Progress Report: Final

I know you are probably all sick of reading about my house. I know I am sick of writing about it. But it just doesn't feel right to go on writing about other things when I have left this hanging. We moved into our new house the second weekend in January and we are enjoying it immensely. Lots more space and just how we like it. There are a few things that have surprised me like how everyone says that it has that "new house" smell. I didn't realize there was a new house smell. I mean I've heard of "new car" smell . . . Also, I am surprised that I feel so comfortable here. It felt like our house from the first morning we moved in. I've also loved how welcoming and kind the neighborhood has been--which is a big deal for me.

Here's a little tour. I had to take the pictures at night because it was the night before we moved in. So, sorry, no natural lighting.


Front entry--we have added hooks to the shelf for hanging coats etc.


Looking up as you enter the front door.


Looking straight as you enter the front door. On the left is the office. On the right is the entry bench. Straight ahead is the kitchen/family room.

Pocket doors that connect the office/living room to the family room. (Announcer voice: "So easy a baby can do it." Doesn't it look like I staged that?)

Looking from office to family room fireplace.

Family room. Apparently it is good for dancing.

Looking from family room to kitchen.

View of kitchen.

Main floor powder bath.

Master bedroom.

View from master bedroom to bathroom and closets. One closet on each side of the hallway.

Master bathroom vanity. Strange girl taking pictures. Looks like I didn't take pictures of the other half of the bathroom but you can kinda see it in the mirror.

Alisa's bedroom and closet playhouse. I didn't post pictures of the other two bedrooms but they are similar.

Laundry chute door that feeds down into the laundry room. (By the way, this is the best system ever!)

Kids bathroom vanity. Oops. Forgot pictures of the toilet/shower part. It's just behind the next door.

Three kids bored out of their minds resorting to watching movies on the laptop.

The laundry room. I have added baskets above and below and this room has turned out super functional. We also put our old table in here for the kids to do their crafts.

Looking from the laundry sink to the other side of the room. We added hooks here too. The flat door leads to the garage so this a mud room for the kids. It's so nice to have a place for them to hang backpacks and kick off shoes.

Ta-da! Finally all painted.

Come over anytime and sit on my porch with me.

In other news . . .

. . . . I'm pregnant!

Just kidding. I just wanted to see if you were listening. At least I better be kidding. Man wouldn't that be ironic. I realized that I have only written about my stinkin' house for two months. But you know, life goes on and we've actually been living here too. Living and breathing and burping, I guess. So here are a few random thoughts:

• Diego noticed that the drive up drop box at the library has little braille plaques underneath the signs. Just wondering . . . if you can't see well enough to read those giant signs, should you really be driving a car.? Just asking.
• Why did the cashier at Rod Works treat me so rudely when she treated the woman before me like gold? Was it because she bought $300 worth of merchandise and I only bought 6 hooks? Or maybe it was the constant screaming to my children that put her off. Either way, I noticed the difference. Yes, I did.
• Quote from Alisa: "I'm playing that my barbies don't like each other any more because the one girl wants the other girl's boyfriend. So she is going to kill her." Do I need to be worried about this? I swear I don't watch soap operas.
• My plantar fasciitis is finally giving me some relief. For those of you who don't know what that is, think of walking around with a marble attached to the bottom of your heel. It only cost me five pounds and a spare tire to get rid of it. You know the phrase, "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak?" Well, that's me in the literal sense right now. It's a real downer for me.
• Christmas was fabulous. We did the traditional, "stay up until midnight and then open your presents" thing. I was still hung over (mormon hangover) by New Years and had to go to bed at 8:30.
• The outside of my house is still not finished being painted but we are moving in anyway. It's been too cold for paint to dry. That's what they SAY anyway.
• Diego decided to announce to the congregation last Sunday that we are moving. Subsequently, I spent the next two hours justifying my decision to move to people. It never fails: people feel betrayed when you move away from the neighborhood. "What, we're not good enough for you?" "Why would you want to leave me?" I'm truly sorry everyone. It really wasn't meant to be a personal affront. It's what's best for our family.
• Since I knew we were moving soon, I just haven't been able to muster the willpower to clean my house? What's the point? I'll have to scour it all after moving anyway. But don't come visit me. I'm embarrassed.

See ya in the new house ya'll!

Progress Report #5

We are almost done. Only about two more weeks of this and that. The only thing left is to dress plumbing, install carpet, and paint trim. Oh and fix all the little things that are left hanging . . . that's the worst part because I feel like we have to put up a fight to get those things changed. Here's more pictures:


Still waiting for the trims and columns to be painted.


Side View


Garage and Back

Master Bathroom Cabinets

Finished Stair Railing

Another View of Stairs (We're pretty pleased with how this turned out.)

Cabinets--still a work in progress. The fridge is not blue; it has a protective covering on it.

Laundry Room

Laundry Room

Jackson Eats Giant Apple

Progress Report #4

1. Our cabinets are out of customs and supposed to be installed today.
2. Our builder surely hates us by now.
3. Diego proves there are always ways to be more of a perfectionist.
4. I am hoping I survive this project without an ulcer.


Paint colors--as much as you can really tell through a computer screen.


Exterior updates: upstairs trimming complete, porch fans, porch lights, door stained.


Porch Fans

Fireplace, recessed lights, and in-ceiling speakers for the ginormous TV that Diego bought.

My chandelier (hello, I love you, won't you tell me your name), stained railing, stained door.

Progress Report #3

My cabinets are stuck in customs. Who's ever heard of cabinets being made overseas? I certainly hadn't. For now we are continuing to do what we can without them and hope that they get released soon.


Exterior painted. Trims still incomplete.


Tile from kitchen looking into laundry room.


Front Entry

Tile in Kitchen

Progress Report #2

Wow, I just wrote a whole page about what a tough week it was last week and then I accidentally erased it. Well, it just goes to show you . . . . I don't know what but it seems fitting.

Here's a few pictures that we took last night.


Exterior--they aren't done with the trimming and it still needs to be painted

Close-up of window trim

Looking from kitchen to family room

Looking from family room to kitchen

View from front entry

Alisa's closet/playroom

Master bedroom

Master bedroom

View from upstairs to the front door and living room

Garage

Laundry room. I added these shelves at the last minute and LOVE them.