XtReames Makeover Home Addition

1 year after breaking ground...

2008-05-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

We finally have a front lawn! It was a cold winter, and a wet spring. Seems like every free Saturday we would plan to work on this project, it would rain or something else would come up. Little by little, we spread the dirt and finished the retaining wall. TODAY WE LAID SOD!!!!
Last few details, add some shrubs and flowers to the garden beds. Spread the remaining bark to other garden beds around the house. Plenty to do, yet on the outside, can we said WE'RE FINISHED!?!?!

Big Ol' Pile of DIRT!

2007-11-07T22:30:00.001-08:00

Last week we had 14 yards of topsoil dumped over our newly built retaining wall. Let me tell you, that is a lot of dirt for a 1/6 acre lot! The kids were in dirt heaven, playing until dark every day. Somehow the dirt keeps trailing into the street as all the neighbor kids also come to play.

Day by day, we're moving a little dirt at a time - spreading it in garden areas, and prepping the front yard for new sod. The kids actually like helping with this job, though I've yet to see them move much dirt where it's supposed to go.

Famous quote of the old fashioned family work day... "Some day this will all be a happy memory. For now, just shut up and work...!"

"Hey Mei Mei, say 'NO' to crack!"

Harvest Ball

2007-11-07T22:24:00.000-08:00

Had to post some photos, we all went to a harvest ball at Carter's school in late October.

Still working... a little at a time.

2007-10-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

Time for a Progress Report!

Mudroom: Cabinet doors are mounted, hardware partway finished. California Closets due to come in a finish countertops - soon, I hope! Laundry sink is in place. We still need to finish base moulding in that room, then putty and paint it. Also then we will putty and paint the great room moulding as well.

Doors: Exterior painting is finished, all new door hardware and hinges are switched out. Now the older brass fixtures are gone, all replaced with oil rubbed bronze. Schlage hardward is worth the extra pennies!

New light fixtures hung in entry and over island (lovin' that!).

New blinds in the great room (cordless cellular from Penney's - sweet deal!).

Bricks cut to finish the front retaining wall, then we can order topsoil and sod.

Slowly coming together, though the to-do list is still a page long. Ugh! Mercia broke her collar bone last weekend, so that among other things keeps me focussed elsewhere.

We'll get there...

Yes, we're still working!

2007-09-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's almost October, so time to get this project all wrapped up! We try to put in an hour or two every day, our biggest project lately is finishing the laundry room cabinets. We're still missing a few pieces, so it will be awhile until we get countertops and door handles installed.
Also this weekend we brought all our stuff out of storage. We should have plenty of space now, right?!

Shutters and paint, are we done yet?!

2007-09-20T16:33:00.000-07:00

Seems for 2 months we've been waiting for small things like shutters, and mirrors, and painting the front door. Well, those are all finished now, so officially our builder is ALL DONE!

HOWEVER, we are NOT ALL done!!! We still have light fixtures to hang, laundry room cabinets (LOTS OF THE THEM) to install, door hardware to swith out, touch up paint inside and out, and front landscaping to finish.

We're going to put off our open house a bit longer, but for those who just can't wait, give us a call and come on by!

Eliana's Room

2007-09-09T16:15:00.000-07:00

Hi! My name is Elie and I am the youngest of the family. When I first came here, I slept next to mom & dad's bed and I loved that. I could cry anytime and they would pick me up right away! But sometimes I would cry instead of sleeping, and mom & dad moved my little bed into their bathroom. But I could still hear them! So then I got moved to the walk in closet, and that was nice and quiet. I slept there very happily!

Now that the other kids are moved upstairs, I have a new pink bedroom, which Mommy repainted just for me. It seems very BIG to me. All my clothes and diapers and toys and furniture are in the room with me (though Mom forgets sometimes, and takes me back into her room when I have a dirty diaper!).

Anyway, with my new room came a big bed they call a crib. I think it's fun to bounce and jump around in! I have to keep lots of blankets in my bed, so I don't get lost in this big bed. Sometimes I like to play in by room, and even go in a shut the door! Mom & Dad still hear me at night, because I cry so loud the sounds bounces off the bare walls.

That's all I have to say about that,
Eliana Faith, 16 months

Taking some time off...

