Moving right along!

When we last left this blog, the framing was done and the trusses were about to go up. There has been major progress made since then, check it out!

The garage was boarded up first and then in no time, the roof trusses started going up:

Then the garage trusses went up (I know they're professionals, but this makes me very nervous. If you met them, this would probably make you nervous too):
After which the trusses over the bonus room (aka Meghan's Room) and the boards on parts of the roof were added:

And because I love my room so much, even when filled with snow, here's an inside view:

And here we are now. The roof trusses are in place, the Tyvek is going up and the weather, for now, is cooperating.

Today, Ryan and Papa spent the day working on wiring the garage. I made a rare appearance to shiver and watch them work.

And that's about it for house news. Should have some more pictures next week as progress marches on. For those of you anxiously awaiting the post on the news you already know, it's coming, I promise. Have to get some little details finished. I'll have it posted tomorrow, and with any luck will also have some pictures.

From hole in the ground to whole lotta house!

For as impatient as I am, it's amazing to me how quickly some of this stuff happens. And how quickly I get behind on updating the blog so that friends and family can see the house without having to trek out onto the ice covered country roads. But enough about that...you want to see the house!!!

In spite of some very uncooperative weather and a bunch of holiday and birthday time, a lot has happened at the house in the last few months.

When we last left this blog, the basement was poured. After that, came the basement framing:

Once that first floor was down, things really started moving. Before we knew it, the walls were going up! Trevor and his crew have worked hard, but so have the many wonderful family members who have devoted some of their precious free time to this effort. Here's one of the few pictures I have of family working, Papa Mike, Mike, and Ryan, building walls for Trevor to put up. (Excuse the dorky hats on Ryan and Papa. Even though they insisted they were fine, I was cold, so I bought them those hats and made them put them on.) More walls:

Ryan's awesome garage:

Soon after that, we were looking at the next floor going in:

And just this last week, the walls on the second floor have gone in. So now, you're all caught up. As of Sunday, this is the house.

From the front:

And the back:

Trevor had the walls/boards up on the garage before the weather turned this week. The snow, wind, and very bitter cold stopped progress this week, but with temps in the 30s and clear skies predicted for next week, things should be moving again soon.

Quick little side note since I'm the one writing this blog and I get to do things like this...

Ryan has been so amazing with this whole process, he spent most of his Christmas vacation at the house working with Trevor and the guys and putting his blood, sweat, and tears into the house. No, I mean literally. Look what happened:

Ok, so granted I took the picture after that had some time to heal, so it doesn't look that bad. But it has a great story. Yes, that's right, my dear husband got hit in the head with a 2X4. Apparently Trevor was picking up the board and didn't realize Ryan was behind him. It hit him in the face and landed on his chest, giving him that lovely scratch and an even lovelier bruise. Ryan has healed up nicely and has a great story to take with him from this process.

House update

Wow, this update is long overdue. But since tomorrow is a big day in our construction timeline, I suppose I’d better catch everyone up. The power was just the beginning and the last 6 or so weeks have been crazy full of changes to the property. I suppose I could go back and figure out exactly what day everything happened, but really, who cares that much about the details!? (Hopefully no one, cuz I ain’t lookin’ it up!) Anyway, here’s the catch up…

First, the nice men came out and put in our septic tanks and field. (Note: I chose this picture because the dirt pile hides the ginormous piece of Deere equipment they brought in to do the job. Maybe they don’t know how it works in this family.)

Then, they dug us a giant hole:
Which, of course, Ryan had to climb into:
Then there were wall footings, rocks, and drainage stuff.

And while all that was going on, the nice men in the big red truck came and dug us a well. They hit water within 2 feet of where they thought they would, it is quality water and the pressure is great. Yeehaw!

And then, the wall frames appeared.
And were put in place a short time later
And the walls were poured

While those dried, the plumber came in and roughed in the basement plumbing, and when he was done, the concrete man was back to pour the floors

Hey, it looks like a real basement now! Ok, so the only way in and out is walking across 2X8s and then taking a ladder down, but who cares.

Here is the view from the top of one of the giant dirt piles:

Ryan looks very proud with what he has coordinated so far, as well he should be.

I think that’s about it for now. Over the weekend, the supplies were delivered for the framer, who is scheduled to start tomorrow. I'd have pictures, but they're still in the camera. And the camera is in the truck. And the truck is with Ryan, out at the new house. Hopefully I'll have more to add tomorrow. There is some rain in the early morning forecast, but we’re crossing our fingers. More soon!