August 22nd 2009 Western Carribbean Anyone?

[stsomewhere]

What a day!
Ii wa planning on a cruise in Nov, but, we get to redo our kitchen.
I asked Erik to fix our dripping faucet......
It fell out of the wall because it was so rusty.( It came out from the wall)
We had to bust through the tiled wall to get to the pipes.
What a nightmare.
Erik has two ways to do it. 1. go through the outside of the house and siding or 2. replace the sink.

We went to Lowes to find new sink. Guess what? We live in an old house and we have 22 in. counters. New specs are 25. They do not make kitchen sinks or counters in our size. It would take about a month.

But, the good news is we went to Ikea because we know European kitchens are smaller.
We had several choices.

We bought a new sink, countertop, and faucet.
Tomorrow I have to finish tearing out the tile counter. I am hoping to save the tile backsplash becasue we only had to take out 8 tiles. Otherwise , we will be replacing that,too.

I was planning on painting the kitchen once the kids weent back to school, so the kitchen will get a face lift.
I am going to push for a new stainless steel stove to match my fridge I got last year.

Also, getting new flooring.

 

[wayneg]

Maybe it was because we were on one of the 1st cruises to show Toy Story, all being new for the performers and audience. No idea but it was totally opposite in March audience loved TS. I guess every crowd is different on a cruise. We also hope they change Golden Mickeys to something more like TS, good thing we are all different

Christi, hope all goes well with your kitchen. We have so much stuff needs doing in the house but I don't do DIY so need to get people in to do it, costs a fortune so we never get it done, rather spend money on trips away. One year we will stay home and get it all done but been saying that for about 10 years now, just keep doing essential things.

 

[stsomewhere]

Christi, hope all goes well with your kitchen. We have so much stuff needs doing in the house but I don't do DIY so need to get people in to do it, costs a fortune so we never get it done, rather spend money on trips away. One year we will stay home and get it all done but been saying that for about 10 years now, just keep doing essential things.

That is exactly how we feel.
We have put it off.

Matt is looking forward to sledge hammering out the countertop.
It is a thin layer of tile with two inches of cement on top.

We had someone price out our kitchen it was $25,000
I know what I will be doing the next couple of week while the kids are at school.

I decided that I am going to sand the cabinets and stain them.
They are custom built-ins with many years of paint on them..

Erik will tell you that if I want something done I will start a project and he has to finish it.
I am thankful that he is so handy around the house. Now, it is finding time to fix it.

He was able to turn the water back on last night

 

[BlueMarlin]

I decided that I am going to sand the cabinets and stain them.
They are custom built-ins with many years of paint on them..

Erik will tell you that if I want something done I will start a project and he has to finish it. I am thankful that he is so handy around the house. Now, it is finding time to fix it.

He was able to turn the water back on last night

Don't let Christi fool you. While I call her the Inspriator she is quite handy herself. Yea, she rips out carpet, smashes bathrooms, deconstructs mouldings, but she also works hard on the repairs too. She is quite the accomplished stripper, too, you should see the way she can strip hardwood floors and cabinets. Then she paints them and we have a new house.

You should see the way she handles a chainsaw. It's scary cool. I don't mean a little one, her favorite has a 48" (1.3m) blade.

Good news, water is back on. Bad news, I still have to mount a counter top and sink. Worse news, I apparently have to purchase a stainless steel stove.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

She is quite the accomplished stripper, too,

You know I am having a weird day when I first read that sentence and had a different interpretation.

 

[wayneg]

You know I am having a weird day when I first read that sentence and had a different interpretation.

Me too but I didn't like saying anything

 

[stsomewhere]

Erik is getting a kick out of it.

I NEVER want to do this again.

There are 11 layers of paint.I worked on it yesterday for 4 hours. Today 6 hours. I figure I have another 6 hours working on the cabinets before I can start sanding.

I am done for the night. I ran out of paint remover.
I am going to need a vacation wehen I am done.

 

[stsomewhere]

Just catching up with posts, had our 24 nights in Florida, fantstic time went sooooo quick, link to photos if anyone wants a look, a few of Geocaching that will probably bore you but plenty others. http://picasaweb.google.com/dclmad

If you still read this thread Jackie and family Sorry you are not joining us now, hope you enjoy the other cruise. We just did a 4 night RCCL, although many things we prefer on Disney some things are better on RCCL like the food, way better than Disney. Just got email today from RCCL about their new ship Ocean of the Seas, 220,000 tonnes, how does that float?

