Trim Work

I think the trim carpenters have the neatest job- making the house look completed. They install trim, doors, window sills, closet shelves, baseboards, cabinets, vanities, stair ballesters, railings, and more.

Closet shelving- however we want it

Iron spindles for the stairs

Bathroom vanities installed

Stair posts, railing- ready for spindles

Window sills cut and ready to install

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We used Quality Trim, a father/son operation.

Pat and Matt Dinkel were great. They do really nice, clean, straight work.

Cabinet Marathon!

SO MANY PARTS! Ikea is known for it's "assemble yourself" furniture, and their cabinets are no different. Great quality, but each cabinet has about 50+ pieces of hardware!

Two entire weekends of work... but they had to get done and we saved money...

and got great cabinets!

Grandpa came to help one day and Rob, Ryan's dad, came to help one day- we needed them both!

We didn't just need help with assembling cabinets... we needed someone to watch Ella- thanks to Heather and Devin and Jenny, Ryan's mom, who we couldn't have done without!

Our progress not even half way done...

Thanks Grandma Jenny for taking Ella away from the noise and banging!

Now to carry the 20+ cabinets from the lower level to the garage... heavy lifting!

We accomplished it! This is only 1/2 the cabinets...

WASTE- literally! We discovered some cabinets wouldn't fit, since we forgot to account for drywall in our measuring... including this $700.00 high cabinet- oops! Well at least I could change Ella's diaper in it and give it some use :o)

We'll find a place to use it in the house, but too bad it won't fit in the kitchen as planned.

Once the Dinkel's had the cabinets hung, we had to go back that night and mark the holes for them to drill in- lots of work for these dang things. And we haven't even installed the hinges, drawer slides, doors or drawers!

BREAK TIME!~ Once we got home on the last Sunday, we spent some quality time with Ella and Tellie outside enjoying the fall evening. Wish we had more time to do this, but we've gotta finish the house first.

Ella is now 5 weeks old and doing great!

Driveway/Porch

And we managed to not have any foot/hand/paw prints in the fresh concrete!

Can't wait to sit on our porch!

Installing Hardwood Floors = Mother of the Year Award

Wood floors were installed in just 2 days! 3-1/4" red oak planks. They leave it unstained/finished until later when it won't get marked up.

The tool set up they had was Ryan's dream- maybe someday Ryan!

My MOTHER OF THE YEAR award is in the mail... I'm sure of it, it's on it's way...

We had to work in the basement while they were installing the hardwood floors, and of course we have Ella. The installers said, "Are you sure baby should be here, it's really loud and wood falls from the ceiling?"

Well, we have to get the cabinets done- we have deadlines! Ella had to stay. So I wrapped her in cozy blankets, covered her ears and put diapers by her head to muffle the noise. It was LOUD. Banging and sawing and hammering. She slept like a... baby... the whole time! Sorry Ella!

I put her in the corner where they were NOT working above us in hopes to make it quieter and so nothing would fall on her from the ceiling.

Ella- You are a TROOPER!

Drywall=almost a home!

Drywall was delivered and this big truck loaded it into the house through the windows- I wouldn't want to be in charge there- it was a tight squeeze!

Careful...

When Ryan saw this pile of mud boxes he said,

"Man do I feel sorry for the poor guy who has that job!"

Oh wait... here he is!

Messy work zone, but they got the job done fast!

The stilts probably help so you don't have to mess with ladders.

One guy was on scaffolding and then on stilts too!

It looks like a home now... getting closer. 60 more days is what John says...

but we're secretly hoping it's sooner :o)

The drywall really made the ceiling and niches pop- we're so excited!