I have a MIL and FIL just like that! And a SIL, BIL and wife too. Evidently, when the BIL's youngest daughter was born, they thought this would be the last grandchild, Then, DH and I had a son (3yrs.) and a daughter (14 mos). When we asked if they wanted to spend time with the kids, us, anything... the response is always busy. They told other family members that they retired and they aren't doing grandchildren anymore, yet they moved next door to BIL to be closer to grandaughter. They didn't retire from bing grandparents, they just retired from my family. They have sleep overs, babysit, take the other grand kids to lunch, santa, etc. They never include my kids. Once, the BIL's daughter told my son to move out of his chair because she wanted to sit next to her "Aunt Robin, and that she was the favorite". My 2 yr. old son, moved to another chair. When I commented that that wasn't very nice to say, MIL said "Oh let her have her fun!". They only live 15 min. away. I have decided that I will not tolerate this behavior anymore, and nor will I make my children tolerate this. I don't want my kids to know that they are not the favorite, or that their family even has favorites. I don't want my kids exposed to the "demeaning way" that my ILs treat me. I dont' want them to think it's okay to treat anyone that way. My family begins here. My holiday events will be happy, fun, and surrounded by people who love each other. Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. are at my house. If anyone wants to come, they can, provided they treat my family with respect and kindness. If not, they are not welcome here. In my house, I am allowed to say that, and inforce it. I haven't had the chance to say it yet, they never visit. Julie

As promised, here are a few more pictures and details for the backsplash. I just peaked at the boxes of left over tile. The backsplash is Alyse Edwards Tile and Stone, Gigi's Groovy Glass Stiix - Stairway to Heaven. I kid you not - that's the name. I never would have thought of it. In fact, when I saw it before it was put on the wall I didn't think I liked it. It is plain white until grouted and I didn't think there would be enough contrast with all the white. But grouted, I love it because it takes on a greenish/blue tint. When I post pictures of my kitchen (sometime next year), you'll recognize the backsplash. My MIL over ordered by 20 sq feet and gave me the left overs. (I mentioned that she's great, right?) Re my comment about the sinks in the original post. I meant to say that the prep sink's interior is only 13 inches. The 36 incher is huge. Re the ice box latches they do not spring open. They hold the cabinets closed nicely, look pretty, and have not been difficult to keep clean even with little ones around. As for my comment about putting a stone backsplash behind the range, this is the issue. The Wolf 48 inch range that is in the kitchen vents the steam from the ovens up the back directly to the location where the tile backsplash meets the back of the range. I've noticed that the grout is starting to yellow a little bit. Maybe from the oil and fat in the steam? I've seen pictures of a four inch stainless steel backsplash that is attached to the back of the range. I also saw a picture of a stone backsplash in a kitchen magazine that was lovely. So using my MIL's kitchen as an example, I would keep the tile backsplash behind the range except for a four inch space directly above the burners/vent. It's difficult to explain without a picture and there may be problems with this idea that I have not thought of yet. But it sure looked pretty in the magazine and seemed like it would help protect the area of the backsplash that is most likely to get splashed. As for my kitchen.... it will actually be pretty similar to my MIL's. I like to think that we've collaborated. My kitchen plans and materials were selected before she started her design. Funnily enough, her layout is very, very similar to mine. And as I've shared, I've been influenced by her kitchen. The main difference is that I am planning Green Mountain Original PA soapstone for my perimeter counters and white princess quartzite for my island. I will have fewer glass cabinet fronts and more warm wood accents to warm up the space a touch. A few of you asked for more information about the stone that I'm considering so I added a couple pictures of the slabs I've looked at (although the quartzite is MUCH prettier IRL). I think this should about cover all the questions. Cheers.

Rose, The plot thickens. She received a counter back from them. Keep in mind, with the selling contingency, she said $500K is firm as she didn't want to counter back and forth. They came back with this counter: 1. $495K 2. SIXTY days to sell their home 3. Not As is. In the meantime, she drove by their house and saw that there's at least 8 houses on the street for sale. Her realtor pulled the comps and they are priced at $359K, which she thought was high for the lower/middle class neighbourhood. MIL countered back with her previous counter. Firm and final. She was ticked because she made it clear in her first counter that the price was not negotiable with the selling contingency and then they came back wanting two months to sell their house? Heck no! I can understand this is a buyer's market, but considering her home IS priced to sell, it has a completely updated kitchen and hardwood throughout, she is not willing to go below $500K with a seller's contingency. Without it, then she may move on price, but there is no way she will keep the house tied up in a contract for 2 months during the height of the selling season. She will lose too many viewings. She's not concerned about the price as she is financially secure and this will be gravy for her. But like you, we would need as much money out of the house as possible, and we would push the solid comp from a month ago in terms of her listing price. She hasn't heard back from them, but given the neighbourhood their house is in, her house is quite a step up for these people and she's concerned that if they can't lift the contingency or get financing, she has wasted alot of time. In the meantime, a few weeks ago, there was a couple who looked at her home and wanted to put in an offer. They had a contract on their condo and just before the wrote it up, their contract fell through. They now have another contract on their home and they are coming on Sunday for a third visit. Looks promising. One of their comments from condo couple was the house needs updating, so MIL thinks they may lowball. I told MIL that she has a completely updated kitchen and hardwood throughout. The only thing that needs updating is the upstairs bathroom and if they wanted to paint. Considering the kitchen is done and with the hardwood, those are the updates that would cost a buyer the most to do. In a 3500 sq. ft. home, that would be a huge expense and she is of the mind her home is priced to sell. The updates that need to be done can be done so inexpensively. So, we'll see what they come up with and then take it from there. At least there won't be a selling contingency. Given she's been on the market about one month and is expecting her second offer, that tells me that her pricing is in a good ballpark. Oh and the 30 days selling contingency - I told her to consult with her realtor on the timeframe for that. I presume the realtor thought that was fair in this type of market. Anyone? What do you think of a 30 day selling contingency that she originally countered? Too long? Not long enough?

I wish she would have taken your advice... We both know her sale will affect the next... I know she's lucky to have sold, but I still think it will pick up in the next few weeks. I've been saying that buyers are wanting $50,000 off the price, this is a perfect example. On a house priced in our range, that would really hurt us and we couldn't afford to move. The agent said that there aren't any buyers. She said she has a few in the $170,000 range; so there are a few, just not in our range. That market is a different house - 1 bathroom, needing lots of work... We have to hang in there. I'm going to start really looking this week, hoping that my guardian angel knows we have nowhere to go, and that once we figure an area with possibles, buyers will start coming around again. How's the market by you?