The weather here in the Cleveland Ohio area has been depressing at best. I can't remember the last time we had a Spring filled with this much rain. Oddly enough, as I'm typing this I am also watching the news. The weather reporter just mentioned that this is the wettest month ever. EVER. As in never before has there ever been a month filled with so much rain!!! Driving home from work yesterday, it was nearly pitch black and the rain was just coming down in sheets. Please, rain, just stop already - you're putting off the construction of my house!
I was such a happy girl yesterday. We got hoome from work and there was a piece of mail from our old mortgage company, Wells Fargo. I was assuming it was just an advertisement or a letter saying they'd love to have us back, but much to my surprise it was a check! Yes, a check for a pretty nice sum of money. Turns out it was the amount of money that was in our escrow account. I thought that they had already used that money, so it was such a treat to get that money back.
Til' next time...
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Nice to meet you!
We met one of our soon-to-be new neighbors this weekend! His name is Ron and he seems like he is in (my husbands's) age group. It will be nice to have a bunch of young families to share lots of block parties with!
Our hole has now turned into a contrete box in the ground! Even with all this rain, they were able to put the footers in, and pour the concrete. I was a little concerned that they were pouring the foundation in the rain, but they assured me about ten times that because they put the footers in on a dry day, that the foundation could be poured with no ramifications in the rain. That satisfied me - especially because everything I read says that the footers are the important part, because those are the "building blocks," for everything else.
We've been told that not much will be happening this week - not surprising since we are supposed to have thunderstorms for three straight days, but the real reason not much will happen is because they need to let the foundation settle for a week. I am hoping that this week all the rain will get out of the system we seem to be stuck in, and we'll have bright, sunny, warm weather next week when they frame the house.
I'm so excited to actually see the house all framed. It will make me feel like I actually have a house!!! Wish I had more to update, but hopefully next week will be full of new posts every day!
Our hole has now turned into a contrete box in the ground! Even with all this rain, they were able to put the footers in, and pour the concrete. I was a little concerned that they were pouring the foundation in the rain, but they assured me about ten times that because they put the footers in on a dry day, that the foundation could be poured with no ramifications in the rain. That satisfied me - especially because everything I read says that the footers are the important part, because those are the "building blocks," for everything else.
We've been told that not much will be happening this week - not surprising since we are supposed to have thunderstorms for three straight days, but the real reason not much will happen is because they need to let the foundation settle for a week. I am hoping that this week all the rain will get out of the system we seem to be stuck in, and we'll have bright, sunny, warm weather next week when they frame the house.
I'm so excited to actually see the house all framed. It will make me feel like I actually have a house!!! Wish I had more to update, but hopefully next week will be full of new posts every day!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
We have a HOLE!!!
Last night Scott, Brooklyn and I took a drive out to our lot, and although I know everyone says "they move fast," I didn't expect to see what I saw.
We pulled into the cul-de-sac and immediately saw huge (and I mean huge) mounds of dirt. I guess it had to go somewhere, right? I took some pics, so i'll post them later, but it's amazing what they accomplished in just one day. They dug the entire basement out, already began putting some of the plumbing in the basement, poured the gravel into the hole, and put a bunch of chopped up concrete down where our driveway will eventually go. It is very strange to actually see where our house will go - but it's beyond exciting to see this much progress!
Today is supposed to be a cold but dry day, so I am hopeful of what they accomplish. Especially since beginning tomorrow we are supposed to have rain for five days straight. Yuck.
Okay, that's all the update i've got!
We pulled into the cul-de-sac and immediately saw huge (and I mean huge) mounds of dirt. I guess it had to go somewhere, right? I took some pics, so i'll post them later, but it's amazing what they accomplished in just one day. They dug the entire basement out, already began putting some of the plumbing in the basement, poured the gravel into the hole, and put a bunch of chopped up concrete down where our driveway will eventually go. It is very strange to actually see where our house will go - but it's beyond exciting to see this much progress!
Today is supposed to be a cold but dry day, so I am hopeful of what they accomplish. Especially since beginning tomorrow we are supposed to have rain for five days straight. Yuck.
Okay, that's all the update i've got!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Today is the day!
Today is officially the day that the building begins! I am so excited, happy, and most of all anxious to drive over there later today to see the progress. I know it is just going to look like a big hole - but it's my big hole!
