Never thought this day would come...

BUT it's finally happening -------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------> our kitchen will be installed on 9/19 and 9/20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am still in shock! Finally light at the end of the tunnel, and trust me the tunnel has been long, to be exact 7 months long! Since our hot water heater exploded in February we have literally not been able to use our kitchen. First we had all sorts of environmental companies at our house to do the "clean up" work, but the water was just not going anywhere and the kitchen was soaked too long in order to "rescue" anything. So we took the opportunity and decided instead of ripping out the floor and replacing it and having the cabinets replaced that were damaged to take the big step and do the complete remodel. This was not planned for 1 or 2 more years, so it was a little intimidating and scary to think of the associated cost and the planning. Once the floor was ripped out we were not able to longer go in the kitchen at all... Than we started to get bids for the remodel... what a process... and than one nice day in May the work began... and as always dragged on. I think they told us 2 weeks to prepp the kitchen.... but it took much longer.
Once the kitchen was prepped we had Lowe's over to measure the kitchen and we ordered the cabinets. But of course, nothing ever goes according to plan, right. So we had 3 damaged cabinets in our first delivery and had to wait for another 4 weeks total for delivery, and inspection. A long and rocky road! And now we will have our cabinets installed in 1 1/2 weeks. I am so excited, thrilled, in complete shock to say the least. For some reason I am almost scared... scared to have my hopes up and than get them crushed again, KWIM? Once the cabinets are installed we can get our washer and dryer in and ADIOS to the laundry mate! (even though I only went 3 times... DH was my HERO and took the trip every Sunday by himself while I talked to my family in Germany). What a guy!!!!! Just gotta love this man!
Once the cabinets are in, we will have to go back to Lowes and set up a measuring date for the granite countertops... and once they are measured the ordering should take 1 - 2 weeks. OK, let's say WORST case scenario... we will have a kitchen in 4 - 5 weeks! No more eating out, no more running to Starbucks for every single cup of coffee, no more wondering... ok what are you in the mood to eat today! AND I am everything but a homemaker, so definitely everything but a cook! BUT I am craving the simple things... the soups, mac and cheese, heating up water and having a dishwasher again and finally having our fridge back in the house and no longer outside on the patio! Our poor neighbors must have thought their little part when we were jumping out on the patio in our PJ's to grab a coke in the evening... LOL! Finally back to normal life! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!! Pictures on the kitchen in progress will follow....