Lightning struck

Sunday morning, way before I wanted to wake up, we were jolted awake from thunder, that sounded to be right outside the door.  We laid in bed for a good hour, listening to the thunder, seeing the lightning, the room filling up with the eeriest green/yellow glow.  Such a sight for 5am.

 

It rained buckets for an hour or so and we were able to go back to sleep after it all passed. 

 

However, once we woke up and started working our way through the house to do this or that, we started noticing several things not working.  Lance went outside to find that our largest oak tree had been struck by lightning.  Throughout the course of the day we found the oven/range didn't work, the cable didn't work, the 2nd garage door didn't work and Easton's room {and the 3rd bedroom} had no power.  Lance was able to get Easton's room back on but sparks flew when he flipped the breaker outside.  Always a comforting sight. 

{3 different sides of the tree}

There was bark from this tree, all the way to the front of the driveway {that's a good 75-100 yards away}.  Strips of bark a few feet long and chunks of bark that just exploded off the tree were scattered all over the driveway and the yard.

 

It's such an strange feeling to think that something so powerful can do so much damage in one hit.  They say lightening doesn't strike the same place twice so we are assuming that the lightening hit the tree and sent the electrical current all the way through the lot and house. An electrician came to the house yesterday and said we could possible lose all the trees on our lot, especially those near this oak tree. Hopefully not, only time will tell. 

 

Yes, all this is a pain to have repaired and added expense that we don't really want to pay for, but thank God for His protection.  Thank God there was no fire.  Thank God it didn't knock the tree over, as you can see it already leans toward the garage & bonus room.  

 

These are all minor setbacks but we are so thankful for his protection.     

Country Living

I think it's safe to assume he thought there would be a man hopping out of the truck in front of him.  The dump, after all, isn't really a girly place.  We waited for the truck in front of us to pull out, then we pulled in to the next 2 spots, ready to empty our trucks of our trash.  You see, when you live in the country, you take your trash to the dump.  No more trash pick up, remembering to push the canister to the curb.  You load it up and take it yourself.  Its glamorous.  I know. 

Instead of a man getting out of the truck, he saw me.  Me, in a long Target maxi skirt with a vintage t and flip flops. I hopped up on the tailgate, hoisted over and grabbed our trash.  My first toss into the garbage container was our bag of Chick Fil A from Friday night.  I tossed it up and over and a gust of wind grabbed the bag and waffle fries came raining down on me. 

I guess it was at that point he decided I might need a little help.  Seeing as the top of the dumpster was a good 12 inches above my head, some assistance might be needed. 

He reminded me of my grandfather.  A good-ole-boy in his workin' clothes and pick up truck.  He helped me like it was his job.  I told him we were new to the area and this was my first time as a 'grown up' to take my own trash to the dump.  I told him I grew up here, but we lived in the city for a while, but just finished our new house here. 

We got all the trash out and I thanked him.  As we got in our vehicles, I thanked him again.  He tured towards me with the kindest grin and said 'welcome home'. 

I tell you what, this living in the country is turning out just fine. 

Little Tiny Buz Lightyears

At what point did my child become old enough to look at undies in TarJay?  And at what point did someone say it was a good idea to buy them for him, then, to actually try them on and wear them?  Didn't I just give birth to this tiny human?  Didn't I just quit nursing him?  Didn't I just witness his first steps?

Well then tell me how in the sam hill is it possible that my child, is almost 3 and has now worn Buzz Lightyear's to school 2 days in a row now, accident free.

It's not possible. I don't believe it. Perhaps if I keep denying it, it won't be true.

However, on a positive note, he's basically taken this roll on himself. No one really pushed the issue. He did wear undies 2 Tuesdays ago when we stayed home from school with the fever of all fever's (that lasted a week!!!) and had no accidents but I didn't make the switch to wearing them to school until yesterday.

He'd been asking to go potty here and there. He'd mention others at school that wear undies. School by the way, is probably the main reason that I'm not cursing Potty Training. They are very routine in going to the potty and encourage it at every chance. He has an obsession with flushing, but they can only flush if they use it, thus encouraging them to use it.  So, Potty Training is happening.

Now, he'll probably kill me one day for posting this...but here goes.  All for memory's sake, right???

Friday night we were working at the new house, and he said he needed to go potty.  Did I have a potty?  Did I even have a spare diaper?  Nope.  We'd moved the car seat to Lance's truck and the diaper bag didn't make the trip.  So, as fast as I could, I found an empty cabinet box and set him on it.  And.  He went.  And. Just last night, we had the same scenario, except with undies and not a diaper, and I located the nearest 5 gallon bucket.  That brough a new obsession.  He thought he was SOMETHING going to the bathroom on that bucket.  He told us he needed to go potty about 17 times.  I think we did more of that than painting. 

Can we please get toilets in the new house, ASAP, Boo?