2007-09-05T16:40:00.000-07:00

If you've been wondering what has been happening with the house in September, the answer is NOT MUCH!!! Once we decided to re-engage in life, we haven't found much time for house projects. Definately, October will be the end!
Here's some photos from our Labor Day weekend camping trip with the Bataluna family.

Building the wall

2007-08-25T16:02:00.000-07:00

Out front, we built a short retaining wall while my dad was in town August 21st. Of course, there are a few bricks that need to be cut, so until then new the lawn will have to wait!

A Painted Garage

2007-08-12T22:32:00.000-07:00

I had such fun playing mad scientist, stirring together all my leftover paint into a mystery color. Over the past 8 years, I've painted and repainted nearly every room in this house. I had 8 partial gallons and several quarts of leftover paint, so I stirred it all together and VOILA! Lovely shade of grey - perfect for the garage! I call my creation "Sludge". It is lovely, and best of all FREE!!!

Aliya enjoyed helping us paint, and worked hard alongside Steve & I. We finished the side walls for now, then we can move things around and finish the remaining walls and ceiling. Can you tell TAMI IS GETTING TIRED OF PAINTING!?!?!

Great Room Photos

2007-08-12T22:28:00.000-07:00

Bless my husband, he hung the blinds and window treatments on Saturday while I was at the Mall! Gotta love that arrangement...

The Bathroom is done!

2007-08-12T22:24:00.001-07:00

Here's photos of the finished bathroom upstairs. We have a solar tube over the sink area that reflects light until 10pm. Amazingly, we don't need to use any lights in the addition until after dark. Every room has plenty of natural light!
Did I mention I installed the shower door myself?! ;-)

They say the last 10% takes 90% of the time!

2007-08-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

So here we are, not much has changed in the past few weeks. Still waiting for shutters, finishing trim and touch-up painting inside and out, and laundry cabinets. Somehow we've just gotten caught up in life with 4 kids again. Who has time to work on projects?!

Actually, I hurt my back mildly 2 weeks ago. We've really slowed down since then.

Carter & Aliya started school this week (year-round school), so now we are getting back into the routine of early bedtimes, etc. I suppose we'll dive back in this weekend and get something done on the house!

We're planning to host an open house in late September, for all our curious friends and neighbors to tour the house. We'll post the details here, or let me know if you would like an email invitation.

Almost done, but the chaos goes on!

2007-07-21T22:04:00.001-07:00

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!

2007-07-20T22:42:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-13T21:23:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-07-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

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

Some HOLIDAY!!!!

2007-07-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

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.

While the kids away the mice will WORK!!!

2007-07-02T21:05:00.001-07:00

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...

2007-07-02T21:05:00.000-07:00

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!!!)

A whole new house!

2007-06-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

A lot has been happening, though for most of last week there wasn't much to photograph. But this week, TADA!!!! We have a neary finished exterior, new front door, tile floors, and textured walls. Next week will be interior trim work, then painting and flooring by early July.

Sheetrock and Siding, this house is taking shape!

2007-06-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

Front view with the lower part sided, see the kids waving from their windows?!
Aliya's charming face

Front view for Michelle... now that the trailer is no longer parked on my lawn!

New dining room
New laundry room
View of stairs from the bottom View of stairs from the top

Loft and bathroom

Carter's room with the AWESOME views

Mercia's BIG room - to be shared with Eliana someday!

Rain rain, go away!

2007-06-11T22:18:00.001-07:00

Who sent this wet Washington weather our way?! Sunday it poured and dripped through the cracks in the incomplete roof, pooling under the stacks of sheetrock. We caught the rain in buckets, and thanked God this is only temporary! By evening the sky cleared, and we're back to out sunny summer weather. Everything dried out by morning, so all's well that end's well.

This view is our "moat" in front of the house, next to the new foundation.

Demolition done, sheetrock stocked

2007-06-08T22:09:00.000-07:00

This is our last view of the studs before the sheetrock goes in Monday.

A cool crane lifted the sheetrock thru the upstairs window, then the framer installed the last window and said good bye. Thanks Mark, for all your work! We'll miss having you around. ;-)

Brrr... but we finally have insulation!

