About da Grout

We finished the grout in the bathroom last night. My mom, Daniel and I worked until 10:30 last night and got the last of it in. Now it's on to the caulk!

We've Moved! (With a Bathroom Update

We have made the move from Payson to Lindon. I've never been so exhausted in my entire life. Even after giving birth to a human being. Our stuff is still in boxes around the house, but we do have at least a few things functioning. I've been asked a lot about how it feels to be a homeowner. I really really like it. So, despite how it sounds in the next few paragraphs, I really do feel good about our home purchase.

When we moved into the house, there was one bathroom with a walk-in shower. It was built for the former owner of the house before he passed away. He was too old to get in and out of a tub. Well, with a young baby, the walk-in shower was just not going to work for us any more. So, the first thing we did after we moved in was demo the shower. (I apologize for the picture, our camera is in a box somewhere and so I had to use my blackberry and ipod).

This is the shower area where there used to be a seat. My brother in law pulled out all of the cultured marble, and removed the half wall as well. I'm so grateful, since it was something that I definitely could not have done. That stuff was HEAVY.

After everything was demo-ed, including the flooring which was half carpet and half really ugly red brick-like tile, we were ready to do the plumbing. My uncle came over and converted the shower back into a bathtub/shower combo. My mom and I tiled around the toilet, and then tiled the shower wall. This is what it looked like at the end of that day.

Then we installed the faucet, and put up some more cement hardi-backer to put up the tile. Because the walls are lath and plaster, the only thing we could do to make the tile lay flat was to put up the hardi-backer.

The next day, my mom laid almost the rest of the shower tile, and the floor tile. On Saturday, we grouted the floor.

I should also mention that we pulled the quartz/marble stuff off the walls as well. I wanted to replace it anyway, and because it went all the way down the the floor, to replace it later would mean removing floor tiles. Which I DO NOT want to do ever again. It's apparent that at one point, the walls were tiled. Which means I'm going to have to come up with some sort of wall treatment other than paint.

So, where are we at now? I have to finish tiling the shower. The corners are being very difficult, because the walls aren't square. And I've got to get those corners just as tight as possible. I'm hoping to wrap that up tonight. Once the shower is tiled, we will grout and caulk. Then we will prime and paint the cabinets. Then we have a couple of electrical things to do in the bathroom before much else can be done. (Install an exhaust fan, and move the light switch out of the hall and into the bathroom). Then comes the wall treatments and painting. My goal is to completely finish before the end of my Christmas break.

Have you ever done a remodel project like this before? Any words of wisdom or encouragement?

House Updates

Two weeks since my last post, and we're still moving along on the home buying process. We were supposed to close on November 21, but due to some snags (seems there is always something), we probably won't close until the week after that. No big deal, but it does put us on a much tighter moving schedule than we had originally anticipated. (Think 3 days instead of 10)

This is what the next week and a half looks like for us:

Monday, November 21. New window will be installed in the master bedroom to fix the broken one.

Wednesday, November 23. Day we will be allowed access to the house to clean and do other minor work before closing.

Provided some sort of miracle happens, we might be able to close Wednesday or Friday. But, we're not counting on it.

Monday, November 28. Closing day!

Tuesday, November 29 First day of moving, and also bathroom demo day. We'll rip out the shower stall insert and get everything ready for....

Wednesday, November 30 install new tub and tile the shower. Also, second day of moving.

Thursday, December 1 all things will be moved into new house. If I'm not dead by then, I'm hoping to have time to paint the bathroom and take out the wallpaper and everything.

How does that sounds for insane? If you are in the area and want to help move, I can say that we're definitely going to need it. I've got most of our stuff boxed up now, but I'll need help either pulling out the shower or getting stuff from Payson to Lindon.

The New House

Apologies for so severly neglecting this blog. However, in light of some recent events, I've decided to blow off the dust, and make it something I update a little more often.

Daniel and I have put an offer in on a house in Lindon. Daniel was accepted to the engineering program at the University of Utah. And since Payson is a little far to commute for Daniel, we looked into renting in the area near the point of the mountain. Turns out rent is really high in that area. So, we looked into buying. In a whirlwind of events in which I fell in love with this house, we're under contract.

