Day 66: Still Waiting to Pour

 

 

 

 

Day 65: Still a Wonderful Site

 

 

 

With the pour scheduled to happen this week, I'm enjoying the view as it is now. This time next week it'll look so different. Framing starts pretty quickly one the slab is cured. I'm thankful that the girls will be out of school and can be with me to watch some of these major changes as they occur. We are so blessed. :) 

 

Day 64: Couple Days til Pour Day

 

 

Day 63: End of Week 9

Pouring the slab begins on New Year's Eve! Here are the girls while we checked things out today.

Day 62: Day After Christmas

It won't look like this for very much longer!

Day 59: Post Tension Rods

Day 56: End of Week 8

Getting ready to head into Christmas week and Im not expecting much, if anything, to get done. Likewise this blog might take a little hiatus until things start back up. May you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Days 52-55

My family has been ill this week so our journeys out to see daily progress just hasn't been possible.  Here are a few pictures of today.  Chance also advised that tension rods would be added next and then pouring would happen the first week of January.

Day 51: Still Working on Pipes

Day 50: Starting Week 8

Day 49: Rounding Out Week 7

Today marks the end of the 7th week. According to the timeline, this is when construction should be beginning and the preconstruction meeting occurring. Looks like we're still a little ahead of schedule. Today it's drizzly. I doubt anyone will be out working in this.

I heard from Jose today in the first of our weekly phone call updates. I really enjoy that he keeps me involved and up to date on what is happening in the building of my home. It's important for me to know and understand.

Turns out, they did get some work done on my house today before the rain came down. They were able to get part of the plumbing installed. The rest will have to wait until monday. Because of the rain, pouring of the slab might get pushed back til the 23rd. Just have to see how everything goes this week.

Day 48: Trenches and Soil

Today while I was driving up to my homesite, I saw another couple meandering around their site, too. As I drove by I nodded and smiled. A few moments after getting out of my car, and they saw me taking pictures, they came over and introduced themselves.

"Looks like we'll be neighbors!" the man said, smiling. I shook both of their hands and we chatted excitedly. Turns out we're building the same house with different elevations. They opted for 'C' with the tall pillars; I opted for 'B' with the porch. I had to cut our chat short since I had to pick up the kids before closing time, but am happy to meet such super nice people. They will be great neighbors, Im sure.

 

Today, I discovered that we have trenches! And do you see that pile of black dirt? You can definitely tell this land was farmland. We have great soil here. Thankfully not much caliche. Our trees and plants will love growing here in this nutrient-rich earth. Not to mention that trees can dig deeper roots here, too. Wont be long and we'll have pipes and be ready for having the slab poured.

Dear Homeowner

Yesterday I received a letter from KB Home, albeit a little late, advising me that construction was beginning and I would be having some meetings with the construction superintendent. All of that has happened, of course, but what I especially loved about the letter was that it saluted me as "Dear Homeowner". Yes! Im so very proud to be a this place in my life right now. I absolutely love building! I love that Im buying a home! I couldn't be happier. :)

Day 47: Even More Dirt

 

 

Even more dirt! 



 

I must have the best salesman of all because he sends me pictures of the progress of my lot.

I just love it when he does, too! Totally makes my day! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, as we drove around our house, we noticed that there are now 4 houses being built on the side street from our home. Two are further ahead than ours, by just a little, in that they have their pipes but still no concrete foundation yet. The others are all similar to ours with forms and/or dirt. I love seeing that our section will have some homes and we wont be the only family living out here by ourselves. And, hopefully they'll have children for my kids to play with.

 

 

 

Day 46: We Have Dirt

 

 

We have dirt! 

Day 45: Drizzle

Today, there isn't much going on in the building world due to the constant drizzle. It's only gotten up to about 36 degrees and has been drizzling nonstop all day. It's supposed to be dryer for the next few days and then thunderstorms on Friday before clearing off for a sunny day on Sunday with highs in the 60's. Hopefully the guys working on my home can get a lot done in the short spurts of time they have between rainy weather days.

Day 44: Happy 4th!

Today I took the kids by to see the house. They loved seeing what's been done so far. They walked around where the house is being built and we took a couple of pictures of them standing by the corner of the back patio.

