Day 122

Oh I can almost taste it....

 

We are in the final week of construction!

 

A few months ago it seemed like this day would never come!

Tile has been laid in the laundry room, which means there is no more tile flooring needed!

 

My carriage light has been hung on the front patio.  I searched high and low for this exact light....I always wanted one like it! 

 

I have a fan on the back deck so it will be nice and breezy on those hot summer nights. 

 

It may look like a mess, but my Master Closet is coming together.  I am itching to buy tons of hangers!! 

 

The tile in the Master shower is all done.  I love the stone band that goes around....such details! 

 

My tub is all done with tile too....can't wait for my first soak in there!

 

Although the cabinets are still dusty, the handles are on, so they look all dressy. 

 

Landscaping has been completed as well!  I absolutely love how nice everything looks when it is green! 

 

 The kids' bathroom downstairs is all finished too....just waiting on the glass doors for the shower.

 

Caroline's tub and shower is all tiled in.  It will still be several years before she uses it as a shower, but it is pretty anyway! 

 

Pendant lights for the island came in and were put up.  These are one of my favorite fixtures! 

 

And the can lights are up in the kitchen.  When everything is turned on it is so nice and bright! 

 

Just a few things left!!

 

8 days......

Who is Teaching Whom?

I love seeing the individual personalities come out of our kids as they grow up and become themselves.

 

Landon is very thoughtful and thorough.  He analyzes everything and has to break everything down step by step.  We call him "Rainman" and I swear he is going to build bridges in the sky when he grows up!

 

And there is Caroline.  She is happy and loveable.  She loves to be independent (as much as one can at 11 weeks old!) but is a snuggler as well.  I see big things from her!

 

Then there is Avery.  She is a spitfire!!  She always wants to be heard, and always has something to say.  She has always been very smart and articulate, but is such a sweetheart too. 

Recently she has been a little (or big!) voice in making me realize something very important.

 

Her new favorite thing is to go around and "sing" a song she learned at VBS a couple weeks ago.  She will dance around and just sing to herself "God loves me.  He made me very special". 

 

I had not heard that song before, but I hear it often now!

 

The past few days she has been talking a lot about Jesus as well and how she wants to go to church to "see Jesus".  She will pick up my Bible and tell me she will hold my "book" and read it to me.

 

As the parent, aren't I supposed to be the one to guide her and teach her how to love God and grow into a faithful Christian? 

 

I think, lately, it has been the other way around.  Her little voice has had some BIG things to say and it has really made me think about how much she absorbs and how moldable they are at this age.  I also see how smart she is and how much I can learn from her. 

 

It shouldn't be hard or a burden to love God and grow in my faith.

 

It should be a joyful experience that my kids see and want to follow.

 

Maybe instead of getting stuck in a rut of pride and over-independence, I should take a cue from my 2 year old!  She sure has a lot of knowledge to share.

 



Day 119

It is almost livable!!

 

I mean, except for the lack of toilets, but in the grand scheme of things.....

 

So here is how it looks:

 

Downstairs is all cleaned up....just needs carpet!

 

Tile breezeway between the patio and Adam's garage door downstairs: 

 

Dining room ceilings are all finished up and the light fixture is up:

 

Living room all painted and *almost* all cleaned up.  Just needs a few details! 

 

Grass was laid in the back!  The yard looks HUGE with all the grass in back there! 

 

Garage door openers are in.  This one is in Adam's garage downstairs.....no pipes or insulation in my garage upstairs! 

 

Bedroom upstairs is all done, except for carpet: 

 

Bonus room upstairs....lights are in and working! 

 

Tile shower upstairs....looks luxurious! 

 

Upstairs bathroom....minus a toilet.  Details, details..... 

 

Hallway upstairs between the bonus room and bedroom.  Everything up on this level is ready to go as soon as carpet comes! 

 

Stairway lighting going up to the third floor.....LOVE it! 

 

Unfinished space downstairs.....this is the only space that I wish didn't have a light that works!  Now I can turn it on and see the mess of wood Adam has been piling up to build storage shelves.  Next week, he has a project!! 

 

The kid's bathroom downstairs hasn't been tiled yet, but that is supposed to be happening tomorrow! 

 

 

Literally everything except carpet is supposed to be finished up by the next weekend! 

Stay tuned....many changes going on in upcoming days! 

 

11 days to go.....

Day 116

Is it just me or does the home stretch seem to go on for-ev-er???

 

With just 2 weeks to go, things are shaping up mighty nicely!

I finally got to see the finished product with the fireplace. 

I have never been so excited for Christmas decorating!!!

 

The ground was leveled and prepped for grass....it comes in tomorrow, folks!! 

 

A few appliances have been put in.  I had them turn on the power there just to make sure the microwave doesn't beep constantly if you don't open it right away.

It is all good.....it has a "mute" button! 

 

Tile floors began today.  Here is Caroline's bathroom floor: 

 

The light fixtures and vanity mirrors have been placed in the Master as well.   

 

Just a few things left to go!!

 

14 days.....



Day 114

Today is closing day!!

 

Well, it was the original closing day. 

 

The house is soooo close to being done, but it is just not quite there yet.

 

I mean, we don't have toilets yet.....sort of mandatory in my book.

 

Anyway....here is what we DO have:

 

Exterior lighting has been placed: 

 

A/C is in!!! 

 

Deck stairs are complete. 

 

Interior lighting has started going in.

 

The wood floors were sanded yesterday......

 

....and stained last night!  

 

Tomorrow the tile goes in!

 

And by the way.....toilets were ordered today!  :)

 

16 days.......

"I'm a Big Boy Now!!!"

I love when Landon says or does something and it makes him seem so big!

 

Adam and I often respond with "When did he turn in to a little man??"

 

This past week we were in Duluth, and we had one (yes, only one) good day to hit up the lake and have some water time. 

 

Unlike his experience with swimming lessons last year, where he only touched the water ONE TIME in 8 weeks, he was a fish!!

 

He kept wanting to jump off the dock to Adam.....

 

 

 

Then they would "swim" back to shore and go again.

 

Of course, Avery had to do it too....

 

 

Pretty soon, Adam told Landon he had to swim out to him on his own....and he DID!

 

He actually swam on his own!!

 

He would come out so tired, but wanting to go back in. 

He just kept saying "I can swim!  I'm a big boy now!!"

 

Way to go buddy!!!