Turns out that they didn't not dig yesterday due to the rain. Apparently the crew that is digging our home was digging a home in North Royalton, where the dirt was actually clay, so it took an extra couple of days that they weren't planning on.
Anyway, it's getting done, and tomorrow is supposed to be nice so hopefully they will get a lot accomplished between now and tomorrows close of business so that I have something yummy to stare at over the weekend! SOOO excited!
Turns out that they didn't not dig yesterday due to the rain. Apparently the crew that is digging our home was digging a home in North Royalton, where the dirt was actually clay, so it took an extra couple of days that they weren't planning on.
Anyway, it's getting done, and tomorrow is supposed to be nice so hopefully they will get a lot accomplished between now and tomorrows close of business so that I have something yummy to stare at over the weekend! SOOO excited!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Guess the weatherman was right, for once...
Hi Beth,
Due to weather related issues, we are now set to dig your home on Wednesday.
Sincerely,
Drees Market ManagerUgh. This email was sitting in my inbox just waiting for me this morning. I knew it wouldn't be today - it's pretty obvious that the weather is too crappy. I'm surprisingly not in a fit of rage over it, either. It makes perfect sense. We don't have rain all month, and now, now that I need it to be dry for a couple weeks, it is raining. Pouring, even. Not just yesterday, not just today, and not just tomorrow. It is supposed to rain non-stop for the next 72 hours, then take a small break, and then rain for another week. Okay, I guess that I am beginning to feel that fit of rage I said I wasn't having :)
All I needed was two weeks of dry weather, so they could dig the basement, frame the house, and I could at least walk in my front door every day if I wanted to. I want to see my house. I want to at least see the frame of my house. This stinks...really, really bad! I think that the hard part is that we've been in this process since the end of February, so basically about two whole months. Heck, that is almost the amount of time it takes to build the house!
Anyway, I guess I'll just sit and wait. But first I will get some breakfast...
Monday, April 18, 2011
Self pity!
I am not asking for pity from anyone, I just ask that no one judge me for feeling pity on myself. That's right - I feel bad for myself. Rain is still in the forecast for the next ten days (except for two, but i'm sure the ground will still be saturated).
I'm still hopeful that it gets dug out tomorrow, but I wouldn't bet on it.
These last couple posts have been pointless at best - yet another reason I need this house to be started!
I'm still hopeful that it gets dug out tomorrow, but I wouldn't bet on it.
These last couple posts have been pointless at best - yet another reason I need this house to be started!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Rain, rain, rain....
I'm beginning to think that things rarely go my way. They are supposed to break ground on Tuesday, but guess what?! RAIN is in the forecast ALL week!!! It's ridiculous, I should have known that if I wanted it to be sunny and dry out that it would be thunderstorms and dismal.
Stupid weather, resulting in this stupid post. Goodnight, all.
Stupid weather, resulting in this stupid post. Goodnight, all.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
I found the difference!
After writing my post this morning, titled "so what exactly is the difference," I realized that I really didn't know. I wanted to know. Sure, it's a bit late to consider other options, but I still wanted to know why so many people in our age group sign with Ryan Homes.
Before I begin I want to say that the Ryan Home my husband and I toured today was absolutely beautiful. The home was just over 3,000 square feet, had five bedrooms and two full, and two half bathrooms.
When my husband and I pulled into the model homes' driveway we did one of our favorite things. We pretended to be completely different people, living completely different lives. Can you tell we are married, have a baby, and live with the 'rents? :)
The house was downright beautiful. Seeing the morning room in person was even more impressive than on paper. Then I became jealous for about half a second before realizing that other than the morning room, there was nothing else to be jealous over. In fact, actually, it made both my husband and I realize that our decision to build with Drees was the absolute right reason for us to make.
At the end of the tour, she handed me a couple pieces of paper. One was the list of top home builders in the area. Naturally, Ryan Homes was number one, but Drees Homes was number two. I gently asked what the difference was between Ryan and Drees. I liked the lady, she was honest. Her response was that Drees is a "custom builder, who tailors their homes around the personality and desires of their buyers." The question running through my head was "so Ryan doesn't?" The second piece of paper was the average sales price of homes in the area. Ryan Homes' builds their homes for approximately $60,000 less than what Drees Homes does. I admitt, I was a little concerned. Could we have gotten a bigger house, with more upgrades for the same price we paid for our Drees home? The answer is yes. We could have gotten the Ryan model home without the bonus room, but with all the other upgrades for the same price we paid for our Drees home. So, where is the extra money allocated when buying a Drees home?
