The Great Kitchen Remodel

So it all started when Tanner came running up the stairs and said "Mom, there's water dripping out of the ceiling!!!" Indeed, when I went to downstairs to check, there sure was water dripping out of a big bulge in the sheetrock. I figured out that water was spraying behind the fridge from the water line that goes to the drink dispenser. I couldn't get the fridge out all the way to check the damage, as the bar sticks out too far, so I was rather stressed that morning, leading to an embarassing call to a guy in our ward, which I won't go into at this time. Suffice it to say that I now know how to turn all water off in our house under the sink and at the main. (Electric tape won't do much for a water leak...but I guess I really knew that already, anyway). Homeowners was willing to pay for us to fix the wood under the fridge as well as refinish the whole wood floor so we decided it was either now or never and we took the plunge. So this is one shot of the before...it doesn't look too bad in this photo, but note the dropdowns above the cabinets and the fact that the island runs into the fridge and I painted the edge of the formica white as it was wood prior and there were may scratches and stains in the surface, as it was original. I did sell my cabinets on KSL.com for a decent amount of money.

I don't show a before, but this is the new mantel and they did crown molding above it to match what is in the kitchen

Here it is! We ripped out the drop down ceiling (what a blessing, plus a lot more storage) and moved the stove to the wall so it is no longer in my island. We kept almost everything else the same, but now I have a huge surface for the kids to do homework and such on...

So I have to note crazy Isaak comments. Yesterday as I was working in the yard, he was running around with my hand clippers wacking at the roses. "THEY'RE HORNY, Mom!, I have to cut them!" Hmmm...we discussed the word thorny, as an alternative. Tonight we had salmon and rice and carrots with this dill dip that I make that is actually really good and fairly healthy. The base is cottage cheese, and I just made it at lunchtime. I went to put it away and Isaak said, "No, mom, I am going to finish that off." Whoa. OK, well at least he was dipping a carrot occasionally. He actually had a nice helping with his rice and salmon and ate it all, just by itself. Whew.

Easter Sunday

Isaak aka "Pirate Ike". This kid has an unrivaled imagination...tomorrow we'll break out the soccer photos. (Maybe). Isaak loves watching Blackbeards Ghost and the newest fav (thanks to a garage sale with Amy) is Treasure Island, in which the bad guys all die, but none of the good guys die, they just keep falling down, but they can get back up. Yes!

Easter Sunday after church...I had to bribe them to get the smiles, but it was worth it!

Our First T-Ball Game (EVER!)

We confess, we have never put our kids in t-ball, and this was our first game...Isaak couldn't figure out what to do. When his team (The "Astros") went up to bat, he kept moving to the end of the line so he didn't have to bat. He finally got up, and did a good job, but when they told him to run he didn't know where to run to...Matt gave him some pointers and he started figuring it out. He's a pro now!

"Dad, I totally get what you're saying!"

Diving for the ball...all of 'em; Cade and Isaak having a discussion about how best to catch a ball in the outfield...

Isaak is flippin' hilarious. That kid makes me laugh out loud. He goes to sleep with all his goods every night, and this night he was still holding his star wars guy. He has his webkins under his arm...he is a dog and his name is "Black Bro" (?) I haven't figured out the connection.

Random Favs

So these are just some random pics that I should have blogged some time ago, but am just now getting around to. I had images of myself doing this immediately following the big events, but no such luck. Tanner did his first science fair project ever (Acid Attack) and it went to region. He actually got top 10 in Region (and our region is huge), but you don't go to state until you are in 6th grade. Matt was so proud! He was amazed that Tanner was able to do something so "involved". When he was at the region fair, he took a book with him (Lord of the Rings) and I heard later that everybody was amazed that he was reading a book while the other kids were playing games on their game boy things (that are called something different now, I know, but I can't remember what). Anyway, it was cool.
This one is thanks to Ame, when we were finding pics for Grandma Chris' Christmas calendar. If you can't figure it out, that's Brig, Dave, Jess and Ame

This is an oldie but goodie of Isaak and Grandpa Gibbons...they were actually watching fireworks together. Isaak misses that Grandpa! (He's on a mission in Hong Kong)

Josh, Jacob, Nate and Tanner...good lookin' cousins!

Dave and Isaak...Isaak was laughing so hard he couldn't move even if Dave would have let him...they fit in the coveralls well together. I am sure Dave was on his way out to ride his motorcycle!