The Next Phase

We passed our framing inspection last week! This is a HUGE milestone - it means we can get insulation and drywall underway. Of course, it wasn't without incident...our first attempt was red tagged. Apparently we did not have all the required paperwork available for the inspector and instead of calling us, we just got the tag. We had what they were looking for, but it wasn't in the permit box. Twenty five dollars later, we were officially passed. Hurrah! While things may not move faster, at least we are in the next phase and things will start to take shape. We decided to pay someone to do the insulation and the drywall. Apparently, we can pay for a professional insulator cheaper than we can actually buy just the insulation ourselves. That one is a no-brainer. While Big A and Big Moe could certainly hang the drywall, it would take FOREVER and we just don't have that kind of time. Therefore, we are paying someone to drywall which will get us moved in much faster and it will be professionally done. With Big A's perfectionist streak, doing the drywall would have been a frustrating and never ending task.

Things on the homefront are okay. Now that the hot weather has really set it, the house is getting even smaller. The front room just does not cool down and since that is where we are living, it is not so comfortable these days. We had a weekend off, as we took Lil A to Disney for the big 4! We had so much fun and for a whole two days, we didn't even talk about the addition or think about home. It was a great escape and tons of fun for all of us. Now we are back and I am anxious to get things rolling again. It is going to be a really long summer, but now it kind of feels like maybe there is an end in sight. We'll see....

We are planning to do the roof this coming weekend. I will have to find someplace cool to escape with the kids -- probably the pool....

Major Milestones Accomplished

Why does it take me so long to post? Why has so much time gone by since my last entry? Well, I guess we are just busy living! A lot has happened in the last few months and I will take a few moments now to do some updating in case there is anyone out there who still looks at this blog. After the bump out was finished, we went on a great trip to the Keys so there were a few weekends where we didn't work at all. It was such a nice break from our cluttered house, from the addition, from everything. We didn't have the best weather on the trip, but it really didn't matter because we had a chance to completely chill....
Big A worked every weekend in April. He worked some days by himself and a few weekends he had help. He primarily just did piddly stuff to finish up framing. Mid April he worked with Big Moe and Brandon and they completed the interior stairs - another major milestone. The whole interior has finally taken shape.
Early May was less productive, as we had quite a few things going on. We took Mother's Day weekend off and went to see Janes Addiction & NIN at the Ford Ampitheater which was FANTASTIC. Little A and Little T were away over night and it was a nice break from the grind. The next big hurdle to get through before we can finalize our framing is the installation of a very large beam in our existing attic. This beam has to tie into a concrete pad under our existing floor. I think Big A was a little apprehensive about this task and was putting it off, but we finally got to where it had to be done. We were very nervous because we didn't know what it was going to entail - was it going to mess up our bathroom? Would walls be knocked down? Would our one bedroom be affected? Most of these things we just wouldn't know until he got up in the attic and started working. I took the kids to Gvlle while they tore up the floor to install the concrete pad. This was inside our existing house and I just couldn't be here to watch - too stressful. When I returned, the pad was poured and there was plywood over the floor in our hallway. The next weekend, it was time for the beam. Again, the kids and I vacated and the guys went to work. It was a long grueling day (mostly for Brandon), but they got it done. They had to build a shore wall in the kids bathroom to hold up the house while they cut rafter tails in the attic. I am sure the place was a mess, but it looked fine by the time we returned. The bathroom is fully functional so things remain relatively unchanged in our existing living space.
Plumbing and electrical were also completed during the months of April and May. We passed two plumbing rough in inspections so that trade is behind us for now. We were red tagged on our electrical rough in, but I think our guy fixed the minor transgressions.
Big A removed our existing back doors in the 'playroom' to move them into the bumpout. He still has to install them in the new section, but that backroom is now quite a bit darker as it is covered up with plywood.
We are still doing okay in our little home. Sometimes I get really down about how long the whole process is taking. Sometimes it seems there is no end in sight. Other times I just pretend it isn't even happening. The kids are doing great so I can't complain. My trip to Gvlle worked out quite well as the kids had fun seeing their grandparents and I got a chance to relax and visit with some friends as well. This weekend while the beam was being installed Mimi and I made our first pilgrimage to IKEA. It was fun to see how nice and put together a living space can be. While I should have been excited, envisioning it as MY new space, I am just not there yet. I am hopeful I will be when we are a little closer.
Up next for the exterior - SIDING! Big A is working on pricing for siding and trim. There are lots of different options and many decisions to make....
Up next for the interior - FRAMING INSPECTION! If all goes well, we will start closing it up with insulation and then drywall. Then there will be lots more decisions to make....
It is hard to make decisions when it takes so much time to research and analyze the different options. Even when it is narrowed down to a few choices, it is very difficult to determine how something will look once it is installed. Forget about trying to do this in between making meals, doing laundry, working, going to school/karate/swim lessons.... it feels overwhelming at times. The kids and I did have an adventure going to a few lighting stores and a few tile stores, but it was all futile - I am no closer to selecting lighting or tile than I was before dragging them around. If we can just keep moving forward, stay positive, and be happy in the moment, we'll get through it. Everyone keeps saying how great it will be in the end, but for me, if I spend any energy waiting for the end I will make myself miserable. So, we just take it one day at a time. Big A has done a fantastic job working on the project, and I know how lucky we are to have a husband/dad with his capabilities and talent. I will post pics soon....