Project Backsplash: Mission Complete

When it comes to home improvement projects, I have a confession. Sometimes I blog before a project to force myself to get my butt in gear.

For those who know us best, know that the kitchen backsplash has been quite the ordeal.

Frequently over the last year, we would measure the walls, spend a Saturday visiting every tile store we could think of, grab samples, test samples, crunch the numbers and then loose all motivation to actually complete the project. Either we couldn't find what we both liked or what we both liked was waaaay out of the budget.

This time, we found a perfect blend of the trendy glass tiles we love and the conservative stone our Realtor recommended. I gave you a sneak peak in the last post but just because I love it so much, here you go again. My less-than-stellar photography skills makes the tile look a little green but all the tiles are a safe, neutral brown, beige or clear color.
In all honesty, this project really took us three weekends to complete. :)

Weekend 1: We spent the weekend prepping, laying out tiles, figuring cuts, running to Home Depot to have them make the cuts, applying the tiles to the walls and generally, looking rough.
Not sure how the professionals do it, but we found unusual positions were necessary to tile the corner of the kitchen.

Weekend 2: Scrapping excess mastic out of the grout lines (this job was seriously the pits), filling the lines with grout, cleaning the tiles as quickly as we could manage and again, looking rough. With so many lines to fill and our enthusiasm for wiping excess grout with giant sponges, we later found a few areas that needed more grout. The tiny bits of tape are to give Cole a big heads up that he needs to re grout underneath the tape.

Weekend 3: Scrubbing tiles to remove excess grout from textured tiles, a little hiccup with grout remover (that started eating the edges of our tile), sealing grout lines and again, cleaning away sealer haze as quickly as we possibly could.

Once that was done, we also had to learn the finer points of reinstalling light switch and outlet covers. Surprisingly, more to it than we thought. Long and short of it, after three weeks of my kitchen looking like this: I nearly giggle every time I walk in and see this.
And I smile as I wash my hands in front of this.


What can I say? I am in love.

Boot Schooching Boogy

Despite the lack of blog posts to prove it, we are keeping busy at the Lansford house. Most recently, I finished up a big tradeshow for work and then spent a week (sick) trying to recover from it. :)


The biggest news around here is that Crew is crawling like it's nobody's business. After two weeks of attempting to barricade the stairs with a loveseat, we finally broke down and bought a few baby gates. Not the most attractive looking home decor, but I feel more confident letting him run around now.




And then there's nothing like your baby's first birthday to get your butt in gear to finished up a few much needed home projects. On the docket this weekend, kitchen back splash.

He's Been Here, He's Been Here!

Since the everyone is old enough to appreciate a morning to sleep in, Christmas morning at the Bukey house had a slow and lazy start to it. Just what the doctor ordered for this busy bunch.

We have adopted the Lansford tradition of a big, yummy breakfast on Christmas morning. Sausage, egg and cheese casserole has been a staple for the last few years, but this year I branched out and attempted Stacy's Famous Cinnamon Rolls. She's in no danger of losing her title but we did pretty well for our first time around.


There's no mistaking that Santa knew where Crew and Nixsen were opening presents this year. :) The old man was pretty generous to our kiddies.

Randy's "homemade" gifts

Group Shot of Christmas Dinner

Twas the Night before Christmas

It was our turn to hang with the Bukey clan for Christmas this year. My parents live north of us so it just made sense to pack up all the madness of suitcases and presents, and spend a few days with them.

Christmas Eve activities included a whirlwind of Christmas movies, sugar cookie decorating, two readings of the Night before Christmas, traditional Christmas Eve PJ's and the reading of the Nativity from the Bible.

Ol' Saint Nic

Christmas week, I decided it was time to make the plunge and take Crew to see Santa at the mall.

The Bukey sisters decided to make an afternoon of it and met up for a chics-only lunch at Jason's Deli. It was so nice to hang with my favorite ladies for a few hours amid the craziness of the holidays.


I think Crew felt like such a big boy in his high chair as Grandma "sneaked" him tiny pieces of fruit from the salad bar.

After lunch we headed to the mall to see Santa. An hour and a half of waiting in line later....

hmmmm. Maybe next year? :)