Last post for the house blog (07-14-2009)

We got hydromulch for our yard today.  It's nasty looking, sprayed on seed, and we hope we can make it grow in this drought!  I think we can...here's what it looks like...that's the big sprayer truck off to the right.  Prior to the hydromulch, we had a sprinkler system installed so we could keep the seed nice and wet and try to make it grow!!!  We shall see if it works...it was loads cheaper than sod, so hopefully it will!  I was a slacker and didn't take any pictures of the sprinkler install.

And a more detailed look at the backyard...

Well, that's it for the house blog...the yard was kind of the last big thing.  Now it will just be us getting ourselves settled and then comes the decorating, but if I blogged about thatt here, this blog would never end (I suck at decorating, so it takes me forever to decide what I want...once I decide, I have to wait until we have money to spend on it and that takes time)!  So, I'll blog about those changes on my family blog as they happen.  Thanks for watching the blog for those of you who did.  Sorry I was a slacker at the end and didn't keep you updated, but this blog was mainly for my parents to see our progress while they were on their mission and once they came home and could see for themselves, it seemed a bit pointless.  I do want to publish this blog in a blog book for Matt since this project was a dream of his realized, so the blog will be kept in a book for us but it will disappear from the internet once that's done.

Still getting organized (06-2009)

  We've been working hard to not have a bunch of boxes around.  Right now, most of them are in my closet so I don't have to look at them!  When we get the chance to be here, we work on a project here and there.  We'll have more time after summer is over to work on things.  We still have so much to look forward to with Mom and Dad coming home and our family reunion.  I'm sure we won't get much done during that time, but we do have to get the house to a point where 1) Chuck and his family can stay with us when they come for Mom and Dad's homecoming and 2) we won't be too embarrassed for Mom and Dad to see our new place!

06-03-2009 Yay!  The TV works!

06-05-2009  The new blinds started arriving today.  They're just cheap bamboo ones from Overstock, but they'll do until the budget allows for planation shutters some day...some day FAR away!  Those things are expensive!  We installed the ones in the dining room (aka piano room) and the hallway today

06-18-2009  We finally got the garage cleaned out enough to fit both of our cars in!  YIPEE!  We still have a long way to go out there, but it's a start...

06-25-2009  We had dirt delivered and spread so we could actually grow grass.  We are pretty much on rock out here, so I think Matt said we ended up buying 12 loads of dirt (that's dump truck loads, people!).  The end result looks nice.  I can actually picture grass here someday!

06-29-2009  Matt decided he wants to put a little flagstone walkway from the street to the sidwalk so when people park on the street they have a place to cut across the yard.  He picked his stones out...now he has to place them.  Hope his back is up to it!

Getting Organized (05-24-209)

We finally installed the hooks in the mudroom today (May 24).  Our stinkin' trim carpenters were supposed to do that, the pocket door hardware, and the little door stopper things, too, but they didn't and we're tired of dealing with them, so Matt's going to do it.  Here he is being the handy guy that he is (when he wants to be!)...

TA DA!!!  This is the last time it will look this tidy!

And the kitchen...there's actually dishes in those cabinets, people!  That was the first thing we did, so they've been there for a while now...I've been sucking at taking pictures lately, especially since my camera is dying...

We're still back and forth from Mom and Dad's and will be until her counters are finished and I can get the house cleaned and organized for their return.  Our house is taking a backseat until all that is finished, but at least we are here and not making messes at there house ALL the time!

Closing on the house and our first weekend there (05-01-2009)

Well, we closed on our new house on May 1, 2009.  It's taken me forever to finish up this blog because a lot happened right after that.  Not that I didn't document with pictures, but I didn't take the time to post them out here.  Anyway, below are a few pictures of what the house looked like the first time we actually stayed here after closing.

This is Jace's room.  He got built in shelves on either side of his window along with the window seat with drawers in it.  I think his room turned out perfect, but we discovered that with the shelves there it's a bit harder to arrange furniture than you'd think.  Right now, the furniture lines the walls...we'll see what we can do in the future!

Upstairs is such a fun place!  We had fun putting things away up here.

Ah!  The sunset...so cool...

Wood floor...(04-26-2009)

The boys playing on the new wood floor:
Paint on the back door:

Wood floor in the living room:

Shower glass, fixtures & carpet! (04-24-2009)

I love our pendant lights! Surprisingly, we found them at Lowe's...
And another kitchen shot:

Shower glass was installed today. I came in and was shocked at the difference it makes in the look of the bathroom. At first, I didn't like it, but now it has grown on me and I think it looks great!
Fixtures in our GINORMOUS shower:

Carpet in the master:

Carpet upstairs:

Notice in all the pictures that the trim is slowly getting painted...everything is looking good.

Kitchen backsplash and just more pictures! (04-17-2009)

Here's the kitchen backsplash, before grout:
And the master tub set:

Another picture of our sink and faucet in the master bath:

Toilets are in! No septic yet, but toilets are set:

Faucet in the boys' tub...Mom and Dad...take a good look because yours looks just like this:

And sadly, our painters discovered a leak. It finally rained and when it did, they found a leak. Fortunately it was small and didn't ruin anything. Our roofer came out the next week and found it right away, so it's fixed now. Here's the proof...water over the exterior door in the master bedroom:

And Matt found a small puddle in the attic...the leak was by the chimney! Dad, you were right!

Upstairs...

The front door with paint on the trim:

One of my favorite parts...the backsplash over the cooktop:

Looking down the hall at the cased doorways:

The living room with a ceiling fan!