The Tear Out

I don't have a lot to say about the tear out, but we were so glad it was a lot easier than anticipated. And we saved over $100 to do it ourselves. John took off the back splash first, and then unhooked the sink. We had researched online about taking out Corian, and the consensus was pretty much to hammer it up and just plan on it being in bunch of pieces, so don't even try to save it. Much to our surprise, the counter top was actually only siliconed down in like 5 places. So it came out in one piece and our neighbor came over to help carry it out of the house. Boy were we lucky!

Kitchen Counter Tops Before

This remodel has been needed for sometime. The Corian counter tops that were in the kitchen when we moved in started to crack about 6 months ago, and had progressively gotten worse. In the last month before we got them replaced, the crack started to bulge because of moisture. And of coarse, the crack was in the most inconvenient spot possible-right where we used the counter the most. So it was decided that we would use part of our tax refund to fix or replace them. Here are some before pictures.

Don't you just love the white racing strip on the waterfall edge! And the white side splash!

This is where the crack was in the counter top. It started out as a hairline fracture essentially, and just kept getting bigger and bigger. It was probably 12 in long or more and really annoying because it was right where I needed to be cooking .

The damage in this picture was in the house before we purchased it. However I don't think either of us realized it until after we owned the place. It looks like they cut it, but then put it in anyway. Weird.

Take note of the before sink.

Living Room Re-Arrangement

Just wanted to post a few pictures of our new living room furniture arrangement. I finally got the piano moved out of the walkway! I love how it turned out. Thanks to our friends Catherine and Jody who motivated and helped us move everything!

Two Years in the Making

It's finally finished!! I started this project about 2 years ago. I wanted to make a bench for my front porch. My sister Cassy has been making them for a while. When I first started, I had cut the back pieces legs down to the proper height and measured for where the side pieces would connect. Then two years later, I finally decided to finish the project. It was also helpful that my sister was pretty motivated to make some more of her own. So as I built my one bench, she built 2 or 3. I would say she is more experienced than me. I wish I had some before and during pictures, but I kept forgetting my camera when I went to work on it. So you'll just have to believe that I actually made it myself (with instructions from the master bench maker. haha) I will have to clear coat it really good before I actually put it outside for the summer. So for now it resides in my hallway. I had a great time making it and loved how it turned out! Thanks for the help Cassy!

Happy 1st Birthday Gunnar!

For Gunnar's Birthday we decided to go to the Vernal Aquatic Center and go swimming. I unfortunately left my waterproof camera in my bag, so we don't have any pictures of that. He loved the swimming pool and playing in the water. After swimming we went back to Grandma and Grandpa Millett's house to open presents and eat cake and ice cream. What a great birthday party!

Gunnar had a Toy Story Themed Cake. It tasted really good.

Birthday Balloons are always a must have!

The Smash Cake!

Here you see it...

Now you don't!

Gunnar sure loved the cake! He also got a lot of fun presents. A Fridge Farm, Nursery Rhyme book, Clothes and PJ's, and a Cars Radiator Springs Floor Mat with lots of matchbox cars to play on it. Happy First Birthday Gunnar! We love you so much!