Remodeling Part Deux

Last June I blogged about the extensive remodeling project we started. *heavy sigh* Well, it had a great start but fizzled out and was put on hold. Mostly because Nick started his graduate school program and has been very busy with that. Also because Nick was just not thrilled about keeping the cabinets we had in the kitchen but we couldn't see us adding new cabinets into the budget. A few months ago Nick found a great display kitchen full of cabinets at a store (Contractor's Best) that had been bought by another company (Home Renovations). It was as if these cabinets had been made for our kitchen! He went back & forth with them about buying the cabinets & the granite counter tops from them and sealed the deal just before spring break. I said that my one condition would be that the projects would get completed and would not be put off any more. I miss entertaining in my home! So, over spring break the old cabinets were removed, new ones installed, old ones sold through craigslist.com. It was great! Next, the counter tops were coming from the same company so they came out & measured but didn't have enough granite in the one lot to do them. We didn't want to risk the second lot being different from the first so we opted to wait for the next lot of Jaguar granite. It is scheduled to be installed May 6th. We'll be out of town but Mom will be here & we can't wait to arrive home to see it on May 9th. Happy Mother's Day to me! Here are some pictures of the work & new cabinets. BIG thank you to our friend Web Brown for his help & expertise! He IS for hire if you need any work done.

Number next, we had to purchase a new range when ours went out after being moved last summer. Actually, the stove still worked so we went without the oven for about four months and cooked with the stove, grill, crock pot, microwave & toaster oven. When looking for a new range we decided to go with all stainless steel appliances. We thought we would wait to purchase the refrigerator, dishwasher & microwave but again, Nick found a deal. The state had a rebate program going on for a week that gives you 20% back on energy saving appliances, plus Lowe's had a 10% sale, plus Nick's 10% military discount. We went with Whirlpool Gold, which just so happened to match our range. I opted for the french door fridge w/ice & water in the door. Nick will be installing the dishwasher & microwave tomorrow. I've already sold our old dishwasher but am hoping to sell our old fridge too. Here are a few pictures of the new fridge.

Tonight Nick is out shopping for a new faucet. I REALLY want one of those with the pull down head that easily maneuvers around. Over the years we have wasted money on generic types that look like them but don't function like them. Now I want the real deal! I found this one online, it may be what we get. Peerless Stainless Steel Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet With Pull Down Spray

After the counter tops are installed we have a lot of trim work to do with the cabinets. I still have to pick out tiles for the back splash. I like glass tiles & I like some of the metal looking accent tiles that have fruit embossed on them. I also like what a friend of mine did with her tiles on her range back splash, she painted them all different colors. I know I want an olive green color on the few walls that will show. And we need to schedule a flooring party. So don't not answer your phone we you see our number on your caller ID! *wink*

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Our Easter events included First Baptist's ressurection egg hunt at the Tolosi Farm, dying eggs & an egg hunt at home. The day after the farm egg hunt Roman & Dallon became so sick, totally unrelated but it kept them down almost their entire spring break. Roman had a fever & headache, sinus related and Dallon was diagnosed with HSP. Here are some pictures from our week long festivities.

Dallon brought his friend from class, Jamie Clark. These boys have become such great friends. They love to spend the weekends playing together. The were so excited about all the animals on the farm. Roman's having a stare down with a goat.

The kids loved chasing all the animals. Poor animals..
Unlike last year, when it was Rocco chasing all the animals by himself, this year he was a tad bit nervous about being in the animal yard. He made Gammy carry him in & then he wouldn't leave her side.

Barn animals!

I'm not sure exactly what is going on here between the future Mr. & Mrs. Rocco Mirando, but I love it.

It wouldn't be a First Baptist function without the grub!

Zachary Mason is such a sweetheart! I hope he & Rocco become great friends over the years. They will go to preschool together next year. This sweet boy is beating Leukemia, please pray for him.

