Our Counter Guy

We got the call that we could come pick up our island and doors the day that we left for Bear Lake, so we picked them up and left.

Once we got home, we quickly installed our island, which was a lot easier than expected. All you have to do is place the cabinets where you want them, trace a line around the cabinets, tip them onto their sides, screw some 2x4's just inside the line, tip the cabinets back up (they should fit nice and snug around the 2x4's) and screw the island into place.

Anyways, I divert...we called our guy to come install the counters. He said he could come on Friday. Friday came and he called at 8:30 in the morning and said he would get here around noon. Great! We were super excited...then we waited....waited....waited....

He never showed.....

Saturday we called...no answer....

Saturday afternoon we called....no answer.....

Saturday evening we called...no answer...

Sunday....we rested....

Monday morning we called...and we got through to him.

He was in the hospital.

Kidney Stones!

Poor Guy!!

He profusely apologized for never calling us to let us know what happened. We forgave him immediately, actually, we forgave him before we even knew what had happened. We kept thinking, "He just isn't the type to flake out on us, something must have happened. Plus, why would you call the morning of to say you were coming and then not show up. Something must have happened."

Kidney Stones!

Poor Guy!!

So he came on Wednesday.

 Here is Josh measuring and cutting our island top.

 Putting the trim pieces on.

 Cutting Josh a check on my brand new counter top.

 During the whole time, we had some friends, the Freemans, from Basin City, Washington visiting us. This little dude, Liam, loved Jared. So he helped Jared install our sink once the counter tops were done.

 And we Christened our counters by making banana bread.

I love having counters again. Going a week without them makes living and cooking very hard. The hardest thing about it was not having a sink or running water. I am so grateful my counter guy got better and he did an excellent job...and he gave us a discount for making us wait so long. Nice Guy!

Kitchen De-Construction

This "Was" my horrible kitchen, it is a mess even if it is clean it looks cluttered and gross. Let me point out the major problem areas.

1- The dishwasher on the left side is across from the sink so I always have a stream of water on my floor when I do the dishes.

2-The island goes at a slant so when you open the stove, bottom right corner, there is no path to walk through. It bottle necks.

3- 70's decor...need I say more! Western etched cabinet doors, green and peach polka dot wall paper, and dirty linolium.

4-You see all that junk in my cabinets to the left. Ya, there are no cabinet doors for those. There are sliding glass sheets that don't slide well. So frustrating to get a cup or bowl. I finally just took the glass out.

5-Very crampt and closed off from the rest of the room.

 The other side of our island is our diaginal green wall. Love the green, hate the slant.

 Jared and I decided to move the dishwasher over to be right next to our sink.

We had to cut the cabinets out and rewire the water and electrical lines for the dishwasher.

 We pulled up all the grungy linolium.

 Then we started taking down the wall that separated the kitchen from the rest of the living room.

 The drywall came down easier than expected.

 Then we took out the studs. It really opens it up doesn't it!

 We pulled up the counters and took off the brick backsplash. I liked the backsplash but we had to take it out to take out the counters.

 Jared is using his man tools to take the old faucet off of our sink. Not very professional but hey he got the job done. (In my living room on my nice rug, I was mad about that. He was getting plumbers goo stuff everywhere....arrrg!)

Finished Kitchen pictures to come....eventually.

Celebrating Independence Day

I love the 4th of July, I am so grateful to be living in the land of freedom.

I love this picture of Mackenzie, Eli, and Lexie saluting the Flag.

  Of course the fire engines go by and make really loud sounds that scare Jordyn so Jared is shielding her ears the best he can.

 Our fantastic friends Shawn and Cassidy joined us for the day.

Ellie and Jordyn are the same age and love to play together.

 A group shot of grandpa Jerry, the Marshalls, and us watching the parade.

 We went home and had a BBQ after the parade and then went out to Jensens Grove for some swimming and fireworks.

Jared says that the bruise on his arm looks like a tattoo. He only wishes! And can you say, "Nice farmers tan!"

Cassidy was nice and gave Jordyn a ride on the little boogie board. Jordyn loved it till she tipped over into the water.

  Once sunset came we let the kids do sparklers on the beach before the fireworks show started over the water.

Lexie did ballet dance stuff in the sand with her sparkler.

 Kenzie just stared at the fire.

Eli being silly.

 Jordyn was not scared of the sparkler and kept trying to touch it.

We had a great day celebrating our Nation's Birthday. I am so grateful to be so blessed and am so grateful for all those men and women who serve our country to keep us free!

Bear Lake Beach Fun

Aunt Ginny and Uncle Dave holding Matty (Maddy, sp?)

 I love the beach at Bear Lake. It stays shallow for like 200 meters.

 Grandma Betty playing in the sand with Kenzie.

Lexie looks dead in the sand lieing face down.

 Eli, Jared and Jordyn hanging out in the beautiful crystal blue water.

 Luke and Eli. Luke looks like he has lost his legs.

 The family all ready to go swimming.

 Jordyn is not sure of the water yet.

 Lexie gets warmed up in the sand.

 Kenzie and Jordyn hanging out by the shore.

Smith/Guy/Heath Family Reunion at Bear Lake

We had the opportunity to meet up at Bear Lake with Jared's Mom's side of the family and have a grand time camping and getting to know our aunts and cousins.

 Between the Heath kids, we split up dinners to make it easier. Each night a different family cooked and the others relaxed.  Here are a few around-the-camp shots.

Jared got this hammock in Ecuador on his mission. He scrimped and saved to be able to afford it. Now we bring it on every camping trip and it is a huge hit with everybody!

Eli, Jordyn, Lex, Luke, and Kenzie

 Betty (Jared's mom), with her sisters Terri and Ginny, holding grand kids.

Grandma Anne, Betty's mom, got hitched to Chuck two weeks ago and so we kept teasing them about being newly weds. Grandma Anne is 85 years old.

I may or may not have been a part of this...

Jordyn enjoying her Mexican pizza that Dusty and Megann made for dinner one night.

Jared and Courtney...our classic pose.