I’ve been trying to get to this for days but we have been busy with birthdays and parties and all sorts of other things.  A few weeks ago we made the trek to Utah (minus Brian) for conference weekend.  We were grateful to have Jeff along.  That trip would be very difficult alone. 

Rosie knows where the getting is good.

The watchers

I had to include this because of the peeking Serra.  Babys are the sweetest when they are sleeping

Toddlers are especially sweet when they are sleeping.  Rosie still keeping track of the “weats”

Zorro, I mean Olivia

It’s so nice to be with family for those “festivities”.  I hardly saw my children as they were cousin occupied the whole time.  Even Weston was commandeered for most of the time with Aunties and Grandma.  I did see him about every 3-4 hours.  I was touched by the Solemn Assembly as it is such a rare occurrence and I think it is so great that we participate even if we are in our PJ’s in front of a TV.  We were glad we were able to make it for Jacobs baptism.  I love to have my children see their family making good choices and doing the things we hope they will do someday.  Serra has talked about the baptism and is now counting down the years/months/days until it will be her turn.

Rosie was out playing in the yard (mud) with the kids and they all came in to tell me that she was stuck.  I pictured her stuck behind or on top of something.  But no…she was actually stuck in the mud.  It was the perfect consistency and when she stepped into it with her boots she stuck firmly.  when I pulled her up it made that cartoon SSSHHHLUCK sound.  Very funny for me and only slightly traumatic for a 2 year old. 

Since we have been home we have been photo shooting maniacs.  We had Weston’s 3 month, Serra’s 6 year, a much needed shot of the 3 children together (which actually turned out), and a few for others as well.  Friday last was also Serra’s birthday.  We kept it mostly in the family.  The previous Sunday the Andersons threw a party with a plethora of gifts for both girls.  On her actual birthday we had breakfast and then she opened her gifts.  She is most excited about the Bugville Butterfly’s (actual caterpillars that you watch cocoon and turn), A talking/dancing My Little Pony, The Disney Princess Kitty, and the stick on earrings.  She has also been really good about including Rosie in the fun.  I took cupcakes to share with the class as school.  That was something I never got to do because I had a summer birthday.  Serra’s choice for birthday dinner was artichokes and Chinese soup. (egg drop)  Luckily artichokes were on sale so we picked up a few extra and had them for the other party as well.  (I’ll get to that)  Her cake was a plate of three dozen donuts from Krispy Kreme stacked high and delicious.  That is one of here favorite things.  I think she ate three in one sitting that night.  She requested that she stay up late and fall asleep on the couch and Daddy carry her to bed.  The small things that make a child happy.  She got a lot of phone calls throughout the day and letters in the mail.   She felt very loved and special.  Thankyou everyone for thinking of her and making her month. 

Happy 6th Birthday Serra!

Don’t forget to check out the video of this event.  Serra got silly string-ed.

Let’s get started on this thing.                     Rosie fell asleep reading the other night.

The Little Man 3 months old.

We actually got one after many unsuccessful tries…Can you guess from the pictures below who the challanging subject is?

Ok…so that one turned out too….

They look so sweet….

There she is…six year old Serra.

…and an extra one of Rosie…she felt left out and wanted a picture alone too. 

Saturday I did a photo shoot for a friend for a birthday present.  They have a two year old and don’t have any family pics with her.  It was really windy out but we decided to try outside anyway.  We headed to the only real nature place with foliage and were horrified to discover that the annual Scottish festival was being held there.  We couldn’t even get close to the park.  She we headed to a new local park that had a gazebo and tried a few there.  After battling with the wind for a while I suggested we try a few on my backdrop indoors just to ensure we get something.  I was pleasantly surprised a how well most of them turned out. 

The week before a friend in the ward asked Brian if he wanted to buy the UFC fight and have a party at our house with carne asada.  (not a shy fella) So that’s what started it.  Word got out and soon we had men asking how they could get an invite.  We started passing out food assignments, invited a few more people and by Saturday night we had around 20 people.  I had two of the wives come to keep me company and we sent the kids up the street with some other left home kids.  It was a lot of fun.  I didn’t watch the fight but the boys sure enjoyed it. 

 It’s been awhile since I’ve done a house update but that’s only because I’m so busy working on it.  We’re making great progress and we’re still looking good for a July 1st move-in.  Here’s some pics and commentary;

These first few shots were done a few weeks ago before we finished framing in the dropped ceilings, garage popouts, or finish details. This one here is from near the gate as you pull in to the development.  It’s the best shot of the home that shows the full length. The second pic here is a close-up of the glass block window.  The guy who did it talked me in to doing the different pattern in the blocks…I like it a lot but it’s really the one window in the house that gets the most sun and will make that room pretty hot.  Probably should have thought of that prior to building it there but at least it looks really nice.

These next two shots are again pre-finish framing and are of the entry to the home.  The first shot is what will be the enclosed front courtyard area and covered entryway.  The second shot is at the front door looking in to the home.  One of my favorite things about the home design is the openness and the fact that you can see all the way through the house as you enter it. 

