Kitchen Tiling Project - Day 4

Oh my... It's the never ending tiling project! Today we started tiling the kitchen... We started back where the stove goes and worked our way out - but not before lots of measuring and laying out. Wanted to make sure we didn't end up with an odd piece at the end.

Start time (after we got everything set up and measured) : 12:08 pm

End time: 10:30 pm (after laying over 100 pieces of tile).

We just keep saying how much bigger it makes the room look.  And so far - we are loving it!! And that's good because we are never ever changing it! Oh how I love tiling!!!!! 

The progress before and after...

Before

After

Tomorrow we finish tiling the kitchen and then grout the bathroom.  Happy New Year to us!

Kitchen Tiling Project - Day 3

Day 3 - a full day of work. In the morning we finished putting the Durock down in the eating area and kitchen - that took until about noon.

Next we taped up the seams with some fiberglass tape and then I spread more mortar over that to hold everything together. After that we were ready to tile!

Finished and ready for tile

Bathroom first - smaller job so we could practice before tackling the huge kitchen. We set up the tile saw in the garage because it uses water to cut - would have really saves time if it was much closer but worked great. Ryan was the measured and cutter. Then once the tile was ready to lay- I buttered it with mortar (really that's what it's called) and Ryan spread mortar under it and then set it and put the spacers in. Okay so really - there is mortar under the Durock, screws holding the Durock in place, tape and mortar holding them together, more mortar on each tile and under the tile... If this stuff moves at all - we must have had an earthquake!!

Ready...

Half way

Finished!!

So after 3 days... Durock put down and seamed together - Check; Bathroom tile down and ready for grout - Check; Ryan and I still talking and as happy as when we started - Check!

Tomorrow we start the kitchen - oh my!

Kitchen Tiling Project - Day 2

Day 2 - Wednesday - all day - Demo continues.  Ryan finished demoing the bathroom this morning by about 8:30 am.

Before

After - demo complete

And then we started on the kitchen - pulled all the appliances out, and started removing 2 layers of linoleum - oh what fun.  That meant, also LOTS more staples - which I hope I never have to remove ever again and Ryan getting to test out his new tool - a Porter Cable Multitool - very sweet.

Before kitchen

Appliances removed

Linoleum removed - demo complete!

After we successfully completed the demo portion by about 3:30 pm, we headed to Lowe's to buy all the next step's necessary stuff - Durock, and screws and tape and new gloves for me (to help with the blisters).  A slight bill later we were headed home to start laying the Durock (about 5:30 pm) - which involved mixing  mortar to put down (my job) and then laying the Durock or cutting the Durock to size (Ryan's job).  Great team work!  And I regret saying that pulling staples was a horrible job because this one, just might be worse, so I think I better stop saying that - LOL.  We then laid Durock until 11:00 pm when we finally decided to call it a night.  We laid about 13, 3x5 sheets and used 2 bags of 50 lb. thin-set mortar. 

Ryan mixing the thin set mortar

First piece of Durock down

Day 2 work

A great day's work!!

Kitchen Tiling Project - Day 1

So we had a great idea to tile the kitchen and eating area over our Christmas break.  Yeah.

Day 1 - Tuesday 6:00 pm - 9:30 - Demo started.  We pulled all the carpet and padding up in the eating area, and removed a lot of staples.


Before - eating area




Pulling up the carpet




All gone!

 In the bathroom, all trim removed, vanity and toilet taken out and fixures taken down.



Before - bathroom




Toilet removed and vanity/sink removed



Almost done

Christmas with the Ewald

Christmas day we loaded up the truck and set off for Unionville - great day for driving - no snow and very little traffic.  And it only took us about 4 hours - even better!  We arrived in Unionville about 2:00 pm and snacks were ready to eat and stockings were ready to be opened.  Mom had outdone herself this year.  Shortly after we arrived, the Welden clan made it too.  And that meant, present time!

