Spring Training - Cardinals @ Jupiter

Plywood on the west side of the roof, and partially on south elevation.

Visiting the house 3.28.2010

View of the front

Karmann at the Cardinals game

Could she not clash any more?!?

This past weekend we took a quick road trip down to Jupiter, FL to see the Cards play the Marlins. We met an old roommate of Kris' from Illinois, Tom Wachtel, which was a lot of fun! He hasn't changed a bit for any of you who may have known him! The weather was perfect for a spring training game! Karmann managed to get a farmer's tan even with SPF 30 sunscreen on! She kept her hat on up until about the 8th inning! I was impressed! We had the perfect seats for her to "run around" so that kept her occupied for most of the game. She slept in the car on the way down, and on the way back, so it couldn't have worked out any better!

Karmann and I both have been having sinus issues lately. We almost didn't go to the game because of it, but we both weathered it fine, and I think it was good for us to be outside and the sunshine!

Kris worked on the house with the contractors on Sunday. They made good progress by finishing installing the plywood sheathing on both sides of the roof. We passed our inspection today, so hopefully the roofers will be here in the next week or so to get the roof on. We also ordered all our windows and doors yesterday. It should take 4-6 weeks for those to get in, so we'll be slow for the next few weeks.

Karmann went back to "school" today. She received her first "report card" on her developmental skills. They said she doesn't sing songs yet, though I know she makes up her own songs and sings, but she's not singing nursery rhyme songs yet. She's also a little slow on identifying body parts, though she knows where her nose and eyes and bellybutton are for sure!!

Tonight I had a scare with her, again. She was in the kitchen hugging my legs and I turned around to pick her up, and she fell flat on her back and bumped her head on the tile floor. I freaked out, of course, as did she, so we quickly put a bag of peas on her head and gave her big hugs and kisses. I also call "nurse Grandma" a.k.a Deb to see what I need to look out for in case it was worse. Karmann's head didn't really get a bump, but it was a little red where she bumped it. I checked her pupils and they were fine, and I've been arousing her every hour since she's been asleep. I think she is fine, because she didn't cry when I rubbed her head, and all she was silly and playful shortly after her bath and before bedtime. I'm still going to check her throughout the night just in case.

Well, there's more going on at work, and with other family members, but I am going to save that for another day. I hope everyone had a good weekend and has a good week. More photos of the progress next time.

House Update - Week 6

Its hard to believe that we are starting week 6 on the house, and that the 2 weeks that Kris' dad was here helping is over already! Kris and Steve did not get as far along as they had hoped, though they definitely did all the hard work! So, we luckily found contractors to work this week to at least get the house dried in. So, as you will see from the photos from Saturday to the photos today, a lot of work has been done. So far, we've been pleased.

We are enormously thankful for Steve and Deb's dedication to our project building the house. We are thankful not just for the physical labor, but the moral support and everything else as well. They have learned by experience and we are benefiting from that for sure! If only they lived closer - that could be said about all of our wonderful families!

Well, pictures speak a thousand words, so here's the latest:

Middle of the day - Saturday March 20th - Steve in the lift working on the rafters.

Middle of the day Saturday - by the end of the day, 6 rafters were up and all the exterior walls were installed, as well as the whole stair!!! You guys are awesome!

End of day Monday, March 22, 2010, Looking South toward the front elevation. The front doors will be in the opening on the left. A window will be located where the plywood is now.

Front bedroom cantilevering over the entrance. There will be vaulted ceilings in this room.

Rear bedroom cantilevering over the back.

Front bedroom cantilevering over the side. The wall will be at the edge and the rafters continue out.

Same thing.

The rear roof cantilevering over where a deck will be off of the kitchen (kitchen is on 2nd floor)

Roof rafters and walls from the rear. I like this picture!

View of the rear from the back property line.

Another view of the back framing.

The stair and view of the plumbing that will be the ground floor bathroom, and doors will lead to laundry room.

Hope you enjoyed this tour! Hopefully I will update again at the end of the week!

House update

As I mentioned last time...here's proof that Karmann can now open doors!

3.17.2010 Progress - view from the back

Our evening visits to the house - taking dinner to the guys

Karmann and Papa playing in the sawdust piles!

Karmann and Papa playing in the leaves - there's a million of them!!

3.17.2010 - Second floor walls going up!

So, as you can see, progress has moved to the second floor! Also, we ended up renting a lift to help with setting the ridge beam - which will hopefully go up tomorrow, and also to set the roof rafters. Kris and Steve are working themselves so hard. Since its been 12 days since they started working, they decided to take a well deserved break tonight and go to the Magic Basketball game! I think it will re-energize them for the last push before Steve leaves.

Karmann and I have been making our almost nightly trips over to the lot to take the guys dinner. Karmann loves it so much because she gets to play in the leaves and sawdust piles! She is getting to really know her way around the "rough" terrain on site. The only part she doesn't like is getting back into the car and her car seat to go home! We've got some pretty cute pictures of her enjoying herself. She also wears herself out, which has helped with the daylight savings time change. It hasn't been as bad as I thought.

I'll try to get more photos soon. Keep your fingers crossed that the high stuff goes smoothly!!

Enjoy!

Time change - torture?

Cutest picture - ever!!!!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?albumId=410894769805

Above is the link to more Karmann photos from this month - so far. I'll put more of the house on later this week.

