Mini remodel in Kitchen

So....about a month ago I posted samples of granite. We were suppose to have it installed last week but par for course it wasn't done until Tuesday of this week. I have a party tonight so it has been chaotic week and my home is full of dust.

So we have the old counters (granite tiles with wood edge) removed and the new granite slab installed. They manage not to destroy the backsplash but leave a 3/4 inch gap between the top of the granite and the bottom of the backsplash.
(You can click on the pictures to enlarge)


We can't leave it like that so we go to the store and the salesperson says to put in a filler piece. We felt that it would look like an after thought, and it would have been, and decide to suck up the added expense and get it done right by adding a new backsplash. Luckily, with the connections I've made in real estate I call upon a master tile man, Tiles by Cali, and Carlos comes out to give us his opinion on a replacement backsplash. He started work on Wednesday with the demolition of the old tile. Yesterday he and Louis spend 9 hours putting in the new one. They have to come back today to seal it. In the meantime my house is a disaster and what started off as new countertops has turned into....countertops, backsplash and on May 5th I am having a painter out to remove the wallpaper, skip trowel and paint the kitchen and living room. It should really make a HUGE difference when the wallpaper is gone. As I tell sellers, wallpaper is out, I should take my own advice and did. Now onto figuring out what color to paint the rooms. Advice needed. Here are some before and after pictures but all the cleanup has not been done. I should get to work but I am waiting for the backsplash to be sealed and why clean twice.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Close up of Tropical Brown Granite:

Connor is Jackie Robbinson - Brooklyn Dodgers

In second grade at Glen Oaks the kids dress up as a character in history. They have to memorize a a speech and recite it at the "Living Museum" to fellow students and parents. Jackie Robbinson is known for being the first africian american baseball player inducted into the Hall of Fame. Here is a short clip of Connor as Jackie:

Courtney and the Boyd High School Bailadoras Drill Team

Courtney has participated in several Boyd High School Bailadoras Drill Team Clinics. Because she participated last weekend she was able to perform with the drill team in the Spring Show. Here is a video taken by our digital camera. It takes until second 19 before you see the performance. Don't get antsy and not wait, 19 seconds goes very quickly. It is really cute. Courtney is in the middle row, second from the left in a pink dress with black polka dots and her hair in a bun.

P.S. Don't forget to turn the volume down on the music at the bottom of my page.

Gateway Apartments

Have you heard of the Samaritan inn? It is the only homeless shelter in Collin County. They are a wonderful organization that helps so many people who are in need in our community. They have a new program called the Gateway Apartments. These apartments sit on donated land and Darling Homes built the apartments at cost… no profit. This apartment complex is for families that have been in the Samaritan Inn and are ready to move out… but not ready to be completely on their own. The Gateway apartments are a stepping stone to the “real world.” If someone gets a job and then is able to pay a meager rent (25% of their income), they can move into a fully furnished Gateway apartment until they can afford to move out on their own. When they do move out, they get to take all of the furnishings in the apartment with them: beds, couches, sheets, plates, etc. What a great program and we have it right here in our area. Kim and I attended the ribbon cutting this past Wednesday and were able to walk through several of the apartments that are already furnished. It really makes you stop and think of how blessed we are. Our real estate office,
RE/MAX Four Corners, is sponsoring one of these apartments… #207. I am excited about being a part of such a fabulous program and being able to give back.

Nature and the things we learn

I was doing an open house on our listing in Plano when I happened to look out the back window. There are beautiful trees and I saw some squirrels. I thought the kids would love to see picutres so I ran back to grab my camera. When I returned these are the pictures I got:







I thought they were funny!

Are you an Organ Donor?

April is Organ Donation Month.

Waiting list candidates 98,718 as of 04/07/2008
Transplants January - January 2008 2,196 as of 04/04/2008
Donors January - January 2008 1,130 as of 04/04/2008

Are you an organ donor? If your answer is no then you need to read further.

How to become an organ donor: www.donatelife.net/ or http://www.organdonor.gov/

It is really easy to sign up and one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. Be sure to tell a family member so they can carry out your wishes. Why wouldn't you donate? You don't need your organs in Heaven. Help a infant, child, teenager, mother, sister, father, son and more.

On the fence? I'll share my personal experience with organ donation and the years it added to my own mother's life after her double lung transplant in 1996.

More later....

Connor's 5 minutes of Fame

Connor went to an FC Dallas game and was on the jumbo screen for having a birthday in March. He also received a signed ball from the FC Dallas team.