I can only guess what is making these cuties laugh. Roman & Alijah have been friends since they can remember. I remember when Pam & I were pregnant with these guys.

The rest of Alijah's family, Audie, little Audie, Promise, Praislyn & ofcourse Momma Pam. Rocco loves this family & so do I.

Mrs. Tammy is telling the Easter story. While we celebrate with egg hunts, hay rides, etc. We also explain why we are celebrating. Jesus is risen! He

is no longer on the cross or in the tomb. First basket wearing kid, Rocco. He sets a trend.

Second basket wearing kid, Dallon.

Third basket wearing kid, Leighton. Don't you love those mud boots too! Sweet girls.

Off they go!

Promise is sharing w/her boyfriend.

Whoa! Watch out Rocco! That's not an egg!

Audie & Promise, so sweet! What a great big brother!

Jamie was happy with his loot!

We love how even the trees praise Him every year around Easter!! Some of the trees are still doing this!!

Dal & his pisan Jamie.

Easter Eve, time to dye some eggs! Roman was too sick.

Wow!

My favorite! Look at that beautiful color!

They had so much fun!

Dallon's favorite!!

Egg salad will come in a few days! A few deviled eggs too because Rocco L.O.V.E.S. them!!

The baskets (Roman ~ Dallon ~ Rocco)

This was Rocco's expression when he saw the Easter Bunny had come! I zoomed in to show you all how adorably cute he was!

Dallon loved the frog eggs the bunny brought him!

Rocco loved the Spiderman eggs in his basket!

Roman's were Sponge Bob but he felt so sickly he didn't hang around long.

I love this picture of Rocco eating breakfast in his new flip flops from the Easter Bunny.

Rocco came home from church, dug in to his candy and passed out in a sugar coma. Notice the few jelly beans that didn't quite make it in his mouth.

We have an egg hunt at home each year. The Easter Bunny hides the eggs & the boys hunt them. This year the boys were so sick that the eggs the bunny hid stayed hidden for three days!! Finally we had our hunt. Roman didn't last long though.

My baby, Rocco, on a hunt for eggs!

Rocco found a dinosaur egg!

Roman resting while Rocco hunts. Roman just wasn't feeling up to it.

Dallon on the go while Roman pooped out.

I wish I had thought to take pictures of the wonderful Praise Factory Sunday school we had Easter morning and the family meal. With Roman & Dallon being so sick some of these things slipped my mind.

The End

Gramma Freckles' Visit

Nick's mom (AKA Gramma Freckles) lives in Corona, CA. We fly her out once a year but missed last year due to scheduling conflicts. So we were very anxious to see her! I booked her flight about a month prior and for some reason got confused, thinking she was arriving Friday, April 2nd. A few days before the flight the airline sent me a reminder, that's when I noticed the arrival date was April 1st! We decided not to tell Roman & Dallon and let them be surprised. It was April Fools after all! This is Rocco greeting Gramma at the airport. Because of the date mishap, Nick had not scheduled Thursday off, actually neither did I but someone had to pick Gramma up & Rocco & I were happy to do so!

This picture is a little blurry because I cropped & zoomed in so you could see their shocked faces when they realized Gramma was with me to meet them on their walk home from school. (Unrelated: Gammy had spent all day with Dallon on a 1st grade field trip to MOSH. Thanks Gammy!!)
APRIL FOOLS!! They were thrilled!!
Gramma Freckles w/Dallon & Roman. Perfect timing because this was their last day of school for over a week! Spring Break Baby! And Gramma is here for over two weeks! THESE are some happy boys!
I like this one of Gramma & Roman.

Friday we relaxed and caught up until Nick got home then Gammy & I went out for pedicures and some dress shopping for Easter. Gramma decided to hang out with her boys. (Unrelated: I'll never forget the family that lost their lives in a car accident in Hilliard that tragic Friday afternoon.)

