Tile is looking good!

Brandon found the best tile layer I have ever met! His imagination is out of this world. Every day that we go out there, he will lay new things down and ask what we think. I tell him that I love everything he comes up with and trust his opinions. It's like giving him the free reins to do whatever he wants. I trust him and I am so tired of making decisions. I didn't think I would ever get tired of it...but 4 months in, I am done! Just ready to see the finished product. I had picked out kitchen fixtures months ago, and recently found out that that particular line had been discontinued. So, I found something else and now I don't like the color. Wonder if Marco could pick those out for us too? Just kidding! Things are really moving along. We will have most of the countertops on Thrusday. The toilets and plumbing fixtures are scheduled to go in on Monday.
Day 119 -
This is Corinne's bathroom. we had picked out the 20x20 tile and Marco came up with the idea to add these 4x4 pieces of Travertine that we are using in the guest bath. Cool, huh? The shower design was his too!

This is the foyer now. They grouted today. (I love it!)

This never crossed my mind...as the tile goes through the laundry room and through the kitchen, it meets back up in the mud room. They were measuring so carefully to make sure that it was going to line up just right. And, it did!

This is the pool bath shower. Tons of tile!

Oh! And the wine room door! Made especially for us!

Corinne's ballet recital

This was Corinne's second recital and she did awesome! We couldn't believe how brave and confident she was up on that stage. She looked like she has been doing this her whole life, not just twice! We are so proud of her! Corinne's Nana, Mimi and Pap Pap were there too! Claire sat with us in the audience and danced to almost all the songs...she would move her arms like the dancers on stage, she was totally intrigued by them. Maybe we have another ballerina! She will be able to start in the fall.

This is Corinne and her friend Bali. They are quite the pair!
Backstage just after her performance.
Her sister giving her some flowers.

My very tired ballerina, heading home after lunch with the grandparents.

Painters are almost done.

The painters are closer to finishing any day now. The cabinet issues got resolved. (Good thing, I thought I was going to have a heart attack over it all!)
Day 114 -
This is the back of the house now. We have a few inches of top soil that will be added soon.
Kitchen now with vent hood in place.
This is the media cabinet now. In case you were wondering why there was a door behind the media cabinet...the answer is...so we can get to all of the components behind the TV. Seems crazy, but it worked out beautifully. From the front, no one will know that there is a door back there!
Tiling of the showers is supposed to start today. Check back!

We are getting there...

Well, the cabinet issues are finally working out. Been a bit frustrating, but, we are getting them where we want them, I hope! The beams and stairs got a coat of stain today. They are looking good!
Day 111-
Aww, Nana and Papa are here. Claire refusing to have her picture taken.

Here is Justin, my brother, modeling the media cabinet.

Oh, the beams!

My gorgeous alder doors!

Ummmmm, who is going to figure out where all these drawers and shelves go?

All the rock work is finally done!

It took almost 4 weeks to complete all the rock, inside and out. Yes, it was a LOT of rock! We had them do a technique called "dry stacking," where they chip and cut away at the stones until it is just the right size and shape, and then it is placed with lots of cement behind it, and not much that you can actually see between the rocks. So, they call it dry stack, since you can't see how it is all held together. The cabinets are still a total disaster! Brandon is working very hard to make it all right and turn out just how we envisioned.
Day 106 -
The mess that chipping rocks leaves behind, not to mention all the dings in the paint and sheetrock! Imagine, this is how it looks around the whole outside of the house!

Day 107 -
These are pieces of wood used to hold the arches up while it cures and dries.
Day 108 -
This is the dining room now, they took the supports out today and put more morter on the underside. (It still looks wet in these pictures.)
This is the entry to the wine room with our custom door all wrapped up to protect it. When it gets unveiled, I will share it with you!

Inside rock...

They are completing the interior rock this weekend. It is looking good so far. We had a heavy rain the other night and it really cleaned the rock off outside and it took on a whole new color. The cabinets have turned into a huge mess/nightmare. I'll post pictures of them after the painter figures out how to make "magic" happen. Brandon assures us that everything will work out the way we want it to. I hope so, cause the pit in my stomach can't stay here forever! Other than that set back, we are moving along. We took some breakfast tacos out to the rock guys this morning. They are working so hard, putting in very long hours, and are doing an amazing job!
Day 102 -
Inside fireplace.
This is the bar in the kitchen.
Here is the beginning of our outdoor kitchen.

The front of the house looks so different now!

Outdoor fireplace!

They completed the outdoor fireplace yesterday. We think it looks awesome and can't wait to make somores! The front of the house is almost complete. There is still some painting to do on the inside and then they will concentrate on painting the trim. All of the doors are stained and almost all of the cabinets. They will get sanded and then sealed. So, there is still a lot to do on them. They are looking good, though!
Day 100 -

Sea World - June 2009

We spent a wonderful 4 day weekend in San Antonio. We took the girls to Sea World and it was amazing! Amazing to see the excitement and adventure on their faces. I couldn't pick just a few pictures to share, so I thought I would just post a link to the website so that you can see them! You will probably have to copy and paste it into your browser. Click on the "slideshow" button on the top left. Let me know if you can't get it to work.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Kristinurse77/SanAntonio60902?authkey=Gv1sRgCKHU4JvYnu3X0AE&feat=email#

Stairs are done

They finished the stairs the other day. Now, it will get stained. The trim work is all finishing up as well, also the rock on the outside. Seems like it is taking forever! The painters are back and getting to work.
Day 96 -


We now have garage doors too. They will get painted brown, like the trim.

Doors and Trim

We are at exactly 4 months and getting much closer to being ready to move in! Lee thinks things might be ready in the next 6 weeks, and of course, Brandon's lips are sealed! He promised that he would let me know when he thought we were 6 weeks out so that I can put this house on the market.....so we are still waiting! This week, they are finishing trim, i.e base boards, door casings and crown molding. Most all the doors are hung. A few showed up the wrong size. The rock guys are all the way to the back now. There is still some work on the front, but they need to get the scaffolding back out to reach it. The cabinet guy was there today hanging the doors on the cabinets and putting the trim on. They are looking good, can't wait to see them stained.
Day 92 -


The back patio.