Addition - Day One

We have been going back and forth about adding on to our house for about a year now. We just haven't felt right about moving to our land, but as our kids get bigger it seems as though our house gets smaller! We finally decided to take the leap and add another 600 sq. ft. to the back side of our house.

Simple, enough, right? We aren't adding any plumbing and it's basically a couple of big squares...it looks so easy. Everyone keeps telling me not to get my hopes up that nothing we be on schedule and that it will take twice as long as I expect. I hope that's not the case, but I'm going to chronicle this jouney on our blog as we add this extra space.

I hope that all goes as scheduled. Our end date was scheduled to be June 29.

Alas, here goes day one....
Excavator...here on time and ready to go
Foundation...here on time and ready to go
Framer...here on time and ready to go
Sprinklers...here on time ready to go

Sounds like a good start. The first inspection is scheduled for this afternoon. The excavator is supposed to have the holes dug for the footers, the sprinkler guy is supposed to move the lines for the excavator, the framer is putting up braces to support the exitsting patio trusses and the foundation guy is supposed to put in the footers.

Foundation starts to cut the concrete, as we are using the existing slabs and adding footer to it. Jim and Greg downed the tree last night so that it all taken care of and Jim and the boys removed the basketball hoop. Excavator pulls the tree stump and framer braces the trusses....

Wait! Problem with the foundation. There are cracks under part of the patio. We won't be able to get enough concrete removed so the excavator can dig around. Excavator has to leave to another job, so we can't get the hole dug and of course, it's going to cost a bunch more to remove more concrete. We called the inspector to tell him not to come, but it's too late, he's already here.

He give us some insights on how to proceed.

Foundation contractor gone...
Excavator gone...
Framer gone...(although his work got done!)
Sprinkler contractor gone....

Leaving Jim to cut two feet of concrete of the perimiter of the patio for it all to work. He's going to be sore tomorrow.

Hopefully day two will be better...

Our Television Debut...

We were so blessed to have Maggie O'Mara from KTVB come to our office and do a story about how we let the kids come to work with us. Last Wednesday she spent a couple of hours at the office getting ready for the story. It couldn't have been better! Then they went and saw Krista at the hospital to tie the story together. I have to say, I was very pleased with the end results.

Maggie is an amazing woman. She was so very genuinely friendly. She fit right in with our office. The camera guy, Tony, was great too. He really got some great shots of the kids and made us all feel very comfortable on camera.

If you haven't had the chance to see the story you can check it out here.

Our Office On KTVB!

Talent Show

Preston performing "Fandango"

Brenden performing "Christopher Columbus"

Pinewood Derby

We've been doing the pinewood derby for a long time now. It's been more than 5 years and a lot of cars. Jim has done his research, weighed and re-weighed, tested for aerodynamic shapes and you would have thought we would have it down, but this year he and Brenden just made a darn cool car. It is a hammer head shark with googlie eyes and all and guess what....it was fast! Brenden came in second place, but just by a few miliseconds.

It was a great day for a dad and his son!






Brenden, Bryce and Brady on the winners stand

Brady and Brenden pal around before the derby begins

The hammer head takes his place in the race

Brenden showcases his car with pride!

Rough skin and all. It's a very cool car!

Brenden's car speeds down the track

Brenden Wins AGAIN!

IT'S TIME TO CATCH UP.....

Finally tax season is over and I can have a few moments to update my blog. So here's what has happened while I was away

Spring Break in McCall
We don't usually get to leave during tax season, but it was a much needed break for our entire family. We got to relax, play in the pool and who'd a thought...play in the snow! Saturday morning we woke up to a fresh six inches which made for a great morning on the four-wheelers.

Family Four-Wheeling Fun!

Jordan Fresh Off the Track

Brenden & Ella playing in up

Preston chillaxin' in the snow

Conference in Utah
My amazing husband took all the kids to Utah over conference weekend. It was a great time for me to make that final push during tax season and a great time for the kids to get to spend with their dad. Jim, Preston, and Jordan attended a session on Saturday and the Priesthood session that night. They look so handsome!

Preston in front of the Salt Lake Temple

Preston, Jim and Jordan

The boys in the Conference Center

Easter Fun
We did something different and fun this year for Easter. Usually on the last Saturday before the end of tax season we take our staff out for breakfast. This year, becuase it was the day before Easter, we decided to have an afternoon BBQ and Easter Egg hunt for the kids.














Sunday we had a great Easter reflecting on the Ressurection and Atonement of our Savior...Here are my sweet kids in their Sunday best

Some things just need a post of their own, so I'll be back with some more posts of our recent events. It's good to be back!

MEET WILLY

After the loss of our little Spike earlier this year, we decided that we would wait until after tax season to get another puppy. As you can see, that didn't happen. Last week we went to start our search for a new addition to our family. The breeder had been so great to work with before that that's where we started. Willy happened to be the last puppy available. We asked if we could wait until April 16 to pick him up, but she just couldn't keep him for another month. Alas, we have a new addition to our home and office.

MEET WEE WILLY

It's kind of hard to tell how very tiny he is. He is about 3 lbs and about 6 inches tall. He is a Jack Russell Terrier and was the wee one of his litter. We have to be carefuly becuase he easily gets underfoot. Jim has really taken to him.

He has learned to climb up the stairs, but not down.

Of course, all the kids adore him!

He used Preston as a ladder to get to the couch. He's very clever.