Well... here it is, a little more than a year later. We are settling into our house. I have informed Chad that if we ever move, we have to take the house with us! I love it! The house is laid out amazingly well. Someone was thinking when they designed it! When we decided to have the house built, we saved a little money by not having the back yeard done. In addition the contractor paint that they used wipes right off the wall, taking the paper with it, whenever it is washed. So, inspite of the fact that is a new house, we still have a little work to do!

In the last month or so we have made some progress. We have put in sod in the back yard, and planted apple trees! Our yard isn't very big, but we plan to make the most of it! Here is what it looks like:

After the trees went in:

And TA-DA! The house is done!

We signed the morgage documents this morning. It took a couple hours, but it is almost officially ours! Hopefully tomorrow the loan will fund, and our purchase will be recorded. As soon as that happens, we get the keys!

The house is stunning (if I do say so myself!) It has truly met and exceeded our expectations!

A lot has happened...

It really has been a while since I last updated the blog. A lot has happened! Here is a run down...
It really did get a roof:

and then that night part of the roof blew off! AHH! Talk about frustrating! One step forward and two steps back!

Then came some of the internal pieces: baths, showers, fireplace, furnace, etc.

Then some of the externals started! It's starting to look like a house!

The the insulation and sheet rock:

Exterior paint:

Doors, interior paint, fire place tile, flooring, and driveway:

The inside is DONE!!

It has a roof!

Sort of! I suspect that the roof will be completed today, but it was so exciting to see it look more like a house than a box. I'm pretty sure the framers have figured out that this is my house... they recognize my car and smile and shake their heads! (Yes, I know that I am suffering a little obsessive-compulsive behavior regarding this house... but I'm having so much fun!)

Construction schedule!

We have a construction schedule and a new move date! Originally our closing date was the middle of April, then it was moved to May 31st... now we get to move out the end of April. We will stay with Chad's folks until the house is closed around May 8th! We received the updated information at the builders/buyers meeting this week. I was sick and stayed home, but Chad met some of our new neighbors. It sounds like we ended up with some nice people, which is a relief! When you move, it feels like there is a bit of Russian Roulette involved! So, here is the schedule:

03/31/2010: Windows & Exterior Doors
04/01/2010: Rough-Ins
04/02/2010: Roofing
04/07/2010: Siding & Installation
04/16/2010: Exterior Painting
04/13/2010: Sheetrock/Tape/Texture
04/17/2010: Install Gutters
04/19/2010: Flat-work
04/16/2010: Garage Door Installation
04/23/2010: Trim/Cabinets/Lighting
04/24/2010: Interior Painting
04/26/2010: Attic Blow In Insulation
04/28/2010: Hard Surfaces
04/26/2010: Install Sod and Landscaping
04/28/2010: Mirrors, Wire Shelving & Appliances
04/28/2010: Finals
05/03/2010: Touch-up
05/08/2010: Home Buyer Walk-through
05/08/2010: Projected Completion Date

The Door...

As predicted the last post is already slightly outdated! The the side access door is in! or... well... there is a hole in the wall the size of a door. Hopefully putting a door in is the builders intent! :)

Moving along...

Everyone has been saying "once the foundation goes in it will go really fast." Seriously, I have heard that so much that I think I might be going deaf. That said: they were right... so far. The foundation was poured on the 15th. The framing has gone so fast that by the time this post is up, it will be out-dated. I have two photos posted. One was taken Monday and the second was taken yesterday. Big change! Yeah!

Though it does seem to be moving faster... all is not daisy's. They appear to have forgotten to frame in the side access garage door. I am sure this is just a minor hiccup, and we have made them aware of it! :)

If the neighbors houses are any indication, it will continue to move along quickly. They have put on their roofs and siding and are beginning work on the interior. Now that there is real progress, this "house building thing" is less frustrating, and much more fun! Every time we drive by something is new. This is exciting!