The Great Homie adventure.... Finished product

When all was said and done on our house project, we added 14 feet to the back of the house, that included two new bedrooms downstairs, a third car garage and a covered front porch. We did a lot of the work ourselves. I learned how to plumb, demo, clean up, feed workers, drive nails, paint, drywall, install cabinets (well appreciate that more), move rocks, lay flooring, tile backsplashes, sprinklers, thrift for decor and so much more. Jeff learned and was already good at so many things when it came to building. He did learn patience and teaching. When you have to teach things multiple times or explain a process to someone like me who doesn't know the first thing, that is just as hard. Ry was amazing, she meal planned, purchased groceries from click-list, and then prepare those meals. Alex was always out helping. He moved so many rocks. His favorite was demo, anything that needed to be torn down, or broken apart, he was really great at that. He also helped out with electrical by pulling wires. No power was turned on yet, he was protected. Just helping dad to get everything ready. Asher tried doing everything that Alex tried and was usually the first one up helping. He has always been that way. Eden and May also helped. They carried rocks, moved them again and again, helped to move concrete crumbles, moved more rocks, carried boards and wood and molding, moved more rocks, jumped on the tramp, pulled stucco off the house and moved it to the garbage and moved more rocks. 

This was our kitchen during construction. We ate most of our meals on the floor. We made our meals in the insta pot or crockpot. Or sometimes we cooked on the griddle or grilled. Dishes were all done in the sink, no dishwasher. We tried really hard to make healthy low maintenance meals. I was grateful that we had this kitchenette in our basement to use. It was hard, but kind of fun because we knew it wouldn't be forever.

The former window is now Ry's door to her room and Alex's room is on the other side of the kitchenette. Eden took Ry's old room and May stayed in their shared room. Asher kept the boys room. Now all the kids have their own space. Which means they are responsible for that space and keeping it tidy and organized. We feel endlessly blessed to have such a beautiful home and put in a lot of effort to make it nice. We also feel extremely lucky to have done this before all of the prices of supplies sky rocketed. That was a tender mercy because it was right during the pandemic. It was hard to decided if we should try and find a new home, update our current home, or just save. After much prayer on the matter. We felt like staying but updating would be the best. Now we can stay for many many more years. Or forever.... hahaha

Most of our decor was thrifted, if it wasn't the exact color scheme we used a little paint and creativity. 

The Great Homie Adventure home addition part 6

 The house project wasn't the only thing we had going. Asher graduated from preschool at Miss Stephanie's. He loved preschool and was particularly good at math. He loved science and crafts. Asher kept his teachers on her toes, but she was amazing at channeling his energy. 

 Speaking of channeling his energy, I needed his help with folding his laundry and he finds anyway to make it fun. Sometimes it turns into more fun than I can have, and I get after him for messing around. 

Milo is a good puppy. He puts up with a lot.

Heart check.. Everything looks great. We call this chest spaghetti. He also has his pulse ox on his finger. 

 Asher loves Milo. He hugs him a little hard. 

Just my Ry with super red hair. 

Ry does the girls hair so cute. They research looks online and then Ry attempts them on her sisters. 

I have mentioned that everyone has been trying to help with the project, to the best of their abilities. Jeff was working on some electrical in the attic. This is what happens to the bum of your shorts when you slide down a roof. It didn't always go smoothly. The kids learned so many things, that even with the best intentions this crop up, or mistakes happen. Or even silly things, like holy bum shorts. 

Crash wants to be as cool as all the big bike riders. He had his Kit, sunglasses, helmet and water bottle. 

Ry was named Student of Excellence in French language during the end of year assembly. This was Ry's 9th year of French. I am impressed with the immersion program and have loved that the kids have all learned this language. 

The Great Homie addition Adventure part 5

 With the concrete poured, its time for the walls to go up, as well as for more demo of old walls and  the kitchen. We are so thankful for all of the helping hands. Asher has his favorite Demo Dixon (s). I guess his favorite is anyone who would let him on a ladder or to swing a hammer... he was all about that. Demo is clear and distraction is pretty straight forward. It when you have to follow instructions for building, that Asher at 5 struggled. But anytime you are just trying to bust something up or take it down, that is easy to understand. This is what it looks like inside the house as we begin demo and open walls. We put up temporary walls to protect us against the elements and also critters that might want to join us. 

It is truly a learning experience for me. If we didn't know how to do something we spent a lot of time researching or trying things again. I had to cut this and cap it. The cutting wasn't so bad, or fitting the cap end over. The most difficult part was taping. I didn't need birthday present worthy taping, just not a total hack job. I think I re-taped like 6 times. 

I also learned a little sprinkler maintainence

Everyone helped to the best of their abilities. 

It was super exciting when we saw this pull up... I sent the below picture to Jeff with a happy excited emoji.