Not much to write about

Sorry for the lack of posts but there has not been much to write about until today.  It has been a slow week.  Friday and today, the painters continued their work.  We hope they only have one more day.  The cabinet guys were back.  They finished up for the most part the cabinet work in kitchen, laundry room, and worked on some of the doors.  Here are pics . . . .

The painters sprayed the ceilings in the family room

Kitchen looking more and more done

Laundry room cabinet and countertops.  The countertop will be stained.

We are heading to the beach for the week.  We have been told we should come home to all of the floors being done and hopefully some of the remaining items.  

We kind of wish we were in the one of those home renovation shows and we would come home to a finished house, beautifully furnished, waiting for us.  NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!

Can't wait for the beach!

A little out of order

The electrician came today.  Finished up all the electrical.  Kind of feel like this is out of order.  The electrician hung our light fixture over the bar and they have to paint on Wednesday.  Hmmm.  Kind of out of order. Personally would have thought the electrician would come last.  He did outlets, switches, etc but our bar light fixture is the most exciting thing. 

They also hung the fan in the family room. Could not get a picture because it was too dark.  We are probably going to take it down.  It honestly takes away from the room. One more thing to add to our list.  

I also painted the back door today and touched up paint in our living room. I figured I might as well since the furniture is all pushed to the middle. 

I have been told tomorrow will be a busy day. I will believe it when I see it. ;)

And it keeps going, and going, and going

So the painters have officially been working on our house for over a week.  I mean I know there is alot to paint but come on.  The biggest problem is they work mostly at nights during the week and on weekends.  They worked all day Saturday and Sunday and I have been told all day again tomorrow.  Other than the paint for the basement rooms, kitchen, bathroom, and dining room, they are painting all of the trim white on the main level.  They are doing a great job of smoothing walls, caulking, etc but I will be happy to see the this part of the project come to an end.  We have one room to live in (our kitchen/living room/dining room) . . . it currently looks like this:

I am taking all my pics now so they are alittle dark but here is a sneak preview.

This weekend Jay stayed in VA with the kids and I drove to NC on Saturday morning for my friend Tori's wedding.  I am so glad I went.  She was a good friend since we were little.  

Tori and I were friends because our parents met at their first apartment in NC.  We do not have many mutual friends so I hung with my parents and their friends which was fun.  My mom and I ended in the photobooth . . . 

Jay had a fun but exhausting weekend with the kids.  They had to stay out of the house for the most part so they stayed busy.  Hoping for a busy house week this week.  Want to start to put our house back together.  

Annoyed

So I am just annoyed.  The work on the house continues but at a snails pace.  It has been a slow couple of days.  I guess the frustrating part is we have such little left.  He could be finished with our project in 3-4 days if he had all the crews here working.  The main work that has happened since the last blogpost is painting.  But not much of it.  They worked all day Saturday also arrived today at 4:30 and worked till 7:30.  I am just so ready to not share our house with strangers.

On a positive, today we got our washer and dryer hooked back up.  This is huge.  Not that I have been counting......but we were about to start month #3 without a washer and dryer.  I am not going to miss the laundromat.

I have continued my curb appeal project.  I removed the glass screen door which helps the look of the door and you can see the trim better.  I still have more things planned but they are slowly coming along.

Here are some pics . . .

Before and After curb appeal

Basement (will be playroom / office space)

Basement Full bath

Laundry

Some pics of the kids . . . Keeping them busy.  This week started with a waterpark/playground with some friends.

Today we went to the Reston Zoo with our neighbors.  It was unbearable hot but fun.

I want to peck our contractor in the ass to get him to hurry this along!  

Painting has begun

Painting started today and I have been told will continue most of the week.  So we headed to Aunt Cici's house to hang out and we went to a water park.  

Jay and David ran a Ragnar race.  Jay ran over 20 miles on trails and I have heard it monsooned.  It was a 24 hour race in West VA mountains.  They started  yesterday morning and will be back tonight. 

They would never sit still long enough for a goods pic. 

