Kitchen Progress

So we are making some progress on the kitchen renovation.  So much planning has to happen before we can make this happen.  And you know me.  I just want to start ripping cabinets off the walls.  So this is a good exercise in patience.

But here are the plans so far.

In case you haven't seen our kitchen...

It's long and on the narrow side.  Too small for an island.  But we have to get rid of the tiny "one butt" kitchen layout where the dishwasher opens up and blocks the sink and the garbage can.  Ugh! 

These old ovens have my heart.  But they are 50 years old.  Time to take action before they die! 

 I love my breakfast nook--it's where we eat almost all of our meals, but we have outgrown it!  We still have 2 little kid chairs to make it fit...and no little kids!  

Design 1 from our designer kept the breakfast nook seating.  But we felt like it didn't give us enough storage.   

Option 2 gives us much more storage...by giving up the breakfast nook.  (We have a dining room right off this room that will become our main eating area--and we will still have bar seating at the counter closest to the family room.) It also eliminates our window that overlooks the outdoor seating area...which I was sad about.  

And we have arrived at version 3.  We are still making a few tweaks--likely moving the microwave up to the right of the cooktop.  But I think it maximizes storage and still gives us plenty of light. It's going to be a nice roomy kitchen with room for plenty of butts (aka helpers)!

We have pretty much picked out our appliances.  Now onto the next big decisions--cabinets and countertops.  Then a wait while these things go into production and our contractor finishes up his current jobs.  Remodeling a kitchen is a big job! (Even if the only "jobs" you are doing is working on design decisions.)

Glasses TIME!

Well, we have a new glasses wearer in the house now.  

Big D has joined the aged eyes club.  I think he looks great.  The kids (especially Libby) gave him all kinds of grief for being old.  It was hilarious.  (For me...not so much for him.)

I just went to get a pic of the kids' glasses.  Then I checked my google photos and of course Libby already took about 75 selfies in her new glasses.  Ha.

They are not transitions, although they have blue blockers.  She had a hard time getting used to them yesterday, as it was a big prescription change. 

Also, she didn't like any of the options at Costco this year (she will only wear glasses with nose pieces--so limited options).  And it literally kills me to use all $400 of our insurance money on one pair of glasses at the eye doctor.  I got Ben 2 pair at Costco for less than $200.  I'll get reimbursed for both.  So 3 times as much at the eye doctor.  For what value added?  I can't figure it out. 

Ben chose these SHAQ glasses.  He didn't even know who that was.  So we watched some highlight videos.  He was thoroughly impressed.  

Adorable. 

I don't have an actual pic of Derek in glasses--I haven't gotten one yet.  But here he is looking skeptical about the whole experience.  It actually is proving to be a problem at work.  Since he is always moving from one temperature area to another (like leaves his patrol car to go into a house or a building where a crime is or was being committed), wearing a mask means his glasses keep fogging and reducing visibility.  That could be really dangerous in his job.  Yikes.  He may have to go maskless in order to see. 

It's incredible how many hours getting the new glasses can take, between appointments, picking glasses, picking up glasses, etc.  So I'm glad to have this done for the year.  (It turns out Libby had some abnormalities in her exam, so we have an appointment with a neurological ophthalmologist in November...ugh.  Hopefully it's nothing...but it is 2020...)

Happy Birthday SARAH!

 Sarah had a pretty good birthday, stretched out over a few days.  She got to have lunch with her dance bestie, Maryanna after dance last Saturday at Red Robin.  Her mom teaches 5th grade too--so the girls had plenty to talk about and so did the moms!  

On her actual birthday, Sarah got to go get donuts with Dad (Hillcrest bakery is Dad's latest favorite).  Then he offered to take her anywhere for lunch.  Anywhere.  And she chose Dick's Drive in.  Burgers and fries.  Eating in the car.  He tried really hard to talk her into something fancier, but couldn't.  (Well, she did say she'd go with Olive Garden--so he settled on Dick's.). 

For her Norton birthday gathering, we had it at Maren's where she has rigged up several outdoor heaters and canopies so that we can stay outside and reduce the risk of spreading COVID.  Sarah chose Zuppa Toscana and pies.  She wanted sour cream lemon (which I was SO happy to say yes to).  And pumpkin.  I stayed up late (for me) on Thursday finishing the pies, and made the soups on Friday morning before school.  (Plus of working from home!)

