Although this past weekend was an extended three-day weekend, there isn't much to report. Scott and I visited the house a couple times between Friday after work and last night, but there wasn't really a purpose to the visits other than just to see the place.
The things that are done are the plumbing and heating/cooling. Electrical is half complete, and is being finished today, and then inspections and insulation tomorrow. Sometime between now and Thursday our brick and siding is (finally) getting put up, and then (drumroll, please) the pre-drywall meeting is Thursday at 9am!
YES, that's right...it is finally scheduled! I felt like this day would never come, but here it is! Since they normally begin drywalling right after the meeting, and the drywall takes about 1-2 days to complete, I am hoping that it is all done by the weekend. Although a few weeks ago I was excited just to see the framing, I am now over that and ready for the fun part to begin.
Once the drywall is in, then all of the big things like cabinets, and pillars go in, and then after that come all the finishes that I am so crazy about. I am eager to see how everything we selected looks together.
The house down the street is now locked up, so I can't peek in there anymore to see the progress. Since the house is about a month ahead of us, I am hoping that that means we will be in our house at the end of July afterall. I can't wait to have friends over again - living with the in-laws makes having a social life nearly impossible, and I am itching to celebrate the new house and my friend Katie's new baby!!!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Progress?
Progress on the house has been slow at best this week. As of last Thursday, our builder told us that by this time we'd be ready for our pre-drywall meeting, which would mean brick/siding, electrical, plumbing, heating/cooling and insulation would all be complete. That is not the case. We drove by yesterday and there is no electrical, no insulation, and while the brick and siding is at the homesite, it is definitely not on the house.
With it being a holiday weekend there is not much hope of work being done, and since we are still supposed to have scattered showers today, my guess is that the siding and brick will still be in the garage come Tuesday.
Our weekend plans have changed once again, as my wonderful husband let me know this morning that an annual walk we do is this weekend. Apparently me asking for him to find out the date and time for two months wasn't acceptable, but then I am expected to be just fine with having less than 36 hours of notice.
With the walk being on Sunday, I am not seeing the point of going up to the trailer at all - so who knows what we'll end up doing this weekend.
The rib burn-off is also this weekend, making this weekend the kick-off of crazy busy weekends for the next two months straight. I really wish there were weekends where all I had to do was relax. Where are those weekends???
With it being a holiday weekend there is not much hope of work being done, and since we are still supposed to have scattered showers today, my guess is that the siding and brick will still be in the garage come Tuesday.
Our weekend plans have changed once again, as my wonderful husband let me know this morning that an annual walk we do is this weekend. Apparently me asking for him to find out the date and time for two months wasn't acceptable, but then I am expected to be just fine with having less than 36 hours of notice.
With the walk being on Sunday, I am not seeing the point of going up to the trailer at all - so who knows what we'll end up doing this weekend.
The rib burn-off is also this weekend, making this weekend the kick-off of crazy busy weekends for the next two months straight. I really wish there were weekends where all I had to do was relax. Where are those weekends???
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Progress and frustration
I wish that today's post was more exciting, and I could report that the brick is up, siding has been delivered, electical is complete, yadda yadda yadda, but I can't. It's not because none of that stuff is done, it's because I don't know what has been done. We didn't go by the house yesterday because we had more nasty weather. There were more tornado warnings and strong storms in the evening so we opted to stay at 'home.'
I am beginning to hate calling here 'home,' but I have to keep chugging along. It is so hard to live under someone elses roof - and I am beginning to feel frustrated when progress isn't happening each and every day at my house.
The sheer lack of privacy is starting to eat at me. Yesterday I came home and noticed that someone had been down in our apartment. Things were not where I had them, and saran wrap was sitting on the couch (I never use saran wrap, don't even own it).
This process is becoming more frustrating by the day, and I'm just about one beat shy from losing my mind. This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, which means a nice long three day weekend for us. It also means that everyone heads up to the trailer to grill out and drink all weekend. Initially, Scott and I said we'd go up there Friday night after we got out of work and stay until Sunday night, but after talking about it and both confessing that the last thing we'd want to do is be cooped up in an even smaller place with the family, we decided we're only going to stay one night. It's too much. Going up Saturday morning, and coming back Sunday morning will be plenty enough for us. This way we can have the house to ourselves for a couple days, and hopefully get some of our sanity back.
Building a house is such a wonderful thing to do - both for personal reasons, and for the economy, but there are definitely sacrifies that come with it. Apparently sanity is what you sacrifice.
If I had the chance to go back, I would probably have done things very differently. Sure, we learned a lot from our experience of buying a home, and then selling it a few years later, but if I could go back I wouldn't do that again. I would have either built our house while both still living in our own apartments, or I would have lived in the same apartment as Scott for a little while, and then built a house. I probably wouldn't consider buying an existing home after seeing how the building process works, but if I did buy an existing home it would probably take me an eternity to find something I really like.