Welcome Jennifer, Brett and Family. will try get around to adding you to our list of cruisers on my website soon. Rather you than me reading thru all them posts.

Christi, how amazing seeing all the wildlife, nearest we got was a few nights at Animal Kingdom lodge, amazing opening your curtains to Giraffes, Zebras etc but far better seeing them wild.

bellebud ( whats your name? I don't think we know it ) I agree crowds this summer were crazy, Probably down to the free dining, we ate mostly offsite and they were so quiet, half as busy as last year but onsite sooo busy.
Only ate one meal onsite at Boma, I really liked the food there Karen and Matt didn't.

7 weeks from today back to Florida, can't come soon enough.

Wayne,
I had a chance to look at your pics.
That sundae was huge!

 

[wayneg]

Erik is getting a kick out of it.

I NEVER want to do this again.

There are 11 layers of paint.I worked on it yesterday for 4 hours. Today 6 hours. I figure I have another 6 hours working on the cabinets before I can start sanding.

I am done for the night. I ran out of paint remover.
I am going to need a vacation wehen I am done.

I did our Decking early summer that took forever, its about 30' across by 12' wide with spindles all way around, still could do with another hour or 2 to finish it off but I have had enough of it.
You will get it done eventually

Wayne,
I had a chance to look at your pics.
That sundae was huge!

Ahh the Kitchen Sink at Beaches and cream, it is massive. 3 of us couldn't eat it.

 

[FINCANTIERI]

I am looking forward to joining all of you on this cruise. We just booked yesterday. My name is Jennifer and I am bringing along my DH Brett, my DD11 Emily (she will celebrate her 12th bday on the cruise), my DS10 and my sister Megan. My DH and I have one cabin and my sister will be sharing the cabin next to us with my kids (I haven't told her that yet - but since we are treating her, I doubt she will complain ). I wanted to get adjoining cabins (cat 8 or cat 9) - but they have all been taken. I will keep trying.
We just came off of the Eastbound Repo Cruise and it was amazing. We were on deck 2 and our claim to fame is that we never took the elevator once!
Tonight when I get home from work I will spend a couple of hours reading through this thread so I can get to know all of you.

We also booked on the EB repo. The kids can't wait. DD and DW too!

 

[crzy4dals]

I am looking forward to joining all of you on this cruise. We just booked yesterday. My name is Jennifer and I am bringing along my DH Brett, my DD11 Emily (she will celebrate her 12th bday on the cruise), my DS10 and my sister Megan. My DH and I have one cabin and my sister will be sharing the cabin next to us with my kids (I haven't told her that yet - but since we are treating her, I doubt she will complain ). I wanted to get adjoining cabins (cat 8 or cat 9) - but they have all been taken. I will keep trying.
We just came off of the Eastbound Repo Cruise and it was amazing. We were on deck 2 and our claim to fame is that we never took the elevator once!
Tonight when I get home from work I will spend a couple of hours reading through this thread so I can get to know all of you.

Hi Jennifer!!!! got your PM and Nick is so excited we are on the same cruise!!! I hope school is going well for Mason and Emily. I will know this Friday how Nick is really doing. We are in a cat 9 floor 2 as well. Rich is ok with his JOB but looking for something better - fingers crossed.

Welcome Jennifer. My DS will be 11 during our cruise. He will be excited to hear that there is another boy.

Add another boy to the list - DS Nick will be 10.

 

[fluffy bunny]

Hi all....welcome back after your summer adventures!
so...its less than a year now....
we have started to look at flights...its all gone a bit 'pete tong' as we say here at the moment. the credit crunch has menant many travel companies have gone into receivership here in the UK...which has pushed the price of flights up...we are just biding our time! Thank the lord we paid for the cruise before the £ bombed....small mercies! Things are really bad for some folks here. we are not terribly affected...never short of work in my line of business and DH industry is booming ( which is partially responsible for the credit probs. some ppl are facing...!) but lots of folk are in hot water! heigh ho!

