One More Project

 We are approaching our four year anniversary in our home - we moved in about two weeks before Elijah was born. The funny thing about that is that I have seldom ever lived in one house for four years before, maybe twice in my over 40 years. In the beginning, we planned on the house being totally done before we moved in; in reality, that was totally unrealistic and we moved in with a ton not finished. Now, at the four year anniversary, there is still a good bit that is not finished, but there are also a lot of other things done that we didn't have in the plans. 


There is the large "game room" downstairs that still needs ceiling and some painting. It sounds easier than it is because there is so many building supplies stored in that area. We also haven't installed baseboards or closet doors downstairs other than in the three bedrooms. The only bathroom down there also remains an empty shell, although if the weather remains this hot, the bathroom will get done before the screened in porch. 


On the good side, JD actually finished hooking up the solar panels that he hoisted on the roof about a year ago and they are currently providing all our hot water! The instant-on hot water heater will only switch on as back up. I am anxious to see the savings reflected on next months electric bill, although our current AC load for our 100 degree days may suck up a good chunk of the savings!


Here's the solar hot water tank - it is enormous.

The instant on is only mounted on the wall and doesn't have a tank. It has successfully provided our large family hot water for the last four years and now gets a much needed break.

The largest project that JD has taken on has been building the screened in porch and deck. We are down to needing to build the chimney, add the ceiling and flooring in the porch. It is just going to have to wait for cooler days since yesterday was 106 outside with a heat index of 113!


So, what do we often do when one project is drawing to a close and we are down to only a half a dozen other unfinished projects? We start another! This week's is laying new flooring in the living room and dining room. While we wanted wood flooring when we moved in, we are only rushing into this project because of our dining room situation with the new girls coming home. 
The Amish benches we bought are nice for packing people around the table, but they were so heavy on two rugs (the area rug to prevent the dining room rug from being ruined) that we have avoided sitting there for the last several months. Once one person sat on the bench, it was practically impossible to slide the benches in and out for anyone else to sit down. We thought the only practical solution was to put in wood flooring and then recycle the carpet to the bedrooms down-stairs. 


So, this was the living room a few days ago while JD pulled the carpet out of the dining room - 

Then we shifted most of it to the dining room so that the living room carpet could be pulled up.

Today the beginning of the wood floor went it. 

JD is now putting those little feet things on all the furniture so that it won't scratch the wood. I also am going to attempt to put the china hutch farther down the wall to allow for more room around the table, since we are going to soon be a family of 13! 

If you are wondering my role in all of this flooring, it has mainly been hair. I redid all of Tori's corn-rows, cut James and Ben's hair and am getting ready to do the first section of Julia's new locs! Every now and then I break to swap the laundry.