Kitchen Remodel IX

 

Well, after quite a few weeks with not a whole lot of progress on the kitchen, we are finally... possibly... maybe getting to the end of this project. Even while posting these photos, I can glance at the kitchen and it looks very different from the photos here, but first things first.

We got the broken piece of granite replaced. The granite installors also fixed a few seams and things and it looks a lot better than it did before. These photos mostly show the addition of the crown moulding on the upper cabinets. It is a very nice finishing touch and gives the kitchen a really great look.

The biggest change we have is the backsplash. I only have one corner to show you in this post, and though it is a big change from the plain walls we have been looking at for weeks, we loved it almost immediately. It just looks great! In my next kitchen post, I will be able to show you the completed backsplash and our hardware (pulls & knobs). Really, we are down to a lot of little details and could be finished up any day now. Darren & I are more than delighted with our new kitchen. I can't wait for it all to be completed so that I can get everything out of the boxes in the basement and organized.

 

The kitchenette with the new beverage fridge!

 

Our magnetic wall. Because I lost the magnetic side of the refrigerator to a can cupboard, our contractor made this into a magnetic wall where we could hang the kids' art.

Detail work on the crown moulding.

The backsplash!

(Little) Piano Man

 

This summer, Degen joined Kyrie at The Conservatory of Piano for his own class: the preschool summer sampler. For six weeks, he participated in a weekly, hour-long introductory group class which helped establish a foundation to begin piano lessons. At the conclusion of the sampler, he was assigned a teacher to begin private lessons. Degen has shown a lot of interest in music and was always enthusiastic about going to the sampler class. On his first day of private lessons, he got his own COP bag and two books of music- what a proud, little boy!

 

 

Having a three year old in piano is a lot different than having a five year old, which is how old Kyrie was when she started piano. Degen is starting out at the very bottom skill level. Sitting down to practice is a bit like sitting down at the piano with a monkey...a very giggly monkey! Still, at the end of his second week of lessons his teacher gave the somewhat hopeful report that "I think we're actually making some progress." I am encouraged by other waiting room parents who share that their kids started off at the same age and still love piano years later.

 

(Kyrie continues to show improvement with her lessons. She has learned several key positions and has started to play chords.)

St. Andrew Parish Festival

 

We rounded out another summer with a trip to our neighborhood parish festival. The weather was gorgeous this year (we had rain the year before and heat the year before that). Blue skies and mild temperatures brought a lot of families (and even more teenagers) out to the church. The kids & Darren each got ride bands, but Kyrie has gotten a little wary of some of the bigger rides, so they didn't make as much use of their bands this year...especially as the lines grew longer as the evening wore on. Still, they rode all of their old favorites at least once, and the Fun Slide proved to be this year's overall favorite. We did rides then ate, played games, did more rides and used up the last of our game tickets before the crowds were more than we could bear and headed up before the sun was down.

 



 

 

Game, Set, Match

 

This summer, Kyrie took tennis lessons twice a week at The Player's Club. She enjoyed learning the basics of her Daddy's favorite sport and will continue with once a week lessons this fall. 

A Nationwide View

 

Visiting Darren at work is always a treat! The kids love going downtown to join Darren for lunch and say 'hi' to all our Nationwide friends. We are always welcomed to the office with smiles and the extended hand of friendship.

 

 

The kids love the tall, tall Nationwide building, and on this visit Kyrie convinced Darren to take us to the upper floors so that we could look out at the city. They loved being up so high and being able to see the city all around them. Columbus is the headquarters of Nationwide Insurance, and the company has done much to improve the city, including the downtown area called the Arena District.

 

Nationwide Arena

Huntington Park, just west of the Arena

I love this photo!

The Nationwide building

CCT's Sleeping Beauty

 

We are quickly leaving our summer days behind us, and a few weeks ago we were trying to squeeze in some time with our friends before everybody headed back to school. We were happy to join Kyrie's BFF at the Columubs Children's Theatre production of "Disney's Sleeping Beauty." Both girls had attended plays here in the past. It is a small venue that produces kid-acted plays. They loved it...even Degen stayed interested in the hour-long show! It was a very nice morning! Afterward, the audience can mingle with the actors for autographs, questions and pictures.

 

 

Kyrie & Isabelle with the three fairies:

 

The kids with Princess Aurora:

 

The girls with Malificent:

Swim Party

We were delighted to head to the pool to celebrate one of our playgroup friend's birthdays! We rarely (to never) make it to the pool and have had far too few opportunities to see our friends this summer, so this was the perfect afternoon! The kids had a blast swimming, splashing and roughhousing with the daddies in the water. The mommies kept our feet cool and enjoyed the shade & conversation! It is hard to believe that most of our friends will be starting school in the next few weeks. We are wrapping up our summer activities and getting ready for fall... Labor Day is just around the corner!

Kyrie with her BFF Isabelle

My handsome husband!

Degen who covered himself up in the sun and fell asleep while everyone else finished swimming!