Okay, so as a rule we have built a house every 2 years since the kids were born in an effort to completely eliminate all of our debt and while it hasn't worked out perfectly, we are now building our 4th and final house out in the country away from it all. The sacrifice has been huge over the last 8 years, but I have my own little saying that I like to repeat over and over again to the kids, "A house is just sticks and bricks, its who is inside that makes it home." We have all enjoyed the process of building and have learned so much along the way about ourselves, our family, and really how not-so-normal we are (at least that is what Im told). So I would love to share our journey with you and keep you updated with our progress. Every Monday I will share what's happening at our house and give you an updated pic. While right now it may seem kind of boring, things should pick up and get interesting over the next few weeks. Today Im sharing a few pictures just to catch you up!! I hope you enjoy our journey as much as we do!!
When you want to dig a pond and it not take you 400 years, we have learned that this is what you need...WOW!! THOSE TIRES ARE TALLER THAN ME!!
Our little slice of the world right after the pond was dug!
Forms can only mean one thing...WERE GETTING CONCRETE!! You would think concrete was gold around here. It is just the best gift!!
WE HAVE CONCRETE!!
And a week later, this is what we have!! How exciting, it is really a house!!
This is the view from the playroom upstairs. Yes, we are in the middle of a huge cow pasture. How's is that for country living??
Here is the same pond, just a few weeks later. This is actually a few days before Christmas. Is is obvious I live in Louisiana? Tank top and shorts a few days before Christmas??
This really has absolutely nothing to do with our house, but just to prove our Louisiana weather to you this picture was taken about a week before the above picture of my daughter in a tank top and shorts. It snowed 6 inches here on December 11th and we were in tank tops and shorts on December 20th...CRAZY!!
Here is where we are today! Our electrical, heating and air, and plumbing are all done and we are hoping to get a roof by the end of the week. YIPPEE!!!
I can't wait to show you the progress next week!! Maybe by then we will be moved in...HA HA HA!!
Lots of painting going on at this house this week. We rented a man lift from Home Depot to be able to reach the tippy tippy top of the house so that we could paint all of the eaves and overhangs (I guess that is what they are called). My big boy (aka husband, which he would much rather be called) has worked so hard this week caulking and painting all of our hardi-pank siding (which is alot) and by doing all of that SAVING US LOTS OF MONEY!! He even suffered his first "on the job accident" when a 2x4 fell on top of him and knocked him to the ground. Funny now, not funny when it happened.
While Big Boy had the man lift, he decided it would be smart to go ahead and hang the shutters. Great idea!!
We also went ahead and installed the flood lights...which I have a money saving tip to go along with...
To the naked eye these look like those really expensive "Oil Rubbed Bronze" floodlights. Well, not on our dollar.
These floodlights are the $9.99 white ones and with a little bit of spray paint now have the beautiful oil rubbed bronze finish at a savings of $20.00 per floodlight!! Now, I know that you aren't looking for a reason to upgrade your floodlights, but think about this for light fixtures and items that you may not be in love with anymore. It is amazing what a can of spray paint will do!!
Just for fun, here are a few of our interior pics...a first glimpse of the inside of the house. This is the kitchen and before long I hope to be whipping up some good food and even better coffee in it!!
And here is our living room where I look forward to doing lots of entertaining our friends and church family!
And one more, just for kicks...have you met my neighbors??? If you are like me and love the movie Barnyard, then you too are probably waiting on him to start dancing!! We laugh and laugh at the cows and the kids just know that one day we are going to drive up and they are going to be having a party in our living room...GREAT MOVIE!!
