Kitchen remodel - week 5

I think I missed posting last week; nothing too visually stimulating.  The tankless water heater was successfully installed.  It seems to be working well as the water heats up faster than before.

A few small purchases over the past weeks, including a new downstairs toilet at Lowe's (elongated bowl and special quiet-shut technology!), and a new faucet, sink and door knob for powder room from Amazon.  Erin's dying to do some decorating for the kitchen, but I've begged her to wait until we see the final result before we start stacking up new stuff.

As of Friday, we have covered walls again.  Dry-wall put up and floated late last week.  Holes are all patched where the hot water heater had been in utility room and where the fur-down was in the powder room.  Not sure what to expect this week, but hopefully some big progress!

Future home of new fridge

Messy, messy, messy!

Kitchen remodel - week 3

More progress this week, but nothing glamorous that makes for exciting pictures:

The plumbers started work on Monday.  They took out our old hot water heater and began installation of the new tank-less one.  This required plumbing work on the inside and outside of the house, and eventually in the attic as that's where the new water heater is located.  Being that it's tank-less, the attic location shouldn't be an issue and it's a big space savings.

With Tropical Bill coming, SE tried to get us signed up for an inspection Tuesday, but the city shut down and so the inspector came on Wednesday.  Only one issue with the natural gas intake line that Dan doesn't seem worried about and we should be cleared soon.  Electric inspection passed with no issues.

On Friday, a new group of workers came and started installing the wall insulation in the kitchen (see below).

Second week of kitchen remodel

Last week, Dan's demo guys worked Wednesday and Thursday tearing out most of kitchen:  Cabinets, floors, insulation, pantry, doors, etc.

This week there has been some neat progress, though we still have a long way to go.  On Monday they shifted our back door over by 18 inches or so to make way for mudroom storage (cubby).

They installed a pocket door between the utility room and kitchen.  Removing the door that had been there should allow better access to counter space.

The electrician started this week and has been busy as well:  We have new can lights in the kitchen and main living room.  They are a great addition as the lighting in the living room is greatly improved.

Day 2 - kitchen remodel

Day 2 of the remodel:  They took out walls of kitchen and insulation as you can see exposed studs.

We didn't take a picture, but they also tore up the tile from the downstairs 1/2 bath.  Grant is loving the dust as he rolls in it constantly.

Day 1 of the kitchen remodel

(Guest poster, Kevin Brock):

Today Superior Exterior started our kitchen remodel.  We actually had a strange start to the day:  Erin called me at work because her car wouldn't start.  Grant has gotten into a daily habit of playing in the car of whomever brings him home, and last night it happened to be Erin's van.  When she tried to start it this morning it just made a clicking noise with lights but no engine.  I was already at work deeply involved in the transportation of hydrocarbon molecules (I was actually eating a kolache), so I raced home, picked up Nolan, and had him to his last day of Kindergarten before the final bell.  Then I returned to the house and jump-started the van.  She took my car to drop the other boys off at daycare and start her day, while I took the van to the mechanic and got a ride back to work.  We accomplished all of that pretty quickly as I was back to work at 8:24!

Anyway, the kitchen remodel:  Superior Exterior (SE) dropped off a dumpster in our driveway yesterday, June 2.  Today they filled the sucker!  Erin texted me to say the floor was already mostly up when she returned home from the gym.  When I came home at lunch to get my car, I could see cabinet doors and other wood debris in the dumpster.  By 5:00 when the boys and I got home for the day, the dumpster was nearly full with the entire kitchen.  It's really quite shocking to see the progress the SE guys made in the first day.  Even more shocking was how small the kitchen looked when empty!

For our first dinner with no kitchen, we had a rotisserie chicken from Costco and an orzo salad Erin had made and put in the fridge earlier in the week.  We dined on paper plates with plastic forks - forgive us Al Gore!

