Category Archives: New Home

So something that has taken us forever and really we lost most if not all motivation on was our yard

We were able to get lucky and with our loan not have to finish it to move in and be able to just get the money out so we could do it later– but ya I’ll be the first to admit- we’ve been lazy- burned out and every time we’d walk out and try to do anything with it we’d end up overwhelmed and very frustrated!

There were so many ROCKS– so many– I’m not kidding when I say I’ve probably picked up a thousand or more rocks!  and putting in 35+ sprinklers was a job in itself- and leveling it and spreading a bit more dirt– ya it just went on and on and on

Thankfully we had some help and motivation come along and I’m so happy to say that we have grass seed spread– And the kids actually enjoyed the process– I love that they are learning to love to help and work

but in all honesty what kid who didn’t get the chance to drive the four wheeler wouldn’t like to work too?

  We decided that even though it was pretty late in the season we’d try and spread some grass seed and see if it grew or not– either way we know we’ll probably be spreading some more in the spring

And even though I am never in these pictures I swear I was there spreading that crap too and picking up Rocks– always forever picking up rocks–

But I will admit it looks so much better– You can Hardly see anymore Rocks!

and guess what I spotted this morning…….

Itty bitty little grass It’s growing!!– I’m just hoping it can survive the coming up storms

This is going to be quite the short post! But I just wanted to say…………….

Sure it’s taken us a week now to get all of our stuff out of all the places we’d stored it- and we still have a bit of stuff we need to get still -oy!

But yes sirree it sure felt like Christmas!

{I also can’t believe how much stuff we’ve amassed over 10years! Holy Cow– we’re definitely having a garage sale soon!}

Mainly though- I probably could have gotten things in their places a bit faster– and I still have a bit to do- but really I’ve so just enjoyed playing with my kids! I’m sick of house and sick of working!

I’m pretty sure my kiddo’s are pretty dang happy to be in our house too! Payton was so excited to move in he woke up at 3:30 in the morning trying to get us up and moving stuff!

Ultimately I’m happy! We have a house! Now I just have to make it a home!

Yep we’re still chugging along at our house…..

{Except for when I’m sick… like today– than I just get so frustrated that I can’t accomplish anything on my mile long list that I want to cry… bad sickness… bad!}

Anywho what we’ve mainly been doing is getting ready to pass off all our inspections and working on the outside yard. {Just to throw it out there- we passed our final electrical inspection and that was a huge sigh of relief for us since we did it ourselves and we’ve been worried it would drag on forever and ever and ever– but we passed!!! yay!}

 Dave got to get the big boy toys out last Saturday to work on spreading our fill dirt in our yard

and can you guess who was so super excited {and a pretty darn big helper for him!}

 Ya little Payter boy! It was cute to see him help and be all excited about getting to ride in the dump truck

 He’d also help by showing Dad where to back up to to dump the dirt.

 The other big thing that we got done on our house was the concrete pads were poured! Yay!

I did forget to take one of the sidewalk out front and the garage pad but you kinda get the idea  

I won’t lie- I’m super excited to have some BBQ’s on our back patio!!

We tried lighting the candles outside and the wind kept blowing them out- so we finally took it inside and before we could even get halfway done singing Bryn had blown out all the candles! I don’t think she was excited or anything! 

 We got her some Polly Pockets and G&G Jones made her a pretty necklace, she also got a card and $2 bill in the mail from G&G Foster which she was excited about!

And for Payton and her birthday the BIG present for them was a Trampoline!

It’s been quite the entertainment while we worked on the house, and it’s so cute to hear Ellie say “tramp, tramp, jump tramp”

Overall it’s been a good week- now if only I can kick this sickness so I can get much accomplished this week– {who knows we might actually move in next week!!! ya I’m trying not to get my hopes up though }

Well I know I’ve been quite the slacker on our house updates– I won’t lie our house is a stinkin mess right now!!!– We have so many projects going on the house and absolutely none of them are totally finished– {which is my biggest pet peeve and frustration! I hate leaving just a little bit left to be done– ugh}

One thing that is done though is our Cabinets!

