Pioneer Day

This was probably the best pioneer day ever! Jake's awesome buddies came up to help frame the house and they worked like lightning. I have never seem such team work. We were even lucky enough to have overcast skies the whole day. It seemed like the perfect day. Here's what we started with and then the finished product by the next afternoon. They had fun working together and hanging out and I loved every moment, seeing wall by wall turn into my beautiful home!

Here's the dream team on the second morning.

First wall of the day... ever. Main bearing wall.

Floor joyces on. Mud room progressing off the garage.

Floor is on all exterior walls up. Mini hole for stairs.

Garage.

Interior walls almost all up. This is looking down the hall from living room.

This is our kitchen.


Bedroom.

Living room.


This is the mud room/ laundry.

Cold storage.

Basement.

Picture from the road. Aren't these guys amazing? Jake and I couldn't be more appreciative. We love this time in our life and couldn't do it without all the help we've been given. Thanks Leon, Miles, Juck, Andrew, Chris, Jaren for the awesome work this weekend!

This weekend we'll be working on the trusses for the roof.

Starting a New Life

With Jake out of school and being the handy man he is, we decided to put his skills to our own use. We're taking advantage of the tax credit from the government and building a house! We pondered on many different lots and locations but finally decided a few weeks ago on this beautiful lot up against the east mountains in Smithfield. The house plans are just the way we want them, we couldn't ask for anything more. It's our dream home!

The progress has been quick paced. They started digging a week ago on Thursday and look how far they've come! I can't make color decisions fast enough.

Here she is! All marked up ready to dig.

During all the digging.

Footings drying.

Forms holding in the cement while they pour the foundation.

Foundation all set up. Getting some plumbing and window wells. This is what is looks like now.

It's a very exciting and STRESSFUL process. But we love looking forward to the finish, which will probably be by the end of October. Jake and a few buddies will be framing it in a week. Jake will also do the roof. And we... mostly Jake will do the floors and finish work and cabinets when he gets home from Alaska.

More exciting news.... I got the job at the hospital! It was nice to have my first day yesterday. We have so much to be grateful for, especially all the people helping us.

Independence Day

Jake and I had a great 4th of July holiday. We grilled some burgers and went up by the Stadium to watch Logan's spectacular fire works show Friday night. Saturday morning we drove up to Jake's family's cabin in Black Smith Fork canyon and had breakfast with the whole clan. It was fun to see everyone. We stopped by the Hyrum parade after breakfast with our niece and nephews to make the mad dash for candy in the street. Kids make everything so fun!

I threw a bridal shower with a couple of my friends for soon-to-be Mrs. Carrie Belnap. The four of us have been a little click since early high school. They are my besties. Jake finished my parent's pantry while we played at the shower. Look at a little bit of his work. He also did all the closets and floors. It all looked amazing. It's he so handy?