2007-06-06T21:35:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, we had temps near 100 degrees. Now it is rainy, windy, and cold the last few days. We're in the in-between time of having walls, but only the old furnace and no insulation until today. We turned off the furnace while the garage door was open all day (and we were gone), and now the thermostat is slowly climbing back into the 60's. Yes, indoors! Glad we still have access to our winter PJ's tonight! And the black plastic sheeting helps keep the warm air where it needs to be, instead of floating into the un-insulated ceilings.

Wall insulation is now up, so sheetrock will be delivered tomorrow and installed on Monday. All the inspections have passed, and the siding should go on soon as well. Things are really clicking around here!

And the WALL came down!

2007-06-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

Interior walls are OUT! Compare this to the preceeding posts...

Below is the entry way, taken from the new dining room. The front door is to the left behind that small wall. And the new dining room with VAULTED ceilings! This is a bonus, as we didn't think the trusses would allow for it - but now the entire great room will have continuous vaulted ceilings, and it feels really big!
Here is Carter standing in front of the new stairwell (behind the plastic). See his feet, where the carpet was and a small corner shelf has been taken out. The hallway/stairwell area is nice and open now - I love it!

Tami's brain mapping

2007-06-05T17:44:00.000-07:00

My brain during the addition: Every one of those little blue balls is a thought about something that needs to be done, a decision or a problem that needs to be solved.

Thanks for sending me this, Judy. Today it was especially true! ;-)

Inside Demolition

2007-06-04T22:52:00.000-07:00

Sorry no photos today, Steve left my camera at work. ;-( But today was a big day, the interior demolition took place. There is now a black plastic sheet where the wall used to be. The old front bedroom is all opened up to the vaulted ceilings, and can I say? I LOVE IT!!!

It takes some getting used to, but I think it is going to be so nice to have the big open space between the great room kitchen/nook/living room/formal dining room all open with hardwood floors. I can't wait to see the flooring bring it all together!

Today I camped at Tim & Kim's house while they are on vacation. I stopped by after picking up the kids from school to check the progress, and the demolition was done and all cleaned up. I probably could have stayed the whole day after all, but it was nice to have a simple and peaceful day with Mercia and Eliana. I even made dinner for everyone there, and did some laundry. Then we cleaned up and came home in time for homework and bedtime.

Tomorrow I will stay home though, as there as just a few places to be framed. One wall of our closet will be demolished tomorrow (our closet is being expanded to include the under stairs area), so I had to clear out half my closet tonight. Steve & I said early on that this would be the most stressful phase - demolition in the great room and closet. But so far it's not a big deal, and very do-able indeed. Can I say I'm actually ENJOYING this all? Expecting the inconvenience makes it so much easier, and more of an adventure. It is truly amazing seeing it all take shape.

I promise to post some pictures soon! For now I can show a picture of the wall that is no more...

Tigerwood - rharraa!

2007-06-03T23:19:00.000-07:00

Here's the flooring we choose, 3'5" wide planks for solid tigerwood. The sample we have looks very similar to our cherry cabinets, but it has a lot of variation in the dark "tiger" striping throughout. The wood is actually Kao wood, popular yet available to few in Hawaii.

Dining Room lighting?

2007-05-30T23:16:00.000-07:00

Should I put 4" can lights in the soffits in the dining room? I will have a chandelier centered in the room for sure

Paint palette

2007-05-30T23:13:00.000-07:00

Here's my paint color palette: we're keeping the soft yellow as the main body color, also the white trim. The new shake siding in the gables will be the grey/lavender color and the shutters and new front door will the the steely eggplant color. The dark color is not as dark here, as I painted it over yellow. A 2nd coat should darken it to nearly charcoal with a hint of plum.

Subs R Us!

2007-05-30T22:32:00.001-07:00

This is the week for subcontractors to do their thing: electricians, plumbers, and HVAC crew joined our ever-faithful framer. Now every day the place is crawling with workers! Not much change on the outside, but with all the guts completed this week, we will see sheetrock and siding go on soon.

My focus this week has been to plan for cabinets in bath and laundry room, plumbing fixtures, paint colors, flooring, and preliminary landscaping design. I have spent 3-4 hours stints at Home Depot 3 times days in the last week. I know several employees by name!