It is all about being custom, and not just a big sided box. It is about having a custom look, and having the help of an architect, an engineer, a professional design consultant, and a team that is paid to help you achieve the house that is built to match your individual personality. None of which Ryan Homes offers.
I will forever be jealous of all the people who have that gorgeous morning room - but at the end of the day, I am over the moon about having a house that isn't just a big beige box.
Before I begin I want to say that the Ryan Home my husband and I toured today was absolutely beautiful. The home was just over 3,000 square feet, had five bedrooms and two full, and two half bathrooms.
When my husband and I pulled into the model homes' driveway we did one of our favorite things. We pretended to be completely different people, living completely different lives. Can you tell we are married, have a baby, and live with the 'rents? :)
The house was downright beautiful. Seeing the morning room in person was even more impressive than on paper. Then I became jealous for about half a second before realizing that other than the morning room, there was nothing else to be jealous over. In fact, actually, it made both my husband and I realize that our decision to build with Drees was the absolute right reason for us to make.
At the end of the tour, she handed me a couple pieces of paper. One was the list of top home builders in the area. Naturally, Ryan Homes was number one, but Drees Homes was number two. I gently asked what the difference was between Ryan and Drees. I liked the lady, she was honest. Her response was that Drees is a "custom builder, who tailors their homes around the personality and desires of their buyers." The question running through my head was "so Ryan doesn't?" The second piece of paper was the average sales price of homes in the area. Ryan Homes' builds their homes for approximately $60,000 less than what Drees Homes does. I admitt, I was a little concerned. Could we have gotten a bigger house, with more upgrades for the same price we paid for our Drees home? The answer is yes. We could have gotten the Ryan model home without the bonus room, but with all the other upgrades for the same price we paid for our Drees home. So, where is the extra money allocated when buying a Drees home?
It is all about being custom, and not just a big sided box. It is about having a custom look, and having the help of an architect, an engineer, a professional design consultant, and a team that is paid to help you achieve the house that is built to match your individual personality. None of which Ryan Homes offers.
I will forever be jealous of all the people who have that gorgeous morning room - but at the end of the day, I am over the moon about having a house that isn't just a big beige box.
So, what exactly is the difference??
The particular development we are building in offers two different builders, Ryan Homes and Drees Homes. A lot of people have been asking me, "why Drees?" Honestly, I don't really know why, I just know that I haven't heard nearly as many horror stories about Drees as I have Ryan. Then again, I haven't heard of as many people building with Drees as I have Ryan, so there very well may be a ratio correlation there.
As I am finding out, both Ryan and Drees use the same vendors for the majority of the finishes in their homes. Same brands, same color choices, and most of the things that are considered standard and upgrades are the same in both homes as well. So really, I am not too sure where exactly the difference is.
I will say that I am insanely jealous of the morning room that Ryan offers. Drees offers a similar type of room, called the sunroom, but I wasn't as big of a fan. We did extend the size of the breakfast room, so it's not so much that i'm upset at the size of our kitchen/breakfast area, I'm just jealous of the way it looks!
One thing that definitely sold me on Drees though, was the custom look that each of their homes has. Ryan homes all look like big boxes to me, whereas Drees homes look more custom. Example, a lot of Ryan floor plans have the plumbing in the same area on both the first and second floor, have a lot of the same shapes of rooms on both floors, etc., where Drees has rooms staggered and not just one above the other.
Either way, I am beginning to think there really aren't all that many differences between the two builders. While one offers a gorgeous morning room, the other offers are more appealing facade. Really, it depends on individual preference, taste, and which means more to you.
Today Scott and I are going to look at some more model homes, both Ryan and Drees. While we are only two days from our dig-date and have already signed with Drees, I still like going into the model homes for decorating ideas. Many of the first floor-plans are the open concept in both Ryan and Drees homes, so it's nice to see how they separate the space.
As I am finding out, both Ryan and Drees use the same vendors for the majority of the finishes in their homes. Same brands, same color choices, and most of the things that are considered standard and upgrades are the same in both homes as well. So really, I am not too sure where exactly the difference is.
I will say that I am insanely jealous of the morning room that Ryan offers. Drees offers a similar type of room, called the sunroom, but I wasn't as big of a fan. We did extend the size of the breakfast room, so it's not so much that i'm upset at the size of our kitchen/breakfast area, I'm just jealous of the way it looks!
