Overkill

So... when we were taking down the cabinets, we encountered yet another "interesting" method employed by the previous owners to hang the overhead cabinets.  We have found all kinds of odd things... 4" nails in the walls to hang pictures, car bolts to hold on toilet seats... weird stuff.  So this time, it was a SIXTEEN INCH BOLT to hold the cabinets up in addition to the regular screws into the ceiling studs.

 When we first saw that little knob thing... we never would have guessed what was behind it!

Tax refunds are great!

This year, we are using our tax refund to remodel the world's ugliest, drabbest kitchen.  So, here are the before pics....

Yep, that would be painted plywood cabinetry.  Classy, I know.

And, why yes.... everything is the exact shade of cream.  Cabinets, walls, trim... it's like they set off a paint bomb and everything got painted at once.  And that lovely eyesore of cabinetry breaking up the space between the kitchen and dining areas?  Gone!  I can see from one side of the kitchen to the other now! And going from the door to the garage is a straight line, rather than 16 turns through the kitchen maze.

 Yesterday Josh and a truck driver hauled a bunch of boxes like these...

 from this big ole truck...

 Into the garage.  Those are the new cabinets, ready to assemble and hang!  And look at that cute little boy trying to move the new fridge...

The garage is getting pretty full of new kitchen stuff...

To be continued!

Green Smoothies!

Guess who's finally on board?  Josh begs for a green smoothie every single day, but until yesterday, Caleb would cry to see a precious banana blended into an algae looking mess.  But he finally tried one and had three helpings!

Anatomy of a treehouse/ swingset

Treehouse phase one...

So as Josh was working on the treehouse today I took some pictures of it all.  But when I went to come put the pictures on the blog, I realized I hadn't put any of the older pictures up on the blog yet!  So here are the initial stages of the treehouse (sorry, they aren't really in order)

 A typical stare from Ben... Becca was taking pictures of the other kids in these next few shots.  I thought they were funny, so I kept them :)

 I don't know what's in her mouth?

 "Go away!"

 The elders came over and helped Josh get that pole up.  It was quite the feat!

 "Cheeee"  Caleb cuts the last sounds off of every word he says.  So he requires a lot of translating for anybody but me and Josh to know what he's saying.

 I thought it was completely built at this point.  Josh's mind had already gone right onto the next phase, though.

 Fat baby :)

 But he's happy! Sometimes...

Back to School!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  The house stays cleaner, quieter, and I can actually get things done! Here are the girls on their first day.  It was sunny (so Becca made a squinty face in every picture) and hit over 80 degrees all week.  Go figure...

Why the sweatshirt in such nice warm (hot?) weather?  I think she was just excited to wear her school hoodie?

Overheard...

How they got on this topic, I don't know, since I walked in mid-conversation.

Rebecca: I'm going to marry someone I don't know.
Isabel: You can't do that. You have to know them to marry them.
Rebecca: But all I know are boys... I'm going to marry a MAN