This Week's Building Recap (July 19-23)

 I was sitting on the couch and didn't hear the truck drive in and out. When I did look out the window to see that a porta-potty had been delivered, I just started laughing. Who would think that the middle(ish) of a driveway would be a good place to drop a porta-potty?!

In that same minute, Meghan called me and I was just laughing trying to tell here that there was a porta-potty crooked and in my driveway. She said that driver was having a bad day because he was about to deliver it to her address (the billing address). She directed him to take it to the delivery address. 

I went out to see if any of the guys working had seen it be delivered. They had. When they suggested he put it on the other side of our property (where it would make sense to be), the driver didn't think he could get in that driveway. The guys straightened it and pushed it back about 2 feet before they left. 

Brian found out that the regular delivery driver had a massive heart attack and the new guy was struggling. I suspect that it will be living in this awkward place for quite a few months.

The roof is covered.

And there is paper on the roof.

The back porch is framed.

 

Two Weekends with Family

 After a late Friday night hanging out with Joel and Amanda, we were having a very slow Saturday morning. I was downstairs with the younger children and everyone else was still in some stage of sleeping when there was a very loud knock on the door. Granted it was mid morning... Aliza peeked out and said, "Mom, you have to see who's out there." It was 2 of Jeremy and Joel's aunts and uncles. They had no idea that Joel was here. They were out driving and decided to stop by to see our addition. Seeing Joel and meeting Amanda was an added bonus. I woke up Jeremy, apologized to Amanda, threw on some clothes and went out to visit while the others got themselves together. It was nice to see the aunts and uncles though. 

Then a friend dropped by to see Joel. We stood out in the yard and talked for a long time. It was also good to see them. My legs were tired of standing and talking by that point. Somehow I failed in the hospitality department and did invite any of our visitors inside. (I'll have to work on that for next time. lol)

It was good that we had already kind of planned for a later trip to the cove. We packed sandwiches and got ice cream on the way home.

After one late night I was thinking the children would go to bed earlier. But then all got snuggled together on the couch in an aunt and uncle heap and I couldn't disrupt it. So we had another very late night. Camp videos, silly banter and silly videos were involved.

I'm not even sure how it all came about, but Aliza, Josiah and Anna ended up with Pokemon accounts over the course of Saturday and Sunday. That led to needing to go on a Pokemon adventure, of course. I decided to be the driver and after a week of Pokemon driving, I'm getting very good at knowing the downtown, SU and Allen routes!

 

I actually did enjoy it. Everyone was together, talking and enjoying the experience together.

Amanda let Isaiah play on her account. He was thrilled and I don't think Amanda minded having a little
buddy beside her all the time. This time Isaiah had the chance to really be himself with Amanda.

 

The next weekend Grandma and Grandpa came! Grandma took the kids on a Pokemon drive. 

They were excited to see our addition progress. Mama Karen was teary...she is happy for us. Jeremy and Van were looking at the plans so that Van could visualize everything.

 They had already had a big week so we had a low key weekend. 

I never get tired of pictures of these brothers.

This Week's Building Recap (July 12-16)

 This week the interior walls and roof were framed.

There was other progress and work done that is not visible. A lot of progress in life and projects is like that, I think.
 

This Week's Building Recap (July 6-9)

 This week was so exciting to see the rooms take shape. First we got subfloor.

I convinced some people to eat ice cream with me on the subfloor.

One afternoon Mom brought Grandad up so that he could watch them frame the walls. He really enjoyed that and I was so happy to sit beside him.

Center interior wall:

Front exterior wall:

End exterior wall:

Back exterior wall:

Friday evening I swept up all the sawdust just because I wanted to. I was teary as I walked around as I've been at other times this week just because I'm so grateful that this is happening and that we've waited until the right time. We are all going to so appreciate this new space.
 

Joy Dare::June

 8161. Bees are really amazing creatures

8162. Giving jobs to the kids to help me catch up
8163. New-to-me clothes
8164. Back into the morning walk routine
8165. Aliza's first classroom experience went well
8166. Visiting with Brian for a bit
8167. Grandad was able to sit on the porch
8168. Isaiah determined to write with his left hand
8169. The opportunity to show kindness to our neighbors
8170. Zinnias sprouted
8171. Rainy day = watching a show in the afternoon
8172. "Mom, you deserve a 15 pound bag of M&Ms for everything you help me with."
8173. Enjoyed blueberry pomegranate tea
8174. Beautiful day to be outside
8175. Isaiah is still the marshmallow master with one arm

8176. Groundhogs caught
8177. How zoom calls feel so normal
8178. Aliza got huge self esteem boost
8179. Afternoon hike
8180. Supper with Drivers Ed moms
8181. Foundation finished
8182. Isaiah's cast is removeable
8183. Grocery shopping with Isaiah
8184. Watching a deer this morning
8185. Aliza had a happy shopping spree
8186. Visiting with Dad, Mom and Grandad
8187. Cousin day
8188. Date night
8189. Tired children
8190. Porch morning

8191. Beautiful family afternoon at the cove
8192. Island creamery

8193. Hanging out with Maria
8194. Josiah driving Grandad's lawnmower
8195. Successfully led Bible study
8196. To do list completed
8197. Aliza passed Drivers Ed
8198. A new experience was enjoyable
8199. All the conversation on the way home
8200. Anna asking for her own book
8201. A complete grocery order to pick up
8202. The most beautiful of days
8203. Thinking things through with Jeremy
8204. A day with no plans
8205. Aliza willing to help with a project
8206. Reading to Isaiah at night
8207. A good book
8208. Aliza and Anna helping with supper
8209. Watching Josiah process through a decision
8210. My Dad

8211. Summer breezes
8212. Iced tea
8213. Cleaning day
8214. Watermelon
8215. Calling Grandad
8216. Cousin day
8217. Playing in the rain
8218. No humidity after the rain
8219. Perfectly crisp morning
8220. Outside as much as possible
8221. Family Bible study
8222. Lunch on the porch
8223. Picking blueberries

8224. Listening to Isaiah's commentary while picking blueberries
8225. The pies look pretty
8226. Lunch around Mom and Dad's table
8227. Sitting close by while Jeremy finishes the lawnmower
8228. A very quiet afternoon
8229. Summer downpour
8230. Attending "fancy" church
8231. Sending Aliza off to camp
8232. A different dynamic with one child away
8233. The start of framing
8234. Beautiful day at the cove
8235. Girls talking

8236. Aliza's huge smile in every picture I've seen from camp
8237. Visible progress
8238. Daughter date with Anna
8239. Painted nails
8240. Isaiah's lunch plan
8241. Tree trimmed back
8242. Still getting pictures of Aliza smiling

 

This Week's Building Recap

 This week Brian and his crew started the process of framing.

 The floor system was installed.

The dining room window was removed to make room for a new exterior wall.

 

We passed the foundation inspection. "We" as if I had anything to do with it! lol. Every win for them is a win for me at this point.