Windows and Doors, Oh My!

Ok Jewel's, Here's the update of the new house: To the right is the outdoor light we selected to go on the garage and by the front door. It coordinates with the glass on the front door nicely. And below, are all the pictures of the house. The electrical guys are coming today to map out where everything will be installed and then they'll get started with installation soon. After the electrical work is all in place, then the house will be ready for inspection. At that point, they can start sheetrocking. I'll take pictures or try to film some sort of virtual tour for you when things get further along. Everything should be complete before Christmas. But the landscaping probably won't be added until next spring. Because of the huge concrete retaining wall that had to be put in the backyard, we have to let the ground settle naturally for awhile before sod can be placed. Our little kiddos will have to wait a few more months to have a fun backyard to play in.

Trusses Up

My last update was on day 19. Now 10 days later we have a second floor and the trusses are going up. (Those are the frames for the roof.) Once they're all installed, they'll be working on putting the roof on. Will Dad make the goal of having the roof up before going hunting? He's still got 2 days to goal.

Progress Check on the Home Front

It's been 19 days since I posted the house plans and showed the completed foundation. Now the floor is complete and the framing is underway. Joshua's been helping Dad in the evenings and on Saturdays. They're out working right now. Kaden's helping a little too, but mostly just playing in the gravel piles. So far today, Joshua and Dad completed the framing for the laundry room, Mom and Dad's closet (which is big) and the bathroom. Dad's very motivated to get the framing done quickly since the roof needs to be on before hunting season starts, later this month.

If you look closely, you can see Kaden's new Beetle friend.

We were out on the site eating our lunch and I went back inside to get drinks. When I returned I heard Kaden carrying on a conversation with the beetle...I thought it was so funny.

"Hi beetle. Do you like my eyes? I like your eyes too. Don't worry, I won't hurt you. Daddy wants to kill you, but that's not nice. You are a nice bug. Your hungry? You can eat little tiny bites of my sandwich and I'll take bigger bites. Daddy takes really big bites. (The beetle starts walking away.) --Hey beetle, it's me, Kaden, your friend. --Mommy, he thinks I'm mean, but I'm nice. --I don't like spiders, but I like you. No I don't like spiders. Where did you go? Beetle come out from under that board."

Look, Versii can walk through walls. And he was trying hard to be a helper by picking up and dumping nails.

Here's Daddy and Versii (wearing Kaden's sunglasses). He really wanted Josh to hold him and he was following him around with his arms in the air, so Josh took a quick break to oblige.

The New House

As some of you know, Joshua and I are living with my parents while Joshua is in school, to cut down on expenses. Right now we are all living in a house that they bought on a large lot they have now divided into two lots. We're all currently living in the front house while they build a new house on the back flag lot. The new house should be done within the next few months.

What's funny is, the house plan Mom and Dad picked says, "Great for Empty Nesters." Which they are, or were, until they so graciously allowed us to move in with them. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Anyway, Mom picked a house plan where the master bedroom is on the main floor, so if she ever can't go up stairs then there wouldn't be any reason she would have to. Josh and I will have the upstairs. It will be so nice to have a bathroom on the same level as our bedroom.

Right now, the closest bathroom is downstairs. And I have to go down two flights of stairs, to the basement, to do our laundry. In the new house, it will be reduced to only one. So I'm excited. Not that going up and down stairs isn't good for me.

Here is a picture of the detached garage Dad added. This is really his shop/storage area. It's almost finished. I think they're waiting on the vent to arrive.

And below is a picture of the progress on the house. They finished up the foundation yesterday. Today they'll be working on the floor joists and whatever else goes along with that. Dad's a general contractor, for those of you who didn't know. And he's never been happy in a house that he didn't build, or remodel. If my count is right, this new house will be the 10th house Mom and Dad have lived in since they've been married. Wait, make that the 13th, I just remember another three.

On a side note: For those of you thinking about building a house in Multnomah county, or just curious... I bet you can't guess how much the building permit cost on this house???