Moving Day

I love new beginnings for my girls. Truly I was not the crying mama watching her 5 year old walk into kindergarten or even watching her 13 years later walk across the graduation stage at Baxter Arena. So it makes sense that I am now joyfully watching this same girl move into an apartment 130 miles from home.  Emma has a job she loves and two roommates she adores. 

Good luck sweet girl! I love you 

Home. Sweet. Home.

And how sweet it truly is!

The last time I blogged we were still living at Nana and Papa's house, anxiously awaiting being home owners again. Spring is finally here and we are now in our home, loving every minute of it. I know we are incredibly blessed to have family who would take us in. We are loud, messy, crazy, busy among other things and they embraced all of that with great grace. Thank you just doesn't seem adequate.

I. Love. To. Paint. With that said, I have never painted this much in such a short period of time. I'm kind of OVER IT! Hours after closing the sale of this home I began wiping down walls and priming. No rest, I didn't stop for 10 solid days. Now 6 weeks later I still have a little bit to do but I'm not painting every day anymore.  whew!  The walls looks great! I have a few thank yous to dish out. Uncle Jim at Sioux City Painting and Decorating helped us with our paint selections. Kelly, Krista, Tracy, Nikki, Susan and Ingrid all pitched in a variety of ways while I had the paint brushes out. You girls are all a blessing to me, thanks!

Twenty-four (24) gallons of paint is a little overwhelming. Turns out I bought a little bit too much but it will be ready and waiting for me when we get our basement finished next year.

Creativity is too often squashed for one reason or another. I just hate that! My girls pick their room colors and designs, no matter how crazy. They did a great job. Reagan's room was really fun because it was quick and turned out great! Emma's room is nearly done (sorry no picture) and I'm feeling good about it. Olivia's orange wall took seven (YES 7!!!) coats of paint. Now it's time to decorate.

 

M. O. V. I. N. G.   D. A. Y. was better than anyone could have imagined. All credit due my husband. This guy makes a plan and sees it through. We had one moving truck and two storage units. Most everyone showed up by 9:30am and I was feeding the crew before 1pm. (I have to mention that Aunt Helen made all the food...so good!!) Boxes and furniture flowed through the house with minimal breakage while I stood in the entry way directing traffic. Thanks to a few practical jokers we had some kitchen stuff in the basement and boxes relabeled with items I can't even mention on a PG rated blog. All in all it was fun and again we are so thankful for the outstanding turnout. Love you guys! I'm a little afraid to mention names as I may forget someone, there were so many.
Birges, Kellers, Blacks, Bitters, Ratliffs, Wimmers, Glecklers, Meyers, Eastridges, VanSurksum, Jensens, Snyders and Kruses.

It looks like Joe Jensen is the only one working, pretty funny!

Here are some pictures of the house...

View from pantry before painting began

My kitchen

I really like my doors

 

Chris added shelves to the pantry

I made this and will add to it... love it

In the midst of moving we still have daily life... work, school, concerts, soccer, family fun, church, friends and snow. I know eventually both vehicles will fit in the garage, the donation pile will get taken to the shelter and all the boxes will be emptied. I'm not stressed. We are so blessed to have a home and family. God is good to us, better than we deserve. I mean those words. Thirteen months ago our family was teetering on the edge of a very dangerous cliff. None of us knew what tomorrow would hold. Each day we take a step on the journey of our new life together but only because we trust God.

New House Timeline

It has been fun the last 6-7 months to watch this house building process. Usually once a week after picking up the girls from school we drive by "our dirt." The waiting has been challenging for all. Each of us have had our less than pleasant moments but I do want to say that our girls have done a great job adapting to different living environments. Thank you girls for remembering there is an end in sight. Now that we have only a few days left I am about to go out of my mind.  I want to move in NOW!!! (3 yr old tantrum right there)

I have a series of pictures below with dates. We have hit several holidays and milestones during this process...

School started

All 5 of us celebrated birthdays (Chris turned 40)

Thanksgiving 

Christmas

New Years

Presidents Day...that's a big one right?

But we will be in before St Patty's Day. I might even want a green beer. Wait, no I won't. HA

We signed the builders contract on August 1st, one day before we had to vacate our home.

An interesting sidenote: the new home owners on 162nd Ave already have the house on the market. I hope everything is okay, probably just a job transfer. I wish them well.

October 11, 2013- digging began

Digging the Hole 10/15/13

October 18, 2013- Poured the footings

Basement Walls then wait 30 days 10/23/13

November 11, 2013-Garage floor poured and pipes in basement

November 16, 2013- Driveway, sidewalk and basement floors poured

Liv on the backside of the house

November 19, 2013- The wood arrives

Wood Dropped, now 90 days from completion

November 26, 2013- Opa makes a visit to the building site

Opa and Olivia on the main floor

December 2, 2013- we sneak in for a photo without the roof (can you tell it's unseasonably warm)

upstairs close to the laundry room

December 6, 2013

December 8, 2013- Windows installed
December 10, 2013

Backside of the house

Nothing significant, I just think this is cute.

December 14, 2013- We write scriptures and prayers on the floors and wood beams of our walls.

John 3:16

Isaiah 40:31

Romans 12:21

Our Happy Family

Writing scriptures on the walls of a building has nothing to do with magic, instead it has everything to do with the foundations of our new home being built on the Word of God and His promises. We will use this house to honor and glorify our Lord, Jesus Christ. We laughed as we froze our fingers trying to write on rough wood. I wanted to have something in every room of the house. There really isn't much in the bible about laundry so I may have taken that scripture out of context. :)

December 19, 2013- Siding & Garage Doors went on

December 28, 2013- I walked around the inside of the house video taping the walls so we would know what was under the dry wall, where pipes and wiring were.

First week of January- Drywall and mudding

January 10, 2014- Back deck was completed

January 14, 2014- Interior Doors and trim was installed

January 22, 2014- Cabinets through out the house were installed and exterior lighting

kitchen cabinets

January 31, 2014- Tile and hardwood installed
February 4, 2014- Counter tops installed & fireplace stone completed (love both of these!!)
February 11, 2014- Carpet guy came back to finish the install

Carpet

February sometime the door was painted. The house will be painted when the weather warms up.

Oh I have a brown door...I like it!

February, 17, 2014- A pre-walk through with the agent.

They approve

All that's left now is a few appliances and a some touch ups.  

February 24, 2014- Official Walk-thru

February 26, 2014- We close (hopefully)

March 8, 2014- is our official BIG move in date. Aunt Helen is making food for the movers, so it will be yummy. If you are reading this you are invited to come help. (Vicki, I know you won't make it.)

There are several things that we want to do to the house in the next year. I will give you before and after photos as they are completed.

-painting, upgrading light fixtures & ceiling fans, seal the deck, landscaping, finishing the basement, more stone on the house and new front porch posts. Chris says "we'll see."  Oh yes we will.  ha