One thing that definitely sold me on Drees though, was the custom look that each of their homes has. Ryan homes all look like big boxes to me, whereas Drees homes look more custom. Example, a lot of Ryan floor plans have the plumbing in the same area on both the first and second floor, have a lot of the same shapes of rooms on both floors, etc., where Drees has rooms staggered and not just one above the other.
Either way, I am beginning to think there really aren't all that many differences between the two builders. While one offers a gorgeous morning room, the other offers are more appealing facade. Really, it depends on individual preference, taste, and which means more to you.
Today Scott and I are going to look at some more model homes, both Ryan and Drees. While we are only two days from our dig-date and have already signed with Drees, I still like going into the model homes for decorating ideas. Many of the first floor-plans are the open concept in both Ryan and Drees homes, so it's nice to see how they separate the space.
Friday, April 15, 2011
So, I've been busy reading other blogs of couples building their homes, and I realized that with all the chaos of moving and all, I've completely forgotten to mention what type of house we are building, and all the fun little things we chose to go inside of it!
I will start by giving a shout out to the builder we selected. There are so many different builders out there these days, that choosing one is not an easy task. The development that we are building in offers two builders. Ryan Homes and Drees. After all the not-so-pleasant things we've heard about Ryan Homes, we finally decided to go with Drees - and I couldn't be happier! Ryan Homes did offer a lot of great ammenities in each house, including larger square footage for the same price as a (smaller) Drees home. We still couldn't do it, we just couldn't take the chance on all those rumors being true. So we decided that 2100 square feet was large enough for us, and that we would go with Drees.
Drees offers so many different types of houses - from ranches to colonials, and bungalows to homes that may as well be castles. We knew we wanted a colonial. So then we had to begin looking at all the models and floorplans of all the colonials they offered. Darn well knowing that we can't afford a 4,000 square foot, five bedroom house, we ended up going with a very modestly-sized and priced colonial, called the Crosby., It is 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. We selected elevation "D," - which happens to be the most high-end version of the house, complete with a brick and siding combination front. It is one of those houses that has a two-story foyer, so you can see the chandelier in the second story front window when you pull up to it at night...how exciting!!!
A lot of things come standard with Drees homes, but there were certain things that we decided to upgrade. Of course with the base price of the house already being higher than we were anticipating spending, we had to be conservative with our upgrades. We decided to do the following upgrades:
- A custom 3 foot extention to the main floor; allocating 1 foot to the breakfast room and 2 feet to the family room. With this alteration, our basement will also have those extra 3 feet. We chose to do this for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that although we do have a (small) front living room, we plan on using it as an office, so our family room needed to be more of a "great" room. Second, since we chose a floorplan without a formal dining room, we wanted to ensure our breakfast room was plenty big to fit all our family/friends in.
- Kitchen Island - we definitely wanted a kitchen island. More counterspace, an overhang for kids to sit and eat or do homework at - it was a decision that wasn't even a decision. It was a must!
-Upgraded countertops. We upgraded to granite. With the main floor being very open, we knew that it was going to be the star of the show, and nothing screams star like granite. Nothing. With this upgrade, it automatically upgraded our sink, and then upgraded the upgraded sink to be undermounted. Fabulous!
-Upgraded kitchen faucet. When you have granite countertops, an upgraded stainless sink, and beautiful cabinetry (standard), you can't have a rinky-dink faucet. This upgrade cost more than I thought it would though, that is for sure.
-Upgraded appliances. We ended up selecting the stainless package. Again, when you upgrade everything else in the kitchen, which is the star of the show, you can't have apartment-sized standard appliances.
-A gas stove. Hard to believe, but running a gas line to the stove was an upgrade. A very inexpensive upgrade, but an upgrade none-the-less.
-Recessed can lights in the kitchen. The standard option was a huge flourescent light that looked so 1980's it wasn't funny. Actually, the whole lighting category is where Drees definitely dropped the ball. Their standard lighting options were hideous.
-Upgraded whole-house light package. We upgraded every single light fixture. There wasn't a question about it - hollywood lights in the bathrooms and a tin chandelier just wasn't going to do it for us.