Switching gears to a more exciting and happy topic, today is my sweet baby Brooklyn's six month check-up. I can't believe she is six months old already, but I can say that each day she gets better and better. I couldn't imagine my life without her and am thankful to have such a beautiful, healthy family. Hopefully a more cheerful update will follow later today! :)
I am beginning to hate calling here 'home,' but I have to keep chugging along. It is so hard to live under someone elses roof - and I am beginning to feel frustrated when progress isn't happening each and every day at my house.
The sheer lack of privacy is starting to eat at me. Yesterday I came home and noticed that someone had been down in our apartment. Things were not where I had them, and saran wrap was sitting on the couch (I never use saran wrap, don't even own it).
This process is becoming more frustrating by the day, and I'm just about one beat shy from losing my mind. This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, which means a nice long three day weekend for us. It also means that everyone heads up to the trailer to grill out and drink all weekend. Initially, Scott and I said we'd go up there Friday night after we got out of work and stay until Sunday night, but after talking about it and both confessing that the last thing we'd want to do is be cooped up in an even smaller place with the family, we decided we're only going to stay one night. It's too much. Going up Saturday morning, and coming back Sunday morning will be plenty enough for us. This way we can have the house to ourselves for a couple days, and hopefully get some of our sanity back.
Building a house is such a wonderful thing to do - both for personal reasons, and for the economy, but there are definitely sacrifies that come with it. Apparently sanity is what you sacrifice.
If I had the chance to go back, I would probably have done things very differently. Sure, we learned a lot from our experience of buying a home, and then selling it a few years later, but if I could go back I wouldn't do that again. I would have either built our house while both still living in our own apartments, or I would have lived in the same apartment as Scott for a little while, and then built a house. I probably wouldn't consider buying an existing home after seeing how the building process works, but if I did buy an existing home it would probably take me an eternity to find something I really like.
Switching gears to a more exciting and happy topic, today is my sweet baby Brooklyn's six month check-up. I can't believe she is six months old already, but I can say that each day she gets better and better. I couldn't imagine my life without her and am thankful to have such a beautiful, healthy family. Hopefully a more cheerful update will follow later today! :)
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
HVAC complete, now onto the brick!
We drove out to the house yesterday, and were so happy to see that all the heating and cooling has been installed! There was also a huge stack of brick tightly wrapped in plastic waiting in our front yard. I am assuming that that means it will be put up today. In our Drees binder it says that the brick goes up in this stage, and if it follows the trend of everything else, then it would be put up today since it was delivered yesterday. I am so excited about this part!!!
After taking a good look around our place I went into the house down the street that is about a month ahead of us in the building process. As mentioned before, the house is the same as ours, but a lower elevation and no three foot extention. They are currently in the process of having all their finishes put in the house, such as the counters, faucets, appliances, toilets, etc., so I was really eager to see what they selected. Apparently they didn't select much. The things that we have in common are the hardwood floors, kitchen and bath cabinets, and recessed lighting. Other than that, not much else is the same. They have a really shallow kitchen sink, (i'm not lying when I say it's probably only 3-4 inches deep). They have basic faucets for all the sinks, as well as the standard round toilets, and laminate countertops throughout.
I couldn't imagine building a house and just having the basic fixtures. Why would you build a house only to have a "to-do" list as soon as you move in? The only thing we have to swap out is the faucet in the half bath - and even that isn't a priority to me.
I am going to resist driving by on my way home today, but hopefully we'll take a ride out there tonight! Yay, brick!!! :)
After taking a good look around our place I went into the house down the street that is about a month ahead of us in the building process. As mentioned before, the house is the same as ours, but a lower elevation and no three foot extention. They are currently in the process of having all their finishes put in the house, such as the counters, faucets, appliances, toilets, etc., so I was really eager to see what they selected. Apparently they didn't select much. The things that we have in common are the hardwood floors, kitchen and bath cabinets, and recessed lighting. Other than that, not much else is the same. They have a really shallow kitchen sink, (i'm not lying when I say it's probably only 3-4 inches deep). They have basic faucets for all the sinks, as well as the standard round toilets, and laminate countertops throughout.
I couldn't imagine building a house and just having the basic fixtures. Why would you build a house only to have a "to-do" list as soon as you move in? The only thing we have to swap out is the faucet in the half bath - and even that isn't a priority to me.
I am going to resist driving by on my way home today, but hopefully we'll take a ride out there tonight! Yay, brick!!! :)
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
High hopes of progress, and my steal of a deal!
Today I have no patience. I'm not in a grumpy mood, but I am beginning to feel antsy about the siding and brick being put on my house. I feel like the house down the street (that is about 3-4 weeks ahead of us) has had their siding on for at least 4 weeks. We should be at that point by now, yet there is no siding. No brick.
In my Drees binder, it says that the brick is done during the phase we are currently in, but it says nothing about when the siding gets put on. I am assuming that it would happen at the same time the brick gets put up.
We are planning on driving by the house tonight, and I am hoping to see major changes to our house, including the siding/brick, heating and cooling, and the electrical. I want things to get moving. Considering what Bill told us last week, and that our pre-drywall could either be Friday or Monday, and that is after the inspectors come out, I feel like we should see big improvements today.
