Days 29 - 36

Well, I guess the framers actually started today...not quite sure...there were a few sawhorses out there and a couple chalk lines...nothing worthy of pictures...maybe tomorrow!

Day 28

The framers were supposed to start today, but didn't...I guess they are finishing up another job.

Day 24

It was pretty quiet up at The House today...just waiting for the framers on Monday. I did snap a few pictures of the water spigot and the concrete blankets on the basement floor. I probably won't post again until they start framing!

The basement floor staying warm and toasty!

Luke at the water spigot.

A view from the spigot back up to the house.

I don't think I have ever posted a view of this side of the house...this is the back of the shop...the east side of the house.

Days 18-23

Sorry, we haven't had the chance to post for awhile...life has been super busy! Since I posted last, they have poured the floor of the garage and the basement. The plumbing lines were all passed by the inspector, so they got those taped up and ready to go. They have also been filling in a little bit more here and there. Yesterday, they dug a trench from the main water line out to the back of the property so they can put a water spigot in by the pasture and garden...I don't have pictures of that yet. Now, they are pretty much on hold with what they can do...the framers are supposed to start next Monday...exciting! Today I spent lots of time at BMC West looking at windows, doors, and base moldings. We have chosen "charcoal" for the color of the shingles and "rugged canyon" for the siding...it sure would be nice if I could find the right color of brick!!! Anyhoo...that is what is happening on The House! Did I mention that our builder is awesome?!?!?!?!?

This is them smoothing out the garage floor.

Here is the garage floor covered with concrete blankets...brrrrrr!

Here is Uncle Joe taping up the plumbing.

They had sprayed so much water to help compact the dirt in the basement that the ground froze...they had to cover it to help it thaw so that they could pour the concrete.

Both the floors staying nice and cozy!

The basement floor being smoothed out.

Luke's little hand print in the concrete where his future bedroom will be.

This is a view from the house to the northwest...I love it! This is where all the windows in the kitchen and living room will face.

Day 17

Not too many exciting photos today...it was super cold...my hands froze trying to take the few pictures I got! They got the forms up and re-bar placed for the garage floor...my guess is that they will pour that tomorrow! They have also continued filling in dirt around the foundation.

This is the view from the road...they have finally removed the big mound of dirt that used to block the view...

Here you can see the re-bar and concrete forms on the garage floor...almost done filling in!

These are the two columns that the front step will rest on...they are starting to fill in here, too.

Day 16

Today was fun...they sure got a lot done! They put on the roof of the shop which just so happens to be the floor for the garage. They use something called "hollow core" and now they will pour more concrete over the top of that to seal it in. My uncle finished the plumbing rough ins and hooked the house up to the main water line. They also did some finish tar work on the foundation that will be underground and started filling in the dirt in front of the garage. It looks great!

Here you can see the tar on the foundation and the ceiling of the shop/floor of the garage.

This is the window well to the girls' room. See how the tar angles on the side of the foundation? That is because the concrete without tar will be above ground...that is where the daylight basement starts.

This is the inside of the shop...it is HUGE!! Kelly better NEVER EVER complain about my kitchen! The concrete is covered with concrete blankets...this helps it cure properly...it has been pretty cold at night!

Here is a good view of the hollow core they have to use in order to be able to have the garage on top...I guess there are springs inside those tubes???...maybe to help distribute the force???? I am not an engineer, so don't ask me!...they also had to reinforce where the garage door is with a steel beam and steel plates above the other door and window. We don't want the cars to come crashing through the ceiling!

This is where the pipes from the house hook into the water main...lots of digging Uncle Joe!

This just shows the trench from the house to the water main...lots of work!

This shows them filling in the area in front of the shop so that it is level with the garage floor...they are spraying it with water to help compact the dirt...the dirt up there is like a fine powder...very nice for gardening!

Another view of them filling in...

Day 15

Today they poured the floor in the shop. I was also happily surprised to see my Uncle Joe and cousin Lane there doing the rough-ins for the plumbing...we had a good visit...I haven't seen Lane for years!!! Everything is looking really good! We are so excited!

Here they are smoothing out the floor.

Here they are pouring the other half of the floor. The guy in the blue plaid shirt is our builder...he is awesome!

More smoothing...

Voila! It is done!

The guy in the hole is my Uncle Joe...the best plumber around!

The guy in the upper left corner is my cousin Lane...he is awesome!

Days 10 through 14

So, I haven't updated in awhile...sorry...I have been really busy, but I do have pictures from the past several days!! We have basement walls! They poured the walls and took the forms off today. I guess that today they will level the floor of the shop and pour that concrete tomorrow. Then, our plumber, my fabulous Uncle Joe, will come in and rough in plumbing stuff in the next few days so that they can pour the floor of the rest of the basement! Hopefully they will get that poured sometime next week. Next comes framing...I guess...not sure, but it sure was weird walking around in the shop this morning and looking out the windows...it made it all seem a little more real!

All the wall forms are up.

These shorter walls are at the back of the house...this is the daylight basement.

The concrete in the forms!

The forms removed...we have walls! This is the window to the girl's bedroom.

This is the front of the house.

This is coming up from behind...that is the undergarage shop.

The undergarage shop. We added those two windows and the man door at the last minute...sure glad we did!

Luke had lots of fun playing in the dirt.

Inside the shop...

Day 9

Today they installed the re-bar for the foundation walls and then placed most of the forms for the walls...hopefully they will get to pour concrete tomorrow! The weather was beautiful today...we were out there in t-shirts and flip-flops!

Up go the walls!

3 excited little kids...Emma wanted to stay home!

Days 6, 7 and 8

So, they have dug and poured the footings on the back of the house. We can actually see the entire footprint of the house! Awesome! Yesterday, they had brought in all the trucks with the forms for the walls...they plan on putting the forms on today and pouring tomorrow. I will go up and take more pictures today...the pictures below are from the past few days.

The guy in this picture is our builder...he is GREAT! He is standing on the west side of the house...the patio of the daylight basement is in front of him.

I am standing in Luke's future bedroom and looking east over the "undergarage" shop.

The big truck with the wall forms.

Dad and Luke.