the finished product (for now)

I even thought this was a HUGE improvement!

getting it all ready!

demo is FUN!!

this was the best picture of the fireplace before, I thought I snapped one on Saturday but I didn't (before the questions start, yes that is a REAL snake in my house, my son has 2 pet snakes in his room. My husband could write a book about snakes and certain animals, he has always loved them. And has taught our boys all about them. About respecting them, taking care of and loving these creatures)

Saturday I was hoping that my brain was going to let me sleep in a little seeing as though, I had no kids at home and we stayed up WAY past our bedtime on Friday night, but of course NO LUCK!!

My internal alarm went off at 6:20, even though I wasn't in bed until after 1:00 am!! I tried and tried to fall back to sleep but finally at 7:00 decided to get up. What is there to do at 7:00 am on a Saturday, when there are no children in the house you ask?? Why HG TV of course!

After my husband, Mr. lazy bones woke up (if you knew my husband you would know how much joy it brings me, for him to sleep until 9:00 am on a weekend!!)

We started demoing our tile around our fireplace and pulling up the carpet in the family room!!

Our wonderful neighbor Ron came over and helped us with the whole process. Brian and I got all the old stuff up and the 2 guys did all the tile work. The finished product looks AMAZING. Tomorrow our new carpet will be laid and it will finally start looking like the way I have been envisioning.

Painting the mantle is my next big project and then after the first of the year we will tackle painting the 20 something foot high room....FUN!!