Changing gears now, I must brag about the steal of the century that I scored this morning. In our new house we are having hardwood installed on most of the first floor, and the two bathrooms upstairs and the laundry room all have vinyl flooring. Given this, and the fact we will have a crawler by the time we move in, and a dog, and a cat, we needed to buy some sort of solid surface floor cleaner. I've been doing my research on the sweep then steam vacuums, and the best one on the market (that I've found) is the Shark one. Of course it is also the most expensive, at a whopping $160. I was planning on buying it at Bed Bath and Beyond, using a 20% off coupon as well as a mail-in rebate that is good through August. It still would have cost me $108, plus tax.
Well....low and behold, I was watching the deal of the day segment on the news this morning, and guess what?! The Shark sweep then steam vac was offered at a 70% discount, at $49 plus shipping. You'd better believe that within 15 minutes I had my card out and ordered mine! I couldn't believe that for a grand total of $54.97 I am getting a $160 product, that cleans and sanitizes 99.9% of germs!
I think I am a pretty thrifty person, and while I don't buy junk that I don't need, I must admit that I do feel very proud when I get something at a super discounted price. Now hopefully I can find a deal on a new lawnmower and grill!
In my Drees binder, it says that the brick is done during the phase we are currently in, but it says nothing about when the siding gets put on. I am assuming that it would happen at the same time the brick gets put up.
We are planning on driving by the house tonight, and I am hoping to see major changes to our house, including the siding/brick, heating and cooling, and the electrical. I want things to get moving. Considering what Bill told us last week, and that our pre-drywall could either be Friday or Monday, and that is after the inspectors come out, I feel like we should see big improvements today.
Changing gears now, I must brag about the steal of the century that I scored this morning. In our new house we are having hardwood installed on most of the first floor, and the two bathrooms upstairs and the laundry room all have vinyl flooring. Given this, and the fact we will have a crawler by the time we move in, and a dog, and a cat, we needed to buy some sort of solid surface floor cleaner. I've been doing my research on the sweep then steam vacuums, and the best one on the market (that I've found) is the Shark one. Of course it is also the most expensive, at a whopping $160. I was planning on buying it at Bed Bath and Beyond, using a 20% off coupon as well as a mail-in rebate that is good through August. It still would have cost me $108, plus tax.
Well....low and behold, I was watching the deal of the day segment on the news this morning, and guess what?! The Shark sweep then steam vac was offered at a 70% discount, at $49 plus shipping. You'd better believe that within 15 minutes I had my card out and ordered mine! I couldn't believe that for a grand total of $54.97 I am getting a $160 product, that cleans and sanitizes 99.9% of germs!
I think I am a pretty thrifty person, and while I don't buy junk that I don't need, I must admit that I do feel very proud when I get something at a super discounted price. Now hopefully I can find a deal on a new lawnmower and grill!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Things I miss
After years of living on our own we got into our own routine. Although we will both always have fond memories of the days of living with our folks, over time you do settle into to your own routine, and do things the way that make sense to you. Maybe it's the time you wake up, or the order you do things before leaving for work, or how you tackle your "to-do" list on weekends, or maybe the simple things like what you eat.
This is exactly where Scott and I are at. We miss our routines. It's not the same living under someone elses roof, nor is it easy.
With that said, here are the things that I miss:
1.) Getting home from work and watching PTI while making and eating dinner. I feel somewhat embarrassed that that is the number one thing I miss. We never get to see PTI anymore, for various reasons. At our new place I know that we won't be home in time to catch it, but that is what a DVR is for!
2.) Having our own bedroom, especially one that is not in a basement. Right now we are sharing a room with our little pea, and while I love her dearly it sure does make everything, and I mean everything, very difficult. The ceramic tile in the kitchen above is like an amplifier for the sound, so unless you tip-toe, the baby is for sure waking up. Forget anything romantic - there is zero chance.
3.) Having a TV in our bedroom. This one makes me sound like a lazy bum, but I don't care. I miss having my TV in the bedroom. It is one of my personal favorites. We go into the bedroom and watch one last episode of House Hunters, or Bachelorette, or some other mindless show before calling it a night.
4.) Cleaning my own house. This one may actually be more embarrassing that number one. I don't actually enjoy cleaning per say, but there is definitely a pride thing when it comes to cleaning your own place. I miss spraying scrubbing bubbles all over the bathroom and making it look hotel-ish, and there is something about a "magazine perfect" kitchen that just gets me excited. I miss those things, I really do...
5.) Having a full bath. Right now the shower is in one room, and the toilet and sink around across the basement. I cannot wait for my five piece owner's bath. I am drooling as I type this!
6.) Sundays. Especially during football season. Our Sunday routine is one that just cannot be beat. We wake up and take our time on Sundays, and either go to breakfast and devour the newspaper, or make a full pot of coffee and lounge on the couch reading the paper. Either option sounds glorious right about now.
7.) Not doing anything, and not feeling guilty for it. The title pretty much says it all for this one.