Saturday we attended the First Baptist Church egg hunt at the Tolosi Farm. I'll post a few more in a Easter post later. Here is a picture of Gramma & Gammy checking out a lama.

Fill in your own subtitles here.

Saturday evening Roman started complaining of a headache & Dallon started complaining of itching. Little did we know they would end up being sick for most of their spring break. We thought they had the chicken pox but after a trip to the doctor because Roman's headache/fever wouldn't go away and Dallon's developing fever/throwing up, Roman was diagnosed with sinus problems and bronchitis, Dallon with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, a systemic vasculitis. What? Yep, we had to google it too.

While the boys were down & out Daddy decided to restart the remodeling that had been put on hold since summer. He found a great deal on cabinets & went to work on installing them. I was able to sell our old ones on craigslist.com, Praise the Lord! With the boys sick on the couch & Nick working in the kitchen I decided to work instead of taking off the days I scheduled. We weren't able to do some of the fun things we had planned but you just can't help getting sick. Might as well save them for later. Gramma & Rocco pulled up most of the old flooring.

Nick & Web worked on getting the new cabinets in.

Gramma is a 'doer', our yard was clearly being neglected so she hopped right on & took care of biznatch!

Nick wasn't sure WHAT to think! OK, maybe he was nervous because the last woman to ride this ran it in the ditch. (Sorry Babe.)

Rocco wasn't sick so he still had to be entertained! They had some quality time together.

The boys started feeling better the Friday before they went back to school. Poor guys.. The following week I took Wednesday off so I could treat the Grands (+ Rock) to a special day out. Gramma loves tea so I had just the place! We went to Cozy Tea in Five Points and were very pleased with our visit. Such a girly place! (Thanks Lindia for the recommendation!)

Gammy had Peach Mango tea with her meal.

Gramma had Kiwi Melon, I had Strawberry.

Rocco refilling Gramma's cup.

After the boys got out we hit a couple local hot spots for pictures. Most of the Wisteria & Azaleas were in full bloom the week before but again, there was the sick issue. Thanks to some friends we found some still going pretty strong. I sure wish these blooms lasted longer.

This is at a friend's house. The picture doesn't do the view justice!

Earlier that day we attended Dallon's 1st grade awards. Dallon made his first B (Math), which he plans on bringing back up this nine weeks. He does work hard & we are proud! He also received Perfect Attendance, Accelerated Reader, Citizenship & AB Honor Roll.

The next day was Roman's & we did attend but had to cut out right after his class was recognized so the picture came later. Congratulations to Roman for getting #2 in Accelerated Reader for all of 4th grade!! Also, Citizenship & AB Honor Roll.

Since our plans changed when the boys got sick Nick decided to take off the Friday before Gramma had to head back and we kept the boys home too. We all loaded up & spent the day at one of our favorite places, St. Simon's Island, GA! Our first stop, Bubba Garcias! We discovered our love for this hole in the wall Mexican restaurant a few years ago while vacationing here. If you're around Nick for any length of time you're bound to hear about this place & their shrimp quesadillas.

The pier

The lighthouse is being remodeled. We climb this a few years ago when we were here. Beautiful views!

Momma & her youngest boy.

Chillin in the gazebo by the lighthouse. My boys took their shirts off the minute we hit the sand on the beach.

There was a lot of dancing. We had to make our own music though.

The boys were so happy when we arrived at 5th & Beachview Drive. This is a great spot we discovered a few years ago. We like it because of the sandbar. Makes Mommy & Daddy a tad bit less nervous.

Squint real hard & you'll see Gramma on the steps.

Nick took the boys out to the sandbar.

Momma & her boy again.
Time to say goodbye for another year. Gramma went home Saturday, April 17th. Good news was she was going to be seeing Teri, Gabby & BeeBop, who arrived back to the states from Australia the day before. We look forward to seeing them when they fly back to SC in a few weeks.

Love you Gramma Freckles! Thank you for coming!