Karle and Kahle were very excited to open presents and they hit the jackpot.  I think everyone got what they wanted and much more.  Thank you so much to Mom and Dad!  You guys are the best!  And we couldn't ask for more!  A few highlights - we got Dad an Ipad and he was so excited!  And Ryan and I got Mom Michigan basketball tickets - 6 rows up!  And Mom and Dad got us lots of great stuff... gift cards to Lowe's, some cartharts for Ryan and new workboots... and lots more!  We are truly blessed!

 Then we had an awesome prime rib dinner and German potato salad (that everyone claimed to be the best ever) and lots of other yummy sides and a few desserts that Boo Boo Ma used to make - nice job Mom!  Then we decided to work a little of dinner off and play Wii Dance 3!  Julie and I had a blast and Mary and Ryan and Scott even got in on the action.  WAY FUN!  Can't wait to practice up!

Monday we ventured off to Saginaw for Christmas lunch at Uncle David's with the Weber family - another great meal with Turkey and all the fixing.  Great time seeing everyone.  Then it was back home to chill and play some games - Mom got us all of us a new game - Logos that was a blast and then I got the kids Quirkle - what required some thinking but also lots of fun.   

Thursday, we had lunch at Grandpa's house and hung out with him for a while and then Ryan and I loaded up to head home.  Wonderful first Christmas together!

Christmas with the Delaney family

Our first half of Christmas is already over :-( It went by so fast... I can't believe it! We headed down to Fort Wayne on Thursday afternoon, the 22nd. And we greeted by Ian, Jen, Evan, Colin, Mom and Dad Delaney.

First night Ian and Jen and Ryan and I went out for Ian's birthday to an amazing restaurant in this small town... Definitely a hidden gem.

Friday we spent lounging around and also the 4 of headed out for a power shopping trip - Jen and I hit up kohl's while the boys had a beverage or two at the bar and then we all headed to Sam's for the peanut oil for our deep fried turkey that we were having the next day. Then back home to hang out and eat more.

Then Christmas Eve! What an amazing and beautiful day. Mom Delaney prepped for a great dinner, Jen made some great sides and the boys deep fried 2 turkeys (and no houses were damaged in the process). Then we all sat down for dinner- wine, salad and all the trimmings! Then a special Danish tradition - montel - which is jello and whip cream and 1 almond hidden in one of the dishes. Then its a guessing game to see who got it. Ryan guessed it right... Ian had the almond and got a gift. Then coffee and desserts! After a little clean up, it was time to sing Christmas carols around the tree! So fun and challenging to see if we could remember all the words :-) I loved this tradition that the Delaney's have always done.

After that it was present time! Lots of opening and great gifts for all. Then off to bed in hopes that Santa would come!

He did! And Evan had a great time opening! Finally we finished with a yummy breakfast and we were off to our next Christmas destination - Unionville.

Dance Off

So... it was dance off time at Ian and Jen's!  And it was a great time... and a great workout!!  Here is some evidence!

Our First Christmas

Ryan and I celebrated our first Christmas and had a great night!  We started the evening with a few drinks and then decided to open presents - so I would finally get to find out what was in the big box that had been taunting me all week.  We started opening... first box - Ryan asked what I thought it was and I said definitely not a faucet... haha!  That's exactly what it was - a new faucet for our bathroom... Ryan opened a new Craftsman toolbelt from me.  Next gift - he asked again and I said a new shower joking... and yup - that's what it was!  Ryan opened some clothes next.  And then finally... it was time for the big box.  He asked again if I had a guess... and now I'm clueless as to what could be in it.  And I open it and it's a new countertop

 for the bathroom!  Woooo hoo!!!  It's getting a complete facelift!  Ryan then got to open his big gift... and set of nailers... most importantly a framing nailer!  Then Ryan opened a bunch of socks - which were on his list.  Stockings were next... I got some new perfume - Flower Bomb - so good!  And Wii Dance 3 - which is really funny because I had it in my hand at Target to buy to but decided not too (we played it tonight - so fun and a great workout!). 