I'm sure there are more things that I miss that I am just forgetting right now, but I'll keep updating as I think of more things. Let's hope the rest of this journey goes quickly - or at least fast enough for Scott and I to not lose our minds!
This is exactly where Scott and I are at. We miss our routines. It's not the same living under someone elses roof, nor is it easy.
With that said, here are the things that I miss:
1.) Getting home from work and watching PTI while making and eating dinner. I feel somewhat embarrassed that that is the number one thing I miss. We never get to see PTI anymore, for various reasons. At our new place I know that we won't be home in time to catch it, but that is what a DVR is for!
2.) Having our own bedroom, especially one that is not in a basement. Right now we are sharing a room with our little pea, and while I love her dearly it sure does make everything, and I mean everything, very difficult. The ceramic tile in the kitchen above is like an amplifier for the sound, so unless you tip-toe, the baby is for sure waking up. Forget anything romantic - there is zero chance.
3.) Having a TV in our bedroom. This one makes me sound like a lazy bum, but I don't care. I miss having my TV in the bedroom. It is one of my personal favorites. We go into the bedroom and watch one last episode of House Hunters, or Bachelorette, or some other mindless show before calling it a night.
4.) Cleaning my own house. This one may actually be more embarrassing that number one. I don't actually enjoy cleaning per say, but there is definitely a pride thing when it comes to cleaning your own place. I miss spraying scrubbing bubbles all over the bathroom and making it look hotel-ish, and there is something about a "magazine perfect" kitchen that just gets me excited. I miss those things, I really do...
5.) Having a full bath. Right now the shower is in one room, and the toilet and sink around across the basement. I cannot wait for my five piece owner's bath. I am drooling as I type this!
6.) Sundays. Especially during football season. Our Sunday routine is one that just cannot be beat. We wake up and take our time on Sundays, and either go to breakfast and devour the newspaper, or make a full pot of coffee and lounge on the couch reading the paper. Either option sounds glorious right about now.
7.) Not doing anything, and not feeling guilty for it. The title pretty much says it all for this one.
I'm sure there are more things that I miss that I am just forgetting right now, but I'll keep updating as I think of more things. Let's hope the rest of this journey goes quickly - or at least fast enough for Scott and I to not lose our minds!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Builder Bill's update
One of the things that makes me smile is that our builders name is Bill. He is a super nice guy, and while he doesn't physically do much (or any) of the work himself, he oversees everything and keeps us aware of where we are by giving us a weekly phone call.
Yesterday Bill called and gave us our update. Yesterday they were finishing all the plumbing in our house, today they will be doing all the heating and cooling, then next week is electrical and insulation, and by Friday of next week (Monday at the latest) we will be having our pre-drywall meeting!!! Can you believe that?!
It felt like forever from when we signed our papers until they broke ground, but now that the structure is up everything is moving at a very nice pace.
The drywall is something that I am looking forward to. I think it will also help me realize that my house isn't a shoebox! Being able to see through the house is kind of cool, but sometimes it's very hard to believe my family room is 16 feet by 19 feet.
I didn't go by the house yesterday, in fact other than walking down the drive to get the mail, I didn't go anywhere. Needless to say, I am hoping that once Scott gets home from Atlanta this evening, we can go see the house.
Yesterday Bill called and gave us our update. Yesterday they were finishing all the plumbing in our house, today they will be doing all the heating and cooling, then next week is electrical and insulation, and by Friday of next week (Monday at the latest) we will be having our pre-drywall meeting!!! Can you believe that?!
It felt like forever from when we signed our papers until they broke ground, but now that the structure is up everything is moving at a very nice pace.
The drywall is something that I am looking forward to. I think it will also help me realize that my house isn't a shoebox! Being able to see through the house is kind of cool, but sometimes it's very hard to believe my family room is 16 feet by 19 feet.
I didn't go by the house yesterday, in fact other than walking down the drive to get the mail, I didn't go anywhere. Needless to say, I am hoping that once Scott gets home from Atlanta this evening, we can go see the house.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
A bunch of random things!
I decided to drive by the house yesterday since my immagination was running wild, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the shingles were on the roof! I was sort of expecting it, yet very prepared to not see much progress. Turns out there were quite a few things that got done, including: shingles, the front door, the door going into the garage, the basement steps were put in, the electrical was all marked, plumbing is all marked, and there are pieces of insulation just laying around.
Of course being a very impatient person I was still hoping for more to have been done, but in all fairness, unless I was going to see a nearly-completed house, i'd still be feeling that way.
When I got home I opened up my Drees 'binder,' where the entire building process is laid out. We are very much on schedule, now in the phase where the electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, and exterior brick gets completed. To me, this is probably the most boring stage, but the good news is that after this stage comes the drywall - and that will be a fun and exciting phase! I think once the drywall is up it will really help all the rooms take shape.
Speaking of rooms, I have been thinking about what my "favorite" rooms will be. I think that the most obvious would definitely be the kitchen/breakfast/family room area. How could it not take the number one spot? It will be great to be in the kitchen and still be able to watch the TV, or to be entertaining and not have to leave the party scene.
