Let the Fun Begin

Thank goodness the weather has been nice and the construction workers are back on the job. 

I had a very exciting day-I took half the day off and went with the builder to pick out some design elements for the house.  Shane & I had picked out a front door and then noticed that several of our neighbors had the same door, so we picked out a different one and I was able to see it at a store today and made sure it's what we want.  That's one more thing finally confirmed.

Next, we went to three different tile stores.  I was sent with strict instructions from the guy funding most of this house (you know him as Shane) that I was not to look at anything unless (1) I knew it was within our budget, and after that was confirmed, (2) I was to bring home three samples that I liked for him to see.  That's three samples for each area; kitchen floor, kitchen backsplash, studio & pantry floor, powder bath, guest bath, upstairs bath, laundry and master bath.

This is not exactly how it happened.  The builder has a different approach, her approach was to "dream big" and pick out what I like.  Since this is a Parade home, she'll talk to the companies about discounts later.

This was music to my ears.

I did some big dreaming, and fell in love with a few tiles...then we ordered a few samples and I was able to bring home a few for him to see tonight.  Of course  there were some that he vetoed, but not really the ones I've already fallen in love with, so we're making great progress.

I will not go over on the tile budget. I promise. Really, I do.

Okay, on to the pictures of actual house progress...

There is still a small pile of snow by the front door...and it looks like we've decided to build in Mudsville.  There is mud everywhere. 

I'm still wearing my galoshes to traipse around the house.

Shane is still rinsing off his shoes when he gets home.

The snow has melted from the inside, but there are still puddles everywhere. I have no idea how they will ever get all this water out.

The last time Shane had poker, he tried to show his buddies the gameroom and came home and informed me that I hadn't done a proper job of documenting this area of the house, so here goes. 

This picture is taken from the doorway, looking into the gameroom.

Here is Shane standing at the window on the far side of the gameroom.

In this picture, we have traded places and I'm with the camera at the window and he is at the entrance to the gameroom. The bar area will be beside him in the very center of this picture.

From the entrance of the room, looking at the area of the gameroom that leads to the balcony.

Here is Shane standing on the balcony, I'm taking the picture from the top of the staircase, looking across the two-story tall entrance at the front door...essentially, he is standing over the front door.

Not quite as exciting, but for someone who has rented a storage shed rented for years, this is exciting-here's a pic of one of our storage areas.

And the last photo of the day is of the back of the house.