We’ve got Floors!!!

This week, our backordered hardwood finally arrived and is nearly installed thanks to He Who Shall Not Be Named (aka Shane Lavy), who finally consented to allow his likeness/name to be published. I had Tuesday off from the zoo, oh, I mean Beattie and Shane offered to teach me how to lay hardwood. Needless to say I passed on that opportunity, left it to the “pro” and it’s turning out great!

Upstairs, floors in our laundry room and master bath are finished. Things are clipping along, down to approx. 30 days before we close…EEK!

Lots to look forward to……

The time has finally come when all the pretty stuff is going into the house, she’s gaining character everyday!

Today I walked in to find our ceiling fans hung, think I scared the electricians (or at least caught them off guard) when I let out a little squeal! My dream fireplace is in the works, tile has been ordered and I found some type of marble/granite for the mantle….I never would have chosen it by name alone (African Fantasy) but it just jumped out and I couldn’t resist!

Not only is the house moving along, but only 17 more days in my “strip mall” school building! Looking forward to next year when I have a ceiling, a door and we can do fun stuff, like: talk and hear each other, perhaps learn something? Truly, if I survived my first year back to teaching under these circumstances, I think I can do anything! Like move a house, a classroom/school AND take a required college course simultaneously-wish me luck!

Anyway, lots to look forward to in both my personal and professional life…. can’t wait to see the final results and breathe again!

A Real House!

It’s amazing to think in just a few months time, we’ve gone from an empty lot to this…. as Ryan (nearly four) says with amazement, “It’s a real house! How’d that big guy (aka Mike) do that?” Next week the hardwood floor is scheduled to be installed, and then it’s down to the final weeks of finish- kitchen cabinets, lighting, tile, all of the “pretty” stuff that I’ve we’ve painstakingly chosen over the past few months. While hopeful that my our selections will resemble the layouts of House Beautiful, I readily admit that I’m lacking both my mother and sister’s innate decorating style/skill. Only time will tell (and perhaps a few honest friends)……….but at least I’m starting out with a great base, just look, it’s already taking shape!

Annual bash

The time has come and gone for the annual NMC/Training spring BBQ. This year I was on my own, for reasons not to be mentioned. I managed ok, with the help of our work group and the wonderful international foods brought to the occasion. Linda and I made the american meat and potatoes, brownies, jello cake, and things. We had a couple of chicken dishes, Russian salad, and other goodies. The weather was very questionable in the morning as it rained up until around 2:00 p.m. Luckily it cleared and turned out to be a great evening. I’ve posted a flickr set of the photos for anyone who’d like to see or download them.

Getting ready for our weekly home showing. My hope is that we’ll have lots of traffic, though the last couple have been abysmal. Our basement office is completely finished, very nicely done. My potatoes have popped through the ground, time to flag them soon so I don’t lose the hills this Fall. Maybe we’ll go visit the new house during our showing. I don’t think either of us have been there for a while. Hopefully things will all come together with the sale of ours soon, nice early summer weather (for good grass growing), and a smooth transition.

Old home blues

I’m really having a tough time finding time to post. Crazy time at the U with dead and finals week. Things should get better next week. Then summer is here, yeah! Looking forward to getting some bigger projects complete at work. As for the house stuff, well more fun with our current home, a pipe decided to leak, hence a repair job needed.

Thanks to Rob Franzen for coming out on Saturday and cutting a hole in our ceiling. He got us fixed up, now in drywall stage. My poor computer is not liking the drywall dust, but hey, has to be done, and Lee is keeping the dust to a minimum.

The exterior is nearing completion, rough grade, gutters, and driveway seem to be left. Interior is humming along as well, I presume most of the painting is nearing completion. Haven’t had time to go visit nearly the entire week

He who shall not be named

Home Make Over?

After coming to the conclusion that the fireplace of my (Amy) dream wasn’t currently possible, builder Mike Adams and cohort (he who shall not be named) nonchalantly grabbed saw and hammer and tore out the newly drywalled fireplace. I felt so guilty, especially with Todd’s “I can’t believe you are making them do this…” statements that I didn’t sleep Friday night. However, the next morning the result was PERFECTION! It’s going to be even cooler than the magazine photo-thanks to our awesome builder.

Finally a beautiful spring day

What a wonderful day we had yesterday. I don’t know exactly what the temperature topped out, but there was very little wind, sun, and family. We had a busy day, readied the house for an open, picked paint colors (which turned out being the one of the hardest things we did), and did the soccer then.

I wasn’t able to see Trevor play, but I’m told he did really well. Amy caught Ryan basking in the son at Trevor’s game. Eric got his soccer picture taken before his practice and game. His team had fun, it was kind of a rough game with lots of players hitting the ground.

The brick is completely finished and the siding is beginning to wrap around towards the front. We are quite excited to see it together (mostly hoping we didn’t pick colors that don’t match). Lots of things happening inside as well, they finished staining yesterday, stair case banister is in, and most of the trim and doors are hung upstairs. Painting beginning this week (today) as well. I need to get on lawn sprinkers, fencing, and seed/sod.