Hilarious Elf Dance

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Progress

Mike and I were up late last night cleaning up and we lit up the fireplace for the first time!

I uncovered the wood floor today.

View of island and venthood.

Corner of living room going out to deck.

Fireplace Doors and Grates

Wood Floor and Venthood

These pictures aren't very good, but they show the wood floor and the new venthood that Mike and I installed with the help of the two guys who were painting in the house at the time.

Updated To Do List

Here's the list from before with updates:
Make the final decision on paint colors - DONE
Pick up the carpet remnants for the boys' loft down by the airport - DONE
Pick out a ceiling fan for the away room - DONE
Fax the refinance application back to the credit union - DONE
Finish designing and purchasing the stuff for the kids' closets - Almost done
Design the metal grate that will go between the eating area and the living room - Not done
Order pins for all the adjustable shelves in the living room and Emily's windowseat - DONE
Dust, dust, and dust - Waiting until the activities that create dust are done
Get shelving for the laundry room -Transferred to Mike's list
Find a shelving unit or something to divide the boys' room into two sides - Waiting
Find extended strike plates for the exterior doors - Still can't find these
Find hooks for the lockers in the entryway - DONE

Status Report

As the recent pictures show, much progress has been made in the last couple of weeks. The slate upstairs has all been installed and is waiting for grout. The carpet is installed in the basement. The wood floor will start going in on Monday and hopefully be done by the end of the week. Then the carpet will go in upstairs. We are getting closer to being back in the house! All the details of the construction and the refinance are nearing resolution.

Here is the current list of things I need to do:
Make the final decision on paint colors
Pick up the carpet remnants for the boys' loft down by the airport
Pick out a ceiling fan for the away room
Fax the refinance application back to the credit union
Finish designing and purchasing the stuff for the kids' closets
Design the metal grate that will go between the eating area and the living room
Order pins for all the adjustable shelves in the living room and Emily's windowseat
Dust, dust, and dust
Get shelving for the laundry room
Find a shelving unit or something to divide the boys' room into two sides
Find extended strike plates for the exterior doors
Find hooks for the lockers in the entryway

Mike's List:
Electrical - finish wiring and putting up the fixtures
Hanging hardware - door levers and cabinet hardware
Installing closet interiors

Mike's list looks shorter, but there's a lot of work in those three things. He's been working every evening and all weekend for the last few weeks.

The things we miss the most about our house:
Ginger - the kitchen (particularly the cooktop and oven) and our bed (we are currently sleeping on 2 twin air matresses that are 4 inches off the floor)
Mike - kitchen, bed, and DISH network
Emily - having all of her stuff in her room (half of her things are packed up right now)
Avritt - DISH network
Isaac - nothing, he says

We would appreciate your prayers as our assessor comes back to make sure all of the work is done and to recertify the value he gave the house back in July. This is tricky because of the state of the economy and property values. We hope to be moving back into the house right about Thanksgiving time. We will have a lot to be thankful for this year, and we look forward to being in the house for Christmas (the kids are thrilled that we have a fireplace where we can hang their stockings)!

Back of Island

The enhancing sealer really makes this slate pop. Can't wait for the wood floor to go around this area! That starts on Monday.

Closeup of Fireplace

The grates and mission-style screen doors are still not on, and the blue tape is for the grouting, which is happening tomorrow, but this is so beautiful - the picture doesn't totally capture it.

Kitchen

!!!!!!!!

Stairway

Mosaic Tile around Stairway

Back of Island

Slate in Living Room Corner

Backsplash on Island

Stairway Railing

The Tile Makes the House!

I was thrilled to come home this afternoon and discover the fireplace with slate!

More Pics

The top of these cupboards will be covered with a slate mosaic.

Still a work zone...

The end of this stairway area will have an adjustable shelf.

Living Room

I am struggling with the paint colors. I had my mind set on a rust/copper color for the living room, but with all the woodwork and a gold/tan carpeting, it's too much in the brown family. I have some ideas - I'll keep you posted.

Front Door

Recent Pictures

I know that it has been a long time since I posted some pictures. I was waiting until the staining was finished, which was today! This is the new fireplace. Slate will be installed on the top of the hearth and up the sides.