We Have Windows

The other day our windows were delivered.

 

So they cut the holes.  Check out that saw blade.

 

Then today they installed them.  Yes, James worked on the 4th.  Dedicated.  We love them so far.  The two windows in the TV room have blackout shades so we can watch movies in the middle of the day if we so please.  But more importantly, we can get the heck out in case of a fire.

 

The one in the bedroom has a softer shade that still lets the light in when they're down.  It is going to be great to have some more natural light in that little bedroom.

 

In other news, the bedroom closet door was framed in, quite a bit of plumbing has been done, and our cool new laundry basin arrived.

 

We are desperately hoping we can get going on this project.  I would love to get Skeeto playing MarioKart WII!!! downstairs in a new entertainment room!



Catching Up

I've been in Florida for a week so I'm a little behind.  While I was gone I got a few pictures from Brian via email.  The first was the pic to the left.  They created the forms for the window wells.  The next was of a cement truck parked outside.  I even got a phone call from a neighbor wondering what we were doing.

 They poured the pad on the north side and the window wells on the south.

 

Today I came home to our bathroom wall completely demoed.  They had to tear it down because it wasn't built right in the first place.  They also took out the walls on either side of what will be the fireplace to get ready for the windows and took a big chunk out of the cement wall to make room for a fireplace insert.  From what I understand, they are hoping to hit this basement hard for the next couple weeks.  I hope we can knock it out fast.  We are itching to have a proper family room and reclaim our bedroom as our own!

 





I'm Gonna Miss That Man Hole

Not really.  Today they started breaking up the concrete pad on the north side of the house.  It was one guy and he was doing it with a sledgehammer.  It was loud.  Apparently effective, but loud.  The idea is to repour the roof of this old coal chute and make it water tight.  This will eventually be a sweet storage area.

Also, window wells 2 and 3 were dug out today.  Making progress.



Our Neighbors Probably Hate Us

We have *another* giant eyesore of a dumpster in our driveway again.  Our neighbors are saints for putting up with this for so many years.

 

James sent out one of his guys today to start digging out the window wells....by hand.  Not a fun job, I can imagine.  But we are grateful he was there.  This was the only thing that got done today, but we will take it!  We are back underway!

Basement Beginnings

We've been prepping for the start of our basement remodel.  We were hoping to have been well on our way by now, but we're waiting on our contractor to finish things up at another job.  I am still hoping for a finished product by the end of summer.  That has not deterred Brian from getting a few things done.  He took down the shed to get ready for the concrete to be cut for the egress windows.

And he's been busily working on the demo in the bathroom.  It is such a shame to see all that blue tile disappear.

 

He also has been removing the baseboards and found this lovely patch of mold growing in the toy room on the wall behind the shower.  I am hating that bathroom even more.  So happy it will soon be done right.

Kitchen Signage

We felt that the kitchen needed a little decor.  We got a couple signs from Hobby Lobby for the counter, but I really wanted a "Pantry" sign for the pantry door and a "Bon Appetit" sign for above the calendar.  I scoured the Internet, but couldn't find any I liked.  So, with the help of my dad and his vinyl plotter, I was able to create these babies.

 

They both look great with the other Hobby Lobby signs.  I distressed them with a little sandpaper and am really happy with how they turned out.  Thanks Dad for all the help!

Another addition since Christmas was a clock.  Again, after scouring the Internet, I found a company that creates custom clocks. It adds a little personal touch and commemorates our wedding day.  I even had them add military time since it is Brian's kitchen, after all.  Love it.

Fire Good!

Our house has definitely evolved over the years.  Our fireplace is one feature that has had many incarnations.  We started off with horrific blue bathroom tiles as a hearth.

We replaced the blue tile with a nice natural stone.  Next, we got a wild hair to strip the fireplace and stain it......a few years later it would go back to white.

It's latest facelift is the most exciting.  Brian got a gas insert installed!  It is wonderful.  We should have done it years ago.  I sat in front of it last night just staring at the flame and feeling the warmth.  I could have slept right there on the hearth.

The kids love it too.  While I was at work, anxious to come home and see the new flames, Brian sent me a pic of the kids cozied up already enjoying it.  Another job well done, Brian.  Thank you.  I love it!

In The Beginning...

In the beginning, our basement was the nicest part of our house.  We spent all our time down there.  It is where we put our first couch, coffee table and big screen and where we raised our little pup.  Good times.  Good times.  Since the renovation, it has been trashed.  It is more like a dungeon.  We never venture down there...except for laundry and the occasional need for something from food storage.  The basement will be our next project. 

True to form, Brian has already gotten to work. Since he has just returned from deployment and has a few weeks off, he has gone gung-ho. The laundry room has been gutted.

In addition to all the work in the laundry room, he arranged to get a water softener.  Something we've been wanting for a very long time.  It's a wonderful thing.

 

Today he also pulled up all the carpet, pulled off the baseboards, and hauled the giant sectional out of the TV room.  Monday will be dedicated to many trips to the dump to get rid of the enormous piles of garbage and a garage full of crappy old furniture.  It will be a big day.  But a lot of the hard work is over thanks to Brian.  Thank you, Brian!  Love you!