Happy 6th, Nolan

Our first born is 6!  To me, this age seems so big.  Five still seems young but there is something about 6 that makes them seem so old!  Maybe it is the fact that he is losing teeth and learning to read.  He will be in 1st grade in just a few months too.  Nolan is a good kid.  Sure he has his moments, but he seems to be so much more mature.  He is good with his brothers and generally does what is asked of him without too much of a fight.  He loves Star Wars and watching shows on the Kindle (mainly Power Rangers).  He still isn't the best fruit/veggie eater but we have made a little bit of progress.  His favorite is probably salad..  He is playing baseball and makes pretty good contact with the ball.  He also has a great stance down.  He finally graduated out of his car seat and was moved to a booster in the third row.  It is so nice that he can now fully buckle and unbuckle himself. 

Nolan had his 6-year check up and he is 42lbs and 3'9".  I have no idea where he is percentage wise but he is definitely on the skinny side! Dr. Crane said he looks good and gave him a pep talk about the importance of eating fruits and veggies! 

After lots of going back and forth with different ideas we decided to have Nolan's party at Sky High.  We went with a Thursday night party on his actual birthday.  We had a great turn out and I think all of the guests had a blast jumping.  He had a big cookie cake as his cake.

I asked Nolan the following questions about 2 weeks after his 6^th birthday.

1. What is your favorite color? orange

2. What is your favorite toy? Legos

3. What is your favorite fruit? Small bite of apple

4. What is your favorite tv show? Star Wars Rebels

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Square PB and Nutella

6. What is your favorite outfit? Orange and gray shirt with orange shorts

7. What is your favorite game? Spot It

8. What is your favorite snack? Nilla Wafers

9. What is your favorite animal? Cheetah

10. What is your favorite song? Turn Down for What

11. What is your favorite book? Bob Books

12. Who is your best friend? Finn

13. What is your favorite cereal? PB Toast Crunch

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Swing

15. What is your favorite drink? Lemonade

16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Baa Baa, Gumbo, Gerald, and Piggy

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cinnamon toast waffles

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Hamburger

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Fighter Jet Maker  

Happy 4th, Henry

Henry just celebrated his 4th birthday!  My second baby is getting so big!  The day before his birthday he had his first friend birthday party at Biron's where he takes weekly gymnastics class.  He had a lot of fun at his party.  They set up a little obstacle course for the kiddos.  I think they probably loved the trampoline the most.  He had a construction cake.  I think he was most excited about the two plastic trucks from the top of the cake.







 
Oh his actual birthday we went out to breakfast at our favorite breakfast place, Pecan Creek Grill.  He scarfed down all of his eggs, bacon, and pancakes!  After breakfast we went to church while Nolan was in CCE.  The rest of the day we pretty much just hung out around the house because it was a rainy, yucky day.  Nanna and Poppie and Pegby also stopped by to bring him some presents.  From mom and dad he got the Dyson vacuum that he wanted (it really picks up!) and a backpack with his name on it for when he heads off to Pre-k next year.

Below are the 20 questions I asked him:

1. What is your favorite color? yellow and red

2. What is your favorite toy? Legos

3. What is your favorite fruit? blueberries and grapes

4. What is your favorite tv show? Mighty Machines

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Pizza

6. What is your favorite outfit? jacket

7. What is your favorite game? Sorry and Uno

8. What is your favorite snack? Pirate Booty

9. What is your favorite animal? Tiger

10. What is your favorite song? Happy

11. What is your favorite book? Star Wars

12. Who is your best friend? Carolina and Claire

13. What is your favorite cereal? Fruit Loops

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? ride bikes

15. What is your favorite drink? apple juice

16. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Baa Baa

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? waffles, pancakes, sausage biscuit, french toast sticks

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? pizza

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? garbage man, referee, police man

Two weeks after his birthday he had his 4 year check up.  He is doing well.  He is 37lbs and I think it was 3'4 3/4".  I didn't get the measurements written down.  He had to get 2 shots so was pretty sad about that.