Notes on the pictures of the day: Michelle asked for a photo to see the tie in of old to new. We'll be working on landscaping (including an arbor) to soften this front.
2nd photo: view from the new laundry room. This is Carter's old bedroom (front bedroom) and soon the wall with yellow insulation will be torn out to make our new dining room with vaulted ceilings. Oddly, from the inside of the house, everything looks the same. Only when you open doors, do you find cavernous new rooms and hidden staircases!

Last photo: from the loft down the stairs. We'll keep the ceilings framed high and use can lights above, with low steplights on a photocell to turn on at night. Don't you love the window at the top?!

The door at the bottom of the stairs is our OLD laundry room door - we cut the corner out, so we can shut it easily and keep the dust and noise to a minimum, and keep the kids out of mischief. Eventually, we'll open up that doorway and the stairs will end squarely at the end of our hall. And yes, I'm upgrading the master bedroom door to a sound-minimizing solid core!

I should have more decorating stuff to share soon! My scanner is still down, so by the time I post the floorplan, this house should be all finished anyway. ;-)

Lighting in the Loft

2007-05-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

Demolition inside

2007-05-23T19:45:00.001-07:00

Today the framer broke through Carter's bedroom wall. The old exterior wall and window were removed, and now it is 1 big open space from the bedroom door into the new laundry room. When the interior wall comes down (next week), the old bedroom will become space for the new dining room. Neato!

We also have the new, slightly smaller laundry room window installed. I like it better, not even much smaller than the original opening.

See my last post and post your thoughts on tigerwood flooring for the downstairs!

Tigerwood... Whadaya'll think?

2007-05-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

More Tigerwood photos... http://www.br111.com/tigerwood_photos_eng.html

Windows and Wood floors

2007-05-22T20:03:00.000-07:00

Last week most of the windows went in, and the roofing has begun. Now the guts of the house are where most of the work is happening, tomorrow the electrician, Friday heating and cooling (our friend Chad).

Over the weekend we moved Carter out of his room and into the den. Demolition to his old bedroom may not begin until next week, so he's opting to spend a few more nights in his sleeping bag in the empty room.

I'm been up to my eyeballs in carpet, hardwood, and paint color selections. what do you think of this tigerwood flooring? Its an engineered hardwood, prefinished click & lock, so we can install it ourselves. If this color matches, it may be perfect for the downstairs (entry, kitchen, nook, new dining room, hallway, and front den). We had been planning on bamboo, but tonight we dropped a fork on the sample and it make some serious pinholes in the surface. Yikes!

I found an awesome sale on carpet at Home Depot (midrange frieze, $14/yd installed!). Though I usually order carpet directly from Georgia, this price is unbeatable. We may consider replacing the carpet in the ground floor bedrooms too.

We're toying with the idea of adding on a 6' deep porch to better transition the existing bay window with the new section. Some drawings are being done on that this week.

The MONSTER House!

2007-05-16T18:58:00.000-07:00

The roof is going on, the gawkers are driving by, this is a SERIOUS addition!

Trusses and a BIG CRANE

2007-05-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the blog hi-jacking on the topic of mosquitoes and West Nile Virus. Steve thinks this is our family blog, so he gets to write too. My only recourse is a new post to keep my long-distance friends entertained. ;-)

Today I invited a few friends with preschool boys to join us to watch the really big crane lift trusses to the roof. All the Jr "Bob the Builder" fans loved the idea of a crane, but quickly lost interest and just ran around the culdesac. Then a strange car drove up, parked across the street. I wondered aloud who could this guy be...? He walked up to my house, greeted the crew, then I remembered I HAD AN APPOINTMENT TODAY AT 11AM with the California Closets guy. OOOPS... I was thinking this was Monday. I certainly didn't know we would be hosting a preschool crane gawkers meeting at the same time. So I waved goodbye to my friends, ran inside to discuss storage designs for my new laundry room.

We had a big weekend, and my brain is still recovering. I'll post some photos and notes of our party party party weekend, but that will have to wait for tomorrow.

I just found out that we have 10 days before demolition indoor begins. Whoa Nelly, here we go!

Eliana's 1st Bday Party

2007-05-12T21:57:00.000-07:00

More upstairs walls...

2007-05-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

Lots of sawing and hammering upstairs, mostly for the opening of the new stairs through ou

r existing laundry room. You can see the framed area in the back, near the peak of the existing roofline. I'm liking all the different dimensions and planes, and glad we didn't have a flat-faced design.