-Upgraded flooring in the foyer, hallway, powder room, breakfast room, kitchen, and mud room. All of those areas will be gorgeous hardwood. I am in love with the flooring! We did leave all the other rooms as standard builders-grade carpet, but did upgrade the padding. We have a baby, and a small dog, so if this carpet gets puked, pooped, or spilled on I won't mind (as much).
-Gas fireplace. A house would never be a home without one!
-Fireplace surround. This was a last-minute upgrade. We decided to go with a super sexy slate in lieu of the standard beige tile. The slate is blackish-brown with hints of copper and blue running through it.
-Mantle outlet - we didn't upgrade the mantle itself, because the standard Drees mantle is gorgeous, but we did add an outlet in it, so that I can plug in my holiday decor directly into the mantle and never see a wire! How creative is that?!
-Wire chase - This is a man upgrade if I ever heard of one - and that's exactly who selected it - my husband! Apparently this upgrade makes it so the TV will be mounted above the fireplace, and you won't see one stinking wire. Again, just a cosmetic upgrade that will probably make a world of a difference.
-Vaulted master bedroom ceiling. This was just one of those options that made the bedroom look grand. I can't say enough how thrilled I am about this upgrade. 10' ceilings will make my bed look like it belongs in a college dormroom. Our bedroom also has a sitting area, which comes standard.
-Owners bath. This was another area where we decided to go ahead and really get what we wanted. We upgraded to the full five-piece bath (double bowl sink with upgraded countertop, toilet, shower, garden tub). It really will be my own personal retreat!
-Upgraded master bath window. The window that comes standard is a non-functioning 4' window that is above the garden tub. I changed it to a functioning window, even though it resulted in the window only being 3' wide.
We also upgraded our paint colors, toilets, added a wash-tub in the laundry room, and few extra outlets and cable jacks, but honestly those are necessary add-ons, i'd hardly call them "upgrades."
While our house is definitely not going to be the largest house in our development, it is exactly what we want, in the location that we want. (On a cul-de-sac), with nothing but un-buildable land behind it, trees, ponds and nature!
C'mon April 19th - I can't wait to meet my new house!
I will start by giving a shout out to the builder we selected. There are so many different builders out there these days, that choosing one is not an easy task. The development that we are building in offers two builders. Ryan Homes and Drees. After all the not-so-pleasant things we've heard about Ryan Homes, we finally decided to go with Drees - and I couldn't be happier! Ryan Homes did offer a lot of great ammenities in each house, including larger square footage for the same price as a (smaller) Drees home. We still couldn't do it, we just couldn't take the chance on all those rumors being true. So we decided that 2100 square feet was large enough for us, and that we would go with Drees.
Drees offers so many different types of houses - from ranches to colonials, and bungalows to homes that may as well be castles. We knew we wanted a colonial. So then we had to begin looking at all the models and floorplans of all the colonials they offered. Darn well knowing that we can't afford a 4,000 square foot, five bedroom house, we ended up going with a very modestly-sized and priced colonial, called the Crosby., It is 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. We selected elevation "D," - which happens to be the most high-end version of the house, complete with a brick and siding combination front. It is one of those houses that has a two-story foyer, so you can see the chandelier in the second story front window when you pull up to it at night...how exciting!!!
A lot of things come standard with Drees homes, but there were certain things that we decided to upgrade. Of course with the base price of the house already being higher than we were anticipating spending, we had to be conservative with our upgrades. We decided to do the following upgrades:
- A custom 3 foot extention to the main floor; allocating 1 foot to the breakfast room and 2 feet to the family room. With this alteration, our basement will also have those extra 3 feet. We chose to do this for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that although we do have a (small) front living room, we plan on using it as an office, so our family room needed to be more of a "great" room. Second, since we chose a floorplan without a formal dining room, we wanted to ensure our breakfast room was plenty big to fit all our family/friends in.
- Kitchen Island - we definitely wanted a kitchen island. More counterspace, an overhang for kids to sit and eat or do homework at - it was a decision that wasn't even a decision. It was a must!
-Upgraded countertops. We upgraded to granite. With the main floor being very open, we knew that it was going to be the star of the show, and nothing screams star like granite. Nothing. With this upgrade, it automatically upgraded our sink, and then upgraded the upgraded sink to be undermounted. Fabulous!
-Upgraded kitchen faucet. When you have granite countertops, an upgraded stainless sink, and beautiful cabinetry (standard), you can't have a rinky-dink faucet. This upgrade cost more than I thought it would though, that is for sure.
