Maybe the pink countertops weren't really that bad

So this week we (or rather, a contractor) embarked on the kitchen remodel project. After 2 1/2 years of indecisiveness, we decided to go ahead and do a small-scale remodel on the kitchen. When we bought this house, we assumed we'd be doing a total gut-and-replace kitchen remodel soon after moving in. After realizing how much that would cost, we decided to tackle other projects and wait for a time (like, after we won the lottery) when we could do the kitchen at a later date. Well, after having the cabinets refinished, hardware switched out, new appliances installed, etc. we realized that the kitchen isn't that bad after all. So we are changing out the lighting and putting in new countertops. Sounds easy, right?

I know it will look awesome when it all gets finished but for right now it's just a mess. It should be done by next week. But it's just a pain. And to add insult to injury, we're looking at replacing the furnace and air conditioner this summer.

Oh, and as an extra-special New Year's gift, we experienced The Great Toilet Overflowing Debacle of 2010 on New Year's Eve. Mike and I were upstairs getting ready and the boys were on the 1st floor doing, well, whatever it is they do when we're not around and we heard a scream from downstairs. "MOM!!! (Why the hell is it always Mom they call for anyway?) THERE IS WATER COMING OUT OF THE TOILET AND ITS NOT STOPPING AND ITS A LOT OF WATER!!!!" Mike and I race down the stairs - Mike grabbed the plunger on the way down. So we got the water stopped but not before it dumped a ton of water all over the floor, and then leaked down into the basement ceiling below. And of course it's a finished basement with a sheetrock ceiling, so now it needs to be re-painted. And the toilets in this house HAVE GOT TO GO. They are all the original toilets, so they are 20+ years old, but they are all also "water-saving/low-flow" potties and they SUCK. I consider myself a fairly eco-conscience person, but you know what? When you have to flush the toilet 3 friggin times to get the stuff down, HOW IS THAT SAVING WATER???