DIY...ahhhh. The reason we didnt have a proper holiday this year...we just had to get on with some work in the house! We have a victorian money pit...have been here for 11 years, and still havent finished decorating! DH will tell you its my fault...i get fed up lookijng at the same decor...so its been done a couple of times. But this year we have supassed ourself! DH is VERY handy ( just as well)..so has built an ensuite in our bedroom...laid a wooden floor in the hall way....refitted a kitchen ( including a new stainless hob, oven and microwave...all from IKEA Christie )...as well as redecorating hall+landing ( 30 foot high in places )...kitchen and breakfast room...our bedroom ...kids bathroom. Next up is the living room and dining room....both works in progress. Biggest problem is time really...DH rather inconcideratly has a full time job...what can you do!

Maybe it will all be done by Christmas. Some compensation for not having a holiday eh! Roll on next year!

Welcome to all new bods who have subscribed over the summer. Time is now ticking by...we need to start thinking about 'stuff' soon i think!

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

I am so impressed with all the stories of people doing their own home remodeling. DH & I are completely incompetent in that area.....well, DH will use the "excuse" that he is too busy.

So needless to say we've been in our house for 13 years and have done absolutely squat in terms of any home renovations. And the only work we've done were done by professionals. And since that costs $$$$, we haven't done much.

Funny people mentioning booking flights already as I was just thinking the same thing. We are going to fly down the day before and stay at the Radisson at the port so I need to book that soon as well.

For all our friends across the pond......yes, I've noticed the dollar start to rebound versus the pound. But I didn't realize it was having a big effect already. I know many pay their cruises in full right away to take advantage of the strong pound so I hope that's the case with all of you.

Our housing market here is still falling. Don't see an end in sight at all. And that's pretty scary.

 

[wayneg]

Unfortuatley we only paid half the cruise off, but paying now means we lose a years interest in the bank so swings and roundabouts. At least today the £ has strenthened a bit, up 3 or 4 cents so hope its hit the bottom for now.

Starting to look at flights, we want 6th-31st August if poss, can't book for another few weeks yet but watching the prices closely after XL airways collapsed today. Hoping for another deal like this August at £336($600) each using some of our Virgin airmiles but the deals are not as easy to find anymore.

Economies on both sides of the Atlantic are not great hope things turn around sooner than later.

 

[stsomewhere]

We are driving to the cruise( as of now). Marina hates to fly. It is very stressful. We enjoy sights and stops along the way.
It will take about 18 hours.

We planned on driving in Jan. nut, Erik could not get the extra few days off of work. Luckily, we were about to find a last minute flightfor $850. The flight I really wanted was $1500 a person.

Erik is sanding the cabinets right now. Hopefully, I will have a usable kitchen by next weekend.

The kids just started taking gymnastics (alot cheaper than the horseback riding lessons Marina wanted to take). They both go two times a week.

Maza- There was some great cabinets at Ikea. We would love to have some.
We will be going back to do some more shopping when the kitchen is a little more organized. I will be re-doing the dining room and landingto basement/pantry since they run together.

 

[fluffy bunny]

Maza- There was some great cabinets at Ikea. We would love to have some.
We will be going back to do some more shopping when the kitchen is a little more organized. I will be re-doing the dining room and landingto basement/pantry since they run together.

our whole kitchen comes from there...we put the cabinatry in when we moved in ( for 'we' read Dave!!!lol)...we are on our second set of doors...well...fashions change! The work tops and most of the appliances come from there too...infact most of the furniture in our house comes from Ikea...how sad are we?lol you know...i dont think there ia a room in the house that doesnt have something from Ikea in there..even something small...like a loo roll older its just such damned good value!


we are, rather obviously, flying into cruise (d'oh)..but still a bit unsure of when...atleast the night before..but maybe sooner. we are thinking of going th Las Vegas first...as i think i might have already said...and then into Florida the night before...with an overnight near the port...but we may come earlier than originally planned...have a week inFlorida befor the cruise, then just a couple of days after, at the Hard Rock, just to ice the cake. I mucked up when the kids where off school... i thought they went back on the 7th...but its a bit earlier...the 1st or 2nd...still not quite sure yet....so flights etc still up in the air ( no pun intended!) we usually go schedule...and with current industry issues (ie large travel companies going bump!) thats the way it will stay. it costs a bit more...but atleast it offers a bit more reassurance that your flight will actually happen! definatly going to sort it all out soon!

 

[wayneg]

I mucked up when the kids where off school... i thought they went back on the 7th...but its a bit earlier...the 1st or 2nd...still not quite sure yet....

