Two Steps Forward... One Step Back

A weekend trip to check on the progress, finds several more courses of ICFs added. However, we were also surprised to find the mudroom portion that had been framed a few days ago torn out now... hmmmm???? I guess we'll find out tomorrow morning what the problem is.

Styrofoam... Not Just for Packing Peanuts!

The foundation crew started setting our ICF's (insulated concrete forms) today. These styrofoam forms are produced from recycled materials, making them an environmentally friendly product, and are designed to make our home more energy efficient, quiet and comfortable. Shine was excited to see things taking shape!

Pouring the Footers

Beginning of a new week... the excavating for the mudroom addition is complete, and form-a-drain is all in place. Shine and I stopped over after school and found out that a cement truck was on its way to pour the footers for our new home today! We ran home to grab the camera and told Daddy about the excitement (he was home for lunch).

We made it back to the lot in plenty of time. The cement truck was running late. Saw the crew lower the wall system into the hole and then with camera in hand watched the first cement delivery and pour take place. In moments like this, I'm especially grateful not to be tied to a desk...

On the way out, we spied a red-winged blackbird.

Forming the Footers

Dry enough today for our foundation crew to get started. Stone is in the hole and form-a-drain is being set up for the footers.

Rainy Days and Wednesdays...

Rainy weather has put a damper on the groundbreaking and is slowing progress at the site. Frustrations are mounting amongst the subs; but, you can't control Mother Nature. You can only control your own attitude...

I was able to enjoy some time with Shine today in his preschool class while they had a volcano eruption party. Their own lesson in the power of Mother Nature... the little scientists were so adorable!

It was late tonight before we drove over to the site. Not much work happening due to the weather, but the foundation wall system has been delivered.

The Big Dig

Clouds and rain moving in at the end of the second day of digging. Daddy drove over before dinner. More dirt on top of the ground than in it... means the foundation under the house itself is dug (mudroom and garage areas still to be done). Looks like some gravel for drainage was delivered today, too. We're gonna need it by the sounds of the rain as I write this tonite.

Breaking Ground

More rain in the forecast, so more debating about whether to break ground or not today. The crews left the decision up to our general contractor. After checking the weather forecast again. He decided... DIG!

Couldn't wait to pick up Shine and get out to the lot to share the excitement with him. We met another one of the crew. Got to see him trek into and out of the hole, measuring depth. Excavator says he must be a mountain goat to be able to do it without a ladder! The digger hit a big, stubborn rock right before we left. Couldn't pry it out without tipping the whole tractor (and making me nervous), or pound it out. Fortunately, I don't think they needed to go much deeper. The wise man built his house upon the rock anyway, right?

In the evening, Daddy took Shimmer (and Shine) over, so they could see the official start of our new home for themselves and check on the progress at day's end.