Another reason I brought the girls out for a pic was because today is the 4th anniversary of my divorce. Seeing my kids here, at the house Im building for them, makes me proud of all that I do. I needed this time to celebrate and reflect on where our lives are right now. It's a happy day!

While we were here, another car was driving around looking at their lot. It's nice to know we're not the only ones who come out to peek at the progress done. I mentioned that to my kids and they were so sweet in saying "We love coming by every day, mom! We don't want to miss a single one!"

Day 43: Form is Ready

Not much is going on here today. It's brutally cold out. I cant imagine anyone having to work outside in below freezing temps. Im glad all of the workers had the day off. Looks like the next step will be getting dirty and laying the plumbing pipes before the slab is poured.

Day 42: Pre-Construction Orientation

Today marks the end of six weeks. We're moving along and are pretty much on track now according to the process map (timeline).  Next comes dirt and sand to fill in the foundation and to allow for plumbing and such. Then they pour the slab. We're hoping to have that done around the 20th.

I met with Jose, the construction superintendent, to have what is called a "pre-construction orientation".  We went over the construction plan, talked about a timeline and went over all of the options included in my home. He told me that we would meet again in about six weeks when they were done with the framework. He also advised that we're looking at a mid-March closing. Happy Birthday to me!

Then, a surprise arrived! My super wonderful salesman texted me over three pictures that he took of the progress of my house. They are great shots, dont'cha think? I love that he's feeding my frenzy of pictures for this blog. Thank you, Chance!  :)

Here's one I snapped of the back from the far side of the block.

Day 41: Start of the Foundation

 

 

This looks like an official start! The kids could hardly contain their excitement when we drove up and saw all of this busyness on our lot. Lord, bless the men working on our home out in these cold temperatures. 

 

Yes, the weather is s starting to get blustery here as a cold front has pushed through with much colder temperatures and cutting gusts of wind. Friday and Saturday we even have the possibility of "wintery mix". You know the kids are hoping for that! Eight years ago mid-December, when my second child was born, we had snow on the ground. It could happen again. You never know!

 

Day 40: Forty Days!

Today is a special day. Today is Day 40 of this whole house building process. Forty days ago I got the call and signed the paperwork that started this whole thing. Now, if you're a numbers type of person, like me, you know that forty has an interesting significance. For starters, it's heavily tied to the bible. Ancient writings and artifacts along with early astronomers appear to have once time tracked a cycle of 40 days for calendric purposes. It's been the topic and/or title of many movies, songs and books.  It's even the length of a prolife movement.

That said, today might be a ground breaking day in the process of building my home.

Or not.

No change today. There's always tomorrow!

Day 39: Cleaned Lot

Today I definitely noticed something had been done on my homesite. It's clean! The area where my house will sit has been cleaned. Gone is the grass and weeds and rocks. You can tell a tractor or some type of machinery had driven over it, scraping it clean from anything that will be under the slab. It's fun to come out each day now and find work done.

As you can also see, they have started building another house next to the house on the right. Many more will be coming as I saw the neighborhood map last week and it has about a dozen sold dots on it for this area.

I Spy Something New!

Looky what I spied today: Electricity!

Day 38: Staked

 

 

Thanksgiving is over and now the building is about to begin! I received a text message from my wonderful salesman, Chance, over the holiday letting me know that they had staked my homesite indicating where the corners of my home will be. He was nice enough to send me a picture while I was out of state. In the picture he sent (above), you can see three of the blue stakes. It's progress!

 

I drove by yesterday after dealing with a little car trouble issue and was happy to meet a nice couple walking through the neighborhood. They stopped and chatted with me for a few minutes while the kids stretched their legs and explored our lot. The couple had lived here for fours years and said they enjoyed the neighborhood. It's good to meet nice people like them. :)

Off to the right (not shown), two more houses have also begun building. They each have the forms for where their slabs will be poured. Im assuming that will be the next step for mine, too. 

 

Come back daily to see the progress as it happens!

 

 

Day 31: Thanksgiving Week

Today is Monday and I'll be leaving town mid-week to enjoy the holiday with my family out of state. Since it's cold and rainy, Im not going to drive out there much this week but rather going to pickup once I return this weekend. Construction should start next week (week 6!).

