I consider myself lucky that Mike's buddies have let me crash their guys day! 

A paratrooper drops in during the national anthem.

Green flag!

The scanners are a great look!

HA!

Mike and Kevin

Kenseth wins!

Happy Birthday, Teddy!

My little boy turns 23 years old today!  I still remember getting him off the trailer the day I got him when he was 6 and I was 11.  Neither one of us are the young pair we used to be and Teddy is showing his age a little bit as he is graying all over his face more and more, is quite stiff most days and his COPD is wrecking havoc on his respiratory and immune systems.  However, he still has a light in his eyes and still looks at everyone happily with ears so far forward they look like they will spring off as if he truly believes their sole purpose is to give him treats.  He has been my best bud for over 15 years and by my side for all of my huge milestones.  I have buried my face in his neck to cry and celebrated the good times with him over carrot cake.  He has frustrated me over the years (and still does), but he has taught me so much and makes me smile every time I see him.  So I know he doesn't read my blog (no matter how many times I send him the link) but Happy Birthday, my friend.  I love you beyond words.

The Cabinets are IN!

I have been waiting and wanting to write this post for quite a while now, for almost 6 months to be exact.  Our cabinets were delivered on Nov. 17 and now on May 13 we finally have the cabinets in place and screwed in.  Well technically, the peninsula cabinet still needs a few more screws, but heck, close enough!  The big room off the garage finally looks like a kitchen again.  The countertop people should be coming out next week to measure and scribe and in the mean time we will finish working on setting up the cabinet lights.  Hopefully by the end of the month we have a full, functioning kitchen! We might even put the doors back on the cabinets, but for now, I'm kinda digging the "open" concept.

Here's a photo timeline of the last few days...

Bases in and getting ready to raise the upper cabinets...with car jacks of course!

A family affair- Mike with his parents leveling the upper cabinets.

Proud of his accomplishment!

Both slackers finally doing some work and prepping the peninsula cabinet.

Installing the LAST cabinet

 AND.....

TA-DA!

Wedding Progress

So now that we are less than 6 months away from the wedding, we have been checking things off our to-do list left and right (and sending checks out left and right)! We reserved our officiant, got our engagement pictures taken, designed our Save the Date cards and drumroll please....I bought my dress! I searched high and low at dozens of stores across three states and sure enough, I bought it from a store 10 minutes from my office. The search was worth it and it should be here in mid-August. I am so, so excited. It is incredibly hard not sharing any of the dress details with Mike, but here is a sneak peek for everyone...

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Just Kidding! Although that does give me an idea....