-Upgraded appliances. We ended up selecting the stainless package. Again, when you upgrade everything else in the kitchen, which is the star of the show, you can't have apartment-sized standard appliances.
-A gas stove. Hard to believe, but running a gas line to the stove was an upgrade. A very inexpensive upgrade, but an upgrade none-the-less.
-Recessed can lights in the kitchen. The standard option was a huge flourescent light that looked so 1980's it wasn't funny. Actually, the whole lighting category is where Drees definitely dropped the ball. Their standard lighting options were hideous.
-Upgraded whole-house light package. We upgraded every single light fixture. There wasn't a question about it - hollywood lights in the bathrooms and a tin chandelier just wasn't going to do it for us.
-Upgraded flooring in the foyer, hallway, powder room, breakfast room, kitchen, and mud room. All of those areas will be gorgeous hardwood. I am in love with the flooring! We did leave all the other rooms as standard builders-grade carpet, but did upgrade the padding. We have a baby, and a small dog, so if this carpet gets puked, pooped, or spilled on I won't mind (as much).
-Gas fireplace. A house would never be a home without one!
-Fireplace surround. This was a last-minute upgrade. We decided to go with a super sexy slate in lieu of the standard beige tile. The slate is blackish-brown with hints of copper and blue running through it.
-Mantle outlet - we didn't upgrade the mantle itself, because the standard Drees mantle is gorgeous, but we did add an outlet in it, so that I can plug in my holiday decor directly into the mantle and never see a wire! How creative is that?!
-Wire chase - This is a man upgrade if I ever heard of one - and that's exactly who selected it - my husband! Apparently this upgrade makes it so the TV will be mounted above the fireplace, and you won't see one stinking wire. Again, just a cosmetic upgrade that will probably make a world of a difference.
-Vaulted master bedroom ceiling. This was just one of those options that made the bedroom look grand. I can't say enough how thrilled I am about this upgrade. 10' ceilings will make my bed look like it belongs in a college dormroom. Our bedroom also has a sitting area, which comes standard.
-Owners bath. This was another area where we decided to go ahead and really get what we wanted. We upgraded to the full five-piece bath (double bowl sink with upgraded countertop, toilet, shower, garden tub). It really will be my own personal retreat!
-Upgraded master bath window. The window that comes standard is a non-functioning 4' window that is above the garden tub. I changed it to a functioning window, even though it resulted in the window only being 3' wide.
We also upgraded our paint colors, toilets, added a wash-tub in the laundry room, and few extra outlets and cable jacks, but honestly those are necessary add-ons, i'd hardly call them "upgrades."
While our house is definitely not going to be the largest house in our development, it is exactly what we want, in the location that we want. (On a cul-de-sac), with nothing but un-buildable land behind it, trees, ponds and nature!
C'mon April 19th - I can't wait to meet my new house!
Monday, April 11, 2011
So THATS what it's going to look like?!
This past weekend was a great one - mostly because we had our daugter baptized, but we also got a sneak peak of what our house will look like when it's framed. Well, sort of. It's not our house, nor is it "exact," but it was close enough for us to get excited.
We really didn't have much to do on Saturday. We woke up semi-early and after putzing around the house for a few hours I looked at Scott and asked him if he wanted to drive by our lot just for the heck of it. Without even thinking twice he grabbed the baby and we were in the car.
As we pulled in front of our lot I got out, and opened the back of our SUV to get the stroller out. I sort of had it in my mind that we would take the baby for a walk around our "new development" so that I could stare at the houses longer than just driving by. I did not tell Scott that I had this in my mind though, so he was a bit surprised. After realizing what I was doing, he got out, put the baby in her stroller, and off we went. We walked and walked, and then looked up and saw the same model of our house being built!!! Well, it wasn't actually being built, but there it was, all the framing was up.
Scott thought I was nuts, but I decided to go in it. You would have thought it was mine! I was practically jumping up and down, skipping all over the place - it was fabulous! All I could think was "my island will be here, my couch will be here - oh, and my big garden tub will be here!" Then I kept having to take a step back and remember that it wasn't really my house.
Our blueprint review is this Wednesday afternoon, and I couldn't be any more excited. I just want to tell them to dig now - i'll bring my shovel! Even though I do know that they don't really use shovels.