I am also excited (oddly enough) to have a "powder room." Which is apparently just a glorified way to say half bath. Either way, I am really looking forward to having that little room. Even more so because it is the only bathroom on the main floor, and it isn't off of the kitchen.
My master bath will be my master retreat. Although we didn't upgrade the flooring in this room, we did upgrade everything else; including: the lighting, the countertop, the toilet, the shower door, and the hardware on all the sinks, tub, shower, etc. I am dreaming of being able to put the baby to bed at night, and pouring my glass of wine, opening the bathroom window, and having a nice hot bath while reading a good book. The (upgraded owners) master bath is definitely a room that I am not going to regret.
So, what are upgrades that I'd really regret, anyway?
I don't think i'll regret any upgrades, although I probably will regret the upgrades that I didn't get. I already regret not getting the nine foot ceilings on the main floor. I dont' think it will make me not like the house, but it would have been an upgrade to consider more than we did. In the very least we should have at least inquired as to the price tag it would have carried.
The kitchen cabinets are also something that i'm a bit concerned about. Both Scott and I actually like the cabinets we selected very much, but after seeing the model home in North Royalton that boasts the same counters/sink/faucet/appliances/flooring/lighting as what we selected, the cabinets that they had looked stunning. I am a little worried that maybe we should have upgraded them more than what we did. The only upgrades we did choose for the cabinets were crown molding and the "hi-low" option, where the cabinets are staggered so they look more custom. We did add the outlets and switches to have the over and under cabinet lighting installed, so I think that that will help a bit.
I also think that I might end up regretting not getting an outlet put in our master closet. This is a stupid thing to regret, but it is such a huge closet that maybe it would have been nice to put an outlet in there. I'm not going to fuss about it, I'm sure that it will be just fine.
Of course being a very impatient person I was still hoping for more to have been done, but in all fairness, unless I was going to see a nearly-completed house, i'd still be feeling that way.
When I got home I opened up my Drees 'binder,' where the entire building process is laid out. We are very much on schedule, now in the phase where the electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, and exterior brick gets completed. To me, this is probably the most boring stage, but the good news is that after this stage comes the drywall - and that will be a fun and exciting phase! I think once the drywall is up it will really help all the rooms take shape.
Speaking of rooms, I have been thinking about what my "favorite" rooms will be. I think that the most obvious would definitely be the kitchen/breakfast/family room area. How could it not take the number one spot? It will be great to be in the kitchen and still be able to watch the TV, or to be entertaining and not have to leave the party scene.
I am also excited (oddly enough) to have a "powder room." Which is apparently just a glorified way to say half bath. Either way, I am really looking forward to having that little room. Even more so because it is the only bathroom on the main floor, and it isn't off of the kitchen.
My master bath will be my master retreat. Although we didn't upgrade the flooring in this room, we did upgrade everything else; including: the lighting, the countertop, the toilet, the shower door, and the hardware on all the sinks, tub, shower, etc. I am dreaming of being able to put the baby to bed at night, and pouring my glass of wine, opening the bathroom window, and having a nice hot bath while reading a good book. The (upgraded owners) master bath is definitely a room that I am not going to regret.
So, what are upgrades that I'd really regret, anyway?
I don't think i'll regret any upgrades, although I probably will regret the upgrades that I didn't get. I already regret not getting the nine foot ceilings on the main floor. I dont' think it will make me not like the house, but it would have been an upgrade to consider more than we did. In the very least we should have at least inquired as to the price tag it would have carried.
The kitchen cabinets are also something that i'm a bit concerned about. Both Scott and I actually like the cabinets we selected very much, but after seeing the model home in North Royalton that boasts the same counters/sink/faucet/appliances/flooring/lighting as what we selected, the cabinets that they had looked stunning. I am a little worried that maybe we should have upgraded them more than what we did. The only upgrades we did choose for the cabinets were crown molding and the "hi-low" option, where the cabinets are staggered so they look more custom. We did add the outlets and switches to have the over and under cabinet lighting installed, so I think that that will help a bit.
I also think that I might end up regretting not getting an outlet put in our master closet. This is a stupid thing to regret, but it is such a huge closet that maybe it would have been nice to put an outlet in there. I'm not going to fuss about it, I'm sure that it will be just fine.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Things I am wondering...
I woke up today feeling very tired, almost to the point where I was ready to call in for the day and fall back asleep. Instead I managed to get myself into the shower and then to work. Afterall, today I am only working half day from the office.
Once here though, I've been completely out of sorts. I've managed to get a lot done, yet I feel like i've done nothing all day.
I went online to pay a couple bills (car payment, car insurance), faxed our last water bill from our old house to the title company so we can get our money back from the hold, and then signed Brooklyn up for swim "class."
That swim class is something I am really looking forward to...I can't wait to see Miss Brooklyn splish-splash around in the water! When they say it's a "class," it's only because it's held at the western Tri-C campus, but it is for 6mo - 3 year olds, so by no means are the babies learning to swim!
