1 year after breaking ground...

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!

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

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.

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!

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?!

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

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...

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

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

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

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!

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!

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.