The 7 year Kitchen

We have been in our house for 7 years now. It has gone quickly and I can hardly believe we have been away from Montana for that long. Every 7 years (I actually thought it had been 8) but Colett corrected me), I get the itch to repaint, remodel, and renew. There are some things about the house that were done amazingly well such as the crown moulding, the cabinets, and the drywall installation. Other things ....not so well. The tile, the counter tops and the carpet were low grade and poorly installed. I got the chance to change that this month.

Wayne and I installed the new tile in the entry, but needed the pros to do the rest. We re-carpeted the upstairs, and then had new granite counter tops installed.

This is the new tile entry...

next to the new carpeting.

The stairway...

and the living room

With new counters came the need to do some plumbing. Wayne was trying to hook up the Insinkerator and found himself with a little helper. He couldn't seem do anything without a little hand giving him a wrench or a new part.

Here is the counter

The view from the opposite direction

The drawer bank by the stove

The counter by the fridge

Although this is not officially in the kitchen, it is right in the dining room. It's my antique side board and I felt it needed a topper so I had them make one for this too. Now it all flows together. I am also having a topper made for my antique dresser that used to be my Grandma Eyre's.

Yes, I am spoiled and happy to be so. The best part is, it's already paid for.

The next project is my craft room. I didn't have carpet put in there because I paint, sand, glitter, sew, glue, and everyting else in that room. I want Pergo that I can just sweep up or blot up when I need to. That will be the next project. Stay tuned. Right Wayne?..... Right?

We had two birthday dinners in a row. Mine and Nick's.

His was a big deal this year. Mine was not. He is now a teenager. 13 sounds so much older than 12 doesn't it?

He got a chocolate cake with fudge icing and mini chips on top. He did say that lemon is his favorite but I got that last week for my birthday. Maybe his Mom will make him two cakes, one for us and one just for him.

He got a cool new shirt from Wes, Amy and E

Is this one handsome kid? He is a good kid too. We love our young Nicholas.

His other gift was just cold, hard cash. That's what he wants as he is saving for some computer

program to play games with his friends.

Yes, he is happy to be turning into a teenager. His parents are a little dubious,

but they will eat the ice cream and cake anyway.

Happy 13th Nick!

Happy B-Day to Me 2010

I turned 59 this week. This has not been a good year as far as aging goes. This is a warning....at this age you will look in the mirror one day and see nothing, and the very next day you have eye wrinkles, neck wrinkles, yellowing teeth and your hair starts to fall out. How come the outside never reflects the me inside? I am glad that Wayne has to wear reading glasses now because he can't see my defects as well with his glasses off.

Have you ever tried to paint a face? When you are younger, it is harder to draw or do portraiture of those young faces because there are no lines or character in them. This year I have officially reached the character status. Do I care? Yes, a little. Who wants all those things? Does it bother me a lot? NO! I would prefer not having jowls or having to dye my roots so often, but in the scheme of things, it just doesn't matter that much yet. I will continue to use my moisturizer, pluck the extra hair out of my chin once in a while, spend money at Sally's beauty supply and wish I could fit in my high school jeans and yet not obsess about it. I try to eat healthy things, hope to ramp up the exercise and to continue to take my supplements. I don't want this body to wear out before it's time and despite my short comings, I really do love myself for who God made me to be. He gave me a great working body with a loving heart, a contrite spirit most of the time, my own special talents, and family and friends who care about me. How great is that?? I can smile.

Amy made me this beautiful handmade lace and floral card. Ahhhhh! Thanks Amy.

Oh, but here is the inside. We have a family joke that at Christmas Santa comes, at Easter the bunny comes and at your birthday, it's the birthday badger. Scary isn't it? And oh so funny at least in our minds. Tee hee!!

The attending grandchildren dog pile. Nick always gets the worst of it because he is always on the bottom.

My birthday hug.

Isabelle, Emerson and Mama Amy. Let the party begin!! Emerson LOVES ice cream just like his Mama, but it always gives him brain freeze and a cold throat so he cries while eating it but he won't stop.

Millie Moo, my youngest granddaughter and cutie patootie

Colett, my daughter and chef of the lemon birthday cake tradition
which is one of my favorite traditions.

Nick...my soon to be teenager (next week) grandson

Matt... my son-in-law and my personal computer tech

Wes, the sous chef and son -in-law

Top chef and birthday coordinator

It's always nice to have help blowing out the candles. We just put on 9... for the 9 years.

The extra 50 would have burned down the house.

Spring Fever

The reason I have spring fever... already

Can you blame me?

An Adventure

Wayne and I have been to a few of the large aquariums in the U.S and I just love them. Oh, how I would love to pet the dolphins, and frolic with the seals. We went to the largest one in the U.S. at the Mall of America and I was just fascinated when a whale or a sting ray would float over my head so closely that I felt like I could just reach up and touch it.

Photo Credit Lisa Vandenbiggelaar

Now this would be an adventure as long as I had a comfy mattress and someone to lift me up in the morning.

Sleepovers
A unique overnight adventure at the Vancouver Aquarium!
Sleeping with the belugas - an experience you'll never forget!

After everyone has gone home, and the Aquarium has closed its doors for the night, we invite you to join us for an exciting night of exploration! Stash your gear, meet your adventure leaders and get ready to explore the Aquarium through a variety of special activities, tours, presentations and guest speakers.
After a delicious evening snack, we head into our behind-the-scenes marine lab to continue on the second half of your adventure, where you can touch local invertebrates including live sea stars, sea urchins, anemones and more!
Bed down in front of one of the Aquarium's spectacular marine galleries. In the morning, after a calm continental breakfast, tour the Marine Mammal Deck and Amazon Free Flight Gallery as the Aquarium wakens for a new day.
The Aquarium offers two exciting and unique programs:
The Family Themed Programs are offered to the general public: families, adults, individuals and Aquarium members through a variety of special activities, presentations, tours and guest speakers based on that evening's theme (selected dates)
The Ecosystem Expedition Program is designed to meet a school-based curriculum and environmental badge requirements for Scouts and Guides. Fun-filled and interactive activities focusing on the various ways animals, plants and humans interact within each ecosystem (seven days a week)
Hugs and Fishes, A Valentine’s Sea-fari - Spend Valentine’s at the Vancouver Aquarium on Saturday February 13, 2010. No kids, no crowds! Just you, a few other couples, and 70,000 amazing animals.
To get started on your journey, please call (604) 659-3504 or e-mail us at: sleepovers@vanaqua.org.