House Update

We've been pretty busy working on the house.  We started painting the interior a couple weeks ago, and finished last Sunday. I am so thankful to Pete Morton who primed our house and then lent us a commercial sized paint roller that cut the time of painting in half.  I actually enjoyed the process, especially when I got to work without the kiddos in tow.  I would turn on my ipod and spend the time listening to sermons or singing along to music - but only if I was there alone :) There is something satisfying about working on your home, not just having other people do it.  I think I understand better why some people get really into buying and remodeling homes.  

Twice, I did bring the kids with me.  I charged the portable DVD player, brought my baby gate to keep them in whatever room I was working on, and went to work until one or the other had a meltdown!  Laela actually helped paint her own room, with her very own brush.  That was special for her as she asked permission to paint her room from the moment we picked her paint color.  I think she was a little disappointed we did not do a rainbow of color, but I am not done in there yet :):)  Here are a few photos of our rooms so far.

All main living areas are painted in
 Sandstone Cove by Behr

Kitchen Wall

Office/Guest room in Castle Path which is
one shade darker than Sandstone Cove

Office/Guest room

Master Bedroom in Gentle Rain

looks really different here :)

Master bath - Porpoise

Laela's room in Lavender Lace

Cord's room - Cricket

A peak at Hayne's tile work.

Building a House

We are building a house.  Well actually, up until this point, Jeremiah was building our house and has done a fantastic job, but we are beginning the process of finishing it out.  It is a huge undertaking for us. I think a lot of people dream about building their own house.  Finding the perfect floor plan, picking everything to your exact taste, and of course getting the ultimate dream home 2012 :):)  I hope you know I am kidding, but in case my sarcasm has not come through, I am kidding.  Now don't get me wrong, I am thrilled and excited beyond what I can tell you about our home.  However, I find myself with anxious thoughts a lot of the time:  I hope people like the way my house looks. What if I hate something we chose but its too late to change it?  I like nice things, but don't want to spend too much on it.  I wonder if my friends and family will walk in and immediately criticize choices we have made and mentally be 'fixing' everything we did wrong.  See, it's  a lot of pressure to build a house :).  I am not feeling sorry for myself here, but I am noticing my tendency to stress and worry instead of just create what I truly, deeply, honestly do want.  I want a beautiful, inviting, warm, welcoming, and safe place to raise my children, spend time with friends, host parties and just be with people we love.  A place where people feel free to drop by for coffee or a glass of wine.  A place my kids and their friends will want to hang out, eat our food, watch our tv and know they are welcome.  I know this may all just be wishful thinking, but when I look back at this house, I am not going to remember the tile I chose for the bathroom, or the fixtures on the ceiling, or the flooring in the great room, or the color on the walls.  I am going to remember moments with family and friends. Birthday parties, girls nights, small group discussions, visits from long distance family, and maybe even the birth of one more kid.  That does not mean I do not want it to be beautiful, of course I do, but I just want it to be so much more than that as well.

Here are a few pictures of the progress so far.  I'll post more as the work continues.

Our lot before any work began

Foundations are boring but very important

Everything framed

Dining room into Living room

We have siding and paint :):)

The Kitchen in dry wall stage

Looking at the living and dining from the kitchen