Sunday, November 13, 2011

Theres no place like home...

The last few months we have been playing more than working. On our free weekends we have been working on our list of projects. We brought in a few dump trucks of gravel and finished up the driveway and parking areas. I just can't get over how much I like this house.


This week our goal was to move enough dirt to put in a small yard in the back. Living on a hill made this project difficult to say the least. Thomas rented an excavator to help get the job done. He is a pro with the back hoe but this little piece of equipment was another story.

Here is Thomas trying to work up the nerve to drive the excavator down this steep slope on really loose dirt.

Surveying the job at hand
Hold on Thomas
Picture doesn't do this justice. He was seatbelted in but still was holding onto the roll bar
This is where he got a little off track. Hindsight is 20/20, probably would have done this different if he could do it again
Wood Pecker came to visit during the project

Now I forgot to take pictures of him getting stuck or the carnage that followed. We ended up losing a tree or two to get him out but the end result was great. We still have lots of raking to do but once my blisters started bleeding I decided I was done for the day.
View from the below the house
View on the east side of the house
View on the west side of the house




I also thought I should post some pictures of the house. We are slowly trying to get small projects done since moving in 3 months ago. The first project was to fix a mistake, and we finally got the electrician back to move the lights. The next week Thomas' friends from Idaho came over for a softball tournament, one of our good friends was kind enough to patch our many drywall holes. Thanks Donny Chantler!

Before        

I might have already posted these pictures but I really like my bathroom.

Walk-in shower
Travertine with river rock accents and floor

Here are a few photos of the entry way
 

 Living room

Loving the fireplace on these cold fall evenings



Kitchen and dining


Laundry room....I wish I would have done a few things different. I should have kept my original plan to have 3 open shelves. I have a slab of granite waiting...I just need to buy a new dryer. I just can't seem to replace something that works.


I am still planning to have Thomas build my locker style benches/shelves.


Here is view from the kitchen

Powder room


Taryn's room and bathroom



Quinn's room and Jack n Jill bathroom


Avie's bedroom and messy closet

 

The upstairs living room is lacking in furniture but not in space. Hopefully we can save up some money for furniture but until then the kids don't seem to mind bean bags


Hopefully the next few weeks will continue to be sunny and clear so we can finish the back yard project.