I hope you all have a wonderful, safe and warm Thanksgiving! Remember to give thanks to God for all of the goodness in your life. May he continue to bless you all throughout the entire holiday season.

Day 30: Daily Drive-by

Obviously nothing to report. Just enjoy the pic on this cold, rainy fall day!

Day 29: Plot Plan Update

 

 

 

Welcome to Week #5!

 

Today Chance, my super salesman, went out in the neighborhood with the construction manager and discussed my plot plan in detail. I made my way in that direction as well, after not hearing back from him. Along with another salesman there in La Conterra, who was very helpful, we all went out to see another lot with a similar "C drain type" plot plan (same as mine, above) and we were able to see how water would drain as well as how the driveway would be graded. The lot we looked at had a 11% grade. Mine will be 14%, which means there will be greater area for water to collect. We saw water collecting just from a worker power washing. That is not okay with me.

 

They did say that when the time comes for my driveway to be paved, that I can come out and check on the grade and we could then talk about installing a French drain, if necessary. And if, once Im in the home and we have a heavy rain, water collects then I may have to make even further improvements to make sure water drains away from the home and into the yard.

 

Im not keen about their answer as there wasn't a solution offered, nor was the construction manager present. I feel as if my concerns weren't addressed, but rather the salesman said it best, "the train has left" and therefore there isn't anything I can do about it.

 

Going to talk to my broker and see what his thoughts are.

 

Day 28: End of Week 4

We're at the end of week 4 and are running ahead of schedule by about 3-4 weeks. When construction begins, we'll be looking at about 12 weeks to go! Hopefully sometime in March I'll close and get to begin moving in.

As I was leaving the neighborhood today, I saw a sod truck entering, there to deliver someone's yard. Oh boy! What a bad time to be putting down sod, just in time for frigid weather and possible freezing. The poor roots on that grass might not be able to withstand the cold temps. Im happy that mine will be installed in the Spring when the weather will be warm and plants will transplant better.

Day 27: Peace & Joy

Stress, good or bad, is exhausting. All of this stress about options and upgrades, paint and brick, the plot plan and everything else really added up and once I was done yesterday, I slept. It felt good to sleep, too! And today, Im happy! I needed to recharge and now that all of that is over, Im excited once again! I know my house is going to look dynamite and be a home that I am going to love for many years to come. Right now I've given it all up to God and know that it is all coming together as he wants.

The pic above is one of the drawings from my design studio appointment yesterday. I received copies of everything and am grateful for that. Each of these little drawings shows where every little outlet, light, switch, cable connection and everything else is located in my home. If I ever have to have anyone come work on anything, they'll know exactly what all is connected and where it runs.

The Final Options

 

 

 

 



• Oak cabinets in Espresso (in kitchen, nook, baths and laundry)
• White Delicatus granite (in kitchen and nook)
• Pietra del Norte 'Maine' polished tile backsplash
• Shaw Landscapes 'Nightsong Hickory' laminate wood flooring (in entry, kitchen, nook, powder, pantry and laundry)
• Shaw carpeting 'Thistle' (in all living areas) with upgraded pad
• Emser 'Titan' tile (in upstairs bathrooms)
• white marble countertops (in all baths and in master tub & shower surround)
• Kids' bath will have porcelain tub with white tile surround.
• All faucets will be Eva Watersense in Chrome except for the kitchen which is nickel.
• All lighting fixtures will be nickel finish.
• Room conversion - living room to study
• One door and one extra window in lieu of the patio sliding door
• All railing will be wrought iron instead of paint grade wood
• Manchester walnut-stained 8-foot front door (and stunningly beautiful!)
• Interior paint is Softer Tan (by Sherwin Williams) with white gloss 5 1/4" baseboards.
• Exterior brick is Urbana Antique by Claymex. Paint will be Foothills and Well Bred Brown (both by Sherwin Williams).
• Back patio will be covered and have a ceiling fan, size 8' ×16' plus a little more and steps down
• upgraded the attic insulation
• insulated the garage (because it also insullates the kids floors as their rooms are over it).