Things I love about this house:

• It has oodles of exterior charm. It's much cuter than the many ranch/ramblers we saw.
• It's close to I-15, so Daniel's commute won't be all that long.
• It's in a great neighborhood in Lindon.
• It sits on a spacious .5 acres. Which is a far cry from the 7.5 acres I grew up on, but I still love it.
• It has some large trees and buildings in the back that will be perfect for Abigail to run around in.

With these great features; however, it comes with some grandma charm that will have to be... fixed. I will take you through the tour.

The first room is the living room/front room. It's large, with plain white walls. The light fixture puts some strange shadows on the wall, so it will definitely have to be replaced. There is a piano in the other corner. I don't think that's staying, which is a shame. It looks awesome.

Right off the front room is the master bedroom. This room features some lovely vinyl-like paneling on the walls. However, one of the things I do love, are the bay windows on the side.

Through the front room is the kitchen:

Yes, that is a window. I'll show you what it looks into in a moment, for now we're going to make a turn into the hall.

And make a left into the bathroom. This is the only photo I took of it, and I think part of the reason why is because of the crazy wallpaper. But, the bathroom only has a stand-in shower. We're going to rip it out and put a bathtub in before we move in. Abigail will not shower. Plus, babies in the tub is part of childhood.

Next room is the office/spare room. We're not sure exactly what we're going to do with it right away.

I feel like I should mention at this time, that this is not our stuff in the house. There are renters in the house right now, and it's their stuff.

Then there is a second bedroom. This one will probably be Abigail's room.

And, then there is the secret room behind the window in the kitchen. This was an addition onto the house.

Why they didn't take out the window that looks into the kitchen, I'll never know. But, it will be taken out and sheet-rocked over.

And yes, the laundry area is just sitting in the den. This will be framed in. And the window looking out into the garage will be taken out.

Now, for the yard:

So, what do you think? Any suggestions for making the yard/house beautiful and live up to its exterior charm? We are closing end of November, so stay tuned for updates!

Happy Halloween

I haven't finished any new projects of late, It's hard to get motivated to do stuff like that when it's so wet and cold outside.  It is however, perfect weather to read a book. Of which I have been doing plenty.

Abigail has discovered her tongue this week. It is out pretty much whenever her pacifier is out.  Sometimes it is just cute and little, other times it is out as far as she can stick it.

We are also teaching her to be bilingual, as evidenced by this video:



What language is she learning? German, of course! Can't you hear those beautiful gutteral sounds!

Abigail was a pink leopard this year.  I'll post a picture later when I get around to it... maybe...

Happy Halloween everyone!

24 on the 24th

I love my birthday.

Ever since I was little and knew what they were, birthdays have been the highlight of my year.

This year I am celebrating my golden birthday. Which basically just means that I have a reason so celebrate more than usual.

This year I am happy that no one is in the hospital or currently undergoing radiation therapy.

I was sung a special song by my baby eel this morning.  And, then I changed her diaper, because while it may be my birthday, babies have to do what babies have to do.

I got a lovely Amazon gift card from a cherished coworker. Seriously Jess, you rock.

I had an inbox full of Facebook well-wishes. (By the way, I think Facebook is like the best birthday card ever).

Besides dinner with my family this evening, I have no plans. Which means I can read books, play on my computer, or do whatever I want.

Thank you to everyone who came to my birthday party on Friday night. It was a blast. I made a fantastic Beef Bourguignon that was based on this recipe.  (warning, it is a rather labor intensive dish, but so very worth it).

I also made a Garlic Artichoke dip that from Our Best Bites that was very well received.

Thanks to all my friends and family who have made the last 24 years unique and special. Eat a Reese's today as my treat to you.

Cutie Patootie

I can't get enough of this cute baby.

In the last week, she's become particularly, shall we say, active? I'll just say that it's been fun to see her personality develop.  The sudden need to wake up several times a night, not so much fun.

A word of warning if you come to visit though, you will be subject to intense scrutiny. Blood relatives are not exempt.

Baby eel puts all that enter the house through a series of tests. No amount of smiling, silly faces or noises will make her crack a smile until she determines that you are worthy of her affection.

I don't know where she gets that from.