Anyway, that is all for now...hopefully there will be more updates once they actually being working on OUR home! :)
We really didn't have much to do on Saturday. We woke up semi-early and after putzing around the house for a few hours I looked at Scott and asked him if he wanted to drive by our lot just for the heck of it. Without even thinking twice he grabbed the baby and we were in the car.
As we pulled in front of our lot I got out, and opened the back of our SUV to get the stroller out. I sort of had it in my mind that we would take the baby for a walk around our "new development" so that I could stare at the houses longer than just driving by. I did not tell Scott that I had this in my mind though, so he was a bit surprised. After realizing what I was doing, he got out, put the baby in her stroller, and off we went. We walked and walked, and then looked up and saw the same model of our house being built!!! Well, it wasn't actually being built, but there it was, all the framing was up.
Scott thought I was nuts, but I decided to go in it. You would have thought it was mine! I was practically jumping up and down, skipping all over the place - it was fabulous! All I could think was "my island will be here, my couch will be here - oh, and my big garden tub will be here!" Then I kept having to take a step back and remember that it wasn't really my house.
Our blueprint review is this Wednesday afternoon, and I couldn't be any more excited. I just want to tell them to dig now - i'll bring my shovel! Even though I do know that they don't really use shovels.
Anyway, that is all for now...hopefully there will be more updates once they actually being working on OUR home! :)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
I'll bring my shovel!
My routine has been flipped inside out and upside down. What will I ever do without my breakfast nachos and DVR?!
We have been living with my in-laws for just over two weeks now, and while I know it is too early to judge, I can definitely say that it is hard living under someone else's roof - even if you love and get along with them. I am so grateful for everything they've provided with, because I know that without them none of this would be possible. This is where the "but" comes in. Scott and I have lived on our own for six years at this point - and it is flat out hard to get used to living under someone elses roof again.
I won't say anything else, because I would be concerned it would come off wrong, and I don't want to risk that happening. All I will say is I can't wait til we are moving into our beautiful new home.
Speaking of, Drees is breaking ground on April 19th. Of course this is tentative, since the weather always plays a big role in the building process, but the point is we now have a date to look forward to.
I am so excited to see a huge hole in the ground, foundation poured, and framing up. That will make me feel like it is more "real." I find myself day dreaming of a beautiful fall day, where I have all the windows and sliding door open to feel the crisp breeze and the smell of the leaves changing, while we enjoy a crock-pot full of chili and cornbread and watch football. Isn't that what dreams are made of??
Although perhaps I shouldn't jinx myself. The football lockout is still looming over us, and I think I am taking it harder than Scott. He seems to think that there will still be a regular season, while I on the other hand refuse to think positive while the news headlines say "NFL and players to be in court Wednesday, April 6th."
For now I will be grateful for the ability to save money, for spring being here, for warmer weather, for the trailer in Marblehead opening, and for a healthy and happy family and baby.
I will also be ungrateful for this stupid hernia i've got. Now, will the remainder of my workday be over yet?!
We have been living with my in-laws for just over two weeks now, and while I know it is too early to judge, I can definitely say that it is hard living under someone else's roof - even if you love and get along with them. I am so grateful for everything they've provided with, because I know that without them none of this would be possible. This is where the "but" comes in. Scott and I have lived on our own for six years at this point - and it is flat out hard to get used to living under someone elses roof again.
I won't say anything else, because I would be concerned it would come off wrong, and I don't want to risk that happening. All I will say is I can't wait til we are moving into our beautiful new home.
Speaking of, Drees is breaking ground on April 19th. Of course this is tentative, since the weather always plays a big role in the building process, but the point is we now have a date to look forward to.
I am so excited to see a huge hole in the ground, foundation poured, and framing up. That will make me feel like it is more "real." I find myself day dreaming of a beautiful fall day, where I have all the windows and sliding door open to feel the crisp breeze and the smell of the leaves changing, while we enjoy a crock-pot full of chili and cornbread and watch football. Isn't that what dreams are made of??
Although perhaps I shouldn't jinx myself. The football lockout is still looming over us, and I think I am taking it harder than Scott. He seems to think that there will still be a regular season, while I on the other hand refuse to think positive while the news headlines say "NFL and players to be in court Wednesday, April 6th."
For now I will be grateful for the ability to save money, for spring being here, for warmer weather, for the trailer in Marblehead opening, and for a healthy and happy family and baby.
I will also be ungrateful for this stupid hernia i've got. Now, will the remainder of my workday be over yet?!
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