Framing

So...the week of framing didn't go exactly as expected. The company we had originally hired put off starting from Monday to Wednesday to finish a project assuring us they could start Thursday. On Thursday, it was Friday. On Thursday night, when our contractor called to double check and was told maybe Monday or Tuesday, he fired him.

However, he was able to quickly find someone else who could get started on Saturday. The pictures below are the result of one day of framing. They will be back out on Monday, and they say they can be done on Tuesday. If so, we will only be two days behind which is not bad considering the whole week of nothing getting done.

Still, it was exciting to be able to walk around and "see" the rooms. By tomorrow night, it should pretty much look like a house sans probably the roof rafters and decking. We have to go out there to meet with the people about our security system, so I will try to take more pictures to post here. Until then, check out the latest photos:


Lumber


OSB for the walls


Framing in progress


The kitchen pantry


looking down the hall from the master bedroom

Framing starts tomorrow!

Today was the first trip I have made out to the land since the foundation got poured last week. The prior pictures were taken by Kevin. It was amazing the impact it had on me. We were telling Colten about where the kitchen would be and where his room would be. The enormity of the idea that we were working on our dream hit me and actually brought me to tears. I'm not ashamed to admit that. We have wanted a place with some space that our little boy could grow up and enjoy, and God willing, by mid- to late October, it will come to fruition. Framing starts tomorrow, and I already can't wait to go out next weekend and take more pictures. It will actually kinda look like a house by then. Too exciting!


Standing in my kitchen! :)


Daddy and Colten where the master bath will be



Ever seen an electric meter that reads zeros?



Main pole with the meter by the house


The power poles out to the main road

First, you lay a foundation...

So, we are really underway now. They came in yesterday morning and poured the concrete for our foundation. So exciting! The lumber pack for framing is due to be delivered Monday, so they should be able to get started on that shortly thereafter. I can't believe how quickly this is coming along. Of course, my understanding is that the part that takes the longest is the inside -- walls, painting, fixtures, floors, cabinets, plumbing, on and on. Still, it's nice to see progress being made...

Progress is being made!

So, once the loan got done, work on the house has flown by. This week they have gotten the footings for the foundation laid and approved. The plumbing and electric are roughed in. The water line has been run from the street to the house. They come in tomorrow for rebar, etc. to get ready to pour the foundation on Monday or Tuesday next week. It's very exciting! Can't wait to see the foundation poured. I'll be sure to post those pictures when they are available. For now, here is some of the recent progress...


The water line being buried


our driveway ready for heavy equipment


the forms for the foundation


more of the form up


We are super excited and can't wait to get it done. Stay tuned...

And so it begins...

Well, I haven't written in a while. To be honest, you get in your routine and nothing really exciting happens. You think to yourself, "Who would really care about me saying -- everything is the same as always?" Maybe that's the wrong perspective to have, but when nothing too noteworthy is going on, you don't really think about your blog. Of course, with Colten growing like a weed, I should probably post more often anyway, and I will try to post some pictures of him on a new blog within a few days.

Today....today I want to talk about something exciting that is now going on in our lives. We broke ground yesterday for our new house on our land....finally! This little doozie came out and started digging and moving dirt.




Our contractor, Zac, came out and posted the permit sign and his sign. It's really official!


This is looking down from where the house is going to be at the dirt being pushed and dug for our pond.


Here is our driveway being dug out from the road to the house.

And here is the house pad. I have had to adjust as it looks so small to me, even in person. I have to keep reminding myself that the house won't be any smaller than the one in Hurst and that it looks tiny because there is all that land around it with nothing to give it perspective.


Of course, this is just the beginning. We will make a trip to the land once or twice a week to see how things are going and take pictures to keep everyone posted on progress. Right now, the construction timeline has us able to close and start moving by October 15. Of course, it is construction, so we will see how that goes. For now, we are praying for no rain (or at least rain to avoid the land) for about the next two weeks until they can get the dirt work done and the slab poured and set up.

Stay tuned.....

Our plans

Well, after all this time, we are finally looking into getting started building our home on our land. We have filled out paperwork for a construction loan, and we are talking to a guy that we go to church with about GC'ing the project. It's scary, nervewrecking, and exciting all at once. I will surely keep you posted as we go along.

Other than that, we took Colten to the zoo for the first time a couple of weekends ago. It was a last minute decision so we were only there for about an hour, but he really seemed to enjoy it. We have plans to go again this Saturday with my sister, brother-in-law, nephew, and my mom while she is in town for Mother's Day. The weather is supposed to be beautiful, and I'm really looking forward to the two boys interacting with each other in such a fun environment. I'll try to remember to take plenty of pictures.

Colten picked up some kind of 24 hour stomach bug last weekend. No fun, but he is fully recovered now and as boisterous as ever. He definitely keeps me on my toes all the time, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Here are few recent pics of my darling boy!



Sitting in his big boy chair


Hanging out on my grandparents' porch


Checking out the goose at the zoo


Love his profile - looking at the elephants

I'm suddenly the mother of a boy, not a baby.

It has been too long since I have posted. It seems that, now that we are close to family, we stay very busy. Jobs are going well, and we are looking into reapplying for financing to start building on the land. Life is great here and, while we miss our Texas friends, we are enjoying being Okies.

As for Colten, I came to the realization this week that he somehow became a little boy in the last couple of months. I love that he is trying so hard to talk and to be independent with everything he does. Yet, part of me mourns for the fact that he is not my baby boy anymore (yes, I know he will always be my baby - but you know what I mean). Still, it is amazing to watch him grow and learn and I constantly marvel at how much more he "gets" every day. Here are a few recent pics of my little boy, including his first Easter that he went hunting for eggs. Hope everyone is doing well!



Playing outside


Hanging out with Cayden after the Easter egg hunt


Gathering eggs


This egg talked (my mom got it at Walgreens) and he thought it was funny!


Handsome boy dressed up for Easter