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This may feel like a book by the end.

But, that's what happens when you cram four full days of activity into one blog post.  It gets lengthy.

Thursday we had about the same fourth of July experience as everyone else - wet.  We did have a great time with family, but my anxious husband decided a day off could not be wasted on folly alone and home renovations could take place. So, he and I spent a couple of hours Thursday night pulling up carpet.  The file you're looking for is labeled - Lame; subclass - Super Lame.  Here I am getting ready to get my work on.  These gloves were the smallest Home Depot had and were promptly exchanged the next day for a smaller, pink pair from Lowes.

 
 
Let me state that the "poof" was a function over form thing, and I try really hard never to let that much of my forehead be seen on a daily basis.  Don't I embody the image of a renovation diva?  Yes, I do, thank you.
 
Here are some pictures of Thursday's progress.  Thankfully, none of the carpet pad was glued.  All of the carpet in the downstairs was eradicated in under two hours.  All of the working out over the last several months has already come in handy.




 
 
I also sustained my first on-the-job injury.  On the first day.  On the first project.  The only way it could have been more believable is if it had happened before we even got started.  Thankfully, stitches were not needed, just a spray tan.

 
Friday I spent the day with my Mom and my little man out and about in Florence running various errands and spending money at places like Lowes when I'd rather have spent it at Ulta.  Cohen went home with his Nana, and after I did some birthday shopping I indulged in an afternoon of F.R.I.E.N.D.S re-runs until the drill sergeant got home.  Friday night was spent taking up all the shoe-mold, removing the switch plate and plug covers, pulling up the carpet tack strips, and attempting to scrap up three layers of vinyl from the laundry room floor.  I have accepted that this is my life for the next three months.
 
Saturday morning we were up bright and early to drive to Greenhill (about 25 minutes outside of town) to look at a granite place.  Matt had checked on the Saturday store hours earlier in the week and was told they were open from 8-12 on Saturdays.  You can imagine our disappointment when we arrived at 8:30 and no one was there.  The store number re-directed to a cell phone voicemail, and Matt left a message explaining the situation.  As we had other appointments back in town, we didn't have time to wait to see if someone would show up.  So, we wasted an hour.  Plus gas.  We did get a call back later in the morning that the guy had opened up shop at 8:00, but had run to get a biscuit around the time we got there.  Well, I sure hope it tasted good.  We shopped a couple of other places and ordered our countertops.
 
Mom, D, and Cohen met us at the new house and the project of the day was the kitchen.  First, I spent the better part of an hour bent at the waist holding a heat gun to the laundry room floor so Matt could scrap up the remaining vinyl.  Best hamstring workout ever.
 
I attempted to set Cohen up with an area of toys, TV, and all the fun a two year old could need so that the rest of us could be useful. 
Having a toddler on the job site went about as well as you could imagine it would.  My wonderful mother-in-law came and rescued him about the hundredth time I was going through my "do NOT put ANYTHING in your mouth, do NOT pick up ANYTHING off the floor, Son STAY in your tent, Cohen you cannot go in there while they're doing that" routine. 
 
His absence allowed me to turn my focus on the real issues at hand - my kitchen was currently in shambles.  First, a reminder of the before.
 


Doesn't it just ooze 80's?  The overall plan is the remove the upper hanging cabinets, and change the wall where the oven (which is about the size of an E-Z-Bake) is located to be a more traditional make-up of a drop-in stove/oven with microwave hood.  Thankfully, we're going to be re-using most of the existing materials.  The rest of these pictures are a progression of the cabinet/appliance/counter-top removal.









 
The upper cabinet removal has already made a huge difference in the overall appearance of the room.  It opens it up and lets in all the natural light from the bay window.
 
Sunday we took a break from home renovations to celebrate my Daddy's birthday with him, Shelia, and my brother's family.  We indulged in way too much good food, and had an absolutely wonderful afternoon together.
 
This weeks mission - removal of the ceramic and hard-wood floors.  Pray for us, y'all.
 
Much love,
 
Katye

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