Aside from that, my mind is just racing with "what is going on at the house" kind of thoughts. We haven't been there since Saturday at about noon, and I think they were working there Saturday, so by the time we drive by tonight there will have been four working days' worth of work that we haven't seen!
I am somewhat preparing myself to be disappointed when we go by tonight, but at the same time, we are under roof so I can't imagine the work is being held up by any of the rain we are getting.
The things I am mostly wondering about are the shingles, the siding/brick/shutters, the plumbing and the electrical. Mostly the exterior, since that is the pretty stuff!
I must also confess something else - I feel like our house looks small. I keep telling myself that it is 2100 square feet, and that the model (which was actually smaller) looked big, so I know it will all come together, but for right now I feel like it looks small!
Part of why I think it looks small might be due to the fact that the main floor is very open. The kitchen, breakfast room, and family room are all just one big space - especially before adding in different flooring between the rooms, and the pillar. Another reason why it might seem so small is simply because with no drywall you can see straight through the house.
Okay, time to pack up my computer and head home. Shift #2 awaits me! (As well as my playdate and a couple piles of laundry!)
Once here though, I've been completely out of sorts. I've managed to get a lot done, yet I feel like i've done nothing all day.
I went online to pay a couple bills (car payment, car insurance), faxed our last water bill from our old house to the title company so we can get our money back from the hold, and then signed Brooklyn up for swim "class."
That swim class is something I am really looking forward to...I can't wait to see Miss Brooklyn splish-splash around in the water! When they say it's a "class," it's only because it's held at the western Tri-C campus, but it is for 6mo - 3 year olds, so by no means are the babies learning to swim!
Aside from that, my mind is just racing with "what is going on at the house" kind of thoughts. We haven't been there since Saturday at about noon, and I think they were working there Saturday, so by the time we drive by tonight there will have been four working days' worth of work that we haven't seen!
I am somewhat preparing myself to be disappointed when we go by tonight, but at the same time, we are under roof so I can't imagine the work is being held up by any of the rain we are getting.
The things I am mostly wondering about are the shingles, the siding/brick/shutters, the plumbing and the electrical. Mostly the exterior, since that is the pretty stuff!
I must also confess something else - I feel like our house looks small. I keep telling myself that it is 2100 square feet, and that the model (which was actually smaller) looked big, so I know it will all come together, but for right now I feel like it looks small!
Part of why I think it looks small might be due to the fact that the main floor is very open. The kitchen, breakfast room, and family room are all just one big space - especially before adding in different flooring between the rooms, and the pillar. Another reason why it might seem so small is simply because with no drywall you can see straight through the house.
Okay, time to pack up my computer and head home. Shift #2 awaits me! (As well as my playdate and a couple piles of laundry!)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Quick Update
I have been so busy reading other blogs, that I've been slacking on my own! To give a quick update before I head home, "home," here goes:
The windows have all been installed, including our sliding glass door, the front door, and the door leading from the garage to the laundry room.
The concrete has been poured in the basement and the garage. I am still scratching my head as to how they poured the concrete in the basement, since the house has already been framed, but whatever!
This week is going to be a very productive week, but boring in my opinion. It is the week where the plumbing and the electrical get put in. Needless to say we didn't go by the house yesterday, and I'm not even sure if we'll bother going by tonight.
Although weather reports claimed a full day of rain today, it actually only rained (very lightly) for about two hours, and that was well after 1pm.
I am secretely hoping that if we don't drive by the house for a few days, that when we do drive by the shingles and siding will be completed. Hey, I can dream, can't I? :)
The windows have all been installed, including our sliding glass door, the front door, and the door leading from the garage to the laundry room.
The concrete has been poured in the basement and the garage. I am still scratching my head as to how they poured the concrete in the basement, since the house has already been framed, but whatever!
This week is going to be a very productive week, but boring in my opinion. It is the week where the plumbing and the electrical get put in. Needless to say we didn't go by the house yesterday, and I'm not even sure if we'll bother going by tonight.
Although weather reports claimed a full day of rain today, it actually only rained (very lightly) for about two hours, and that was well after 1pm.
I am secretely hoping that if we don't drive by the house for a few days, that when we do drive by the shingles and siding will be completed. Hey, I can dream, can't I? :)
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Windows have been delivered!!!
Last night Scott and I drove by the house, mostly just so that we could finally go upstairs and check out the bedrooms and bathrooms. We have some seriously amazing views from every window up there. Out the back we have gorgeous views of the ponds and woods, from the side windows we've got tons of space before we see houses, and out the front we see homes filled with people that wear collard shirts and park in their garages. It's amazing what moving to a nicer area brings.
To get back on track though, the windows to our house are currently sitting in our garage! I walked right by them yesterday, but Scott pointed them out - and they are beautiful! I'm sitting here working, wondering if they are being installed today. I've noticed that there is a pattern to this whole "building a house" deal. Typically they use one day to drop off materials, then the next day the materials go in the house. So hopefully that means that if/when we drive by tonight, the windows will be in!
