House update: Part 1

NOTE: I have been working on this post for weeks but I keep wanting to take more updated pictures to put on it. I can't keep up with how fast they are working over there. 

Progress is being made at the house and we are excited to hopefully move in soon. 

The hard wood floors should be done someday soon if the flooring people would get themselves together and show up a little more often. Once the floors are done we can add insulation to the walls, texture the walls and ceiling, paint and move in.I mostly just want Charlie's room and the kitchen cupboards painted before we move in, then we will move minimal stuff while we finish painting and then move the rest.

Some projects that have been completed are:
Chimney removal and patching the roof
Installing an over the stove microwave with vent.
Installing counter-tops
Covering the upstairs ceiling with drywall
Lots of electrical work, including a new panel
Lots of plumbing, including replacing some really nasty corroded pipes behind the dishwasher
Deck painting/sealing
Appliance cleaning
Installing a garbage disposal
Installing a new kitchen faucet


And I'm sure there was a whole bunch of other stuff done that I don't know about.

So lets do some before and After Pictures...just like on the design shows
(Just remember, this is only Update 1, I will need to add more after the painting is completed)
  

Living Room piano area BEFORE

Living Room piano area with the floor almost done. 

Utility sink before

Utility Sink After

Kitchen BEFORE (notice the nasty floor and interesting counter tops

Kitchen IN PROGRESS Notice the floor, counter tops, sink faucet, over stove microwave,  (That back door is new too!) and the oven was removed for cleaning but will be put back in shortly. 

Charlie's room before drywall on the ceiling and pipes

Charlie's room after drywall

Charlie's room with the floor almost done. 

The floor before the final coat, I think it will look amazing!

Installed drywall and a light over the stairs

Max had to wear this "bunny suit" to climb under the house for some electrical work...

He's so brave, there were huge spiders under there. 

First coat of sealant on the deck

The acoustics in the empty house are great, Max was singing Ave Maria and Charlie was falling asleep (He didn't really fall asleep)

We put our hand prints in the cement so a little piece of us would be with the house always.
It was then covered by boards 

It's a little messy, we were new with the whole "wet cement" thing. 

And this is how we get work done at the house...if anyone wants to come play with our sweet boy while we work...we wouldn't refuse!

(I probably shouldn't say anyone...I'm sure there are a couple people we would refuse, for safety purposes)

Well, that's it for now! We hope to be moving in soon!

11 months

Our baby boy is 11 months old today. Time is flying and soon he will be a one-year-old!

Charlie has started waving

He can climb onto both downstairs couches

His third tooth will break through his gums at any moment now. (Top right) 

Some food he loves include banana chunks, and cheerios

He shakes his head from left to right and thinks it's hilarious

He's wearing 12 month clothes

He still wakes up once per night but a plan is in place to eradicate this...stay tuned for progress updates!

I'm sure there is more but I can't think of it right now. 

That's my 11-Month-Old

In addition to climbing on the couches, he has found a way to get onto the coffee table, and yes, he made it all the way up/

 To celebrate his 11-month-oldness we went to OMSI. IT was an awful day to go because apparently there was no school today and it was the first rainy day of the season so it was absolutely packed. We played for a little bit then went to help on the house a bit.

I forgot to bring my camera in so here are some OMSI pictures from last week at Grossology.

In the giant nose, a big gust of air hits you as you walk in.

The acne climbing wall

He's crawling through the large intestine

And then being pooped out!

Then of course some fun at the water table. 

A birthday to remember

Over the years I have started to appreciate that having my birthday two weeks after Max's is for my benefit. He always tries to out do me, and always succeeds. I was spoiled all day long. Lucky for us, Charlie slept in until 9 so Max got up early and started slaving away while I got to sleep in a bit. At 9:30 my boys came in with a feast of whole wheat pancakes, eggs, and bacon with a candle. Max handed me my plate of food while singing happy birthday and Charlie handed me two small boxes. We feasted while Charlie crawled around begging for bacon and pancakes. (he got some too, we just didn't want to let him eat in the bed) 

After eating breakfast I opened my two little boxes. One had earrings, and the other had a necklace. They were both beautiful. I don't own much jewelry because It's not something I ever buy for myself but i like it and would like to see my collection grow, Max has always been afraid to get me jewelry, fearing that I wont like it and assuming it would just be best if I picked it out. He has overcome this fear and has started giving me jewelry. Good Man! 

After Breakfast, Max needed to run an errand so he took Charlie with him and I had a quiet morning with lots of time to get ready for the day. When they came back, Max had me open a couple more presents, I was completely spoiled. He had somehow taken note of everything in the past several months I had mentioned I wanted and got it all. 

Charlie then went down for a nap and so that is exactly what Max and I did too. He slept quite a awhile so we enjoyed that. 

After we all woke up Max took us on a little adventure, we got in the car and Max started driving. I had no idea where we were going. I was really surprised when we got to a part of Portland that we haven't driven around much and Max still didn't have the GPS on. He pulled up in front of a nice house that appeared to be in the middle of a big renovation and said "Surprise, I bought us a house!" I called his bluff pretty quick because he would never make a decision like that without me, so then he told me that he just missed the turn off and we had to turn around. 

We ended up at a huge but somewhat hidden garden right on the Willamette river called the Bishop Close garden. We looked up a short history about the garden on Max's phone then got out to explore. There were so many beautiful Fall colors and amazing views of the river. And we pretty much had the whole garden to ourselves. ( I guess not too many people go exploring on Tuesday afternoons.)

We finally decided to take out the camera to document some parts of my birthday.

Here are some Fall pictures    

Exploring the neat smooth trees

First time feeling a fuzzy caterpillar

More fuzzy caterpillars

Why do rocks look so much like food? Charlie wouldn't stop putting them in his mouth. 

The mansion in the garden

Then we found the perfect tree for photographing this handsome little guy!

We've been trying to get a good "flying" picture for awhile. These ones seem to suffice!

Charlie loves playing with his daddy

Under the wisteria. 

Max than took us out to eat in "Portland's only floating restaurant" Newport Bay downtown Portland, floating in the Willamette.

Charlie enjoyed his crayons and it was the first time that the crayons didn't go straight to his mouth. 

We also got to watch the sun set over the Portland Skyline. 

We left stuffed and happy. When we got home we quickly put Charlie in bed and Max continued to pamper and spoil me the rest of the night.
It was so fun to have an all day date with my family. I love those boys more than anything. They went above and beyond in their pursuit to make me feel special. I'm so lucky to be the wife of such a hard working and caring man, and I absolutely love my cheerful son. Life is good.

Sunday Afternoon

I'm not sure if my life has gotten more interesting, I use my camera more, or if I just have more time to blog but I'm on a role. Here comes another one and then there will soon be a birthday post and a house update.

On Sunday, after church, we headed to the temple for a family walk. The weather has been beautiful here and I haven't seen any rain since we've moved back. I know it won't last so we are soaking up every bit of sun we can.

Charlie immediately found a little bug friend

and our little explorer is off...

The colors were beautiful

And this is the one family picture we took before our camera died...cute right?