We have a garage floor!!

Today was another looooong day working on the house. Things are moving along very nicely though. The concrete was poured for the garage floor, what an exciting step! The guys worked so hard today. As a sat here looking at my photos, realized I did not get a "finished" shot of it but that was b.c they were working til after dark. Also too b/c we were basically stranded in today. The one door that we have been using is where they poured the concrete. The other door has a 6 foot deep hole under it!

My computer is not letting me crop photos tonight, sorry for the far view on some of them. My "techie" is on a late night Lowe's run and not here to help me!

The day stared with an early delivery. Little dude having fun watching:


Using one of about 4 crazy machines they rented today




This was how we had to enter the house today








We stamped all the kids feet in the wet cement




Greta wasn't too sure about it after a few seconds!


Not such a little girl anymore


What a blessing to have my uncle live next door. He has been such a huge help to us, saving us thousands of dollars. They borrowed at least 2 different tractors from him today!


After a long day of watching from the window, this was the position that Aaron eventually took!

Foundation

Today was another huge day of progress. Steve and Jer got all the block laid for the foundation of our 2 story addition. Those guys worked very hard and finished just before dark. I didn't get too many pics today, I was so busy with cooking, school, ballet, groceries, etc. Did get a few...

Here is the finished product:




Dad, Steve wanted me to say a big thank you for coming and helping today. He really appreciated your help and said there was no way that they would be ready for tomorrow w/out your help. THANK YOU!!


Morgan's "throne"




We got 4 ton of sand delivered for under the garage cement. Someone had fun there today!!




Aaron and Greta watching Uncle Jim spread the sand with his tractor

Concrete

Today was a huge day for the progression of things with our addition. The footers are laid for the foundation. The guys got rained on some but it didn't really affect things. We were very thankful that things went well and as planned.

Hanging out and waiting for the cement truck to arrive...






Aaron was so excited to see the concrete come out of the shoot!!




My dad came to help Jeremy and Steve (no, he didn't just stand there with his hands on his hips!!)


See, he was working


Claudia took these next 2 shots, I think they are so cute!!






My mom couldn't stand to just sit still and watch, she had to help in some way. Thanks mom for hacking off the perennials!!




Is Steve meditating??




Pretending to help


Aaron accidentally stuck his foot in the wet cement!

Mud Balls

We got some rain last night so it made our house one big mud bog. The kids stepped out the door for church this morning before I did and everyone's shoes were covered in mud. Aaron walked right into a big puddle. Uggh.

This afternoon Steve and Jeremy worked a little to get ready for tomorrow's concrete. Morgan "helped", she was making mud balls to throw at Uncle Seth when he comes. Watch out, Seth, they'll be rock hard by this weekend!!





This was how I kept Greta out of the mud this afternoon. Worked great, thanks Tina!!


A few shots from yesterday's work. Claudia swinging the sledge hammer


Greta in her little cage

Singer Dude

For over a year now Aaron has been able to sing "Amazing Grace". A few weeks back, Claudia finally captured it on her camera:

More destruction

Good-bye ugly, old evergreen shrubs!!


Morgan and Aaron hanging out watching my uncle rip out the shrubs (Aaron was still in his jams!!)


Aaron was so cute sitting on this concrete block watching my uncle dig some more with his skid loader


Our first out-of-town guest arrives tomorrow. Steve's brother Jeremy is driving in from Iowa and will stay 2 weeks to be helping us with the work. We are looking forward to having him here. He's lots of fun, the kids think he is a human jungle gym.
I think the stress of this work is getting to me. I did 2 really dumb things today. First, I am participating in a local consignment sale. It's a one day thing where you take all your used kids stuff and sell. I loaded up TONS of stuff that I was selling in my dad's truck and headed over to the church where the sale was taking place. I got there and there were only 3 cars. Hmmm... I walked into the church and they were setting up for a wedding reception. Here the sale is next weekend. I had it written on my calender correct. Who knows where that one got lost in my brain.
And then tonight I decided to make a huge batch of c. chip cookies to freeze for when our company arrives. As I was putting them on the tray Claudia says, "Mom, those look really white." I dismissed her comment, what does she know about cookies, she's only 9? I cooked them and they were not turning brown and had an odd shape to them. They tasted really nasty. At first I wrote it off to too much flour. I eventually realized that I used baking powder instead of baking soda. Uggh. Thankfully, my dad eats all my baking rejects, he just dunks them in his coffee!!

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