Today I Feel....

Eli has this great book titled, "Today I Feel Silly" whose lesson is about having different feelings, and being OK with those feelings.

Today I feel......excited, tired, overwhelmed, happy, among others. Excited for our trip to Arizona (a slight diversion from our generally crazy life). Tired--does it really need an explanation???? Overwhelmed, because besides managing pertinent house details before we leave for our vacation (lighting plan, upstairs heat source, kitchen, etc), I have to pack our entire family for 2 weeks away, package valentine's for Eli's class, make cookies, find time to exercise....the list continues. Happy because LIFE IS GOOD!

Over the last week the building crew has made some HUGE strides in the progress of the home. Temporary stairs were built for ease of movement, the loft space was framed (master bedroom, bath and closet), rafters were installed for the roof, the skylight was cut, etc. We've ordered the super cool 16 ft sliding door. Electricians and plumbers (for basic plumbing needs and radiant floor heating) are being called. Mike, the mad scientist has defined the measurements of the ingredients that make up the stain for the exterior wood.

Here are just a few pictures for all of you "visual" people out there (like myself):

The mad scientist testing his latest stain experiment

Temporary stairwell

View from master bedroom to rafters

Master closet

View from Master bedroom to bathroom and closet

Skylight above stairwell

Corner view with rafters

Room with a View

Today I climbed up (on a ladder because the stairs are not yet installed) to our bedroom. WE HAVE A VIEW!!! Yes, some would argue that the view is not worth much. Just a couple of buildings in Downtown Bellevue. BUT, we have a view nonetheless.

This week we made some decisions on our exposed beams and plywood that is revealed between the beams. If Mike were composing this post, he would thoroughly educate our readers on quality of plywood, football fillers and the like. But, lucky for you, he's not, and I am -- and you're reading the modified version of this story. I'm a visual person anyway. Images are more impactful than words. See below:

Exposed beams and plywood

View from our bedroom (look in the distance -- Downtown Bellevue)

Loft window

Living room walls (17 3/4 ft high)

Corner kitchen window

Beginning to Look Like a Home

Say goodbye to our undrivable steep driveway and hello to a FLAT entrance to a gigantic tandum garage. It took alot of fill and rocks over the past few days, but we've achieved a level front yard (and backyard, for that matter).

Besides that accomplishment, Bob and team installed the uber cool (soft industrial) steel beams that help to support the upper loft. AND, if there hasn't been enough great progress, Mike's office, powder room and laundry rooms have been framed.

Driveway

The first car in our garage is a dumptruck

8 Walls and Counting....

Count em....8 walls are up. Well, actually 8.5 (including the partial wall above the kitchen).

Had to call in the big guns today. A Boom Truck was called in to lift the 16' long beam above the sliding door and the large front wall of the home (and I think maybe part of the north wall too).

These images show the truck lifting the wall, along with the perspective from various angles of the home.

Peering thru the garage door to the kitchen wall

Front window thru the office window

8 walls and counting!!!

Wow!!! (It's Sunny in Seattle and Main Floor Framing has Begun)

Today is a great day! Feels a bit like spring around here. AND....we have an opening to our 16' wide sliding door! See for yourselves:

Look how tall our wall is!!!

The opening of the stairwell

Olivia's bedroom window

Beginning of our kitchen wall

Office window above Eli's window

TMI?? (Too Many Images)

Are we starting to bore you with the images of the progress of our home? We haven't even gotten started! Wait until we start sharing photos of electrical outlets and window trim.

Today's blog shows "post concrete pour" photos and the beginnings of walls for our basement. See if you can count the number of nails in the plywood flooring (the answer: 4000). Thanks Michael and Ken!

The Foundation Walls Are In