Almost done, but the chaos goes on!

Okay, I admit it! I've neglected my blog at this most suspenseful juncture, when we are closing in on completion.

The truth is, since the kids got home, I have been so busy keeping up with them and their laundry, their stuff, and my never-ending to do list, I hardly have time to think.

Our estimated completion date was July 16th. We could have spent the prior weekend moving in, but instead we went to Family Camp at Lake Cascade. It was a much needed break from the construction marathon! We're not quite finished, still waiting for shutters, gutters, and interior doors (we're upgrading the downstairs bedrooms to solid core doors = more sound proof!). Besides that, our personal to-do lists will go on and on through the summer. Touch up painting, closets, landscaping. And we still haven't unloaded ANY of our stuff in storage!

So now I'm catching up, but honestly hesistate to post pictures because everything is in such disarray! However, you all keep asking for photo updates, so tonight I'm posting them. Even backdating some posts that have been floating around in my head, but never got posted in a timely manner. So look at these photos with caution, you are seeing our chaotic life up close and personal! :-P

Project updates - here's what we've been up to!

Sidewalk went in this week - I love the way the sweeping curves break up the plethora of right angles on this house. For us and our guests, there is now plenty of space to walk up to the front door without tripping in the dirt! We plan to build a small retaining wall along the city sidewalk, and replant grass thru the rest of the yard. Under the laundry room window will be a large planting bed (any advice from landscaping enthusiasts?).

Today Steve hung blinds in Mercia's and Carter's rooms, after several rounds of blinds that didn't match or didn't fit. Slowly we are moving the kids in, and again trying to keep them to clean their rooms!


Steplights come on automatically when the sun sets.














This week we installed the tile backsplash, and today Tami hung the frame for the glass shower door in the kids bathroom. Next week the mirror goes in, then just a bit of touch up paint and towel bars.














Laundry laundry laundry, at least we can do it at home now! ;-) We're still undecided on our cabinet design, so that will come - in August I hope.











Tami stained the hand rail and trim work for the kitchen cabinets, Steve installed them today. Of course, there wasn't quite enough, so we'll have to stain some more... :-

The Carpet Miracle

The first week of July, our carpet finally arrived. It was touch and go for awhile, since I chose the carpet during a May sale and we weren't sure if it was still available. It was an incredible deal thru Home Depot ($14/yd installed), so I was glad to know the order went thru. Trouble was, they have a policy of not scheduling carpet installation until the carpet actually arrived. Since May I've been saying "Carpet must be installed July 9-10!" No problem they say, until now I find out they are booked 2 weeks out! I let them know, politely, that they policy was not very cooperative with new construction. But I got off the phone and prayed "Lord, you've brought us this far - I know we won't be sitting here for 2 weeks waiting for carpet!"

Sure enough, the installers called Friday and asked to install the carpet Sat July 7th, the day before the kids got home. I said "Heck, yeah!" Steve spent all day Friday finishing Pergo in Carter's room and I wallpapered the wainscoting in Aliya's room. The hardwood floors were finished Friday too. Mind you, we had NO air conditioning, and it was 105+ degrees those few days. Upstairs was over 100 degrees, and we had no electricity hooked up for lights or fans. It was a labor of love.

Saturday morning, the carpet was in! We also got new carpet in the den, it was trashed after just 8 years of kid traffic. It is SO soft, it's like walking on a pillow!

The kids came home to carpeted rooms, and by the end of the week the began sleeping upstairs. The A/C was installed and running July 11th, and we've been slowly moving things upstairs since then.

So for me, that was the beginning of the end of this project!

Lovin these floors!

The kids are home, so here we are adjusting to life in the new house!

Some HOLIDAY!!!!

4th of July was more painting and ripping up floors, but today our beautiful floors are being installed and the beloved painting crew has finished the wall colors!!! Every time I see them mask, mix, and spray I think "Glad it's you and not me!!!!" Painting the great room, and re-painting the molding and mantel is enough for me. In fact, I'm still doing touch ups by hand!

The upstairs is a virtual rainbow. I had no idea it would be so colorful from the hallway: green bathroom, blue boy room, pink girl room, lavendar girl room. I'm so thankful for the respite of neutral gold down the stairs and into the great room. ;-P

UPDATE: Notice this pink room? You won't see it when you come see the completely house. I HATED this color, even though it was just the laundry room. After paying extra to have the painters take care of the wall colors, I repainted this room myself that night. Now I love it, nearly the same shade as the great room.

UPDATE: Notice this pink room? You won't see it when you come see the completely house. I HATED this color, even though it was just the laundry room. After paying extra to have the painters take care of the wall colors, I repainted this room myself that night. Now I love it, nearly the same shade as the great room.

While the kids away the mice will WORK!!!

While Carter, Aliya & Mercia visit grandparents in Washington, it's work work WORK for Mom & Dad!

Everything except for the downstairs bath, the girls bedroom and our bedroom is in complete disarray (and most of those rooms are too!)

Tami spent most of the weekend caulking (till her fingers bled!), priming and painting the closet shelving upstairs. Today we tackled the kitchen subfloor. Before hardwood can be installed Thursday, the plywood under the old kitchen vinyl has to come up! Talk about dirty work. All the staples have to come out and although we're glad the floor didn't squeak for the past eight years, this is tedious yucky work. Fortunately, our friend KarenCheever came over and spent a couple hours talking and pulling with us. We think it's more sweat than equity.

The painters were also working today, and showing Tami how the trim should have been painted when we first built the house in 1999. She's trying her hand at their technique, repainting the mantel and windowsills. And tomorrow, the unevitable: repaint the great room.

And the list goes on and on. Countdown to July 8th, when the kids fly back from Seatac with Tim & Kim.

The family that tiles together...

These photos are actually from June 24th, I've been too busy to post! The kids all pitched in to help tile their new bathroom.

Also, Mercia finally found her missing boot (see her pictured in Carter's new room). Just in time for summer! (Doesn't she look just like me as a kid!!!)