Annual Fall Family Photos

Last Saturday, in amidst renos, we headed to Peach Orchard Campsite for our Annual Fall Family Photos with the McKelveys. See Heidi's post for their pics. She is a great photographer with a great camera. Her only fault is that she is way too picky. She thinks the photos suck...well, you be the judge. I think she is very talented and I am blessed to have her as my best friend!!

Renovations

Well, I have been absent from the blogging world for quite a while!! This past month has been crazy!! I have attached a few pictures of what my house looked like three weeks ago...you should see it now!! We spent Thanksgiving weekend tearing out our kitchen, ripping up carpeting, mudding holes in walls and painting. Thanks to Heidi and Steve and Brian's parents we were able to get a lot accomplished. The kitchen was a difficult rip out--lets just say that if a tornado went past our house..the cabinets would have been left in tact!! While the guys did the kitchen, the girls ripped up the carpet, underlay, smooth edge (why they call a strip of wood with nails in it that, I don't understand) and all the staples from the floor. We borrowed the Foley's utility trailer and two loads to the dump later..all was gone!! We salvaged a few cabinets that went into our garage and we still have a couple sitting on the deck. Thanks to Lisa for watching the kids while we worked.
then the painting began....all the living room, dining room, hall ways and kitchen...and all the trim to fresh crisp white from dungy old wood!!! I love the colours I chose...I always find it so difficult to decide from a small chip!!
My parents came on Oct. 11 (their wedding anniversary) to help us out some more!! We are blessed to have such awesome parents!! Of course, parent teacher interviews also fell that week!! While Brian and I worked, mom and dad hung my new doors, and got prepped to lay the floor. We put in beautiful single plank laminate...every board clicked into place...it took a long time, but Dad and Brian did a fabulous job! I was busy running with the kids to hockey, birthday parties etc. Then the kitchen guys came....well that was over a week ago and they have just finished up tonight! Workmen can be very aggravating sometimes! Anyways, it is complete. (well except for the microwave rangehood that has to be installed, the tile backsplash that I still have to pick out, a minor plumbing job, hanging a light above my table, and picking up my new furniture!!) NEw furniture, I have never had that before...our current couch is one that my parents bought before I was born!! So if you know of anyone in need of a couch..let me know!! It is almost surreal to walk into my kitchen now--oh I forgot to mention the new fridge--we got one with a water dispenser! The kids have never drank so much water!! I have to admit, it is very cool!! I will post some pictures after I pick up the new furniture this weekend!! yeah--stop over and check it out soon!!