This Kitchen is Seasoned with Love... and Swear Words: Part One

Johnny and I both love to cook when we have the time and money to do so.  We have never had a fancy kitchen, but we have never had one this dated, either.  There were all sorts of things wrong with this kitchen:  leaky sink, old tired oven, ugliness all over... but we've turned out some pretty decent meals.  We're giving the kitchen a sort of short term facelift... doing things to make it look more up to date and clean and fresh.  But not doing too much that if in a few years we want to restructure it because of a (fingers crossed) addition, we won't have wasted a ton of money.

 So far, we've gotten a new stove, new countertops, new sink, new faucet, and are picking up new tile this week.  Johnny has put up beadboard and trim.  We've painted the existing cabinets, leaving the tops cabinet doors off for a cottage, open shelving look.  Replaced hardware on the bottom and have the supplies to chalkboard paint our fridge.  We've tried a few colors for the walls and inside of the cabinets.  The ones pictured ended up being too dark, so we have new colors now.  (Pictures to come!)

 I can't wait to rearrange things so just my pretty dishes are out, stashing the useful but ugly ones away.  I have plans for a nifty spice drawer instead of having them out in view.  A pot rack for all of my pans so I free up a cabinet.  Chalkboard painting the ugly fridge.  The list goes on.  A lot has been done, but we have a long way to go!  I can't wait!  I'll say it again, I can't wait!

Before we moved in

Before we moved in

Painted cabinets and new hardware

But old, leaky sink... peeling wallpaper and rotten walls

Access to the attic, UGLY

Cabinets painted, hardware done, old oven, open cabinets

Open cabinets, but old wallpaper everywhere

See you later, old countertop!

New stove, but wallpaper and ugly walls and top cabinets

Peace out, old ugly leaky sink

Ready for the new sink

Initial colors, ended up being too saturated for the space

New countertops, but an all day sink project

They worked into the night to stop leaks

  

But it turned out pretty great!

New countertops, new beadboard

Primed upper cabinets, beadboard and trim up, initial wall color

Beadboard and trim up, windows need to be done

Primed upper cabinets, new countertop, beadboard and trim, initial wall color

Sink and backsplash and trim.. now we just need to do the windows!

Mind Your Manners

As a teacher, manners were super important to me.  I was forever correcting kids on their manners.  Now J and M are hounded about their manners.  One of J's first words was "Day Doo".  As he hands YOU something, he says it.  When you hand HIM something, he says it.  He always says "Pees".  M has the whole repetoir:  "Pees,  Tank Ooh, Er Wekum, Scuse Me, No Tank Ooh".  And she is also super conscientiousness about eye contact.  Something I married her dad for.  Love me some good eye contact.  But she takes it to the next level.  She will not accept that you are listening to her unless she is looking you in the eye at the beginning of what she wants to tell you.


"Come on, guys!  In your seats!  Let's go to the store!"
"Mommy!"
"Yes, M."
"Mommy!"
"Yes, M."
"Mommy, Mommy!"
"Yes, M.  I'm driving, what do you need?"
"Mommy!  Mommy!  Mommy!  Mommy!"
"I'm listening, M.  What?"
"Mommy, Mommy, MOMmy!"

At which point you pull your rearview mirror down so she can make eye contact with you:  "YES!"

"We go store?"

"Yes, M.  We are going to the store."  And then she puts her paci in until the next question.  Thank goodness for that paci.  I remember when I told my dad I was worried about her not talking.  He told me not to wish for it too soon because once she started she would never stop.  Why are parents always right?

In other words...

Every time I meet someone new... like another mom at the park pushing her smiling child on the swing while I chase J and yell over my shoulder for M not to climb on that, or an old lady taking forever scanning her coupons in the self check out line at Jewel while I try and get J to pry his lips off the cart handle and keep M from putting all of the Push Pops in with our groceries, I always get the same line:  "Wow, You've Got Your Hands Full".  I know what this means.  In other words, "Wow lady, get your life together.  You look like hell."

Most likely true.  And at that moment I feel self conscious about what my kids are doing and what might be stuck in my hair... but as I maneuver my minis out to my car and unpack them and my groceries (including a few stray Push Pops and NOT including the milk that I actually went to the store FOR), I try and remember that the snot on the back of my thighs from the hugs I get while I'm washing dishes and the circles under my eyes from sharing my bed with a 2 year old who had a nightmare in the middle of the night and wanted to "nuggle in mommy bed", are the best gifts I can get.  They aren't going to be this little and needy forever.  When they're not... I'm going to miss it.  Until then, I'll suck it up and be grateful that I get to be home with them everyday.  I'll manage those days with friends to vent to, projects to distract me, and some good food and wine with my cute husband after bathtime and nigh night.  Emphasis on the wine.