PS What do you all think of that lower window now? Would something more square be appropriate?

2007-05-08T22:04:00.000-07:00

We've finally got a room with a view! This is Carter's bedroom window facing the foothills, this is Lucky Peak. His room will have a popout window seat from which I'm sure he'll sit like a cat in it's perch (Cheshire Cat, I suspect) and drop water bombs on unsuspecting guests. (Not our sweet lovable Carter! Oh no.)

Today (Tuesday) we got a few more walls. Moving along nicely in 80 degree weather.

Here's Aliya, on her Heelys, practicing how she's going to break her next arm.

A Hollywood Set

2007-05-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

Though work is progressing every day upstairs, there hasn't been much to photograph until today. We have a movie-set style wall on the east side, a room with the view. If it weren't so high off the ground, it would make a great place for the kids to perform a puppet show!

Climbing up there tonight, I'm thrilled that we decided to put a window seat overlooking the foothills. This will be the only room in the house with such a view! Also it breaks up the plain 2 story wall next to the front door.

Trusses were delivered today, we should have the up by the end of the week.

The BIG window

2007-05-06T18:54:00.000-07:00

COMMENTS, PLEASE! I'm looking for comments on the size of the front window. The new room will be a large mudroom, with a full length counter and cabinets on the front wall. The window opening is currently 72"x42", but was supposed to be only 60" wide. From inside it looks HUGE, but in general I think large windows are a plus. Also there will be planter box and landscaping beneath, plus side shutters on the sides. The window on the existing den is 72" also, so it kind of matches.
We can easily change the framing for a 60" window, but thought we would wait to see how it looks with the 2nd tory.
What do you think?!?! Please post your comments and honest opinions here! v

World's Best Boss

2007-05-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

Steve's coworkers threw him a 1st Anniversary party today. For Fans of "The Office" think Dundie awards... ;-) These photos look remarkably like some college photos we found the other day. I think it's the haircut - my fault, I gave him Carter's haircut last night. At least it will grow back.

We have WALLS!!!!

2007-05-02T18:13:00.000-07:00

Despite some light rain, the laundry room framing came together today! When we step inside, we can feel how big that room will be. It helps to know how to design the cabinets and possible island, now that the walls are up. The front door area feels tight, that will take some getting used to. I know some others houses are designed that way, but I've been used to the open garden feeling all these years. Anyway, when the weather clears in a few days, they should be able to tear into the roof area some more - and then add the 2nd story!

April 30th - May 1st

2007-05-01T20:39:00.000-07:00

To the finished foundation, the floor joist then subfloor were added on Monday. Tuesday the old exterior is torn away a bit, but it may rain the next few days so things are slowing down a bit.

Check out the framer's tshirt while they unload the lumber delivery. It reads "It takes a stud to build a house" ;-) I was amazed the way the truck lifted up and "dumped" the delivery on my front lawn.

Weekend Update with Tami Lee (Not Tina Faye)

2007-04-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend to get away to the mountains, experiencing Authentic Friendship and hearing from the Lord. This was our caravan on the way up, about an hour west of Stanley... TammiFritz, RobinCook, KathyRowe, CherylMitchell, JudyDeGeorgio, BarbDeMoneySmith, and me. Am I REALLY that much taller than everyone else?!

On the drive home, my car stopped at the Kirkham hot springs near Lowman. TammiFritz and I braved the sharp rocks barfeooted to splash in the natural shower. What a fun roadside diversion!

And I came home a beautiful family and a new mudroom foundation in the front yard!

(I miss you Mercia - hope your having the time of your life with Grams & Poppy!

Foundation for Mudroom Poured

2007-04-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

The foundation for the mudroom was poured today. Sorry no photos - Tami took the camera to the Women's Advance in Chalis this weekend. But since I took the day off to be home with Ellie, we got to watch out the front door as the guys worked. It was a beautiful day.

By the time they left, the concrete was setting up nice so while Ellie slept, I got to go out and carve some stuff in the top of the foundation wall. "The Lord Knows Who are His" and "Let Everyone Who Names the Name of the Lord Abstain from Wickedness." This is from 2 Timothy 2 where Paul writes "Nevertheless, the firm foundation of the Lord stands with this inscription..."