Seeing our house go up is such a memorable chain of events. I truly believe that building a house makes you so much more attached to it than when you buy an existing home. With our last house I decorated it and made it look (in my opinion) very nice, but I don't think I ever cared for it the way that I already care for this house. I can't wait to make this house our home, and to put our own personal touches on it. I can't wait to raise our daughter in it, and to bring home her sibling (although that is a few years down the road). It will be a home filled with so much laughter, love, and hapiness - and I can't wait to entertain and have everyone over for get-togethers.
Anyway, must.stop.daydreaming!
To get back on track though, the windows to our house are currently sitting in our garage! I walked right by them yesterday, but Scott pointed them out - and they are beautiful! I'm sitting here working, wondering if they are being installed today. I've noticed that there is a pattern to this whole "building a house" deal. Typically they use one day to drop off materials, then the next day the materials go in the house. So hopefully that means that if/when we drive by tonight, the windows will be in!
Seeing our house go up is such a memorable chain of events. I truly believe that building a house makes you so much more attached to it than when you buy an existing home. With our last house I decorated it and made it look (in my opinion) very nice, but I don't think I ever cared for it the way that I already care for this house. I can't wait to make this house our home, and to put our own personal touches on it. I can't wait to raise our daughter in it, and to bring home her sibling (although that is a few years down the road). It will be a home filled with so much laughter, love, and hapiness - and I can't wait to entertain and have everyone over for get-togethers.
Anyway, must.stop.daydreaming!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Bathtubs!
Yesterday we drove over to our house, and although not much more framing was done, the bathtubs were dropped off, and put in the garage. Scott wasn't nearly as excited over them as I was, but I think I get more excited over just about everything.
It will be SO nice to finally take a bath again! It has been four years since we've had a working bathtub, where the water doesn't slowly drain on its' own. The best part is that not only will I have a standard bathtub, but in MY bathroom i'll have the big soaking garden tub! I think I get more antsy about moving in every day...really, it's pathetic how badly i'm drooling over my house, and it's nowhere near being completed.
I'm hoping today the roof goes up, so that even if it does rain later in the week the builders can keep on moving along!
It will be SO nice to finally take a bath again! It has been four years since we've had a working bathtub, where the water doesn't slowly drain on its' own. The best part is that not only will I have a standard bathtub, but in MY bathroom i'll have the big soaking garden tub! I think I get more antsy about moving in every day...really, it's pathetic how badly i'm drooling over my house, and it's nowhere near being completed.
I'm hoping today the roof goes up, so that even if it does rain later in the week the builders can keep on moving along!
We Have a Frame!
Although the title says it all, I will still write a lengthy post on said frame since it has been an exciting few days for us.
Thursday afternoon I called our builder, Bill, to find out what the forecasted timeline is for our house to be framed. I wasn't getting grumpy with them, although I'm sure that he was probably wishing he could say "listen lady, the weather is the problem here, not us!!" So anyway, I didn't want to waste any more time or (gas) money driving out there with no progress going on, but then he said that they were going to begin the framing on Friday if it didn't rain.
Well, no rain and guess what...they definitely put up some of the frame. By the time they left on Saturday afternoon both the first and second floors were up. The only parts of the frame that aren't done are the roof and the "walls" in the upstairs.
In the whirlwind of excitement, we decided to check out a new Drees Model home in North Royalton, which is just down the street from Scott's parents' house.
The house is beautiful! Virtually the same first-floor-plan as our house, but the upstairs was quite different. The only real difference on the main level was that the model had a dining room and a fully vaulted family room, but the family room was a tad smaller than the family room in our house.
The house had the same granite countertops as we selected for our house, as well as sink, faucet, dark cabinets and dark hardwood floors. Of course the model had a couple things that were more upgraded than we chose, but overall it was the same concept.
Something that I did like quite a bit was the color choice for the house. The entire house was painted the same beige that we chose, but the entire back wall in the family room, breakfast room, and kitchen was painted this Tiffany box blue. It looked so pretty! Since we have orange in our couch pillows though, I'm not sure it would look the same in our house, but maybe we could do a wall of orange? Not like a bright orange, but a dark rust-orange might look sharp? Who knows....just an idea! Of course we could always just get new throw pillows for the couch! ;)
Thursday afternoon I called our builder, Bill, to find out what the forecasted timeline is for our house to be framed. I wasn't getting grumpy with them, although I'm sure that he was probably wishing he could say "listen lady, the weather is the problem here, not us!!" So anyway, I didn't want to waste any more time or (gas) money driving out there with no progress going on, but then he said that they were going to begin the framing on Friday if it didn't rain.
Well, no rain and guess what...they definitely put up some of the frame. By the time they left on Saturday afternoon both the first and second floors were up. The only parts of the frame that aren't done are the roof and the "walls" in the upstairs.
In the whirlwind of excitement, we decided to check out a new Drees Model home in North Royalton, which is just down the street from Scott's parents' house.
The house is beautiful! Virtually the same first-floor-plan as our house, but the upstairs was quite different. The only real difference on the main level was that the model had a dining room and a fully vaulted family room, but the family room was a tad smaller than the family room in our house.
