Somerville

This picture just reminded me of Somerville. PJ's, beer, cooking a hot dog on a homemade grill, camping out. So much fun! I love that about Somerville. Not trying to make it sound all country, but it is to me, and that's why I like it:) So laid back, safe, and comfortable! So comfortable that this scene just makes me feel relaxed and peaceful. I'm really ready to be back out there again! 

The house is still making progress. Now, we're debating adding on to the back, so that'd be another few months. It seems never ending, and like it's taking forever, but I'm not that stressed about how long it's taking. Even if it takes 2 years:), I'll just be so happy to have it the way we're wanting it, so can't complain. It looks so good, and the builders have done an AMAZING job maintaining the 'old' look. It's still 1924 to me. They are almost finished with the moulding, and the stairs are completely in...we just need to pick out the railing and whatever the post things are called. All that's left is refinishing floors, windows, and painting. Of course, filling it. We met with a cabinet guy, and then we have the lighting pretty much picked out, we just have to start searching for good deals on it! I'm actually about to head to Marrs in Arlington, and hope for some good deals on hardware, lighting, or anything:)

I'll have pictures later! 

Walls!

Woohoo! I'm excited to see that the walls are up now. Yes, this seems like it's been a forever process. I guess that's what we get for not having a contractor...BUT, it has saved some money, and since our house hasn't sold, yet, we haven't suffered too badly from how long it is taking. To be exact it has been almost 9 months since we knocked the first wall out. Now, what we have left is refinishing windows, painting, and refinishing floors. Of course, we have to furnish the house, including fixtures, cabinets, and all of the permanent as well as non permanent fixtures. I was just so happy to see walls. They've painted the ceilings, now, but we haven't seen it since then. Here's to progress! :)

Basement. This is a whole new world from before. The water heater won't stay right there.

The glass doors will go back up here in the opening.

Upstairs

This is my favorite ceiling area. They basically raised the ceiling in every area possible, and I LOVED the outcome. They did a great job of making the most of what they could, and I think it adds some character, and I think it's cute:)

This picture is walking out of the back door. That will be the mudroom, and there won't be a door where you see one, now. The picture above that is looking at that mudroom, but the open area is the kitchen and some of the den area.

We have insulation. Never thought it'd make me so happy.

yes! finally some updates. It was becoming really sad when people would walk in who hadn't been since February, and not be able to see changes... I mean don't you see wires, and big huge air ducts, and PVC pipes? Actually, probably not, because this has been the most productive visually non-productive 3 months of house renovation. Rather than putting pictures of each "internal" step, I just decided to wait until we're close to actually having walls. We finally got there. Insulation was completed last weekend, and I've never been so excited to see all of that white fluffy stuff. It was like a winter wonderland of walls. I posted lots of pictures, so sorry:)

I think we'll leave the furnace on the front porch:)

Someone is pumped about insulation

pretty insulation

There was a door here. They did a GREAT job of replicating the wood to look original. Well, after painting it will:)

They tore out the porch ceiling (didn't know this was going to happen, but I'm excited)

The tulle room. Okay, I'm really not sure what this is.

Alarm

Yay, we have electricity

(thanks Joe and Brian)

Plumbing! (thanks Tatums)

Oh, great, I can do laundry. I was hoping we'd forget to add the laundry room.

We found some hard wood under about 3 layers of flooring. We're keeping all of the original hardwood....some will have to be pieced together, but I think it'll still be cool to have the original.

Our hazardous stairs. You can see Matt below in the guest bathroom. Poor Larry refuses to walk up these.

HVAC (thanks, Billy)

Aaaaaaand, there's still so much more left to do.  :)

Time for EBOX dump # 6 (this really adds up)!


Anyway, that's all for now! It's been so long since we've had house updates, so it's really nice to be able to have some sort of progress pictures. I got a text today from Erin saying that there was tons of dry wall outside! David called Matt saying they were getting ready to start the walls. I can't wait. It's been such a blessing to have family 'keep an eye out' on our house stuff during the week. My mom is hilarious and I think now that she's out for summer she goes every day, and knows every single person who has worked on the house. She gives me great updates, and I really appreciate it.