We had Merrills with Merrill woodworking do them and I absolutely LOVE them! They did an amazing job and were great to work with {and I’ll admit it I had some kinda out there ideas and designs } As far as recommendations go– these guys get five thumbs up from me

We did build the back of the bar wood wainscoting and so I’m still working on finishing that up— and we have lights that still need to get done– and appliances to put in– Like I said never ending little things.

 As part of our cabinets I had this file cabinet built and I’ve never been so excited to file some stuff

Master bath Cabinets– we still have to cut out the bottom shelves for the plumbing

I love the kids bathroom cabinets– {there’s also a huge linen closet in here that I forgot to take a pic of }

and the kitchen desk {ya a huge mess right now} 

And our Study Desk– Merrills did the cabinets and we put on the wood top {I wanted kinda an old wood bench top look }

Other stuff we’ve been doing.

trying forever to finish the electrical

and building many much built ins

Shelves and cubbies in our Mud closet 

 Master Bedroom Closet Organizers 

Organizers in the kids closets

Pantry Shelves

Our Living room Bookcases and Columns {ya still a lot of paint and stuff left to do}

I finally finished our powder room table {that is until Dave builds a shelf for it }

and we are trying to finish up on the trim stuff

 The Mantle is 99.8% done  

 and the Carpet is 100% done- {yippee ki yay!}

And the stairs railings from that firey burney place is pretty darn close to being finished {thanks to our nephew Reily helping all day yesterday! Thank you thank you thank you Reily!} 

 So yes we’re close but oh so far– {I see a massive amount of painting and caulking and just “stuff” that takes time to get done left still  *sigh}

But really we’re getting closer to attacking the outside–

 which will definitely be a war that I hope we can win. {I can guarantee I’ll be getting me some sun }

{*and just a side note cuz I know you’ll wonder………..  Why in the heck are we doing the outside right now before we move in?! Well it’s because at the beginning of this whole project on my list was Sod {cuz our kids haven’t had a backyard to really play in for close to 5yrs now!?} So in order to close on our loan and move in we have to put down the sod– which ya opens a whole can of beans for us to do on the outside– *sigh* yes I am tired and burned out and trying my best not to take another trip to breakdown city…. but we’re getting there right?!

So this week was kinda busy… I started it out with an Formals session-

{So the next few days were took up with me editing ect}

They were such a fun couple! I call it my ultimate date night when we get a sitter and Dave comes with me to do a session– We get to get out, the lighting is pretty– I get to take pictures and be creative! Than we usually will go get dinner– It’s my Favorite Date

I will admit it we have been so burned out on working on the house– So burned out! {me more than Dave-even- which is a change} Dave pulled us along though

Eventually I put the third coat of Poly on {listening to Dave’s 80′s station while doing it– “Don’t stop Believin!” It was motivating}

 I {ya as in I, me, Ali– all by my lonesome} finished the Rest of the Pergo flooring

 It wasn’t so bad– just a big jigsaw puzzle with the ability to cut those pieces that don’t fit

We also started on the massive amount of built ins we have— {This is just one of the Attic Bookcases}

 Our Brother-in-Law Myron finished the mantle and I must say I am in LOVE {swoon!} I think he did an amazing job– {I must say my pic doesn’t do it justice- it’s amazing in person!}

 We tiled around the fireplace

 And Grouted the other tile in the house {I must say grouting was the funnest part of the whole tile job– I actually enjoyed that }

And I gotta blog about this……

I feel a little like I’ve been jipped/tricked here though– cuz along with the bike {to keep him safe} He’s gotten new loud pipes– helmet, leather jacket- were gonna get some reflective patches– so ya I’ve been willing to get him all this stuff to keep him safe but at the same time I can’t but help feel a little like he’s tricked me into getting all that he could ever want for his bike  Ya I still love this man even if he is a Tricky Tricky Man.

And oh BTW they are installing our Cabinets right now as I speak!! I am so so so so so Excited!!