The Kitchen is Done!!!!

Just a few pics of what the kitchen looked like 3 weeks ago.......

And now.........

After 3 weekends, we are done! I still have some decorating to do, but I'm going to have to ask Santa for a for items (fabric covered magnet board, white glass cake stands, etc....), so I need to be patient! I'm thrilled how much we did on our own and love my newfound counterspace and just cleaner look of it all. It looks so cheery in here during the day with the sun streaming in through the kitchen and hearth room windows.

Next project to come in the Spring.....the backyard! I've got to get in the right frame of mind to tackle that job!

Lots to do in November!!!!

Well, we've been busy and sick around the Holingsworth Household, but are all now on the mend and ready to blog about our goings on!!

Jesse was ball boy this weekend for the Lady Tigers at the Forum and had a great time on the floor with the players. He stayed for the men's game and had a great time with dad! Claire and mom stayed home and recuperated!

This week we also had the privelage of celebrating Lance's 38th Birthday! He wasn't too happy about it, but still had a great dinner at The Bar B Q Shop and cake and presents afterwards! We love you Lance!

I tried to make an "old school" Bday cake like when Lance was young with all those yummy candies on top!

Well, in between all this, we have managed to finish the kitchen redo!!! Lance spent all last weeking cutting tile and grouting it.....he worked so hard and it looks fantastic! Thank you Lance!!!

Here is Lance putting everything up with the spacers....Quite time consuming when you've never done it before......(note to self...NEVER attempt this again)

Before grouting........

I've also had a time to complete a few outfits for the holidays. Here is a applique pumpkin with matching pants for Claire on Thanksgiving.

Well, stayed tuned for the final pics of the kitchen redo!!!

Love, Gretchen

Happy Halloween and Remodel Update!

Happy Halloween!! The kids had a blast and got lots of loot! Mom and dad had to confiscate some of it (yumyum) but there was still a ton for Jesse & Claire to enjoy for a long while!

The kids ready for me to stop photographing and ready to start pounding on some doors!

Well, despite the busy weekend, Lance got a lot accomplished in the kitchen! He finished the uplighting and underlighting of the cabinets. He also finished glazing the inlays of the cabinets! All that's left is the subway tile backsplash.....which will hopefully come next weekend...we'll see! Then all that will be left to do is decorate it! Can't wait for that part I confess. Lots to post soon!!

Love, Gretch

Happy Halloween Weekend!!

Well, the Giraffe and Harry Potter have had a great weekend so far, with a Church Carnival, Neighborhood Parade, and Pumpin Carving too!! The kids are super excited about trick-or-treating tonight.....lots of pictures to follow on that!

Gutting the pumpkins...Claire wanted a smiley face, and Jesse wanted Harry Potter (of course!!) Cool night pictures of the pumpkins to come soon!

Jesse casting some sort of spell at the Holy Rosary Halloween Carnival......

Lily Grace and her parents came with us to the carnival and loved going around to all the games with Claire and Jesse and cousin Keri! They were even brave enough to stand on the stage for the costume contest!!! They should've won...Lance thinks it was rigged.....

Claire trying her hand at a tossing game. Lots more pics to come soon!!!

Love, Gretchen

Remodel Update........

Well, Lance has worked his tail off the last several days, and we are now done painting the cabinets! We are still awaiting to glaze, which we are going to put on the edges and inlays of the cabinets. Maybe this weekend?????

The cabinets with the 1st coat of paint.

Well, the granite and sinks guys came yesterday and worked like crazy for 3 hours.....but did a great job!!!

My cabinets waiting for their new countertops....

Ah.....much better!!!!

Love my new deep 80/20 sink and faucet!! Now, we have to tackle uplights, underlights, and our subway tile backsplash......hopefully we will have these all accomplished by 2 weeks.....we shall see!!!

Jesse's 1st Flight!

Well, after all these years of Jesse being obsessed with everything airplane, he finally had his 1st flight today! Lance's sister works at a private airport and was able to get Jesse & Lance on a flight today. They were there and back in less the 1 1/2 hours! Short but due to the rain, it was a pretty choppy flight, so I think that was plenty!


Jesse loved checking out the hangar and being so close to the cockpit, where he was able to chat up the pilots and ask lots of questions! Poor pilots.......

With the rain and a super small prop plane like that, I'm glad I wasn't there....I would have to have been medicated....... Thanks to Aunt Tracey for giving Jesse this opportunity!!

The Great Hollingsworth Kitchen Remodel Begins......

Well, I usually post and blog all about the kids.....what they're up to, what's been going in in their lives, and so forth. Well, this time I have decided to blog about out kitchen remodel, which is now in full swing. I usually keep my house out of it, but I thought I'd like a record of this remodel to look back on one day and say...."I can't believe we tackled this on our own!" So, Lance & I have embarked on this remodel, and I plan on blogging the progress!


My outdated kitchen, before the remodel. We have been on our home for 9 years, and I was just ready for some updating of walls, countertops, appliances, and just ready to freshen it up in general!

Prepping took like 2 solid days.......just taking off hardware, sanding, woodfilling....Lance wouldn't let me take down his coffeemaker until the last possible minute!

Well, looks like I have an excuse to eat out for a few days......Thanks to Mr. Hollingsworth for helping Lance take out the old oven and microwave!



Here comes the primer! Lance & I spent all night applying primer....I think we're still a little giddy from all the harsh odors.......

Stay tuned for paint pics......currently painting today....we'll see how much gets done with 2 very energetic kids afoot! Will post again very soon!

Love, Gretchen