Then we grilled some fillets and I made some pasta and we had a bottle of red.  Great evening!  We then spent the rest of the evening organizing and packing for our trip to Fort Wayne first and then Unionville for Christmas.  Our 6 day Christmas trip was almost here.

Almost time

Well... with 1 day of work left and only 1 class left to teach at the gym... I am ready for Christmas break! It will be great to have over a week off! 

Also - I'm ready to have Christmas with Ryan and I.  We are celebrating tomorrow at home before we take off to Fort Wayne and then Unionville.  He wrapped presents this weekend and now they are under the tree, just taunting me!  There is a really big one, shaped like a TV box (but I know it's not) - and I cannot figure out what's in it!  There are several others too - but that big one is playing with my mind - and it's really heavy - because he was grunting carrying it up the steps.  I did get to open a gift last night and it was a super cute Michigan sweatshirt from Victoria's Secret.  Good buy!

Tonight - I am finished up my Christmas baking and starting to organize for our week on the road.

Weekend before Christmas Weekend

So... the last weekend before Christmas and we used it all to get ready and finish up projects around the house.  Saturday morning - up and at them - Ryan's main goal, fix the water softener discharge... something, something, somethings (LOL).  My mail goal for Ryan - finish hanging the sconces in our bedroom or rather the hallway of our bedroom.  And to my liking, both projects got finished!

Ryan's project took many trips to Lowe's to get what he needed, only to settle for something to would work, but not really want he wanted.  My shopping excursion in the morning was successful with getting everything on my list and several things that weren't on my list, but I absolutely needed.  I also picked up some crafting supplies on Joann's and started crafting things for the wedding.  So excited for it!!

Also, I decided to make cookies and when I say cookies... I mean like 13 dozen cookies!  Chocolate chip, Cranberry White Chocolate Chip, Butterscotch Chocolate Chip, Molasses cookies, Snickerdoodles, and Pebble Noddle (a Danish shortbread cookie).  All very tasty and by the end of the night, I did not want to eat another cookie - and I'm not sure that has ever happened before.

Then crafting with the supplies I bought earlier... some burlap, lace, pearls and twine... and ta da!  Oh and mason jars!  Then I also started the wine bottle project and began removing the labels... which by the way - if you heat your over to 350 and put the bottle in for about 10 minutes then pull them out and using a razor - you can pretty easily remove the label.  I did about 20... good start!

Sunday - we headed to Jonesville to watch Karle and Kahle in their Christmas program and Mary direct her first Christmas program.  It was awesome!!  Karle had her part all memorized and said it beautifully... both K & K sang really well and I could actually hear both of their voices.  And Mary did awesome!  It was a great program!  Then we headed to brunch with the Welden's and Mom and Dad and some of Scott's family.  Then back to the Welden's to hang out for bit and make a gingerbread house with the kids - so fun!

Body Coach

So my side job at Seung-Ni has also allowed me to be a body challenge coach.  Part of this is encouraging and coaching participants to reach their goals in the 8 week challenge.  Last night, I had a proud coach moment.  A girl in the challenge (even though not on my team but has been in almost all my classes) showed me her before picture and then a recent one.  She was wearing a bikini and the difference was like night and day.  She has lost over 25 pounds and lots of inches.  The smile on her face made all the efforts totally worth it.  I remember being in her shoes and wanting to lose the weight and until Seung-ni, I really couldn't do it on my own.  Now I have the tools to lose it and keep it off and now to help others - which is very rewarding.  This particular girl told me that she never thought she could do it and she did!!  It just shows that anyone can do it, you just need to be in the right mindset.

All decorated

Our first Christmas tree is officially decorated!  It has 1,150 colored lights on it and lots of ornaments! In the process of putting the lights on it, we ran out - so I took the colored lights that were on the railing upstairs off and then that wasn't enough, so I took the lights that were on the mantle off... and finally enough!  So after decorating, I had to put new lights on both those places - white ones this time - but I think it totally works!

Ryan hanging his new Bronners ornament

Hanging my Abbey ornament