I love this kitchen

This kitchen picture is from HGTV's rate my space site. This is so similar to what I'm hoping to create in our home. My Sweet Savannah's blog had a link to this recently and between her beautiful decorating and this kitchen...I really feel like I have a sense of what we want. (I'm new to blogging so I hope I' m giving sufficient credit where credit is due...)

So off to Home Depot we went the other day to get prices and a lay out. We left pictures and measurements and anything we could think of to get the kitchen ordered. Today I went back for a follow up appointment and the designer had a really limited computer image of a kitchen that absolutely wasn't going to be ours. All of the elements that were important to us were not there and it's so frustrating! My dear husband was working so I was there with the kiddos and that didn't help. I just wonder if she even looked at what we brought in. There is a couple of other places for cabinets we can explore so I guess the search continues......Until then.....I'll stare at other peoples' kitchens.

the kitchen begins....

So today we went to Home Depot with our pictures measurements and our ideas. We also brought our three children...it was all going pretty well until they found this huge (reachable) bin filled with these little bright yellow plunger things. Let the games begin! Why don't they play with their toys like this?

What we learned was if you are planning to have Home Depot install the cabinets, they charge $100. to come out and measure your space. If your planning to install, you get charged sales tax ( there is not a sales tax charge under their install price,) and they are not liable if the lay out doesn't work. Fair, I guess. I have convinced my husband to finally get 3 estimates and different lay outs before we choose. So we are now in the planning stages...exciting and terrifying!!

summer things to do

www.kidsbowlfree.com kids can bowl 2 free games a day all summer. Shoe rental is 2.50
Anyone have good ideas for cheaper family fun?

Spring has sprung..at the Cleveland Zoo

Does JB think her brother will fall in? See her overprotecting hold?
Reindeer stink....who knew?

from the mouth of babes...

Remodeling on hold to celebrate....

Lessons

The kids were granted a small scholarship to be used towards their piano lessons and right now they are teaching me something. Small step by small step...it's amazing what lessons can be learned. Remember that we're not all supposed to bloom at the same time.

still hanging my head low...

well...here is the wreath...on the door.....that I painted. Have you ever read the story, "If You Give a Moose a Muffin?" Well, this is the story....if you give the mommy a paintbrush. Long story short one thing leads to another and it's all a mess!!) So I'm not posting the door today because my tissue from crying is sticking to the paint.

Another view of the back porch....

The fire extinguisher? Have you seen us remodel?

I have some explaining to do.....

Before:

This is a picture of our back porch door. The porch is hugely functional...but really ugly. We plan on redoing the porch but that obviously takes a back seat ( back porch..) to the kitchen mess..I mean kitchen remodel. This is where the splaining needs to be done...and I'm hanging my head low...but willing to reveal my mishaps. If I'm accountable...I just might learn. I opened a can of paint today. No back up....no one here to say...hey...don't do that ...you DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PAINT!! There I stood.... brush in hand ...looking at the back screen door, already in bad shape. So, what wrong can I possible commit? The weather is beautiful...the birds seem to sing...fix your home....I painted the back door black. I'll post the second coat tomorrow. It should look better then, right?

proud mama moment

The Cleveland Piano Teacher's Association was offering scholarship opportunities. The kids had to perform a piece by memory and a some of the competition was quite a bit older. They did well and we are so proud..............