These guys crack me up

Our A/C is out right now, and it's HOT in the house. The kids have not taken well to it.

Wally tries the couch

Now, it looks like they're dead

Nope! Still alive

"Mom, it's hot in here!"

I feel so bad I give Larry the fan.

Wally coped by getting in the window.

Two years

Matt and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary today! Such a blessing, and I'm very happy. To me every year and every day is such a gift.

 I don't say it enough, but I I am so thankful for our marriage. Matt's a great husband, and treats me better than I had ever imagined a husband could treat a wife. 

Below are pictures from our first date. We went to Bosco's and the Blue Monkey. About 2 years later, we were married!

Donkey and The Limited pants

I'm at a loss for what to post because I'm really thinking there will be house news soon, so I'm anxiously waiting to show some progress pictures.

Tonight, I was going through my old pictures, and found this. I just thought it was funny....Mainly because, well, it's a donkey. It looks like we were buddies.

 I don't remember this and have no clue where I am and why there was a donkey there, but I like him/her. 

Anyway, let's hope for a house update next time, because it has come to posts about donkey's. sorry.

Oh, tonight I got pants from the Limited (gosh, another piece of useless info). I just wanted to share because it's buy 1 get the 2nd 50% off. So, that's great news for any Limited pants wearers. I am definitely a Drew Fit pants person. I have a hard time with pants. They seriously need to make some for muffin top prone people; that'd be awesome. 

That's it. Wow, best post EVER.

Good weekend, sleepy Monday

 This past weekend was a lot of fun. We went out to Somerville for the whole weekend, even Sunday night. The house is probably 90% finished with electrical, so hopefully in the next few weeks, there will be some more progress pictures (as we get insulation and walls).

So, Friday we celebrated Jamie's graduation at Shogun. It was a lot of fun. Matt and I got WAY too much sushi, but then were able to polish it all off for the most part. We always over order when it's sushi. Then, Saturday I woke up at 6:30 and went to run a 5K (Youth Villages 5K) with Carrie, Julie, Jill, and Laura Beth. I had such a good time! I was laughing most of the time, and really the run wasn't that bad. Then, we had lunch at Panera Bread (yummm). Saturday afternoon I spent some time at the house, trying to walk through it to see if we've forgotten any place we might need a light or outlet. Saturday night, Lamie, Dashley, Joe/Amy, Matt and I cooked out at my parents' house while they were out of town in Charleston. We had an assortment of food, and it was perfect weather for cooking on the grill. Then we went over to my brother and Erin's to hang out for a little while.
Sunday we had church. I'm so excited because our church has started a young adults Sunday school class. Because our church is pretty small, it includes ages 20-40. We have been having such a good time, and it's been such a blessing to be back in Sunday school again. After church we did our usual Papa's Pizza glutton fest. I can't control myself at the pizza buffet. I'm pretty sure I took almost a 4 hour nap after that. Once I got up, I was sad to have missed so much of the beautiful day, so I went on a really long walk.
Sunday night, Matt, David, Erin, Harrison and I cooked out again. I think Erin and I made a meal off of the dips (spinach, cheese, guacamole, and goat cheese spread). We admitted we'd do that over meat any day. Harrison was a little character. I had him playing air guitar and drums and he was just laughing away. He's so much fun.
So, with such a wonderful weekend, I've been sleepy for this Monday. It was also the first non-sunny day in a while, and now that I have a 'view' at work (i moved cubicles and now can see outside, ha), it caused me to realize how groggy it was outside, so that encouraged my need for sleep.
Now, I'm hanging out on the couch. Matt already went to bed, so Larry and I are holding it down watching Amityville Horror (sorta...if i really watched it, I'd get all freaked out, so I"m half watching).

Congrats on the graduation!

Gearing up for the race!

All together!

Harrison is doing some laughing

Larry doing his normal thing