I hope I haven't created a problem here!  We will be living in the country.  Eventually.  Perhaps we'll teach him to just go off the back porch!  Save some money on toilet paper.

Ahhhh.  The joys of boys.   

House Update {Paint It- Link Up}

How about a little peek inside the new house, eh???

 

It's finally coming to life!

Its finally looking like a home and we are so excited! 

Friday night Lance surprised me with the cabinets.

He had told me that they weren't in but when we opened the doors and turned the lights on this is what I saw!

If you follow me on Instagram, you got a little peek Friday night! 

 

By Saturday mid-day the island had been installed and the hardware was being put on.

 

I cannot tell you how excited I am to have bathroom vanities WITH DRAWERS!

This place is going to be so organized I'm not going to know what to do with all the storage room!

Left is the master, right is Eastons.

The half bath has no vanity yet. 

*ahem* 

Someone can't decide what they want in there. 

 

Granite is being picked out and ordered today.

I want leathered black pearl in the kitchen and gialo ornamental honed (very light, very neutral, flat finish) in the bathrooms, but Lance wants  the light color throughout.

I go back and forth with what I want, but the time has come to decide.

Lots to get done, but its so rewarding to see it come to life!

 

After cleaning Friday night and Saturday morning, the time had come to PAINT the built ins.

That's where I come in.

The living room built in got 2 coats of paint on the walls and shelves.

 

Easton's built in by his room got one coat.

Let me tell you, wainstcoating is NO JOKE.  You have to brush every.single.groove.

Note: If a painter charges you $X to paint built ins, pay it. 

It's worth every dime. 

I assure you.

Nevertheless, painting was done this weekend.

And will probably be done every night until we move in.

Projected Move-In date is February 28, but as you can see, we have lots to do.

Fingers crossed, we're in by then!

Fingers and TOES crossed that I can get it put together by March 16 for Easton's 3rd Birthday Party!

 

I am so thankful for this experience and this new home!

Lance has put so much time and effort into it and I am so proud of him for all of his hard work!

SO thankful to do this right along side of him!

 

So, what do you think?

What color granite should we do?

Are you with me on black?  Or are you with Lance on light?

I'd love to hear from you!

 

Make sure you check Ashley & Liz's blog for other "Paint It" Inspired Projects!

 

That new house I've been mentioning...

I thought it high time to post some pictures and a timeline of the 'new house'. 

We bought this lot, right at an acre, before Thanksgiving 2011.

After lots of searching, a few potential spots, a few that ended up falling through, we found this one.

Its right at an acre, on a country road, kinda in the middle of no-where.

I kinda love it.

It's quiet.

We have 6 HUGE trees on our lot.  They have acorns!  ACORNS!  I really love it. 

Many nights were spent discussing and planning what we wanted in our new house.

My big thing was porches.

I  wanted a farm house, but a farm house doesn't fit this area so porches made it more 'farmy' feeling to me.

We picked our plans in January of 2012 (I think).

 

May 3, 2012 we put our house up for sale.

May 13, 2013 we signed a contract on our house.

May 26, 2012 we closed on our house.

July 18, 2012 they cleared the land for the new house.

August 20, 2012 footers were poured.

September 22, 2012 block was laid around footers/foundation.

September 29, 2012 framing began.

October 13, 2012 roof started.

December 29, 2012 drywall started.

January 8, 2013 hardwood floors laid.

January 12, 2013 Prime walls and paint ceilings.

January 13,2013 Interior doors installed.

January 14, 2013 trim work started, 2nd front door installed.

This picture was taken last weekend. 

Currently, the front yard is full of water because the water line was hit when they were digging to lay the electric plus 5 days of rain steady rain. 

Good news, it's not close to the house. 

But, here she is!

We are so excited!

This is a sort-of panoramic shot of the back yard.

This is looking from left to center...

...and this is center to right.

Lots of room to play and run!!!!

Projected MOVE OUT OF THE APARTMENT date is Feb 28.

I've said since we started I wanted Easton's 3rd Birthday to be here...that's cutting it CLOSE.

I'll be back later this week, or maybe next, to post some interior pictures and a few plans for each room!

Lil' Gator Fun

Santa brought this little boy a Gator.

I can't wait till we have a place for him to ride it whenever he wants.

For now, he's pretty content filling the dump truck part of it with his toys and dumping it and filling it again.

We took it to a big empty parking lot to let him drive yesterday.

He had a big time!

We don't have steering down just yet.  So circles do us just fine!  He gets into the turns real good.

Like I said.  Steering isn't his strong suit.  Yet.  It's just a matter of time!

Also...that house I told you we were building, well...these pictures are in the back yard!  

I can't wait!  Can't!  Wait!  Till we can just GO OUTSIDE and ride this thing.

Not haul it down 19 steps, into the bed of a truck, a 15 minute trip and unloading. 

Just to ride.  

Cannot.  Wait.

Till then, we'll go to empty parking lots and work on our steering.