For the Love of Tia Ana....(a kitchen makeover story)

After only five days of being home from Hawaii, I was on a plane to Bismarck, North Dakota to help my tia (aunt) do some home improvement projects. She had asked me a few months ago if I could go out there and help her get the house ready for my cousin, Ammon's, high school graduation open house. I really wanted to help and since I couldn't go out for Ammon's graduation, I knew that this would be a great opportunity to spend time with him, Sam, and my Uncle Al.
When my sister Evelynne, found out I was going out there she wanted to tag along too, but she wanted it to be a surprise. So when we landed in Bismarck, she waited until I met up with Tia Ana and we were loading stuff into her car. Ev sneaked up behind her and scared her half to death....it was awesome!
We landed at around 4pm. I went straight to work. The past few weeks Tia Ana and I have been emailing pictures, paint swatches and other ideas so that when I got there we could get started. We had only planned on doing some painting (kitchen, dining room and family room), but I realized right away that the kitchen was going to be my main focus and this is why....

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Here are some "during" pictures....

 

I really didn't realize I would be taking on such a huge project. I had done back splashes before but never a counter top. I usually have A there to help me out so this really was a big job.

We borrowed a tile saw from someone, but it has some issues...I had to have someone hold a part that was broken so I wouldn't get sprayed. Poor Ammon and Sammy had to be my helpers. 

Finally I couldn't take it anymore. My brother Ben found out about our tile saw problem and offered to put up the money to rent one as a "Mother's Day" gift to Tia Ana. So Uncle Al went and found one, the only one available in the entire town of Bismarck. We could only have it for 2 hours and it cost Ben 4o bucks, but it was sooooo worth it!

My Uncle Al is hands down one of the best men I have ever known. He has been blessed with many talents, but being handy is not one of them. He was in awe/scared of my skills.

While we were there, Ammon arranged for us to go to his choir class. He is an amazing singer and he is in two of the elite choirs in his high school. We got to listen to his concert choir sing. They were so fantastic. They performed three Chicago songs. I could have stayed all day and listened but I could only drag myself away from the work for an hour.

My other cousin, Sam, was in a play one night, so we got to go and watch him perform.

(he's the "girl" in the pink)

  

He was the lead and he stole the show! I am so glad we got to watch him perform.  Thankfully his play lasted only an hour so we were able to get right back to work again.

So I was in Bismarck for five days but only four of those days we were able to actually work. We didn't go to bed before 2am and we were up and working by 9am. It certainly was not Maui but I loved every minute I was able to be with my family. My Tia Ana and Uncle Al have done so much for me.

My love for them is deep...go here to read more about that...they helped raise me and they have supported me and loved me during the most critical times in my life. Doing a kitchen reno is the least I can give back to them.

So now you know where I have been and now I am back. I have lots of Maui to share and SO much more! Stay tuned...

Oh I almost forgot!....this is what was waiting for me when I got home last night...

Look closer...ignore the hideous picture of me...

Yes, I am going to Tim McGraw next week! Yeee Haaaw!

I. LOVE. MY. HUSBAND.