Progress

I'm in Phoenix! And it's hot as hades. I finished my first day of training. No homework tonight, so I can write a post since I can't make phone calls at 8pm here (it's 11pm east coast). 

I'm behind on updating you with the progress we've made because the last two months have been a whirlwind. With a new job and a new home, there's been major changes. Especially a change in my mood! 

Moving gives me minor anxiety attacks; I hate seeing my life in boxes and so completely disorganized. BUT things are coming together, and we have given away (or thrown away) so much "stuff". It really has been quite liberating to get rid of so many things we never ever use! And we couldn't have moved without HELP. Thank you to our friend Lou. He spent the whole, hot summer day working with us. Also, Allison and Alex came to our rescue on more than one occasion! Thank the Lord for good friends and helpful hands. 

Onto home improvement projects.... 

Just look at Ian's dry wall patching and repairing. He removed an awkward spice rack on the side of our kitchen wall. He mudded and smoothed out the wall perfectly! 

  

 

You would never know that a spice rack once existed on that wall behind Ian. Notice the pretty bar stools that arrived (read last blog post)?!

And this little patch of dry wall is only the beginning. Ian has a lot more muddin' to do!

Let me update you on our guest bathroom that we have turned into a Jack & Jill. This is our project for the next errr....few months.... 

After knocking down walls, then re-framing and re-plumbing and re-wiring (thank you general contractor Scott), we were left with this "skeleton".  Ian and I plan to finish this bathroom ourselves. Oh, the things you do to save money! Look at all the dry wall that has to be hung, floor to be laid and tiled, shower to be built and tiled, vanity and toilet to be installed, and bathtub to be updated! Whew.  

A bedroom door will be installed to the left. The pipes in the wall will hook up to a double vanity. The hole to the right is for the toilet. And the floor will be tiled (after Ian puts down backer-board).

The old shower was placed in such a weird location. We removed this plumbing/wall and opened up the space. The toilet will be next to the bathtub. 

Here is the hardie backer-board Ian cut for the floor. Now he has to seal the seams, smooth it down, and then we can tile. You can also see where the toilet will be (hole in the floor next to tub) This picture was taken through one door entrance. The other bedroom door is to the left (next to the future double vanity) And notice the weird plumbing shower/wall has been removed!

And now let me brag about more helping hands .... 

Two weekends ago, Ian's mom and stepfather flew down to Charlotte and spent an entire 3 days helping us work on the house! Wow! They are insane. Rick helped Ian hang heavy dry wall in this guest bathroom and room. Nan painted half of the house and stripped buckets of wallpaper off our bathroom walls. Removing wall paper pains me. To have their help was absolutely priceless in our progress. THANK YOU, Rick and Nan, for you elbow grease and endless energy :) 

Rick hanging one of two doors for the new Jack & Jill bath! 

So much dry wall to cut and measure!

Goodbye wallpaper. THANK YOU, NAN!

Look at these two. Weekend warriors on a mission to help us make major progress. Oh, the things you do for your kids! Thank you.