Update

 The past couple of weeks we've been full steam ahead with finally starting the kitchen reno. This week the electrician is coming, the duct work will be complete, and the cabinet's measured out by
the cabinet company. My dream is to see some drywall going up this weekend, but....I don't see us getting that far realistically.
Here are some before pics in case you forgot our 1980s beauty:

I think my favorite part is how they left the sink off centered from the window :) 

The front room that we would never use is joining the kitchen!!

DEMO TIME!

The wall between the two rooms shown above is about to come down!

Not great quality, but this is looking back towards the living room where the old kitchen was 

Just another demo shot, so you can appreciate the next photos

Here is the state we are at today! Framing complete and ready to move forward with electrical.

View from entry hall, we opened up the wall by making two five foot openings

Because this wall is load bearing we had to be very careful to make sure the support was still there

Another view

A view looking back toward the front door, and the two rooms joined as one!
Part of my future island is drawn on the floor

The new extra large doorway to access the kitchen from the rest of the downstairs