Advil

So as I mentioned yesterday, I was working on something for Jay.  I decided I wanted to work on our "curb appeal".  I had aspirations to clear out our front beds (which included trimming bushes and digging out some over grow azaleas by the roots) and have new plants planted by the time he came home today.  On Monday, Jace and I worked during Abby's nap and I continued after the kids went to bed until I was working with the front lights on.  Similarly when I have too much to drink, my body does not recover like it used to (multiple advil needed).  Tuesday I woke up hurting pretty bad.  I continued to work but not nearly as hard and on Wednesday, it rained all day.  But here is what I accomplished......

Before

After

 There is what we have being picked up tomorrow.  Don't think we are going to be the favorite house on the street.

As the house looks a little bare, these are the shutters and window boxes that still need to be hung.  Jay built these.

So to carry on the punch list from last night (Jay said this was helpful), here are a couple more things for us not to forget.

There is a vent that needs to be cut below the sink.  The ductwork is there.  Just needs to be cut and vent installed.

Jay said he thought this was assumed .  . but he says there should be additional molding in the bedroom to help match the rest of the house.

These are holes in our guest bedroom (next to the guest bath) need to be patched.  Which reminds me on the cut in the wall and molding in Abby's room.  Yes - back in the beginning this was cut during demo in the kitchen.  

I know we have more punch list things.  I figure if we track them here.  It will help us remember.  

Drywallers sanded today.  The tiler fixed the cracked piece of tile, grouted the basement bath and inserted the marble threshold for main level bath. Will show pics tomorrow.

Happy Thursday! 

Snack time.  

Jay this one is for you . . . .

So the painter is coming on Sunday.  Jay has not been at home since Monday so this is what I do each night.  I go through the house and give Jay updates.  Just so you can see what my evenings include when the kids go to bed.  Jay communicates for the most part to the contractor.  

My concerns considering the painter is coming Saturday . . . 

This is by the back door.  Shouldn't the trim piece go down to the door framing trim?

 This is the kitchen side of the beam . . . 

 This is the family room side.  Shouldnt the beam have similar trim on both sides?

 Not very good pic but the corners of the walls as you go the basement are still beaten up.  The drywallers did nothing about these today.  Should they before painting?

This is under basement door opening.  They left this little piece of paneling and did not run trim from one side to the other.  I think they should have.  Looks strange.  

 The plumbing access panels.  At what point are they added?  The one in the basement bathroom is also needed to be done.  

 No trim under basement AC unit on floor.  Are they just waiting until other door comes in for electrical access panel to do this?

Did you and Joe not agree to make change to weird ceiling in basement bathroom.  Does not bother me like it bothers you but wanted to let you know.

Cracked tile in basement right as you enter bathroom.  I assume tiling can fix when they come tomorrow. 

Also coat closet door was not done today.  Shower sliding door as well.  

I would remind Joe the importance that the Drywallers completely seal the kitchen and our living room when they sand (which I assume they will do before Saturday).  They really make a mess every time they are here.  I understand but the dust may put me other the edge.  

Did you order the carpet?

I am sure ...... if you were here, you would see alot more than me!

One day we will talk more about a vacation a vacation to the Caribbean vs home renovations.  Looking forward to it. 

Oh and if you read last nights post, my project for jay is on hold.  Tornado warnings here.  Can't go outside to finish. 

We are close yet so far away

We are getting closer and closer to the end of the renovation.  The end is in reach but just not close enough.  The past couple of days (yes including a house full of workers on Saturday) have been focusing on trim and doors and drywall.  Pictures will do a better job for this post.

Wainscoting in the dining room

 These are the doors for the entire house.  This is the hall closet.

 Basement vanity installed and trim.

 Railings to basement

Pantry has been installed

 Microwave shelf installed 

 Also I realized the other night, that I never posted pictures of the showers because I was at Home Depot on Sunday night returning tile and the checkout lady wanted to see how it looked.  So this is the main level shower . . . .

 Basement shower / tub . . . .

On Sunday, Jay decided to flip the way our back door would swing.  Our contractor told him that it could not be done.  That is the perfect way to challenge Jay.  So here you go.  He flipped the frame and door.  We added spray foam and there you go.  It swings out which was needed because it will hit the cabinets if not.  

Really worn out this week.  I am doing a little project of my own.  Jay is not at home Monday - THursday of this week so I wanted to get some stuff done for his birthday / fathers day.  Can't say much more in case he reads this post :)