Sorry

Sorry Readers. I promise I'll try to update tonight. Really busy!

Holiday Cheer

While the plumbers are busy knocking holes in my walls, and we are arguing with Sears about the definition of "existing" ductwork, I thought I'd post some holiday cheer!

We got our tree yesterday and set it up in our tiny apartment because it's very obvious we won't be moving this year. :) Charlie the cat decided to help out.


I also stole an idea from a friends blog here: http://ourlifewithatoddler.blogspot.com/2009/11/ornament-wreath-revealed.html

And she stole it from either
http://www.eddieross.com/eddie_ross/2008/12/no-wire-hangers-well-maybe-just-one.html or
http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/11/hardest-easiest-diy-wreath-ever.html

I changed it a big though. I don't own any metal hangers, so I used one that I've had for years that was covered in yarn and instead of stringing the bulbs, I removed all of the tops and hot glued them all together. Then I added some cute silver and gold jingle bells and plastic candies. All of the ornaments I got at the dollar store. The gold and silver big balls were a 7 pack for a dollar!

New windows and wires

This is going to be another long post full of pictures.

Yesterday we were met by my dad to again work on the wiring in the kitchen. We had a lot of wiring dangling down where the old soffett boxes used to be.

Dan crawled into the attic and pulled and pushed wiring where my dad told him to.

Dad stayed below and snaked and directed and redid the outlets. We took out the old manilla colored ones that hardly worked anymore and replaced them with white.

Tada! no more dangling wires.


While dad finished up the wiring, Dan crawled under the bathroom to cut out a small portion of the subfloor that had rotted under the wall and into the hallway under a few inches of the hardwood floor. It's done and ready to be replaced after the plumbers repipe on Monday-Wednsday.

During all of this, Tim's crew from A New Image Exteriors were finishing up the window installation. This is the giant living room window before.

And after. It took 4 guys to lift this one into the hole!

Here is the sliding glass door before.

During. Tim informed me that this was his best side ;)


And after! Hi Gizmo!

Even the shed is getting a much needed facelift. Yah I know, it still needs a new roof. But we're getting there!

This is what they'll look like with the trim on. This is the only window currently to have it. They'll be back monday to trim out the rest of the windows!

Dan and Dad are going back today to work on the rest of the wiring and Dan will start dousing the bathroom with dryrot sealer. Therefore baby and I will be staying at home until the fumes clear.

Electricity

My hubby Dan met my Dad over at the house this morning and together they crawled all over our attic and rewired the kitchen! Yay! Now we can start fixing the ceiling and walls where the soffett boxes used to hang. We can also finish this suprise project we started yesterday!

That's right, there used to be a solid wood door leading to the family room. That is because it used to be the garage, when they turned it into a family room they built a bathroom off the backside and our new garage on the frontside. Well, I thought, wouldn't it be nice to open up a nice archway so we can converse while I'm cooking? Yes it would. So we're just opening it one more stud, 18 inches that is. I think it'll make a great change! And since we are having forced air installed very soon, we eliminate that old thermostat, and tomorrow Dan and Dad will move the light switch over. They will also be installing a new lightswitch on the other side of the kitchen so I don't have to stumble in the dark around the island to find the switch.

On a side note, as I was driving to the spa to meet my momma, I noticed somebody had just set out two solid wood end tables from the 70's. My mind instantly saw them sanded, painted white, and with a new pretty antique knob on each. I almost caused a scene as I slammed on my breaks. Then the sensible lady in me told me if they are there when you get home you can have them. Well guess what, they were. So I went home, told my hubby, can you do me a favor and look at those and if you like them put them in the car to take to the new house so I can work on them? Well he came back with a great big grin on his face and said they are gorgeous thick solid wood pieces with an opening on the bottom and a drawer face on a hinge on the top. Perfect for hiding books! Yippee!!!

Please forgive the mess in my trunk.

I was planning a trip to IKEA to buy matching end tables and instead I got them for free!!!! I will probably replace the hinges, or possibly turn it into an actual drawer. Not sure yet. Any ideas?

Window Heaven!!!

The windows are starting to go in and look fabulous!
It was freezing when we showed up today so we started a toasty fire.

Our contractor Tim told us we can use his business name A New Image Exteriors, everybody in Portland/Tigard area. This is the place to go for any kind of remodeling you need done! He did my parents kitchen remodel, and his crew is wonderful. Oh, and he's going to be a grandpa by tomorrow morning! Congrats Tim, we're really happy for you :)

These are the old bathroom windows, I hated them.

We are replacing them with these, I think they let a lot more light in, while still allowing for privacy.


Under construction

New windows!

They said they'd go around and do all the trimming after all the windows are in place.

We're so incredibly exicted. I can't wait to see the new sliding glass door, it's sitting in the garage looking beautiful!

Why are women so fascinated with new appliances? Why does my heart jump at joy at that shiny white and stainless finish? I don't know but my first response at seeing my shiny new white dryer rolling through my front door was to jump up and down clapping my hands and squealing EEEEEE!!!!

Here is Dan putting it in it's rightful place.


Look they match now!!!


When I opened the front door, a light popped on! My dryer has it's own light inside!!!!!


In conclusion. Thank you Mommy and Lennart so very much for my beautiful shiny new dryer that matches my beautiful shiny new washer you also bought me and I'm incredibly greatful for! No more high pitched squealing for hours on end while my laundry dries. Now, off to attack the mounds of laundry I'd been avoiding so I didn't have to hear the old one whine at me!!!! I don't think I've ever been so excited to do laundry! Well, since the time you bought me my first new washer :) Now I have my first matching pair!!!! EEEEEEEE!!!!!

Appliances

Oh boy do we have a busy busy schedule for the next 2 weeks! We have windows going in tomorrow, plumbing, drainage, ductwork, floors and walls and ceilings to repair. The good news is we ordered all of our appliances today! The bad news is the oven and vent for the stove won't be in until January 12th. Our original hope for moving in would have been today, then we were hoping to move by Christmas, then we pushed it out until the first of the year. With this delay, who knows when we'll move. I'll probably be planting my spring garden before I even live there! Ah well, such is life.