This shot is the last shot of the pre-finish framing.  I show it so you can see the ceiling height.  Prior to putting in any drops it was 12′ tall in the center and 10′ everywhere else.  The way we achieved the higher ceiling in the center of the home is to construct the trusses to land at a precise spot and shoot up 2′ and then span the rest of the way.  It’s amazing how it all came together just as we’d planned/hoped.  We had to make a couple alterations due the foundation being slightly off but nothing that was a big deal.  This picture is standing at the back of the main living area and looking back at the kitchen.

Here’s an updated shot taken yesterday of the house.  We finally passed our Sheathing and Shear inspections which allows us to dry-in the roof and wrap the home for pre-stucco.  As you can see the roofers are busy putting on the 40# felt and making us watertight.  They’ll load the tile tomorrow so that we can then go for our next inspection.  In this shot you’ll also notice the arches on the garages and the installed electrical panel. If you look close you’ll also see that all of our windows and door jams are installed as well.

Here’s a shot from the front door.  What we’ve done in the ceiling is to drop it 18″ in spots to create ”recessed boxes” patterned throughout our main living area/kitchen.  They are a little tough to see now but when they are drywalled and more defined it’ll be easier to tell what we’ve done there.  The idea is that there is a little hidden trough where a rope type light is placed that will then reflect of the ceiling and provide indirect lighting below.  It may sound weird but I think it’ll look really cool.  I was a little sad to lose our 12′ tall ceiling but we still have that in the center of the boxes and the dropped area is still 10 1/2′ which isn’t too shabby. Also in this shot is our fireplace installed in the main living area.  

While still in the foyer area and looking to your left you’ll find out formal living room.  You’ll see we did do a dropped design around the perimeter of the room but not as elaborate as the main living area.  This room will be the hometeacher/visiting teacher reception area and I know Pam has been making noise about getting a piano to put in there. 

This shot is standing in the family room looking back towards the kitchen.  You can see a little more detail on the ceiling drop and also the framed in area where the range/hood will be located.  We’re planning on wrapping that plywood area in fieldstone…should look nice.  I should mention here that Pam has been wonderful to let me make a lot of these design decisions.  I’ve tried to involve here in a lot of the choices and some things she’s been adamant about but she’s been nice enough, and knows how involved I am in this project, to let me make a lot of the choices.  I’m not sure if she’s being extra nice or just happy to see continued progress.

Shot looking towards the hallway leading to the powder room and the two other bedrooms.

This is the long hallway that I was so concerned about on the initial plans.  I felt like it was a giant waste of space and tried several different ideas to make better use of the space.  Unfortunately I was up against a shear wall and a bathroom so there wasn’t much choice other than to build it as it was designed and make the best of it.  Now that we have it I actually like it quite a bit.  It’s hard to tell the detail on the ceiling but it’s similar to the main room but it’s a tad more elaborate.  Also, the long wall serves as a great picture place and removes the “master suite” from the rest of the living area. 

I should have taken more pictures of the bathroom but you can tell what part of it I’m most excited about.  This is my tub deck with two sided fireplace. 

A shot from the other side of the fireplace in the master bedroom looking back towards the long hallway/bath entrance.  To the left of this frame will be a wetbar with mini-fridge and entertainment center that’ll control the TV over the fireplace.  Pam wasn’t so sure about a wetbar in the bedroom but I think it’ll be great.  

A random shot of the fireplace in the great room.

And last but not least is a shot looking back at the house from the back corner of the lot.  We have a lot of back yard space to fill and a pool has been bantered about quite a bit.  While it’s definitely in the works it will have to be part of Phase II of the project as getting the house in over budget as little as possible is the focus right now.

This upcoming week I’m hoping to wrap the exterior with foam/lathe and get the plumbing/electrical/HVAC subcontractors wrapped up and a rough framing inspection called.  Really all that’s left to do is run the low voltage electrical (cable/phone/speakers), run the gas lines (fireplaces, tankless water heaters, furnaces), and install the furnaces/FAU’s.  After that is done we can go for our next big inspection hurdle (all-roughs).  Once we clear that we’re on the downward slope of the project as we can then insulate, drywall, and start bringing in finish.

It’s been Relief Society overload this week as our President was out of town and everything seemed to happen.  An elderly lady has vertigo (needs meals), A young mother threw her back out (needs meals and kid help), Someone died (needs a funeral), a little 18 month old is in the hospital with dehydration (family needs some help) and the child they babysit needs a new babysitter for a few days (that mom contacted me too for help), and a girl I visit teach had her baby (I promised her dinner before everything else happened).  So I decided that I’ve had enough phone calls for a few days and we’re headed to Utah for the Conference gathering.  Don’t worry, the President got back and I have happily turned the reigns back over to her. 

Here is a video of Rosie tormenting Serra at bedtime with chatter and song and, of course, Baby Wes, being cute.