This reminds me of the time here in 1999 when they were putting in the LDS stake house in our neighborhood. Our church took wooden stakes and wrote scriptures on them and pounded them into the ground at the four corners of the building where we knew concrete would cover. These scriptures were refutations of LDS heretical doctrine. We also walked through their baptismal praying that God would deliver all those who were dedicated to that false doctrine.

Although these gestures may seem purely symbolic or even ridiculous to some, they stand on the faith of those who do them. For example, Dick Eastman, president of Every Home for Christ, early in 1988 felt led by God to take a team of intercessors throughout Eastern Europe. Their mission was to confront the strongholds of Communism. In obedience to God's leading, they carried out a prayer walk around the Politbureau building in Bucharest, Rumania where less than two years later, Ceaucescu made his last stand after pridefully announcing his regime would last for a thousand years. He and his wife were shot on Christmas day 1989 after 25 years of oppressive rule.

While in Berlin, God led Dick Eastman to go out with a German friend in the middle of the night to face that still forbidding wall. Moved in intercessory prayer, they both laid their hands on the wall and prayed, "In the name of Jesus, come down!" The wall was opened November, 1989.

May the foundation of the Lord stand firm in my family's life and all those who touch it!

Steve

Wow, these guys work FAST!

2007-04-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, a crane loaded a steel beam to the roof top (I just missed it with my camera, but here is the crane at least!). You can see the beam set back on top of the exposed garage roof.

Thursday, the floor joists are finished and insulation is almost done (see photos from the top view). Our framer works such long hours, I asked if he sleeps in his truck in our driveway. ;-)

Foundation forms are built and ready to go. Friday, the foundation should be poured.

It's been beautiful weather, though we prayed for rain - the concrete crew could work on our job in the rain, but not the other jobs for this week. Oh well, things seem to be moving along at a great pace!

Tuesday April 24th THE ROOF COMES OFF!

2007-04-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

This morning the plumbers came to move one of our water pipes outdoors. They now knock on the garage door, since the front door has no porch. I met them in my PJ's and moved my car, then tried to keep it quiet for Eliana - who had been up all night and was now asleep in my bed. Don't use the toilet for about 30 minutes. Oh, and one more thing... they need access to the crawl space. In my bedroom closet! Well, just try to be quiet and I'll clear a path. All went well, and now I know to shower first thing in the morning if I want to do it on my schedule.

An hour later their was a noise on the roof. 8 tiny reindeer? No, it was a large saw. Chunks of plywood and shingles start falling into a trailer. Already, the roof is coming off! Did I mention the garage is ALMOST but not quite cleared out yet? Well, I'll be finishing that tonight for sure.

Mercia left with Grams & Poppy today, and will be back in 2 weeks for Eliana's first birthday. I thought I'd be flexible during the day, with only 1 kid in tow. But here a sit working on this blog while Elie finally takes a nap amidst the commotion. I realize I'm going to be working hard to keep this place organized, the laundry done (and not blocking the only front entry to the house), and be flexible to every other duty that comes along.

Monday April 23rd - TODAY it begins!

2007-04-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

After 2 years of dreaming and 5 months of design and details, construction began with a big digger in our front yard. My parents and I watched from inside the house, as big machines meticulously picked apart our walkway like it had been built with graham crackers. Inches from our glass door that machine came - we pulled crawling baby Elie back from the door. Mercia watched for 20 minutes, then decided PBS was more interesting. I wished Carter & Aliya had stayed home from school!

So many people contributing to this day: Contractor, Superintendant, Dig Guy, Dump Truck Operator, etc, etc. All there with a smile and anticipation of an exciting end result. As several of them gathered on the driveway to watch the digging (do we pay them all by the hour?!), some remarked how "So far this is too easy!" Could it be the favor of God? Could it all go this smoothly?

By 1pm, the old garden area was now a hole deeper than Mercia is tall. And then everyone was gone. My kids came home delighted with the port-a-potty in the driveway. Neighbor kids came to look a the "big hole" and then got shooed home - that big dirt pile is no place to play! I'll be singing that song all summer long.

So Happy Birthday to me! Yesterday I turned 35, and my parents drove 500 miles to be here. Today they witnessed the ground breaking of our new addition. And the icing on the cake... Eliana took her first steps tonight. And soon she'll have more room to run! 922 square feet more, to be exact.