Mathew goes back on the 1st Sept 2009, we are hoping its like this year where the older kids just go in for 3 hours in the afternoon to get their planners and info. If I get the flights we want we will land and be back home on the 1st at around 9am so he has time to have a sleep if needed before going into school in the afternoon. Even better if they shut an extra day, I can't believe they are going to re-open bank holiday Tuesday.

 

[jhryb]

We also booked on the EB repo. The kids can't wait. DD and DW too!

Yes - we had so much fun on that cruise that we booked this one right away.

Hi Jennifer!!!! got your PM and Nick is so excited we are on the same cruise!!! I hope school is going well for Mason and Emily. I will know this Friday how Nick is really doing. We are in a cat 9 floor 2 as well. Rich is ok with his JOB but looking for something better - fingers crossed.



Add another boy to the list - DS Nick will be 10.

WOW I thought that my big news for the day was that I ordered a fish extender on EBAY and it came today.....but you have given me REAL news. That is incredible! I can't wait to tell everyone.
The kids are doing fine at school - at least Emily is. I have already received a call from Mason's teacher to say that he is having problems focusing in the classroom. Hopefully he will get back into the school routine soon.
I am so happy to hear that you will be joining us.

 

[bellebud]

Hi all...

fluffy bunny - I love your kitchen! What are the countertops made of? Do you like them? I hate my granite ones because I'm a bull in a china shop (as dh puts it), and I'm always breaking something on them or chipping plates.

wayne - my name is Liz. I didn't realize I never put it down. DH is Mike, and kids are Erin and Ryan.

I have some fun news... I just booked a 9 night Royal Carribean cruise for us for this coming January. The kids have a "catholic schools week" in January where they don't really do any work - it's all fun activities, so we take advantage and go away. I had disney all booked, flights done... but after our experience this past summer w/ the crowds, I'm honestly getting a little annoyed at disney. They keep building dvc's, which I understand why, but there's no where to put all these people they're attracting to their parks. They need more parks (easy to say, I'm sure nearly impossible to do). When we did early morning extra magic hour this last trip, it was as if it wasn't even extra magic hour. There are just SO many on-site people now, extra magic hour didn't even help. We have ap's (my 40th bday gift last april), so for the cost I felt we 'had' to go. But we know we're going October 09 w/ my whole family (12 of us), so I wanted something different because the magic just isn't as magical as it used to be for me. So we cruise out of NJ (a bit over an hour's drive from my house) on the Explorer of the Seas. The kids are so excited! And the cruise, including insurance, is $4100. We were going to spend $3800 on the Contemporary... airfare was paid (but it was $850), we had ap's, then plus food for the week. This cruise is a longer vacation, we don't have to fly, and it's working out cheaper. So yea for me!! We have a deck 3 window cabin (I'm too chicken to get a balcony w/ my ds7 who is a monkey!!) maybe in a few years when he calms down (let's pray!!)

We've only cruised once before (dh and I pre kids and on a very, very small NCL boat, and we didn't really like it too much), so I have no expectations. We just want some quality time w/ our kids. I'm looking at the shore excursions, but I'm leaning towards not doing any and just checking out the ports a bit, and enjoying the boat while most people are off it. (we do lots of beach vacations anyway, so it's not like we have to get ourselves to a beach). I'm guessing the pool will be crowded on sea days, so we're the types to stay away from it then, and try it during port days. And dh will not sit w/ strangers during dining, so I have to try to get a table for 4, or we'll be eating at the other places. He has to make small talk all day at work, so he really, really hates to do it during vacation. He's a bit anti-social I guess, in a shy way. Gee, we sound like so much fun! Bet you all can't wait to meet us!

anyway, school is going good for the kids. My ds had a VERY hard time last week (our first full week back) doing his homework. It's easy material, but he's just so *done* with any type of schooling by 3pm, it's so hard to make him do his homework. This week has been much better though. I'm figuring out what to threaten/bribe him with (candy worked yesterday). I do what I gotta do! Thank goodness dd is great w/ doing her work.

So now I have another cruise to think about (gee, I really hope we like cruising!)

 

[stsomewhere]

Bellebud

We had booked that Explorer cruise.
But, the kids really wanted to go on Disney.
Plus, after our experience in Jan, we decided that the water was too cold.
So, we booked this one.