Harlan's favorite cub scout meeting

Harlan was so excited to get a chance to hold this gun at a recent Cub Scout Pack meeting.

Family Photos December 2010

Front row from left: Harlan, Shelby, Rich, Mikey

Back row from left: Karen, Mark, Mom, Janet

Kate and Mark:

Mike and Janet:

Cousins: Harlan & Mikey:

Cousins Harlan, Mikey & Shelby:

Look at what I got for Christmas!

I was super surprised to walk into my hallway to see my sister and nephew and mom standing there a day after Christmas. They drove all the way from New Mexico to give us a huge surprise! I was so excited to see them and so happy that they spent the week with us. Rich was working that day and I called him up immediately to tell him he is such a good liar for keeping this a secret for so long. He then asked when my brother (and his girlfriend Kate) was due to arrive and I got my next big surprise to have him and his girlfriend here too!

What a wonderful week. I had plans to work with Rich on remodeling our dining room this week and de-clutter the rest of the house during my off week but I would much rather spend it with family than do that. I love you mom, sis, Mikey, Mark and Kate.

They drove all this way with more goodies, more Christmas gifts, mom's banana bread and we created so many memorable good times.

Here are so pics from the week:

My beautiful sister, Janet, and her son, Mikey.

Happy New Year!

Please don't tell me you stuck those party favors in your mouth afterwards.

Rich and Rob Fisher blowing horns in unique ways.

Grandma and three grandkids making oatmeal together. Ahhh!

My beautiful Mom and handsome brother, Markie.

Brother & sisters: Karen, Mark and Janet.

My beautiful mama! Gosh, we look alike!

Looks like they are about to hitch up horses and a wagon

and buy flour from the country market, don't they?!

Now, that is more like it! Work it!

We are on our way to get family photos done.

Mark's beautiful girlfriend, Kate, and niece Shelby Kate.

Two peas in a pod. Shelby and her Uncle Markie.

She NEVER sits on anyone's lap besides mommy & daddy.

There's something about Mark that kiddos always love!

Kitchen Has Come a Long Way

We have come a long way with this kitchen and we are finally done! Well, done enough to post photos. Just some few last painting touches, under-cabinet lights and fan and we will be done. Woohoo!

Thank you to everyone who has helped or has listened to our woes of not having a functional kitchen since July. We have saved so much time with our dishwasher and I actually want to be at home now. I used to avoid the messes at home by just staying away. Thank you to my wonderful husband who has endured all of the nagging and constantly working on this kitchen every waking hour when he is not at work. I am blessed to have such a great guy. Enjoy!

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Kitchen North Wall: (Before)

Kitchen North Wall: (After)

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Kitchen East Wall - Moving-in 2007:

Kitchen East Wall - Before Remodel:

Kitchen East Wall - After:

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Kitchen West wall: Moving-in 2007 (Before)

Kitchen West wall: (After)

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Just some pics of the family

I love my boys.

Shelby has her daddy's eyes.
And mommy's legs... I believe they call our type of legs = "cankles."
Despite how chilly it is outside, Shelby refuses to wear anything else but pink dresses. AND her new favorite, little pink plastic shoes with a sparkly bow. Thank you Grandma J. for my pretty princess pumps.

More progress on the kitchen

Our wonderful children have had tremendous patience as we have been working on the kitchen since July. So far, they have managed to stay away from the power tools, paint and wires! Shelby has even picked up the broom and she tries to sweep the floor, walls and anything else the big broom will extend to! Harlan has been playing by himself outside. He does a good job playing alone but he keeps telling me that he can't wait until Shelby is 3 years old and can play with him more. They love each other and don't argue often... yet.

The granite is coming... the granite is coming!

By the way, look at that great looking guy in overalls!

We are grateful for amazing friends that have come over to help lift and cut granite in nippy weather instead of going for a morning deer hunt. Rob, you are the best! Thank you to Amanda for lending us your husband for a few hours.

This was the maiden cut of granite. We didn't know what to expect. So far, so good!

So above is the wall behind the stove with just primer. I was playing in my Photoshop program with color for the walls. No, it hasn't been painted in real life yet but I'm thinking of the below color. I have to have COLOR!

So, what do you think of this color for the walls?

Too late! I already bought the paint and I'm going with the red walls anyway!

Kitchen Remodel progress

So this is our kitchen before the remodeling started in July 2010. Yes, that was our only window in the entire kitchen.

You are looking at the North wall that had our stove with no place to put a hot pot or pan of cookies!

Yes, this was our sink area that looked out into the dining room/front door area.

And, yes, seen below was the ONLY counter space we had in the ENTIRE kitchen. It was a dark corner and you couldn't even see what you were working on because the light you see in the center is the ONLY light in the kitchen so you create a shadow on the counter. Total darkness.

Below is a teaser photo of what we have done so far. The counter you see in the foreground used to have a wall. I am standing in the dining room area taking this photo. There is LIGHT! There IS counter space now! Rich has done amazing work and pretty much on his own. He has torn out the lath & plaster, re-wired for more outlets, sheetrock, primed walls & used cabinets, put in can lights, painting, installing hardware on cabinets, put in a great big window, moved and modified the heater duct, granite cutting and MUCH MUCH more.

I'll keep you posted on the progress as I get time to upload these photos.