The house had the same granite countertops as we selected for our house, as well as sink, faucet, dark cabinets and dark hardwood floors. Of course the model had a couple things that were more upgraded than we chose, but overall it was the same concept.
Something that I did like quite a bit was the color choice for the house. The entire house was painted the same beige that we chose, but the entire back wall in the family room, breakfast room, and kitchen was painted this Tiffany box blue. It looked so pretty! Since we have orange in our couch pillows though, I'm not sure it would look the same in our house, but maybe we could do a wall of orange? Not like a bright orange, but a dark rust-orange might look sharp? Who knows....just an idea! Of course we could always just get new throw pillows for the couch! ;)
Thursday, May 5, 2011
I won't, I won't, be a Crabby Patty!
I was having a good day. I still refuse to break my own rule of not being allowed to be a crabby patty, but if I said was as chipper as I was this morning I'd be lying.
After I left work today I decided to drive by the house because I was certain that the builders would be there framing my house. That wasn't the case. At all. In fact, no one was there. No frame was up. No progress was being made. Want to talk frustration? This spring has most definitely not been the best, and I am understanding of this, but today is beautiful and is turning out to be a wasted day.
The new date for the framing to be completed is next Friday, meaning one week and one day from now. In addition, that date is IF there isn't as much rain as they are predicting. That does not make me a happy camper.
I wish I had more exciting updates about my house, but apparently that's too much to ask for...
After I left work today I decided to drive by the house because I was certain that the builders would be there framing my house. That wasn't the case. At all. In fact, no one was there. No frame was up. No progress was being made. Want to talk frustration? This spring has most definitely not been the best, and I am understanding of this, but today is beautiful and is turning out to be a wasted day.
The new date for the framing to be completed is next Friday, meaning one week and one day from now. In addition, that date is IF there isn't as much rain as they are predicting. That does not make me a happy camper.
I wish I had more exciting updates about my house, but apparently that's too much to ask for...
No Crabby Patties!!!
It is my rule today that NO ONE is allowed to be a Crabby Patty today...it is TOO NICE! I woke up for the first time in a good couple months to sunshine!!! It is absolutely beautiful out today, and so even though it's not very warm, it is a day not to be grumpy. Believe me, if there is anyone that could be grumpy, it's me - because the builders didn't do squat to my house yesterday, even though we were told the framing would be started. Not even that can make me mad, because today is beautiful, and my house WILL be going up today!
Sometimes I wonder how I really get through each day and remain sane, with no progress on my house. I guess I just remind myself that I've got a great husband, a sweet baby girl that lights up my world with her gummy smile, and wine!
Sometimes I wonder how I really get through each day and remain sane, with no progress on my house. I guess I just remind myself that I've got a great husband, a sweet baby girl that lights up my world with her gummy smile, and wine!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Lumber today, up tomorrow!
This week is going to be very hectic, yet very exciting! At about seven this morning, Scott boarded his plane to Portland, Oregon, and he will pretty much either be in the air or out of town until Thursday evening. During his layover, he sent me a text saying that the builder called him and left a voicemail. The builder, (Bill), said that our lumber is being delivered to the site today, and the framing will begin tomorrow!!! I am beyond delighted to hear those words!
So here is basically the run-down of our week:
-Monday: Scott leaves for Portland, I go to work, I get my hair done at night (oh, and take care of our baby)
-Tuesday: Scott comes back from Portland, I go to work, we go check out the progress on the house, AND measure for wood for our old house (still working on the garage repairs)...
-Wednesday: Scott leaves for New York, I work from home, I go check out the house
-Thursday: Scott comes back from New York, I work half day in the office, half day at home, we check out the house in the evening
-Friday: My surgery is at 8:30am (still not looking forward to that), and then we are both off and get to drive by our new house multiple times and cuddle with our baby all day.
You can only guess at which day I am (sadly) looking the most forward to. Although I am absolutley dreading my hernia surgery, I will be so happy to have a better looking tummy, and to be with my husband and daughter all day.
I'm not going to go by the house today because to be honest I really don't need to get a picture of all the wood. It would just be a waste of gas, and at $4.14, I don't need to be doing that.
So here is basically the run-down of our week:
-Monday: Scott leaves for Portland, I go to work, I get my hair done at night (oh, and take care of our baby)
-Tuesday: Scott comes back from Portland, I go to work, we go check out the progress on the house, AND measure for wood for our old house (still working on the garage repairs)...
-Wednesday: Scott leaves for New York, I work from home, I go check out the house
-Thursday: Scott comes back from New York, I work half day in the office, half day at home, we check out the house in the evening
-Friday: My surgery is at 8:30am (still not looking forward to that), and then we are both off and get to drive by our new house multiple times and cuddle with our baby all day.
You can only guess at which day I am (sadly) looking the most forward to. Although I am absolutley dreading my hernia surgery, I will be so happy to have a better looking tummy, and to be with my husband and daughter all day.
I'm not going to go by the house today because to be honest I really don't need to get a picture of all the wood. It would just be a waste of gas, and at $4.14, I don't need to be doing that.
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