I haven't felt too good today. Karmann also has a runny nose - still. However, I did manage to get the energy to walk over to the lot today to see the activity. Karmann loves playing in the leaves and stepping on the plastic tarps which are everywhere covering up lumber. She was having so much fun that when we tried to put her back into the stroller, she threw a huge fit! We made it back home and she was fine and giggly again, so I didn't feel so bad.

She's been wanting her independence a lot lately. I think our window of taking her to restaurants has closed - unless she's hungry. She wants to be up and about and not sit at the table. The screaming kid in the restaurant - whose parents you give the evil eye to - that was Karmann last week at Chili's!! Also, this weekend, she learned to climb up into the chairs in the family room and then she wants to stand and make them rock! Its not very safe, so we have to watch her even more now! Also today she showed me that she can now reach the door knobs on the doors in our condo, and open the door. Great! So no more privacy, I guess! I'll share a picture next time.

She's been really good lately going to bed and taking her naps, but today Grandma went back to Illinois, and Karmann has cried when she went down for all her naps, and cried when she woke up, and now she's crying again at night. As the title says, I think this time change may be torture. I hope it only takes a few days to get her to go to bed at her normal time! Wish me luck - as you know sleep is not her best skill.

Making Tea and Making Progress

Stenger lumber

A HUGE thank you to the "house rising" crew!! 3.07.2010

Jeff Bush happily helping out

Raising the first beam (one of 3 for this span)

How many guys does it take to raise a huge LVL beam - at least 8!! The beams are huge and heavy!!!

Papa taking a break with Karmann

Ready for the Tea party!

Checking out the progress in my pretty dress and coat!

Albertico is not happy he has to hang out with the girls at a tea party!

Lucia and her friends and Karmann, too!

This past weekend was an eventful one! Grandma and Papa Stenger arrived on Saturday morning - and work almost immediately started on the house! Kris and Steve (aka Papa) started to plan for the work that was going to get done on Sunday. Kris arranged a crew of friends and colleagues to help with the heavy lifting of the beams and trusses. I planned for breakfast and lunch, which was the least we could do for free labor!

Sunday was a brisk early start with the crew showing up at 7:30 am. As the photos show, the help was needed! I won't bore you with details, but they worked extremely hard all day getting the large LVL beams set in place. There were a few hick-ups, but when the Orange County Building Official is helping you, and Steve (who is a master craftsman), with the construction, then you know the decisions made are going to be the right ones! Steve was very helpful to think on his feet and help Kris be a leader in the decision making process. I also learned that in construction, things aren't perfect, and you have to work with what you've got. I actually decided that it would be better for everyone if I was not there during this phase, as it would drive me crazy dealing with the imperfections! So, I'll leave this phase to Kris and Steve, and I'll jump back in when the kitchen, baths, and finishes have to be installed! I think that will be best for all of us!

Everyday we have had some sort of learning experience whether it is about the construction process, dealing with contractors, utility companies, municipalities, financial institutions or just learning about how to design for construction - or in other words how to design in flexibility since construction is not a perfect science (which they don't teach you that in architecture school!) As stressful as building a house is, it is definitely a great education! And, as my mother always says "they may be able to take away your house and belongings, but no one can ever take away your education!" Wise words, Mom. I hope our house never gets taken away, but I certainly know we are gaining an education!!

Picnic at the lot

This weekend flew by again. Saturday was cold and rainy, and Kris and I had an awards ceremony to go to at the Mission Inn in Howey-in-the-Hills that night. My Aunt Judy and cousin Tammy watched Karmann while we were at the festivities. Karmann had a blast, and was chitter chattering about it all Sunday! I think Aunt Judy and Tammy had fun too! Kris took advantage of a trip out there and found an 8-foot fiberglass step ladder for sale on craig's list for $35 from a guy right down the street from Aunt Judy's! It was funny that I made Kris take the ladder off the car to go to this formal event, but since it was for a bunch of contractors, we would have fit right into the parking lot with all the work trucks that were there! Anyway, it was a nice function and fun for Kris and I to have a night out.

Sunday was cool, sunny, and dry, so Kris headed to the lot early. I asked my dad to come down to hang out with me and Karmann, and to check out the progress on the house. So we decided to grab Subway for lunch and have a "picnic" at the lot. Karmann had fun running around her future back yard - which I already foresee it being a great place for her to play and for us to have parties!! I even got up on the scaffolding to see what the view of the lake is going to be like. Though it was a little shaky, I managed to get a few photos. This house is going to be high up in the trees for sure! I think we will like it! After we left, Kris got a few visitors that were driving by checking things out. He realized that its a good thing to live (build) on a street where a lot of people go by, because you'll always have visitors! I think we will enjoy that - and it will be motivation to keep my house clean, too!!

That was pretty much the weekend. Karmann has been a happy little chatter box lately! Tonight I was singing "itsy bitsy spider" and she started to do the hand motions that I do when I sing it - out of the blue! She almost did the whole song too!! Its like she had been studying me this whole time, and finally she showed me how to do it! She does a good "patty cake" too, but I've never seen her do this one. I was impressed!!

She's also really ticklish, and likes me to tickle her belly. She lets out the greatest belly laughs that I could just bottle up!! She is definitely full of joy! Tonight and last night, too, I actually put her down in her bed while she was still awake, and she talked to herself for a while and fell asleep! I could not believe it. I'm hoping this is a new beginning to the night time ritual! Now if I could only get her to sleep through the night...

Well, I hope to have more pictures of the house and an update as well. For now, have a good week!