I think she enjoyed her celebrations--and the mountain of gifts.  I think that quarantine has made me spend even more on my kids' birthdays because I feel sorry for the lame life they are having.  She got airpods (thank you prime day), a new backpack (hers broke), a photobook (which just came yesterday), a couple of husky t-shirts, some dangly earrings, and LOTS of gum.  

I can't believe she's 12!! 

Online School Life Update

 We had to crack down on Libby this week--as she had many missing assignments.  But I think she is getting into the swing of it.  She is all caught up.  Let's keep it going! 

And she is so into selfies and taking pictures of herself. I guess that being grounded gives her lots of time for this? 

Also, she got REALLY lucky this week (blessed?).  Her phone was missing for 2 days.  

Um, yes...I know who that phone belongs to.  It was in the park for 2 days.  Now maybe the airpod case will turn up too? 

Ben is bored and lonely.  He is playing LOTS of switch in between classes and during breaks. 

Sarah seems pretty content to stay in her room most of the time.  She is now walking 2x a day thought (or doing some other workout like Just Dance or swimming) to help her sleep.  All the sitting all day means that she can't sleep.

This week they had their first in-person YW activity, a hike at St. Edwards park.  Sarah decided to jump in the lake in her clothes.  I can't imagine doing that! I would be so grossed out riding home in wet clothes. She was totally unfazed. 

As for me, I can honestly say I'm pretty in the swing of online learning.  The synchronous blocks are great.  I am getting better at some things--but I've got a few too many things going (of course) so my work it taking me more than school hours.  I'd like to pair it down a bit.  But at the same time, I need to do lots of grading so parents can see how kids are doing.  I'll keep fine tuning! 

Baking Frenzy!

 Derek had the last two Sundays off and he got into the baking spirit!  I didn't take pics of him with with mint brownies and pound cake the first week.  The pound cake was a Derek and Libby project.  The edges got a bit burned.  But last week Ben and Derek made Pavlova.  It was amazing!

Another Home Project Weekend

 I am exhausted.  And I didn't even do the brunt of the labor this weekend.  You know how one project leads to another?  Well before we do the kitchen, I want to FINALLY get lighting in our living room and dining room, since that is where we will be spending all our time during the dark winter kitchen remodel.  But that meant that we'd need to take down the popcorn ceilings so our electrician could put in the can lights and we'd be able to patch up the mess afterword.  

Enter Kaj and Emma!  They did a great job.  I'm only exhausted because of the prep work and the final cleanup. (Lots of mopping, wiping and dusting).  This stuff got all over the house (mostly because of the Ben help that kept tracking in and out).  

The inaugural scrape. 

Can lights going in soon!  And then the patching and painting.  I'll be hiring my crew again for sure!  For now, I'm battling the headache that comes after a 26,000 step day and looking forward to a less busy week this week than last! 

School Photos--COVID Style

 My friend Kathy offered a deal to take school pictures. I am so happy I took her up on it!

Love how these turned out. So much personality.

This is my favorite!  Sarah is so happy to be an Einstein Tiger...except that it doesn't really feel like it.  We drove through the brand new building to pick up her books and music for band.  I hope that she'll get to start in the building at some point. 

Libby...so unhappy to be pulled away from friends (Harides) to take pictures.  But she got into the mode.  She's getting her work done.  With some prodding.  We have a Saturday morning Starbuck's run where we create her to do list to catch up on everything.  Yesterday I didn't actually see her canvas page, but she remembered she had 3 things due and told me she did them all before she ran off to play.  She also had a babysitting job yesterday and has saved up (by selling paintings and babysitting) $100.  She's pretty proud.  And ready to spend! 

Ben only has this one pair of glasses right now.  Mom fail.  I thought I had made them an appointment with their eye doctor, but the doctor was on maternity leave, so I guess I just got on the wait list? So these glasses are actually from year before last.  His other ones have all died.  So I finally made an appointment this week.  But too late for these pics not to be in transition lenses.  (Never again!)  So many ruined photos.  But I love how the pics turned out.  They perfectly capture his 9 year old adorable awkwardness.  No pockets, so not sure what to do with his hands.  Can't get enough of this guy! 

Traditionally I also get a picture with whoever is at MP with me.  I kind of wanted a pic with all 3...but I told myself that if school was in session for real, it'd only be Ben. 

I'm trying to take the advice from this awesome talk I listened to this year and embrace this year! 

How to Act While Being Acted Upon | Kevin J Worthen, Aug 2020