This so sums up Ruthie’s personality: wearing a ‘pretty dress’ six out of seven days a week…and able to wield a battle axe as she mixes it up with her brothers.

I love this girl.

We decided the kitchen needed a face lift. The oak was beginning to yellow from sun damage. Here’s how we spent our week last week:

1. Took off the doors and pulled out the drawers

This was done in a hurried, unorganized manner so here is how our family room looked for the week:

It was a week of telling the kids to grab a fork for dinner…from the family room floor. If we ever do this again, I am aiming for better organization. Even the dog was stressed all week.

2. Sanded the doors, drawers and cabinet frame

The first day of sanding outside was warm. The boys wore shorts and t-shirts.

The second day was thirty degree weather. The boys wore sweatshirts and winter caps.

Even Ruthie joined the sanding fun.

3. Primed the doors, drawers and cabinet frame

4. Applied two coats of Espresso Bean paint on the frame

Just the name of the paint makes me happy inside. Can’t you just smell it? The espresso, that is, not the paint.

5. Reattached cabinet hardware and painted doors and drawers

6. Hung cabinets and put in drawers

7. Applied two coats of polyurethane

This is a necessary step in a house full of bam-bams.

8. Attached knobs and handles to the doors and drawers

A new kitchen!

(from Derek)

We filmed a movie trailer and put it on iMovie and would like to show it to you.