Simplicity, chaos, but so much love!

Okay all, so call me crazy, but I love it when we accomplish a new home renovation project. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy! You see, when we bought our house in November of 2009, we knew that we would not be truly "at home" until we did some updates. The home itself was in perfectly sound, structural condition, but was truly outdated. Seriously...1970 everywhere. Wallpaper, mint green carpet, gold fixtures, paneling, you name it, our house had/has it! So, we bought the house, then went shopping at good ole Menards and bought all the supplies to make the renovations/updates, and almost a year and a half later, we are not even half way through these updates. We just do not have the time to get them all finished. We start something, and then we run in to an unexpected problem and it ends up taking more time and money then we expected! Truly our life story! Just ask Adam! Nothing ever goes as planned!
Anyway, anyone who knows me knows that I am a tad bit OCD about orgazination and cleanliness so, having so many unfinished projects literally causes me physical stress! Still having all my decorations in boxes, causes me stress, having half of my garage filled to the brim with supplies for renovation...causes me stress! So, you get the picture! But, with each little task completed, I am so thrilled! And, this weekend, that was my kitchen flooring! When we moved in, we had 1970's linoleum that was coming up in some of the seams and just really old and dated looking. It was the faux brick looking stuff (I know...you are so jealous!) and it was just so dark in my already small and dark, square kitchen (that has 1 real brick wall!).
Over Christmas break, when everyone was actually healthy, we ripped up the linoleum. Which proved to be no easy task as it was sersiously super glued! We couldn't even get the paper backing off the floor! We tried to wet it and everything! Oh, and the linoleum was really, like 1/2" thick! It was awful! But, for a month, all we had was sub-flooring with stuck on wallpaper backing! Not pretty, and definitely not easy to clean! So, I was so sick of it...literally, sick!
So, on Saturday when Tylers basketball was cancelled, we decided to start! I wish I had taken a picture of the ugly linoleum, but I didn't, so this is the floor before:
And on Saturday, we decided to do half of the floor so we could walk on the other side of the kitchen until the other side dried. You see, we walk through our kitchen to go down through basement to garage. And, we have 4 children and so not using our entire kitchen for 24hours was really NOT an option. So, here's after an hour of tile work on Saturday:
And, then on Sunday, we did 2 more rows and needed more glue and tile and so, we took a break and ran up to Avon for the supplies and grabbed lunch on the way, half of us in our pj's mind you! And then decided I wanted a dark grout b/c this is in the kitchen where spills/stains are likely! So, after lunch, Menards, and 3 potty breaks later (Griffin at 2 is potty training!) and we made it home just as Adam had to get ready for work. So, I decided to finish the room by myself. This was our 3rd room of tile and I had laid it and grouted it, but never actually CUT the tile! So, a quick lesson from Adam and I was good to go! So, my Superbowl Sunday was spent home, tiling alone, with no husband and all 4 kids (again, I know you are jealous!) So, ta da!!!! Here is the finished product, minus grout that Adam is hopefully doing today! Then tomorrow, we can put our fridge back and lay down trim and we are good to move on to the next item for the kitchen-redoing cabinets, counters and installing a few items: pot rack, range hood and micro shelf! Cannot wait to be done! But super excited that the floor is down!