Living Room and Entry

Some of these pictures are really dark since we took them at night. I'll have to remember to take some in the day. We still have lots of little projects to finish ... backsplash to do, doorknobs to put on, decorations to put out and pictures to hang up ... but we're getting there.

The boys love the front door and peeking out to see who is there.

We decided not to put a TV in our living room. We wanted it to just be a place to sit down and relax but where the kids wouldn't want to always be leaving their toys around ... that's what the family room is for. So we wondered if we would regret that decision but I really don't. It is a room that stays clean and a room where the boys play Incredible Hulk on my couches, they all run through and then around to the dining room (it makes a circle) as I cook dinner but I love our decision to not put a TV in that room. It where we have FHE, read scriptures and enjoy the fire.

We also enjoy the view. I need to get a picture of the kids because they spend hours standing at the windows (sometimes standing in the windows even when we say not to) watching the trains go by. I love how no matter how many times we see a particular kind of train they are still fascinated. Just this morning they couldn't believe a train with 12 engines would go by and haul no cars on it ... they love to figure out where the trains could be going, what they are hauling, why they are stopping, why they are going fast or slow. It is really fun.

Kitchen and Dining Room

This picture is really dark but we did a wood wainscoating in the dining room. I love the look it give the room and how it separates it from the rest of the house.

It has been nice to have space to move around in the kitchen and yes I have actually used all six burners ... just when we've had guests but it was nice to have the space.

We picked out a travertine that was chiseled and patterned. We used it in the kitchen and entry way. I really like it though it is easier to vacuum it than to sweep since the grout grooves are so large.

Bathrooms

It is so nice to have our own bathroom ... although our bathroom is the favorite bathroom for the kids. They love to shower in the "cave" and swim in the tub. Zoe has now been banned from our bathtub because she splashes so much that the walls, blinds, floor ... anything within 5 feet is drenched! We actually liked this cabinet finish the best and almost put it in the kitchen instead of the off white but decided it might date the house so we just put it in our master. I love it though and LOVE my bathroom storage.

Our 1/2 bath and Ty's favorite bathroom to use. It seems that no matter where he is in the house he always runs to use this bathroom. I think he just likes that the counter is a little lower and that the faucet comes out of the wall. Whatever the reason it is always being used.

This is the tile of the basement bathroom. I love it. This is one space I didn't put a lot of thought into because I thought it wouldn't be used much but we use it nearly everyday now. Its nice that its right where the kids can play while I get ready and Zoe isn't emptying my dresser drawers. So maybe this is my bathroom now?

Nearly There!

So our cabinets went in this week and I realized I haven't posted pictures or taken them for ages! We have been so crazy busy just trying to get things done that I've had very little down time. We are always working on the house, at the office, packing or just trying to get the normal every day life to do list done. So here are a few of my favorite things about the house ...

I LOVE our new cabinets. Pax is not a fan since he says, "they look old and like they forgot to paint." I am going to love the extra counter space and that there will be enough seats at the bar that they boys can each sit on either side of dad without fighting about it ... right now we only have 2 seats.

I love the open great room with its big windows, view and lots of sunlight.

I love that Bryce and I will have our own bathroom ... including locks! Maybe I will finally get a little privacy. However this is also the kids favorite room. Ty calls our shower the cave and always runs and hides in it, Zoe loves to climb up and down the step by the bath and Pax says he will use our shower everyday since we get 2 showerheads and his bathroom only has 1.

I love Bryce's office and that it will allow him to do some paperwork at home ... even though he'll still be working he'll be with us!

We have to be out of our house by the end of this month and are planning to move in just 3 weeks. So I better get a move on getting EVERYTHING ready to go.

A Work In Progress

So its been forever since I posted pictures of our house. It is coming along ... its been a slow process with a few set backs but we're getting there. We are almost finished with our contractor and then we'll be contracting the rest of the project ourselves (with the help of Bryce's brother). Hopefully then things will really move along. So the roof is finished. The plumbing should be done today, heating done by the weekend and our electrician will be here next Wednesday. So hopefully, we're back on track and can have our four way inspection by the end of the month.

It seems our past month has been busy with tons of house decisions ... lighting and plumbing fixtures, flooring, fireplace, banister, appliances, rock and brick, etc. but it is fun. Stressful too! We always heard building a house is stressful and it is. Luckily Bryce and I agree on things so the stress just comes from dealing with this huge project and the money involved and also still dealing with day to day life. We're just hoping to be done by the beginning of December.

Framing After One Week

{the front of the house}
{the back of the house, taken from the street below}

The framing started on Monday and they got pretty far! Its nice to see things moving along ... FINALLY! It has been fun to walk through it and see how the spaces come together. Its one thing to see it on paper and quite another to actually stand there and feel how big or small that room is. My favorite part of our house is the view. There's nothing behind us and I don't think there probably ever will be. The boys ... and Zoe once's she's older ... will love that we can just hop on the 4-wheelers and head up the canyon.

Foundation Walls

{view from the left front}
{view from the back right}

Hooray! The walls are up for our foundation. We're ready for the plumbing to go down in the dirt so that they floor can be poured.