Drywall and Big Slider!

It was late last night when Samuel asked if we could go check out the house.  Joe had taken Rachel to soccer practice, and I really wasn't up for making the trip - but we went anyway.

... And I am SO glad we did because there had been exciting progress! The big slider window/door had been installed and all the drywall had been delivered (and placed in each room.)  As well, the upstairs room was just about completed with drywall!  

The boys were so excited (which I love to see) and wanted to go into each room one-by-one to check things out.  

We are being very patient, knowing that it will all come together as it should.  And we are enjoying the pitstops to see all the progress.  We have also been able to meet many of the neighbors, so we won't seem like such strangers when we move in, which will be nice.

 

Windows & Insulation

It doesn't always appear that things are happening from the outside, but on the inside -- there has been a lot of great progress! 

The windows went in last week + the fireplace insert.  And today Samuel and I made a trip over and found that the insulation had gone in - plus the the siding had been delivered.  So little-by-little it is all coming together!

And then tonight we decided to stop in and get mom so that we could all take another look.  The sunset was so pretty!  I am going to enjoy those views so very much...

Windows!

Siding was delivered

Insulation!

Fireplace insert

Quite sure his view will not get old...

Yellow Wrap - Check!

We took the kiddos for ice cream to celebrate a successful "first-day-back-to-school" and decided to drive by the house to see if anything had changed.  It had! The house is almost done being wrapped in yellow, which means windows will go in very soon too (they were also delivered to the house.)  

I also love the checklists that are on the walls.  :-)  And I had forgotten to snap a photo of our signatures from last month, behind the fireplace. 

Wires and Garage Concrete!

We saw a spray painted sign late last week: "garage concrete pour on Monday."  I had a 7:00am meeting, but Joe and Rachel headed over to watch some of the action.  Love to have the kiddos be a part of the process and see how things are done.  

The electrical is almost done - wires everywhere!  I am impressed with electricians and all that they have to navigate.  I looked at the box one day and was wondering how on earth it all comes together - so many wires!

Other items: 

• They added the "faux" window on the upper, left side of the house (it was bothering me without the symmetry) 😏 - but we knew it was on the list to get completed.  
• They have almost finished with the roof - added the middle, metal section on Friday.

So many wires!

Upper, left window added (faux)

Slow but Steady!

On 8/12, we walked through the whole house with Mike and worked out the electrical plan.  I think it took us a couple of hours, and felt great to be able to talk through everything.  It's good to brainstorm and put collective ideas together.  And then on 8/13, the electrician made quick progress and had already started placing the boxes and getting most of the can lights placed.

We also took some time this weekend to pick out the fixtures on-line, which was a lot of fun.  Fortunately Joe and I have matching tastes, so it's pretty easy once we get moving!  :-)  The hard part is making sure we keep to the budget!  

They also have the back patio pillars waiting/ready for concrete.  And the inside fireplace has been framed.  Mike did mention that there are some supply issues with the fireplace we wanted, but is coming up with a plan b.  All-in-all, we have done pretty well on the supply side (other than lumber, of course) -- and we are hoping we won't run into too many supply issues as we move forward.

Today, they roofers started adding the metal roofing, which looks great!  I love look of composition mixed with metal.  I also enjoyed chatting about the progress with one of the workers - he said it's definitely more work to put up, but he too thinks it looks really good.  As well, the electrician had made even more progress.

So while this stage feels slow (from the outside) we know there is actually a lot going on!

Metal Roofing Today!

Looking up in the entry-way

Electrical Work

Fireplace

My Favorite View!

Great Progress While We Were Gone!

I have been delinquent in posting, as we were on vacation.  We had arrived back from Kauai too late last night to drive by the house, so Joe and I were anxious to get our on a walk this morning!  Mom had sent a picture of it last week, so we knew the stairs to the bonus room had gone in, but weren't sure what other things had transpired.  Here are some of them:

• Blackberry bushes removed!
  
• Roofing as started
• Gravel added for the driveway in front
• Dug out for the covered patio footers in the back
• Septic tank was put in the ground
• Worked more on the plumbing

And then we stopped by with the boys this afternoon and there was a tub installed!  :-)

Blackberries removed - look at the pretty view!

Bonus room

Stair added to bonus room

Septic

Back of house - roofing started

Gravel added for driveway

Custom vs. Semi-Custom (pick custom!)

Today we (Joe, me, my mom and Samuel) all headed to Salem to view our final cabinet choices.  It was the best experience we have had wrt cabinet-work in the past, as we could view everything in 3D and could brainstorm ideas w/ Mike and Parkwood Design.  Such fun - and truly a team effort for ideas.

We also stopped by to see a new line of black/black Milgard windows, which will be perfect for this house style.  It's just such a good feeling to be a "true" part of the build/choice process.  You would assume that when you are paying - that might usually be the case, but not always the truth.  "Custom-built" is truly a different experience than "semi-custom."  We have had 2 semi-custom builds and multiple-larger remodels, but this is the most "say" I feel like we have had. 👍

We then headed back to Mac and met Ty Angevine* [funny story about him in a second...] at the lot to talk about the concrete plan.  And naturally, snapped a few photos too.  Things are really getting built out, and you can easily get a feel for the space.  SO MUCH FUN!  

* So Ty was in Joe's graduating class at Linfield, and I was a year behind with his wife Robin. But we hadn't made that connection when we all met.  So today, we figured all of that out.  😂

And finally...  if you need a builder - Mike's your guy!  

Covered back patio

Back of the house